jduff8505

In March of 2009 my wife took her MSF course and did really well with only 1 1/2 days of riding. She came home and was so anxious about learning and getting on her own bike. Now the bad part (feel free to start flaming, nothing you can say will make me feel worse than I did).

I gave her my Honda 919 thinking she could handle it since she is pretty tall 5'8" and full figured. Wrong. She had an accident the second day of riding it and crushed her ankle. I was right behind her on my other bike and it was the worst thing I've ever had to watch.

A year and some months later she is wanting to get back on and this time we picked up a 2004 Rebel and she loves it. We figured out what happened that caused her initial accident because she did the same thing on the Rebel. She got hard on the front brake coming to a stop before making a turn. The Rebel tried to dive on her again but since it is not a heavy bike she was able to save it this time.

Now we are trying to overcome confidence issues and I'm hoping she will get this in due time. I'm going to have her join this forum and maybe she will get that from all of you knowledgeable people. I'm hoping beginners, novices and experts will chime in.

Jeff

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Stubbytoes

Hi, it's me, Jeff's klutzy wife. Looking forward to getting some good advice from everyone.

Melanie

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flitecontrol

Melanie, take it easy, advance at your own pace. This will build your skills and confidence. Practice slow speed maneuvers in a deserted parking lot until you are ready to move out onto less traveled roads. Grabbing a handful of brake is something that many folks do, especially in a panic situation.

A good exercise to train yourself to squeeeeze the front brake is take the first two fingers of your left hand and spread them apart. Then place the right hand over them and begin to squeeze them together. But resist the squeezing pressure with the two fingers. It will take a second or so to pull the two fingers together. On the bike, this will allow time for the front forks to compress and transfer more weight to the front of the bike, increasing braking traction. Remember when the front wheel stops spinning, it no longer provides gyroscopic stability to the bike and a high side crash is likely.

I also suggest you get David Hough's book Proficient Motorcycling. Read it, and then read it again after a month or two. Thereafter, read it before every riding season. Google motorcycle safety tips, and read them. Lots of savvy tips there.

If you have any questions, just ask.

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I'm keepin' all the left over parts. I'm gonna use 'em to build another bike!

2001 Rebel 250, 1989 Vulcan 750
Putting your bike info in your signature helps others help you!

Guba

Melanie, one of the things that they will drill into your head at the safety course (not teach! drill!) is that you have to use BOTH brakes any time you want to come to a stop. Get into the habit and it'll stick with you. It's saved my hide a lot. Example: I was riding on a back country road earlier this year doing 45mph. Then without warning (those come randomly!), the road changed to gravel. 45 on gravel is like riding on ball bearings, hard to control. But if I used the front brake I would have surely gone down. Rear brake to the rescue! Get used to using them both so you can adjust for riding conditions.

I also want to point out that there is no shame in keeping the Rebel! Especially if it's what feels more comfortable! Some of our members here have owned the big bikes for years, but just plain liked the way a Rebel handles and feels. So once you feel confident enough to move up to bigger bike and compare the two, don't let yourself be "shamed" into something that won't feel right. Remember! It's your life on the bike, not someone elses!

I hope that was good advice.

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Some days beer tastes good...other days beer tastes better!

'07 Rebel 250 26,000 miles

GearJammer

Melanie & Jeff.........Just saw this thread and posted about 10 minutes ago on using too much front brake. Sorry to hear of the mishap, but more power to you for getting back in the saddle.

I've grabbed too much front brake in a low speed turn and dropped the bike instantly, so please don't feel bad and please do realize that it's a common occurrence (as unpleasant as it can be).

What helps me to avoid that from happening again is that when slowing down from cruising speed, I'll use the front brake to gradually slow down, sometimes alternating between front and rear brakes as needed, BUT, once the bike is close to coming to a complete stop, I leave the front brake alone and use the rear brake to actually stop.

You'll be just fine.......Enjoy & Ride Safe.........

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"Ridin' Ain't A Hobby, It's A Lifestyle"

1986 450 Rebel

Blueberry

So you think your klutzy? You ain't seen nothin yet! I fell out of my boat in my driveway! I also got tossed across the carport when I forgot to put the sidestand down by a 675lb, bike! I 2nd the book. Proficient Motorcycling is a great book. You have learned to ride a motorcycle, now you need practice. I can't add much more than the previous posts did other than there is nothing out there you can't do. Just things you haven't done before.

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Ride Safe, Blueberry
1985 Honda 250 Rebel
1970 Honda SL 90
2008 Royal Enfield Electra 500

Buickguy

I am sorry to hear of the injury but I am glad that you got back on.
2nd on parking lot practice. Learn and advance at your pace.

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1987 CMX250C Rebel

2002 FSC600 SilverWing

1983 Yamaha Midnight Virago XV920MK

Put your bike's year and size in your signature.
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Stubbytoes

Thanks everybody for the words of encouragement and good advice. Getting back on was the hardest part, but only when I got back on did I figure out what I did wrong the first time. Once I figured that out, it wasn't so scary anymore.

Hopefully I'll be riding everywhere pretty soon!

Melanie

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jduff8505

Now if we can just find the time. LOL.

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mpanther

You might think about a trip up to Miskogee or the like.
time on the bike is what you need, and away from all that city traffic will help a lot. it will let you think about what you are doing without having to worry about what everyone Esle is doing.
also, practice those panic stops. 25mph to 5. again and again in a nice safe parking lot. start by squeezing the front brake in slowly until you are almost at full. then as you get used to how it works at different pressures, try it a little faster, but still gradually. you can squeeze a brake lever pretty quickly without the "off-On!" effect that locks a tire.

time and miles is the best way to get the experience, be it parking lot, back country or city street roads. I vote the first two over the last.

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