rvbhute

Hi all,

I am learning to ride by snatching 15 min sessions during the lunch break. And I practise in the compound of the office complex.

In four such sessions, I have managed to successfully get the bike into first gear just three times (on the fourth day) However, I have got a beginner idea of the "friction zone". I plan to practice this for the next two three days - walking the bike while keeping the clutch in the friction zone - quite useful for traffic.

The three times I got the bike moving, the journey was jerky and uneven as I did not have a judgement of how much acceleration to provide. I will be practising that too.

So, my request is: Do the xBHPians have suggestions as to what topic I should progressively target and master during each session?

I have downloaded the MSF Basic Rider Course PDF, which I will be going through shortly.

At some point, I will take the bike on to an open road. Any tips for that?

Unfortunately, I have access to a bike only during office days (my colleague's bike) - so I cannot practise during early mornings/holidays when I should be spending 3-4 hours at a stretch on a bike.

As an aside, do I have to catch on to the 'sign and signal' language that bikers use by watching other bikers and by trial and error or is there a resource/document for that?

Aryan

Topic Approved.

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jd666

practise clutch control.. so even if the accelerator is too much, you can immediately press the clutch and reduce the power to the wheels.

- Also remember where your brakes are and how to use em. Do not . i repeat do not mess up under stress or sudden braking. Be calm while braking, and in control.

Front little, and rear little. Practise using both brakes, unless you are slowing down on broken road/dust/gravel etc, then its best to reduce gear and use engine braking with a lil rear brake. Im sure the guide will tell you more, but these two things, the clutch control and remembering to brake correctly, will help build your confidence and control on the bike.

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kaynmantis

Ok, you seem to have understood the principles behind the controls. It just takes time and practice to get acquainted to it. Like you know if you turn the throttle more, it'll go faster and vice-versa, or clutch control for that matter. Beginners will normally suddenly give too much throttle or suddenly cut off throttle and make the bike/car jerk. Don't worry, as it takes practice to get used to it. Also keep in mind, you'll mostly be running in 1st gear and jerks are magnified to slightest change to throttle in lower gears. In higher gears it becomes smoother and controlling clutch/throttle is easier.

Noticed that most begineers are ardent followers of traffic rules. Once they become experts, respect for traffic rules/etiquettes seems to fly out the window. Hope you are a new breed of riders that will make our traffic better in the future .

bala_racing

Congrats!, welcome to the biking community!

The magic sentence is "Practice makes Perfect", you can read any number of books on biking, but unless you ride it you never master the art!

You have not mentioned in what bike u r learning..leg gear or hand gear, make?

Practising in office compound is ok, but try to spend some time in a nearby free ground atleast in weekends for 3-4 hours.
The primary skill is to get the bike moving in 1st gear. If u learn that properly, everything comes easily on their way.

Always try to wear a helmet while riding (many riders complain that helmet spoils their view, it is wrong, get used to it from the start).

Immediately apply for a learners license. This will help you to practice on roads (ofcourse with a license holder in pillion) and will enable you to get ur final license quickly from now.

All the best..!

NitinGirish

1. Do not complicate/dogmatise with books & manuals. It is not that sophisticated a skill.

2. Inside your office compound, the flooring might be smooth. There is a danger of skidding even at very low speed, especially if its tiles/or concrete with smooth finish.

3. Borrow your colleague/friend's bike, go to a ground, learn to 1-2-3-4 & 4-3-2-1 (talking about gear shifts). Also, get a sense of proportion with regards to front & rear brake.

4. Ride in the neighbourhood after getting a DL and after sometime enter the battlefield

5. All the best

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rvbhute

Thanks everyone, for the pointers.

I am learning on a Honda Shine - all up gears

Its not a proper modern office compound - my office is in a building that earlier had warehouses. So the compound is spacious - it is big enough for national permit sized trucks to move about. Also, it is proper tarmac and gravel, it even has potholes and speed breakers.

I have applied for a combined 2 & 4 wheeler license through a local motor driving school, as I am also learning to drive 4-wheelers - would save me the hassle later on. Its been over two weeks now. I will ask again to get my hands on the learner's license.

My biggest problem is getting a bike to practise on It is a classic chicken first or egg first situation.

moeed

All you need is "practice and more practice" to master the art of riding. Daily 15 min sessions are very less for practicing. It'll take a lot of time to learn riding this way. You should spend at least 30 minutes or an hour daily. You can take your colleague's bike and practice on weekends. If that's not possible, you can practice before and after the office hours.

bala_racing

Thats good. You can approach the driving school for learning 2 wheeler also. In Chennai, some driving schools teach bike riding also (with a classic Bajaj M80). I think, in Mumbai u can easily find such schools.

So, how is ur experience with 4 wheelers then!

rvbhute

Got my learner's from the agent!

@bala_racing, I checked and checked, but no one offers 2-wheeler training in Mumbai like MSF does in the US

4-wheeler training, while exciting, is different. Because I am insulated in a car and the trainer is there with his own clutch-brake controls (plus always being ready to grab the steering) in case I make a mistake. And I am not planning to get a 4-wheeler, so a successful driving test would be the end of my 4-wheeler driving for now.

Riding the motorcycle is way more thrilling and scary - its my ass on the seat alone and if I make a mistake (I have not made a fatal one yet, touch wood), it will be sliding painfully on the ground, alone.

Considering what other members have advised, I am hunting for a second bike. I will never get the practice and kilometers logged otherwise.