First Practice Day

[Reader1]

Spent a couple hours at the H.S. parking lot - practiced figure 8's, stopping, and starting, pulling into parking spots, pulling up to curb on my 750 Motor trike. I want more practice and practice starting on a hill, then I will hit the road!! Any other advice...I'm always listening!

 

[wingking51]

That's the way to do it. Once you feel comfortable with the basics it will be time to try the road. I would suggest going on streets or road that don't have a lot of traffic on them for starters then work your way up to busier roads. Be careful and have fun.

 

[Gorilla]

Your right on. Now get out on the road. Ride defensively and get some miles under you.

 

[Juju]

Try to find some quiet country roads and practice your starts, stops, and starts on a hill there--that was helpful for me. You'll be ready for great spring weather!

 

[Konrad]

Here's a story: I have a 78 year old friend who had never ridden a motorcycle before and wanted to learn so I sent him to an MSF course. Book work went well but 20 minutes into the riding portion he was dismissed from the class as unsafe to himself and others. Heartbroken but determined he bought a 150cc bike and tried to learn on his dead-end street. But he never could get the knack of balance, turning and shifting gears and just about destroyed that bike as well as his body. I suggested very gently that perhaps it might be a good idea to quit, after all, at our age the bones don't knit very quickly.

He would not give it up so I introduced him to a Burgman 400cc automatic transmission maxi-scooter and suggested a Tow-Pac. Even with his lack of balance he couldn't fall over and there were no gears to shift and no clutch to coordinate. He took to it like a ducvk to water - a marriage made in heaven! He practices daily, has received his full motorcycle endorsement on his license and is no threat to anyone.

Desire, determination and practice can conquer just about anything!

 

[jim peacock]

Before my wife passed away every year when the riding season got here I would go out by my self for a hour ride and go to a parking lot were I could refresh my self on making turns and starts and stops.
:wave4::wave4::wave4:

 

[Konrad]

before my wife passed away every year when the riding season got here i would go out by my self for a hour ride and go to a parking lot were i could refresh my self on making turns and starts and stops.
:wave4::wave4::wave4:

that sounds like a darned good idea!

 

[Reader1]

2nd Practice - More maneuvering - starts & stops on small hill - (Much easier than on 2 wheels!). Also practiced starts within 3 seconds - even from a hill. My husband said people have about 3 seconds patience, and would beep their horns at me, & make me more nervous so I should be able to move in 3 seconds. (I thought shaking my fist at them a better idea - but I was able to do it.) Ready for the road...but Buzzard Sunday in Hinckley with 5000 people in our quiet little town is no day for the first ride. Again, thanks for all your advice...I am still listening and learning! LOVE THE TRIKE!!!

 

[joncallihan]

I well remember the early learning -- only about a year or so ago. Getting used to crowned roads took the most practice. It just didn't feel right having to steer left (just a little, but still more than none) all of the time.

Hang in there. Once it becomes second nature, you'll wonder why you didn't start this a LOOOOONG time ago.:NanaNice:

 

[Meastro319]

My trike is still in storage in another town about 7to 8 miles away. When I pick it up (probably next week) I have to drive home on a very busy highway full of very impatient car drivers. BUT...I do go past an almost dead shopping center where I will stop in and do a little practice in the nearly empty parking lot. Then zip over to a lesser used and safer (but farther away) road to get home. Then it'll be figure 8's on my cul-du-sac for awhile until I get my "riding legs" back.