[Tango]

Just completed my first day of MSF, with rain almost for the complete day. Almost all of the bikes in the class are dirt bikes, with the exception of maybe 5, out of 25. I’m using a Yamaha TTR-225. I find the bike to be extremely torquey at slower speeds but then I assume most dirt bikes should be.

The class is very good, the instructors are very helpful. I must say I was very very surprised over the whole “look where you want to go”. I know I’ve heard tons of people say it but when thinking about it, it just didn’t make sense to me, that is until trying to make a turn.

So far my personal biggest problems are as follows, and any help suggestions would be awsome:

1. When driving slow I have the bad habbit of pointing my knees outward because I am sub consciously preparing myself to have to put my foot down. I’m trying to focus very hard on this, but its tough especially for turns at slow speeds.

2. Coordination. I get…confused…for lack of a better word, when driving in say 3rd gear, and having to slow down for a turn. I’ll remember to gear down, and break a bit, but sometimes I’ll forget to look towards where I am turning. I’m also developing this habbit of holding the clutch in when turning, possible because the bike is so torquey, or because the person in front of me is going slower and I don’t want to stall if I have to break quickly, I really don’t know. This is causing me to sometimes release the clutch while focusing on the breaks and to cause a stall. I just find it a lot to take in, and I’m hoping this will improve with more experience.

3. My wrists. Damn are they ever sore. And my left hand is really cramped. It’s very tough trying to keep your wrist down, and sometimes when I don’t I hit the throttle and screw up a turn. Again I am hoping it might change when on a different style of bike.

4. I am using a lot more front break that rear break, again perhaps due to the bike. I am finding the front break doesn’t need to be pushed in very much to work, yet the rear break can be all the way down and only slows me a bit. Near the end of the day my hands were getting so sore I became lazy and started to use 2 fingers for pushing the front break instead of 4, and my instructor didn’t like that

[Munch]

#1 try to position your feet closer to the outside of the pegs maybe…. set yourself up like a giraffe trying to drink water.
2&3 will get better with focused practice
#4…. well your kinda supposed to use the front brake more as it does 70% of the stopping… The rears may need to be adjusted a tad but that’s more for preference then anything… they are there to assist the fronts. As far as 2 finger against 4… hmmm kinda off sound seeing how 4 fingers would give you better leverage and require less effort then the 2 fingers, have any history of joint or muscle problems in your forearms?

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[CBennett]

Lol I kept my knees in ok and did well till we cane to the quick stop part…ummh locked up the front brake luckily it was just at 10-12 MPH lol oh well I wont be doing that again . Other than that I had a great first day today. I have a slight problem with when im stopping sometimes my thumb will roll a bit and make the engine/throttle rev a bit but none of the instructors were real concerned snice it was just under breaking and the clutch was in anyways. They just said to work on it. But fun first day except for locking that front brake(which i did not do again on the other 5 quick stops).

[Andrew]

I rolled on the throttle a bit during my first few quick stops in class. No big problem just get used to releasing the throttle and then grabbing the brake.

[CBennett]

I do but when i grab(well now i dont grab it quite so hard after that front brake lock up lol) the brake sometimes my thumb just rolls the throttle back a bit and revs the engine..they said it may just be my gloves. Im gonna try to work on it..only thing that sux is next week is the test so not a lot of time to work on it..I almost wish the range time was longer to be honest to give you time tto work on stuff like that.

[Andrew]

I was doing the same thing with my thumb. My problem was my small hands and the distance from the grip to the lever. I had to move my hand out and down to get to the lever on the Nighthawk and when my hand went down my thumb was still on the inside of the throttle pushing it down. I think I have only ever done it on the Ninja when practicing my quick stops. But even then its not all the time. Some adjustable levers are on the cards for next year. Unless I don’t need them once I have more experience.

[CBennett]

no, test is next Sunday and to be honest I dont think I will EVER own a high HP bike. to be honest I think a 500-650 will be my limits and about 75 HP max..I was thinking of something like a SV 650 or a Honda Shadow (the smaller one 600?) or something like that or I may just stick with the 250 ninja dont know for sure yet. I like the more upright position of the Ninja VS a pure SS sports bike like the Gixxer I could NEVER ride one of those . You should have seen me trying to get used to the foot placement on a cruiser though as the pegs are in front instead of straight below me. first time they did the ride across the parking lot to the other side with foot on the pegs i missed the pegs(i was trying to look straight ahead) and actually put my feet where the pegs were on the ninja and missed the pegs completely lol. What ever it is that I get it better get 60 MPG

[CBennett]

adjustable levers may be something for me to look into also. Didnt even cross my mind. And yes, as long as the Bike can get around and rides nicely im not concerned on its “quickness” I wont do over the speed limit(or over 65-70) anyways. And im not interested in “pushing” it in the twisties..I just dont seek those kinds of thrills..just a nice ride and good MPG.

[Author]

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