1) If a light turns yellow, and you don’t have plenty of distance to stop, don’t. I was approaching an intersection going 35 MPH, saw the light turn yellow. Slight curve before the light. No one was behind me, so I made what turned out to be an emergency braking manoeuvre. I’m actually surprised I pulled it off, stopping right at the white line. All that emergency braking practice in parking lots paid off. The scariest part of it all was realizing later how much traction I didn’t have from all the grease on the road surface by the light. It all happened so fast, but I do remember I felt the front lock, quick release, and try again. But I’m not doing that again. If the light is yellow and I don’t have the distance, I’m blowing it. No need to get rear-ended or having to risk a drop just for a yellow.
2) When the Ninja 250 starts losing power and the engine sounds funny, it means you’re about to run out of gas. It took me by surprise how in about a block it went from go to stall at a stop sign. After switching to reserve, and some choking required, I got it started again to make it a few blocks to the gas station. 2.899 gallons later, I was back in action. Which reminds me of a new trick – whenever you fill up, reset the trip odometer. And check the fuel tank level as part of the pre-ride check. Who knew I’d put in that many miles so far?
3) The BMV has their test course marked off with painted lines in their parking lot. I didn’t find the braking part challenging in braking, but in the distance they give you to get up to 15 MPH. You have to really gun it. Don’t even think of shifting to second. This article seems pretty accurate about it. The author got marked down for going too slow on the braking part.
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