Common Bike Mistakes

Jabo75 said:

I actually do the opposite. I rarely use the rear brake, unless it's an emergency stopping situation, or I need to brake on gravel or loose ground.

Click to expand...

I am the same way, because of years of off road racing. Its just more comfortable to me. I have done a few panic stops in traffic and got on both brakes really hard, but have not locked up the back tire so far.

Maybe not too smart but I still mostly use the rear brake. When I stated riding MANY years ago, we didn't have ABS and like most other riders back then I never wanted to get on the front brake too much, lock it up and lose control. Bikes didn't have ABS and the bikes (Bonneville 650/750) I rode then were fairly light and if you locked up the rear tire it was not such a big deal. Old habits die hard but I'm getting better now about using both brakes and I'm a big fan of ABS...

D04011 said:

Maybe not too smart but I still mostly use the rear brake. When I stated riding MANY years ago, we didn't have ABS and like most other riders back then I never wanted to get on the front brake too much, lock it up and lose control. Bikes didn't have ABS and the bikes (Bonneville 650/750) I rode then were fairly light and if you locked up the rear tire it was not such a big deal. Old habits die hard but I'm getting better now about using both brakes...

Click to expand...

As you said old habits and ones that should be put to rest, ride safe

Been so drunk that I've missed the corner left the road and gone through barbed wire fence and fell asleep.
Never smoked cigarettes but ridden stoned a few times not to mention after a particular nurses party when I didn't remember how I got home.
Always looked after my chain tension
No foot dragging so long as you don't count riding in shorts and thongs in the rain and aquaplaning while standing on the road at 100k (feels like water skiing)
Sometimes when the tyre was bald I would borrow the mates tyre groover and cut more tread to save money on my apprentice wages

AHHH those were the days.
Now I'm married with children and use my R3 to bring back a little bit of the wild side.
Love this bike

well i figure i used up all of my luck and the help of the great spirit in my drunken years so i try to not do the stupid stuff i did.
except for cranking the throttle.

Pete Pete Pete you are going to have the Americans gasping for air after reading your post(riding in shorts and thongs) thongs are a different thing in America

scot in exile said:

Pete Pete Pete you are going to have the Americans gasping for air after reading your post(riding in shorts and thongs) thongs are a different thing in America

Click to expand...

What's considered a thong in America

I'm rereading the MSF book and just read the alcohol chapter. I've gotten in the habit over the last few years of driving sometimes after a drink or two. Part excuse and part biology that I've gained 100 pounds so it hits me less. But after reading this chapter again I'm reminded that by actual scientific studies, performance goes downhill dramatically after even a single drink. Unfortunately the book is right. The only sensible plan if you care at all about safety is to not ride after even a single drink. I hope I have the fortitude to follow through on that now that I'm riding again.

I do regret that I not only used to ride my KZ200 in shorts when I was 17/18, but I actually took my motorcycle license test wearing shorts. When it was my turn, I didn't want to delay everyone so I hurried onto the (running, hot) bike from the right side. Touched my bare ankle to the exhaust. Tester asked if I was ready. I just gave a thumbs up, unable to speak as I was grimacing in my helmet. Passed the test. My two inch circular burn almost kept me from going to boot camp the following week. Actually the doc said if it were the army or marines he'd have kept me home, but it was just navy boot camp so I should be fine.

RKTNMYPKT said:

I'm pretty good at following the rules listed above, except for a couple exceptions......

I often ride after a couple of beers, and I ride in every morning with my tinted shield on my helmet, simply because I can't be bothered changing out my shield twice a day, if it's to dark out. I simply raise the shield.

Click to expand...

Clear shield with sunglasses is what I use and then I have my sunglasses for when I am walking around.

D04011 said:

Maybe not too smart but I still mostly use the rear brake. When I stated riding MANY years ago, we didn't have ABS and like most other riders back then I never wanted to get on the front brake too much, lock it up and lose control. Bikes didn't have ABS and the bikes (Bonneville 650/750) I rode then were fairly light and if you locked up the rear tire it was not such a big deal. Old habits die hard but I'm getting better now about using both brakes and I'm a big fan of ABS...

Click to expand...

Please, kill habit this as soon as possible!!!
For the record, I've never owned a bike with ABS. Not to be condescending, but having also started riding back in the 80's, I leaned early on that the front brake gives me way more stopping ability than the rear brake.
2 years ago, I hit an oil slick at a stoplight, apparently someones oil pan gave out about 100 feet from the intersection and dragged oil right to the light. I locked up the front for a split second. I IMMEDIATELY let the brakes go in an attempt to avoid the car in front of me. By the grace of God, I just made it around the car in front of me. As someone else (can't remember at the moment-paraphrasing) has in their signature, nothing beats good reflexes.