New to the Forum and to Riding
Hello!!
Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Ron and I just purchased a 98 Super Hawk, I love it! Now this is my first bike and I have very little experience. In fact my first real ride other than riding a friends bike around the corner was the ride home today about 20 miles. My neighbor spoke to me today about steering and shifting so far so good. Safety gear - helmet, jacket with built in armor and gloves. I plan on taking the motorcycle safety course next month (first available). Any advice will be well received. Ron Pictures to follow, have to get them off of my phone. |
Advice? Be careful, and get that course asap. This is not a beginner's bike...
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Welcome aboard the Forum, & to the great sport of Motorcycling.
Yes, as said, this bike not the best for a begiiner, please take it easy with throttle or you be on your ass. LOL!:welcome: |
thanks
LOL!!! I have heard at least 50 times... I will respect the throttle!!
Ron |
Welcome.
Immediately buy the book: "A Twist of the Wrist". Read it cover to cover, then have your friends quiz you on it. Once you know all those answers, you're ready to start putting them to practice in real world scenarios :) James |
Search here for riders tips. Learn it, live it.
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Welcome to the forum! We know the joy of motorcycling but we also know the level of risk involved. We've ridden as long as we have due to our skill but also due to a measure of luck. We worry especially about new riders. So, enjoy the ride and ride a lot. The more you learn, the better it gets.
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Practice around the neiborhood stop and go again and again. Also empty parking lots for ways to improve and cornering in tight spaces . If you have cones or any object will do
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Where are you from? There are riders from all over here .Would be good to get together with some other hawk riders, most of us are friendly and knowledgeable.
Congrats on your chicken ....respect the throttle in low gears |
+1 on practicing in the neighborhood or in parking lots. A book will help a lot... it allows you to understand concepts like countersteering, target fixation, and trail braking at your own pace. And not develop bad habits.
Another option is "Proficient Motorcycling" by David L. Hough |
Congrats and please drive it extra carefully. I frankly would have killed myself learning riding on a SH. With a different mindset you could be ok :)
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when riding with others
DO NOT TRY & Keep up with Them RIDE AT YOUR OWN PACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really can't stress that enough. I seen & have heard from others - people on group rides trying to act macho & ride faster than their ability. Death has occurred! riding is fun - but dangerous. ATGATT Ride like your invisible - cagers never see motorcycles! Have Fun - but please be safe |
I wouldn't have dreamed of hopping on a super bike as my first motorcycle, I for sure would have been a buzzsplat on the highway. In fact I was riding for 5 years before I got my yzf600r and had a chance to buy a zzr1200 from the same dealer for the same price and I opted for the 600 so I wouldn't kill myself lol. That being said if you respect the bike, don't let your ego or emotions control you, and ride sensibly you could be okay. However you would learn much faster and have an easier time if you started out on a smaller bike. I generally suggest older ujm's and sub 500cc modern bikes (of course the new 650 twins are great too) for first year riders. You can pic up a mid 80's Yamaha xj seca for dirt cheap (or similar bikes like Honda nighthawks) and they are a blast to beat on even when experienced (in fact I just picked up a project bandit 400 for almost nothing to beat up on and will have less than $500 in it when its running) plus learning to work on an old fixer upper will help you tremendously if you ever break down somewhere and need to troubleshoot a problem
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Thanks for all of the advice. I have been practicing all day today in my neighborhood. Turning and starting and stoping. I will practice around here mostly cornering until I feel its safe for me to be in traffic.
I live in Burlington County NJ anyone live in the area? Ron |
Look where you want to go...
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Originally Posted by oahu hawk
(Post 361907)
Look where you want to go...
1. Look where you want to go, because you're going to go where you're looking. 2. Countersteering. It's the only way to move the bike around. Push slightly on the handlebar in the direction that you want to turn. 3. The front brake is your friend. Practice stopping with it, but don't lock it up. Twist of the wrist is a great book, and several readings are recommended. The suggestion about quiet neighborhoods and parking lots is a great one, you want to be able to start and stop frequently to build up the muscle memory and reflexes without getting too much speed up, and without getting into traffic situations that can get you hurt. Follow up on the MSF course... they have a lot of good training that will help you to stay alive. I'm guessing from your forum name that you're military?? (or police maybe?) I'm retired Army. https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net..._1797299_a.jpg |
congratulations, and welcome to your new passion. Hell of a first bike! Please be careful, and even if it's "just up the road" put your gear on because asphalt hurts.
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I agree with FTL900 and oahu hawk. I would also be aware of "target fixation". Read up on it. Also, keep the rubber side down. Good luck and be safe!
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@ftl900, "we have a rendezvous..."
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...with Destiny. I never did meet Destiny, but I there was this cute blonde arab linguist... oh, wait, that's another story.
Ft Cambell, huh?? I spent my last year there in the MI battalion. Have the tattoo to prove it. There's some gorgeous riding out there too. We used to meet up and head west and then south down any roads that looked good, and wind up in Nashville hours later to slab it home. |
pfft the SH is a great bike to learn on!
forgiving throttle, soft forgiving suspension and brakes...as long as you're a big enough fellow that the weight isn't a problem at slow speeds it's fine! I would put someone on an SH over a 600cc supersport any day. |
Originally Posted by blamecanada
(Post 361965)
pfft the SH is a great bike to learn on!
forgiving throttle, soft forgiving suspension and brakes...as long as you're a big enough fellow that the weight isn't a problem at slow speeds it's fine! I would put someone on an SH over a 600cc supersport any day. |
Originally Posted by blamecanada
(Post 361965)
pfft the SH is a great bike to learn on!
forgiving throttle, soft forgiving suspension and brakes...as long as you're a big enough fellow that the weight isn't a problem at slow speeds it's fine! I would put someone on an SH over a 600cc supersport any day. |
Originally Posted by Letsrideinsc
(Post 361967)
It's heavy also compared to a 600. Not sure if i'm making the point, but I'd rather learn on a 600. But my first street bike was a 93vfr pig, so what do I know.
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I'm just a young punk and new to riding (appx 2 years) but one bit of advice I can offer is never be afraid to let the bike go if things are going wrong. I know in turns powering out is usually an option, (quite frankly almost always an option) but the bike can be trashed and your life will go on. If you get trashed life will not go on the same. If the situation calls for a unintentional dismount, let go. The bike can be replaced, you cant. Sorry if that was a bad example but I hop the point goes across.
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My small amateur piece of advice
Keep it simple. Don't push yourself on the road. If you're feeling lucky, remember you're not alone. This bike is forgiving. But bikes only do what their rider tells them to do. If you fall, 99% it's your fault. Welcome to riding. |
There's a lot of good riding out here by fort Campbell, I love Amish country!
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There is good riding out here by ft campbell. Jknight if you are still in the area lets do some riding.
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