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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> My first dirt... /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1241541823 Message started by Laurie Savage on 05/05/09 at 09:43:42 |
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Title: My first dirt... Post by Laurie Savage on 05/05/09 at 09:43:42 I am just a newbie... but I tasted my first dirt a couple of days ago. I took a little spill. Was not going very fast. Not sure what happened, it felt like wind was pushing me toward the right, the next thing I knew I was in the dirt. Thank God for no trees, or dumb A$$ people on my tail. Two people stopped to help get it out of the ditch, and be sure I was ok. :o The bike has some scratches, and I busted the wind shield. :( The Brake and clutch levers had to be adjusted too. But I did get right back on after being sure it was road worthy, which to me, was the important thing. Spills happen, and we learn from them. Hokey Smokes though. I could hardly get outta bed this morning, I am so sore! |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by Rocco on 05/05/09 at 09:47:37 i know exactly how u feel! except no dirt was found for me, only black top! i have a couple of dents, and some scratches, and if i didn't bust my rear blinker i wouldn't be looking for a shorted wire right now.....oh and i'm missing some skind off my 4arm.......luckily u had a cushion!! did the bike land on u? my leg was in between ground & bike....not fun lol |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by Laurie Savage on 05/05/09 at 10:05:04 The bike might have been slightly on my right leg, but I got up quickly and turned off the kill switch the key. Thank God for Joe Rocket! I would have really messed up my arm without my Armour! :D |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by marshall13 on 05/05/09 at 10:48:51 congrats on earning the "turf course" merit badge, Laurie, and welcome to the not very exclusive club.... figure out what caused your ride to develop the sudden "wanderlust" yet? unless you were riding in a category 3 hurricane, wind shouldnt put you in a ditch.... was it in a curve? straightaway? do your best to figure out what caused it (mech fault, rider error, etc), and repair or retrain as required... picking dandelions with your bootlaces is bad enough, but what if that ditch was a lane occupied by a tractor-trailer? joe rocket doesnt do much in those cases.... |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by PTRider on 05/05/09 at 10:59:50 A couple of crosswind tips from another site: There are a couple of things that you can do to make the experience less stressful, however. For example, you can quit white-knuckling your grips. When you hold on tight you also tend to stiff arm your controls. That, as we've talked about before, merely allows front-end instability to propagate into the rest of the motorcycle. Relax your grips and droop your elbows. Allow your bike to be a bit unstable. Drive in the CENTER OF YOUR LANE. Lean forward and down to reduce your profile, and snug up your jacket. Should you anticipate those gusts? Should you just respond quickly to a gust in order to remain in control and traveling in a straight line? No, and no. Your bike will NOT travel in a straight line. That is, as long as you allow it to do its thing, your bike will be modestly blown off course with a gust and the result of that movement is EXACTLY the same as any other minor course change - you will need modest counter-steer input to correct it - the CG of your bike will then be on the side the wind came from and the result is that it will lean towards the wind. Crosswinds can be murder if you are leaned way over in a curve. Don't, if you can avoid it. As a result of a crosswind your bike will move off course and normal modest counter-steer will lean it into the wind. A strong gust will blow you out of track. So, correct your steering, gently, and keep going. Note ... there are TWO times when a gusty crosswind changes your bike's direction of travel: when it hits, and when it stops. Both require that you allow the bike to respond and use normal modest counter-steering. (When it quits you will be leaned over and, as a result, your bike will move towards where the wind WAS coming from until you straighten it up. If crosswinds involve huge short gusts, go park the bike. If the crosswinds are more sustained, pucker up and keep going. http://www.msgroup.org/Tip.aspx?Num=140&Set=&SearchTerms=wind We all understand countersteering (http://genjac.com/BoomerBiker/Countersteering.htm), don't we? The mysterious secret of how to gain control of a leaning motorcycle is called countersteering." As the name implies, initiate a turn, he must first steer in the opposite direction as might be presumed. This is needed in order to get the bike to perform the trick of leaning into the curve of the road. This is how a bike is "balanced." Although motorcycle racers are paid millions of dollars a year for their knowledge of countersteering, this same technique is also required for every street rider. Steering left to turn left will only make the bike lean (tip over) to the right. It is impossible to steer a bike like a car. While riding around a curve, try turning into the turn and see what happens. If you enjoy excitement, you're going to love this experiment, assuming you survive, of course. Although it is possible to slowly follow most curves of the road without consciously countersteering, the ability to turn quickly will give a rider more options to work with and provide a greater margin of safety—he is in total control of his machine. Ignorance of countersteering is the root of all fear of motorcycles, and quite possibly the cause of most single-motorcycle accidents in which the motorcycle fails to negotiate a curve. Unfortunately for millions of citizens, reverse psychology is at work here: the motorcycle rider must steer towards danger—towards the outside of a curve, or towards a vehicle blocking the road—rather than away from it. Actually, he initially steers towards the obstacle to force the bike to lean, then rapidly steers (leans) away from the hazard. Many times a rider can find himself in the middle of a decreasing radius turn and panics when he sees he is going to go off the roadway. He must consciously be aware of countersteering so he will know to steer toward the shoulder of the road to force the bike to lean further into the turn and tighten his turning radius to match the tightening curve in the road. Obviously, an uneducated rider is not going to suddenly figure this out during his one second of panic. The initial countersteering effort, pushing on the right handlebar grip (turning the handlebars left) will utilize centrifugal force to tip the balance of the bike over to the right. As the bike falls over to the right in its controlled fall initiated by the countersteering, the rider finds himself leaning to the right and executing his right hand turn. The opposite of this occurs in a left hand turn. http://genjac.com/BoomerBiker/Countersteering.htm |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/05/09 at 11:14:00 If you dont know what happened you cant learn from it. I always spend some time doing mental reruns of things like that, till I figure out what happened & figure out what I need to do to avoid that particular problem. By mentally rehearsing situations & the proper response we teach our bodies how to respond reflexively. |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by SavageDanny on 05/05/09 at 11:20:24 30 seconds into my first experience on a motorcycle I crashed. Thought since I had so much experience on bicycles that I would be fine. I consider overconfidence and ignorance to be the root causes of my crash. I didn't understand counter steering at that point. 30 seconds into that first ride I went to turn left and the bike didn't respond like I thought it should. I panicked and grabbed the brakes. BIG MISTAKE! Locked up the front one and went down. The bike and I still have the scars from it. The helmet saved a dent in my left temple but I wasn't wearing a jacket. Got a good size scar on my left elbow to remind me of what happened. Shortly after that I took the MSF class and learned to ride the right way. Hope you are okay from your spill. Check the bike over good or have somebody do it for you. You wouldn't want to have another wreck because something broke. Could end up being a lot worse. |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by verslagen1 on 05/05/09 at 11:40:55 Obstacle fixation sometimes bites people. Did you take the Beginners Rider Course? Even though they teach you about it, untill you experience it, you don't learn how to avoid it. |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by false_illusion on 05/05/09 at 12:36:53 Glad you're OK, LS... If it makes you feel any better...my first bail was on pavement...during my test!!! I got an "OUCH!" on three levels: Bike, Body, and Ego... ;) |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by srinath on 05/05/09 at 12:55:16 This will be atleast 1 reason to not buy a hayabusa as a first bike. Good you're OK, rocco too. Cool. Srinath. |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by marshall13 on 05/05/09 at 12:55:39 my first fall was about 2 seconds into my first ride... yami rd350... my more experienced pal told me "rev it to redline, drop the clutch"... instant wheelie, resulting in my really jerking the throttle open... backflip, bike on chest, flailing arms and legs was the inevitable result..lol couple months later, dropped it dragging on a gravel road... took about an hour and a half to pick all that gravel out of my hip with a buck knife...lol back in them days, it was wrangler denim, not joe rocket...lol wait until your first 60 mph encounter with a wasp or hornet... very exciting!! |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by PTRider on 05/05/09 at 13:37:24 4C7E697E787A5B7E7171661F0 wrote:
Countersteering is necessary above about 6 mph. Quote:
Yep, turn OR panic brake. Doing both at the same time never works. |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by Phelonius on 05/05/09 at 17:10:03 If you have a friend with a dirt bike, ask to use it to learn about dirt. A Savage is not a good bike to learn dirt on since the controls are so far forward. If you learn about dirt on a dirt bike, you will gain in confidence. Some, but not all that you learn can be used on the Savage. It is good you wore protection, and got back on the bike right away. If the bike is ridable, that is always a good thing to do for peace of mind. Phelonius |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by PTRider on 05/05/09 at 17:51:38 Many dirt bike riders lean the bike into the turn by weightshifting the bike under their bodies. On pavement a bike needs to lean into the turn by displacing the tire contact patches out from under the rider & bike's center of gravity...by countersteering. |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by talonstorm on 05/05/09 at 18:24:57 I dropped mine back in January.. have some permanent road rash on the left arm just below the elbow :) One thing I learned about it was don't ride unless you're in the right mentality for riding (I was having a very bad day that day).. Didn't have time to work on mine and just getting back to fixing it after the drop... unfortunately when I went down I skid into a curb (which stopped my slide)... needless to say I'm now learning how to align the front fork :-[ Did pick her up again right afterwards and get back on, though haven't gotten to ride since putting her back in the garage.. but getting the itch to fix it and start riding again.. |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by serowbot on 05/05/09 at 18:49:20 You went down,... and you got up again.... That's aces in my book.... Congratulations!.... Serowbot |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by Laurie Savage on 05/08/09 at 09:56:37 [color=#ff9900]I cannot tell you all how appreciative I am for your advice! Thanks to all!!! I just received an sweet leather Suzuki bag for the back of my seat. I am so glad i was able to get it it is awesome!!! and next to NEW!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230338138337&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&viewitem= On a different note, if anyone :) HAS NOT SEEN THE NEW STAR TREK MOVIE, I highly recommend it. It was one of the best movies I have seen as of late! [/color] |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by Laurie Savage on 05/16/09 at 21:23:36 Since my other Memphis Shades Hellcat bit the dust in the "incident" this is the one I replaced it with. http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/capri331/Motorcycles/PDR_0097.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/capri331/Motorcycles/PDR_0093.jpg |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by Laurie Savage on 05/16/09 at 21:30:43 I added this too; http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/capri331/Motorcycles/PDR_0096.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/capri331/Motorcycles/PDR_0094.jpg |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by Laurie Savage on 05/16/09 at 21:34:21 This was added just today http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/capri331/Motorcycles/PDR_0101.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/capri331/Motorcycles/PDR_0105.jpg http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b203/capri331/Motorcycles/PDR_0102.jpg |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by Phelonius on 05/17/09 at 10:58:07 5B7662657E72447661767072170 wrote:
If you are into great movies, I recommend "Australia" Phelonius |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by Laurie Savage on 05/17/09 at 13:18:31 It's on the Netflix list, maybe for this week |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by sockmonkeygirl on 05/17/09 at 15:45:51 Laurie, sorry you went down. Glad you will be ok. Your bike is pretty! Truthfully, I am confused as hell about this countersteering thing. I think I ride more instinctively then technically. Likely a bad thing. :( |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by Rocco on 05/17/09 at 19:26:54 honestly sockmonkeygirl u probably do countersteer and don't know it.....when asked people usually say it's easier to show then explain!! |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by PTRider on 05/17/09 at 22:01:29 667A767E787A7B7E706C727C6779150 wrote:
Here's a good description of countersteering: http://genjac.com/BoomerBiker/Countersteering.htm At speeds under 6 mph we turn the handlebars right to turn right. At higher speed the bike reacts differently. We all know that a motorcycle must be leaned over to turn. Here's what happens every time at speeds over 6 mph: 1--Turn the handlebars right just a bit. The bike starts to turn right. 2--Centrifugal force causes the bike to lean left almost immediately. 3--When leaning left a force (gyroscopic precession) causes the steering to turn left. The bike turns left as it continues to lean left. 4--Turn the bars a bit left, centrifugal force stands the bike up, and the turn ends and it goes straight. If I got all my lefts and rights in the correct order, here's the summary. Push the bar's left side to turn left. Push the bar's right side to turn right. Try it. Keep your body lined up on the bike...if the bike is leaning over 10°, your body is lined up and leaning an equal 10°, not offset to either side. Ride in a safe spot and push on the right bar. You'll lean right and turn right. Push harder and you'll lean more and turn sharper. Push harder, scrape a peg, and lean your body way into the turn to get the bike a bit upright off the scraping peg. Try this--in a safe place, take your left hand off the bar. Open your right hand so only your right palm is in contact with the twistgrip. Push on your right palm. The bike will turn right! Now practice for an emergency. As you're riding in a safe place, pick a spot on the pavement that you can dodge around. A pebble, a tar mark, a leaf, anything that won't be a problem if you run over it. Aim at the mark, then push the bars on one side, go around your mark, then push the bars the other way to straighten out. Do this about 3,000 times so it is ingrained into muscle memory. When you need to dodge something or straighten the bike out after a gust of a side wind, you'll countersteer the bars to straighten the bike. Think of this...if a gust of wind pushes you to the left and the bike starts to steer left, which way to you turn the bars to straighten the bike?...You want to go right, and if you turn the bars right centrifugal force will make the bike lean more left and maybe you'll get thrown off. Counter steer...push the bars on the right side (turn the bars left) to go right. That's countersteering. You're doing it now without knowing it. The question is what you'll do in that emergency situation. |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by JaniceM on 06/08/09 at 21:05:20 This place has really helped me. I was so embarrassed to admit what has happened..now I know it isn't unusual! My first day out, hubby rode the bike to a parking lot and began to have me walk it and some of the basic things the MSF course did. What we didn't realize is that my new riding boots had more of a bubble toe, and the first time I went to shift, it got stuck and I went into a panic, knowing I couldn't get my foot down to stop, and I grabbed front brake too hard and went down. The bike landed on me, and my knee and body were a mess for a week. Lost my nerve until two weeks later. Was up to doing turns, going through my neighborhood. I had been OK for about an hour, when I was in my last turn coming toward home. My coach/friend reminded me in each turn about looking where you want to go. I rode a bike for 50 miles a day/3 times a week for years, and this concept made no sense (until now, after riding my bicycle again). I saw a chipmunk coming out, looked toward it to keep an eye on it, next thing I know, the tree and curb are coming. My lack of experience in swerving probably did me in..I went down, hard. Lost a tooth and was hospitalized with bleeding and swelling of my brain. All at less than 10 mph! I believe helmets should be a choice--but the neurosurgeon said that helmet saved me from possibly dying, considering my injuries. I'll never leave home without it again, just like American Express' old commercials! Got the turn signal fixed. Had to rewire the one that was supposed to be 'oem'. I'll have to read your boards about that one. The mirror is a work in progress, but almost done. It's OK, as I was nervous just sitting on it once I got cleared to ride. I am finally feeling like I am ready to ride again. I get motion sick as a passenger, and I watch hubby enjoying his ride--I can't wait to go with him, and neither can he! I rode the bike home the day of my accident. Except for the neck sting, whiplash, I didn't really think I was hurt that bad. How have you guys gotten past it and went on to ride again? One thing I think would help would be installing crash bars. Despite its light weight, that darn thing can do a number when you end up under it! My stomach goes into my throat just thinking about releasing the clutch and moving..although each day, it seems to get better. MSF course had no opening until into July. BTW--it is free here in PA if you are a resident--some states charge for this? It seems some of you have mentioned saving to take it. Thanks for reading this far==it's so great to have a place to feel understood! Janice got her used, 2007 with 48 original miles, white irridescent like pearl S40. No modifications--yet. Have some in mind! |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by John_D on 06/08/09 at 22:16:10 The MSF course I took was fantastic. If I hadn't taken it, I'd have probably wiped out by now. And you're lucky to be able to take it free. The state of Washington subsidizes a certain amount of classes each month in each area, and once those are full, you pay full price. Subsidized are around $120 I think, non- are about $190 if I remember right. Guess which I got? :( Still well worth the money in my opinion. [smiley=thumbsup.gif] |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by FreeSpirit on 06/08/09 at 22:59:15 JaniceM....I think youre right on the highway bars/crash bars! I had a bad fall on mine when I first got it(not as bad as yours though) The bike fell on my leg when I went down,my leg was swollen really bad,with huge knots and bruised for over 3 weeks,hurt to walk. I put highway bars on mine and was no longer concerned about falling....and havent since,but I know the whole weight of the MC wouldnt fall on me like it did before,so that made me less afraid to learn to ride it. (Just my thoughts on it) Plus taking the MSF course. More people have fallen at least when learning than you think :) |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by FreeSpirit on 06/08/09 at 23:13:30 Laurie, Your bike is pretty! I love all the stuff you added to it! |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by serowbot on 06/08/09 at 23:40:02 If you feel wary of falling down,... that's normal. If you feel terrified,... don't ride. I've been down several times, and there is a recovery period. September I was t-boned by a pick-up truck, and had flashbacks at intersections for months. Almost gone now. But,... I also buy and sell bikes, and have occasionally refused to sell to people that I've seen truly fearful on a bike. It's not something you have to do. If you feel it's not right for you, just stop. If you feel certain, that if something goes wrong, you'll go down, be hurt, or killed,... don't push or be pushed into anything. I ride,.. I've ridden for many years, and I've been down enough to know better. It will happen if you ride.... But I can't swim... I've tried, but it just don't work for me. Water is not for me. No rational reason, but it just ain't right for me. If everything in says no,... listen,... Otherwise, take care, and be safe,... and your bike is pretty, and very orange... And please,... don't ever call my bike pretty,... I have my pride... :-? |
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Title: Re: My first dirt... Post by T Pol 903 LT on 07/26/09 at 10:14:15 We'll do more riding here in the near future |
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