Good morning triumph lovers/nutters, As a newbie rider, if you can give me one piece of advice as I start my motorcycle life, what would it be? Many Thanks Judd
Start you’re motorcycle, put it in gear, ride and never look back! Well unless your IAM then do your life saver
Ride, ride, ride..... then ride some more! I only passed my test a year and a half ago, spent 2 weeks riding across Europe last summer. Riding everyday is the best thing one can do!
Take your advanced test, best thing I did after passing the direct access. You will learn so much more, be more confident and much safer.
This is the most essential truth. You can anticipate all sorts of road hazards from gravel to camber to manhole covers but the most dangerous free actor out there is driving another vehicle. My basic rule of thumb has been that ‘if you cannot see their eyes, they cannot see you’. Think door pillars! Then again, some older drivers (all!) struggle strong sunlight. Eh, your Royal Highness? Acquire, read, digest and apply the police manual......
Ride and ride some more whilst following the advice above. Take the advanced test if you like, but I'd probably get some miles under your belt first.
Get yourself the brightest headlight bulb- HID or LED and make sure the buggers see you and always have decent tyres not just the OE fitment.
Understand that YOU and only you are responsible for your life and security, so act accordingly. Don't depend/expect anyone else to save you. And enjoy........................................
Maintain good tyres and correct pressures. Regular checks and a clean bike help make you a safe rider by understanding your ride and learning how it reacts to conditions (including avoiding morons)
Join the best bike forum there is. Oh, you've already done that. Then just read and learn from guys, and gals, that have seen and done it all already..
There is no substitue for experience, so the more you ride the more experience you will gain. And a very big part of that learning will be your very quick understanding of the idiots that you share the road with. Ride within yourself and the rest will follow, and most importantly enjoy.... Wessa
That's all good advice But the best advice and can give you is paint you're bike BLACK you will look much cooler and you're bike will go faster. Tucker
All the above but the one piece of advice my Dad gave to me was "treat all other road users like they are idiots", and that's what I've always done. That includes "can I avoid that car if it pulls out". Because that is your main threat unless you ride with a death wish.
That reminds me of a piece of advice I was given on my first day down a coal mine, it was told to all the young miners " never wipe your arse with a broken bottle" I was advised It meant, you are in a very dangerous place so don't take any chances, needless to say. I never tried it.
Just one piece of advice... You're never going to get that! All of the above, but if you had a half decent instructor you should have heard all that before. May be - "Baby biker - take baby steps" If like most of us the thrill of speed is what drew you to biking, just give it time for speed to come to you. Be smooth and safe, if it feels sketchy and scary then you need to back off. You can learn from riding with more experienced riders but don't let them drag you into situations you can't handle. Always be observant, always be self critical.
