Motorcycle Learner Licence - So What’s Next?
So you did your Pre Learner Course, went to Service NSW and now you have officially got your Motorcycle Learner Licence. Wow! So exciting.
What do you do now?
First thing you might think of is, “I need to go out and ride ride ride” because you are super excited……. right? Yep, but hang on. There should be a few things you should think about before tackling the biggest, windiest roads that you can think of.
If you are lucky enough to be a motorcycle learner with age experience, you will know that with experience, comes caution. But what if you are young. It’s hard to get a car licence as you need 120hrs of sitting beside mummy and daddy driving around for days or months. Then you might have to go for a driving lesson and spend hundreds of dollars on a driving instructor. It’s much easier to get your bike licence, right?. Just 7 hours and you’re are off. But, whatever your age………..
Now’s the time to stop and think.
You just want to get going. Maybe you have joined a group ride that is beyond your skill level. Below is a list of things that you really should think about before committing to the big ride that you’re dreaming of.
How many hours of riding have you actually done?
So apart from the 7 hours (only about 4 of which you actually did any riding) which was mostly in a circle, have you done any riding around your local streets, roundabouts and corners?Have you practiced the lessons you learnt in your Pre-Learner Course?
Did you know that you forgot a lot of what you learnt in your course within hours of walking out of the classroom and riding range? Some things you should think about practicing are the following:
Roadcraft - make sure that you are actively riding the whole time. Observe everything around you that could become a hazard. Set up your brakes and get ready to gently and progressively squeeze in case there is a hazard that could get in your way. e.g. pedestrians, potholes, roadkill, parked cars, corners just to name a few. Finally buffer away from anything that could tip you off your bike. Give yourself as much space around you by moving in your lane. Remember, you don’t have a big steel box and airbags. All you have is space and time.
Slow Riding - Not just paddling along with your feet on the ground while you are riding slowly. Get your throttle busy by getting the revs up a little, find your friction point with your clutch and drag your rear brake. These three things are all done at the same time. Great for riding in car parks, in traffic or perhaps getting fuel from the petrol station. You can also use the “drag” of the rear brake if you are going a bit quick into a corner to wash off some speed.
Sudden Braking - THIS IS A LIFE SAVING SKILL.
Never underestimate this skill. It’s something that should be practiced regularly. Get yourself in a quite street (make sure there is no one behind you) and wind up the throttle then roll off the throttle, set up the brake (take out the slack) and gently and progressively squeeze the brake on. Now unless you have 6 piston Brembo brakes on your motorcycle, use all four fingers. Make sure your motorcycle is upright and straight before you ever go for your front brake (for novice riders anyhow).
Cornering - You can read all about cornering, in my blog here. But basically, your are going to start out wide on your corner (as long as it’s safe with no oncoming traffic) ensure you are well away from the middle of the corner as some traffic will cut corners and this is a head on zone, then finish in tight. This will make sure that if you make a boo boo on that corner, that you have plenty of run off to correct an error before potentially hitting a guard rail or any oncoming traffic. Most importantly DO NOT LOOK AT ANYTHING YOU DON’T WANT TO HIT. Make sure that your chin is pointing in the direction you want your motorcycle to go and just magically, the bike will follow.Group Rides. Should I go?
So you have some friends that are heading out for a magical ride. The weather is sunny, not too hot and just perfect for your first big ride. The ride is just where you imagined that you might like to go. It’s a country road. It’s super twisty, which is why we are riding motorcycles, to go around corners, right. It feels great when you get it right. Your friends are heading to a cafe for lunch and coffee and you are itching to go.
a. Have you done enough “getting to know your motorcycle” around streets you know well before embarking on a long, possibly tiresome ride on a road that you don’t really know well. Very different riding on a road that you think you know in your car compared to your bike.
b. Have you told the group about your riding experience? 1 hour, 3 hours or maybe even 400 hours. This is probably not enough hours to give you enough experience to go out on this super twisty road. Practice practice practice before going on a big ride.
c. Mindset - this is a tough one. I know that sometimes I get on my motorcycle and I feel great and the day is going well. Other days, my mind is busy and wondering and sometimes I decide not to go for a big ride that day. You have to listen to your mind, thoughts and body. Go with you gut!Simple Motorcycle Maintenance - Check before each ride
Tyre Pressure - when was the last time you checked your tyre pressures and do you know what PSI your tyres should be? Find out and check every time you ride.
Leaking fluid - give your motorcycle a once over to check whether there is any fluid leaking from your bike.
Levers - Did you know that the ball ends on your clutch and brake levers are not to stop your hand from sliding off? No, if those ball ends are missing due to dropping your motorcycle, then your bike is now unroadworthy. Why? Because those levers now have very sharp ends that could penetrate your skin. Ouch.
Brake and Indicator lights - Are my electrics working? Have I blown a globe? Quickly check that all your lights are working so that people can see what direction you are going and whether you are about to stop. Globes can blow easily, so check these things before riding.Motorcycle Riding Gear - Think about the slide, not the ride.
So you have spend all this money on a motorcycle and helmet. You have not got quite enough money to buy an armoured jacket and gloves, Kevlar jeans and motorcycle boots.
This is so so so important, I can’t stress enough. You never know when an accident is going to happen. That’s why it’s called an accident right? My motto is “all the gear, all the time”. I never ever go for a ride without all my motorcycle gear on.
Save your money and invest in good gear and wear it.
Motocap.com.au is a government website that gives you safety ratings for clothing and helmets including comfort and abrasion resistance. There are also videos that talk material, impact protectors, stitching, zips fasteners and decorations and much much more. Please jump on this website and have a good look around. There is also fabulous information about helmets. The fit of your helmet and how to take care when not in use.Courses over and above licencing
Do you think that a motorcycle racer or an Olympian has done their initial training and never trained again to get to their No 1 top standard. Nup! The are constantly improving and getting extra training their entire life. Please make this a thing for your riding. Do lots of courses as you will gain insights for better riding techniques and how to become an overall safer rider. Take one or two techniques and practice them until you have them right, then move onto another technique.
Do you think that you’re ready for a big ride? I hope this helps you decide what type of ride you are going to do, with whom you will do it and where you might venture out for those first few rides.
Stay safe friends. Kat
