Added: 4 years ago
From: motorman857
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  • Nice

  • nice bike

  • Motorman's techniques gives my nervous self hope to ride with confidence

  • I don't understand why do we need to activate the choke upon starting, is that necessary, or is there a specific reason for that?

    Thank you

  • @hendyk78 You use choke for a few minutes when the engine is cold to help it start easily. Then always turn it off. In summer or if you stopped for a few hours it's usually not necessary,

    Unless you already know after 3 months since your question.

  • @darksider63 Thanks, i understand, but i never used it when i start up the engine every morning, i mean its hot here, so maybe it is not really necessary, but someone told me before i can use it to heat up the engine during morning warm up, is it necessary?

  • @hendyk78 I shall quote this sentence I've found "If you have a fuel injected bike most probably you do not have a manual choke as this operation is controlled by the onboard computer." :)

  • @darksider63 no man, my bike is still using carburator, it has the chocke just beside my left handle bar, between the light switch and the side mirror holder

  • @hendyk78 So if you have choke but bike starts OK wihtout it, don't use it. Use choke only if necessary :)

  • @darksider63 ahh, ok, thanks, that clarifies it...

  • Thanks a lot! Here is your type of shool in Russia  St-Petersburg

  • Hey Brother! I've seen your videos for years! There couldn't be a better instructor! You folks pay attention, this man is the BEST! Check out his videos with his team, you won't find a more skilled rider!! Shiny side up! Peace and Blessings from an old rider who can always tell ya when the weather's gonna change!

  • @scojoseattle thanks!

  • When we all began riding there was no MSF course. We just got the best bike we could afford and usually that was small. We rode around the neighborhood, anywhere safe until we felt good and off we went. After years of hard riding as a kid you tend to learn all the good stuff naturally. Still, it seems a risky way to learn. By the way-we all dropped bikes back then at one time or another. MSF course sounds like the best way to go now!

  • THANK YOU!, Motorman857.. I can just see you telling your students how important it is not to wear crocs with a stern face.."Whatever you do, do NOT, and I repeat...DO NOT wear crocs while riding in public!" . "or anywhere else for that matter"...lol.

    Youre a cool guy for answering my post..lol...that is a true story..and yes...it still haunts my poor traumatized eyes.

  • @55points Glad to be of service to you, hope your eyes heal quickly, I understand the horror.

  • I think it should be mandatory for the police to arrest guys who ride cool bikes wearing croc shoes...stopped at a light and a awesome harley pulled up along side me. Heck. I will never be the same...guy was wearing white crocs..WHITE...in my book that is cause for impounding the bike...please teach THAT in your class..thanks. Even my wife would agree with that......................

    lol.

  • @55points I will do that. White Crocs?  Wow, when will these riders ever learn??

  • I'm 17 and just got my licence. I wanna get a motorcycle but i'm not sure if i should. My mom says i shouldn't. Well, actually she forbids that i do. But i love bikes so much. I'm also kind of scared because i have a friend in my church who was in an accident, and he will never walk again. He's in an electric wheelchair 24/7. I also know several other people who have died or have been hurt in accidents. Anyone have any advice for me?

  • @crazypersonlol34 The only advice I can give you is to get as much training as you can before you ever start riding out on the road. Training and practice are key to becoming a skilled and confident rider. Riding a motorcycle is a risk, do all that you can to eliminate that risk by training and being aware of all your surroundings at all times. You have to make the decision, no one else can do it for you. If you want to ride bad enough, learn how to ride with skill.

  • @crazypersonlol34 dont be a pussy and keep ur eyes open when ur ridin lol

  • @crazypersonlol34 To add my bit of advice, don't be an idiot about gear. Flip-flops and shorts are not "gear". Get a good helmet, not a party lid; full face is preferable (sorry Motorman) as 1/3 of head injuries are to the face. A good motorcycle jacket with back protector and knee+elbow pads. Pants with knee protection. Motorcycle shoes or boots to protect ankles. Gloves. If you live in a very warm climate like I do (think Florida) this can be a pain but I'd rather have sweat than skin grafts.

  • you know what? that 'allways look to where you wanna go' rule makes a lot of sense to me know. when i practice on my dad's bike , turning is a lot easier. but i don't get! i know where i wanna go, so i turn the handlebars to it. how does it get better if you really look to where you wanna go? i don't know, but it does!

  • @Poltergeyst It gets better because you don't think about your steering but subconsciously (and correctly) countersteer. If you turn the handlebars towards where you want to go you may well be turning the bike the wrong way, then correcting.

  • Nice bike i like it a lot. Lots of style. I want one.

  • Suicidally good this girl is awesome, great ride!

  • @longplainfirstnation yea, her motorcycling skills aint too bad either lol

  • Who cares if it's in neutral or first gear when you start it; as long as my bike starts that's cool with me :D

  • @kc958 Amen

  • @kc958 Most Honda's will only allow you to start in Neutral, wich is sometimes kind of a pain. One time I stalled in heavy traffic, and to start it back up again I was looking for the Neutral and I had a Ferrari behind me, I pulled the bike over to the side and the Ferrari revved the engine making a Vespa's alarm go off....

  • @micas96 Now that seems like more of a hazard than a pain. And those damned Ferraris...

  • @kc958 Yep, that's how it works though. Still Honda for the win!

  • The best and most basic tip ever.

    Keep the rubber side down.

  • Why hold the clutch while starting the bike if it is already on neutral?

    If you do that while being evaluated on a car, you are out... of course, if you know how to drive a car with manual shifting.

  • @saulocpp who said anything about starting out in neutral? You start out in first gear.

  • @motorman857: sorry for the ignorance, but why start in 1st gear and hold the clutch instead of starting in neutral, just like any motorized transportation?

    I'm asking because we are never taught to start a car in 1st gear and step on the clutch, but you say otherwise here and I'd like to know why.

  • @saulocpp I think you're getting confused here. I am talking about when you start off on your motorcycle, you are in 1st gear, you're in the friction zone (clutch) and feeding throttle. You can start your bike anyway you wish, however, the new riders are always taught to make sure their bike is in neutral before starting and always pull the clutch in regardless of that green neutral light. Hope this clears things up for you.

  • @motorman857 I remember when I took the MSF Course the instructors said "Never Trust a Light ! ! ! Always check that the motorcycle is in Neutral by physically rolling the bike back and forth when able and safety allows. If the bike moves freely the bike is in Neutral". I didn't hear you mention FINE-C in this video. The first steps before starting the motorcycle or are they phasing that out of the MSF course now that a majority of new bikes are Fuel Injected and do not have a Choke ?

  • @WatchToddPattison the Suzuki Bandit 2008 model are still equipped with a manual choke,but I am not sure of newer models. most new cars - diesel and benzineenigines have injection and have a 15 second extra amount of fuel, depending on the weather. if its real cold the engine will stop, and the you have to repeat it - a good battery is the key here.

    ThM - Norway

  • @saulocpp For a car, it depends. Some times you are on a slope, in which you put the gear towards the opposite way of the way you are aiming. Meaning if its leaning forward, go into revers and what not.

    As far as starting, it doesn't matter. Its always preference. The reason why they do what they do in school is because its just simply more simple.

  • @saulocpp holding the clutch in is to avoid the skid or skip..then release the clutch slowly the bike will move forward on the first gear...

  • @saulocpp when the engine is cold, you should hold the clutch in an automobile because the shaft into the ( manual) gearbox is disconnected. it also help you even when the engine is warm - from jumping into something when the gear is in neutral position. but you americans dont know anything about that - you have your automatic transmission and never learned about this.

    ThM - Norway

  • @thm4855 We built the first automobile so you can suck it. Your the one riding around in American engineering. If you hate American's so much get rid of pretty much everything in your house and that you own becuase it's most likely Amercan engineering. GO AMERICA!!!

  • @FBGMTDub I have been in US many times in my life, but I havent met so bigmouthed people like you.

    Most things in my house are high quality things made here in Europe - I am not so much for american junk.

    ThM - Norway

  • @thm4855 Thats funny because I'm from Deutschland. And atleast I can admit that America is better. I'm not a stuck up jealous asshole like the rest of Europe. Big mouthed? Your just mad because I speak the truth. America was the creator of everything you love doing and own. So stop being stuborn and acting like a little kid.

  • @FBGMTDub LOL no dude. americans dont make shit. china does tho :)

  • @saulocpp imho if you use clutch to disconnect transmission, starter motor will use less power to start the engine (smaller engine load). while clutch is not engaged, starter motor is forced to move both engine and connected transmission (neutral gear of course), same thing as in car. cheers!

  • @saulocpp In some cars, you really need to hold the clutch to start the motor, most of the exotic cars work this way, if you torn the key without holding the clutch the motor wont start.

  • @saulocpp many people leave their motorcycle on first gear cuz it wont move, for example if ur on a hill and u leave it on neutral, ur mototrcycle is more likely to fall or start heading down the hill if ur kickstand has been moved, but i always start it in neutral without holding the clutch, i dont know why people hold the clutch even when their in neutral, its stupid a pointless, maybe for safety reasons or something.

  • @saulocpp Some bikes even when in neutral wont start unless the clutch is held in. 07gsx-r600 for example

  • @saulocpp Occasionally even though the green indicator light shows the bike to be in neutral, when the starter engages the bike slips into gear. This will startle the rider and they may drop the bike. It is easy enough to hold in the clutch, so as to not be surprised.

  • @saulocpp My bike won't start unless the clutch is pulled in

  • @saulocpp some bikes will not start if you don't have the clutch squeezed , even in neutral....or if the kick stand is down.

  • I took the MSF class did everything good and now know how to ride...did I pass...no because I got nervouse on the last part of the test and started in second from there since it was times i screwed myself over, but I now know how to ride. I will take the course again, but now i will wait a while get my permit first buy a bike so I can practice on and then take the MSF course though u truely dont need it...but if you are just starting it is worth every penny..did i pass no but I learned A LOT!!!

  • i bought a dirt bike and just practiced in the pasture i layed it over in the mud a few times then bought a Honda shadow put 18000 miles on it and in the spring buying a Indian chief never layed any bike over on the highway no tickets yet and no training course but if ur a retard and dont even have the since to drive a car stay off motorcycles

  • Jerry,

    I'm learning to ride at 55 years old, never been on a bike. Any special considerations for someone like myself?

  • @MIKE30094 No, as long as you take the beginner course and get started the right way.  Once you get your motorcycle license, that means you're qualified to ride in a parking lot. You MUST learn the three techniques and apply them every single time you are on a motorcycle and practice is the only way to becoming a skilled and confident rider. That is the key.

  • If your a new rider practice on a twist and go, then take on gears - I did this, much easier to get used to the bike without the gears.

    Keep clutch in below 10mph etc

  • I would advise anyone NOT to take the MSF course without some prior knowledge of how to ride a bike. These videos are great for that. I went in cold to the beginners group, I was the only true beginner in the class, and the pace of information was just way to fast for me. I quit. Now I am learning through these videos, something I wish I had done before I took the course.

  • @cjfredonia Glad my videos are helping you cj. Remember, practice is the key.

  • @cjfredonia The basic rider course is designed for people with little or no experience. You are better off taking the course. it is not a good idea to learn from watching videos only.

  • @cjfredonia I took the course and learned a lot...didnt pass cuz i got nervouse on the last part of the test and started in second gear...since it was timed i couldnt pass it...but they teach a lot and though it is fast you learn a lot...i as well went in there with no idea how to ride...now i know how to ride...now its all about practice practice practice....this is what im going to do and i suggest you do as well. Look for a bike to buy(nice beginner bike like ninja 250) and practice B4 MSF

  • I make in few days my Motorcycle license...its easy, to ride a bike...and when your good, IT MAKES FUN!!! i wanna go drive every day, just for Fun!

  • i want a motorcycle license but i've never tried on motorcycle. do they teach you how to ride in the dmv or u have to learn yourself?

  • @o0jun0o Here in the USA, you take a motorcycle safety class to get your motorcycle license.

  • @motorman857 do you think i can ride a motorcycle well by taking MSF even though i had 0 experience? i also have no driver's license but i want a motorcycle

  • I'm thinking about getting a 2002 yamaha r6. I own a manual m3 and I'm really good at it. I've even had a few track days. I have zero experience on a bike and I'm really looking to get into it. Do you have any advice for me as far as getting started, riding a bike for the first time, and finding a fair price for insuance? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

  • @shocker792

    Do not, get an R6 as your first bike as you will die. Pretty much.

  • Are these videos available in Canada? My 16 yr old son will be starting to learn this spring and I'm not sure if I would be the best teacher.

  • can I change 5th gear to second gear directly??

  • no, has to be done in steps, 5th to 4th, 4th to 3rd, 3rd to second.

  • nope.

  • y?? and no u cant.

  • im so glad i took up motorcycling and im past this part, not knocking learning, im just glad to see im past it

  • Pretty strange pulling the clutch in when starting unless your in the first and not in neutral.

  • when starting out, you want to be in the friction zone, that's the area of the clutch between completely open, completely closed.

  • @EUMP Better safe than sorry I guess, I know when I start a strange bike I clutch since sometimes the neutral light is on but the bike is just in gear, same applies when the light doesnt come on sometimes and its in neutral, arrrr the fun of bikes

  • Thanks but i blow! tried crashed bike 2 times....really dont feel like expieriencing that pain a 3rd time. good luck ,,god bless,,maybe 1 day ill grow a set big enough to try a 3rd time.

  • offer some help, are you having problems with take off or what and what r u trying to learn on, crotch rosket,cruiser, 500, 750?

  • Hey , great video! thanks!

  • Hi I'm a new motorbike rider and I've watched your video. It has tought me how to shift but just one quick question. How do you know when to shift gears on a motorbike?

    Thanks

  • RPM meter and from the sound of the bike. You'll know it when you ride for a while.

  • It's really a feel that you have to develop thru trail and error. You can also hear when the motor sounds srtained as the revs build.

  • @icemaco94 Watch the revs on the meter.

  • Thanks alot This helped my understanding.

  • neutral lights lie , try to move the bike to make certain it is in neutral

  • Thanks. I didnt knew that.

  • @exilog Well it can happen that it fails I guess, but if you put it in neutral you can just let the clutch go right? Because if it is in first or second, and you release the clutch rather fast then the bike will stall right? And if it stalls you'll be standing still anyway.

  • @DavidSlagter True, but some bikes are powerful enough that dropping the clutch will give you a very violent kick. Enough that you could lose control of the bars and drop the bike.

    It's better to let the clutch out slowly that way if you're in gear it will load the drive line, drop RPM, and you'll know you're still in gear without any drama.

  • @atsernov Although I never seen that happen, i'm sure it's true. And it's the better way of checking indeed. But I think that you get annoyed with that routine very quick.

  • @DavidSlagter Maybe.

    I don't know if I've gotten so used to doing it that I don't notice it anymore, or if I simply started trusting my bike and simply drop the clutch when it tells me it's in neutral. What ever it is, I haven't stalled my bike since I got comfortable with the friction point.

    But when learning, I found that releasing slow to check for neutral was the way to go for me.

  • @DavidSlagter You fracture me! Your entry was so funny. LOL. I love reading these comments...makes me feel better to know I am not the only one...we all have the same damn questions! Thanks for some levity! "And if it stalls, you'll be standing still anyway"...Love it!

  • @exilog Who cares if it's in neutral? I pull the clutch in and fire it up, I never ever leave my bike in neutral nor start it in neutral unless I'm gonna leave it idling. If the bike's cold, I ride as low as 17*, it's harder to crank over spinning the tranny gears. BMW airheads forever, mine has 98 K on it, I've never bothered to get a bike license either. 45 years of riding and not one fuckin bike ticket, top that. I thihk I'll get one for my 60th birthday next year.

  • thanks, brian. Glad I could help.

  • What a fantastic and very informative video. The instructor speaks clearly and explains everything in just the right amount of detail and the camera work is also well done with the close ups of all the relevant items.

    Thank you very much for sharing it with everyone, The DVD looks like a very worthwhile purchase.

  • i have a feeling ur getting a portion of the profits ;D  good plug. lol

  • Comment removed

  • I recently got a sportster and have started practicing riding. I have fallen a few times for lack of control, and that has given me fear to ride it. I want so much to master it, control my bike so I won't be afraid. I feel sad because I feel like a coward. I know that if I could overcome the obstacles I will enjoy riding it. Any advice?

  • Yes. Learn the PROPER techniques, then practice those techniques. When it comes to riding a motorcycle, your instintcs are completely wrong. If you practice the wrong things, you will only get very good at doing it wrong. The proper techniques will give you confidence and skill, and your fears will disappear.

  • My husband says the same thing. He has been rididng for more than 20 years so to him its no big deal but to me it is a little intimidating. In your opinion does it matter what size the motorcycle is if its your first time riding a motorcycle? Is a Harley sportster too big for me to learn on? ( he got it for me as a Christmas gift) .When I was going to take the dmv test, I had to rent a smaller bike to be able to pass it. I couldn't do it with my sportster.

  • Check out the free documentary with Stephenie, on my web site. We took this 96lb girl from never having been on a bike to riding in my show in less than 24hrs. A Sporster was one of the bikes she leanned on.

  • If I where you I would take a motocycle safety class...It would give you confidence once you pass it...I took the class, it was fun!

  • I can heartily recommend all Jerrys vids. In the UK there is NOTHING like this , sadly . He really helped me ... a shortarsed 5'4" bloke to chuck his Dynaglide around .... and have the confidence to go out with the HOG group ..... and now I am doing MY own vids! :-) ... thats a plug to watch the above video response, viewers :-)

  • You may be starting off in 2nd gear, or your clutch is slipping due to improper adjustment or a burned out clutch. Have an experienced rider try the bike.

  • i got my first bike today, it's a suzuki across gsx250f...

    and the only time in my life i've ridden a motorcycle i when i did the riders training course, which i passed. but anyway, the problem i have is that when i get to the friction point of the clutch, there is no movement at all in the bike.., and so i have to start by raising my rpms to around 4000 and let the clutch out slow...

    but it doesn't sound right.

    any advice??

  • It sounds like you have no conception of how to coordinate the clutch and throttle. In the Easy Way dvd I show you several ways to get familiar with the friction zone. In Ride Like a Pro V, I give you a bunch of friction zone exercises that will make riding so much easier and more enjoyable.

  • i understand the clutch and everything, at the learners course i was getting the bike to the friction point and it was moving and i got the hang of it.

    but with the bike i have now (suzuki gsx250f) i get to where the friction point is, but the bike doesn't move, i can get the bike to around 4-5000 rpm then let the clutch out slow and the bike runs fine.

    i had a good ride today, but i still don't know why the bike doesn't move at friction point.

  • its because it is only a 250cc bike and therefore not powerful enough to move itself using only the clutch. You will have to use the throttle to get the bike moving unless you are riding a much higher cc bike.

  • One very important tip is to make absolutely sure both wheels are on the road at all times.

  • am on my restricted motorbike licence but i find trouble in turning at corners,intersections.when i ride with freinds or even when im by myself i see most riders not stop when getting to an intersection or corner they slowly roll up to the corner and look for cars whilst still going slowly forward and then accelerate around corner. when i go slow and keep a constant speed whilst looking for cars around the corner i can not keep the bike balanced as my eyes follow where i look.please help

  • its just practice, go somewhere where there is no traffic, ride slowly and look around and try and keep the bike balanced.. also a good trick is to ride the rear brake and feather the clutch and throttle so that u still have power going to the wheel(helps balance the bike) but your not speeding up as well...

  • "Never look at anything you don't want to hit" In practice this is easy, but when it comes down to that real momment, I find it hard not to look away! I've been riding sice 1967 and during the 90's escorted nearly 3000 funeral prcessions. What does it take to 'look where you want to go' during these moments?

  • What's it take? Practice in the proper techniques of course. We learn by repetition. The more you do it, the better you get. Remember when you couldn't start off without stalling. Thru repetition you got it right. Now you don't even have to thing about it.

  • Hi motorman rember me I am honda cbr954 2003

    because of this vid an your email response

    I ordered my first 3 dvds THANKS.

  • Nice Triumph, looks like the Bonneville.

    Great video

  • This is well scripted and edited. I like this one best.

  • Jerry, I'm getting back onto a Motorcycle after 25 years. I've order you Ride Like a Pro and Mean Streets videos, since I have to get the "M" endorsement and the MSF courses are booked up in my area till next spring, do you have any suggestions?

  • If you can't get into a class until Spring, you'll have my videos to watch over and over again. If you can get to a parking lot and practice the exercises in the order I have them in my RLAP V you will be so far ahead of the learning curve once you get to class. You should be the star student. Practice is the key.

  • im 13 and i tryed to ride my dads 1982 aspencade goldwing good lord its heavy but im get the hang of it

  • you shouldn't have any keys on your key chain, they will scratch your paint.

  • you can't put beginner riders out on a busy highway, that would not be the smart thing to do. You master your bike under controlled conditions by training and practice.

  • this very helps cheers , do i need to push choke down everytime? and leave it pushed down?

  • Only use the choke when starting cold engine.

    Should you leave the choke on after warm up

    you will damage engine.

  • so i have to idle for little bit on my bike than turn choke off and go?

  • Yes,that is correct.Best to use the choke for cold starting.A bike that has a carburater has a choke.Fuel injected bikes do not.NEVER leave the choke on after the engine warms up,you will burn the valves up in the engine.By cold starts I mean if the bike has sat all nite and it is the first start in the morning.If the weather is cold it helps even more for starting.Once engine is warmed up..aprox 30 seconds.. ease the choke to the off position.

  • Can you ride the bike during that warm up time, or must the bike idle while the choke is on?

    Great job with the video, btw. It's really informative.

  • u CAN drive with choke "on" ...

    then the engine gets warm faster.

    but i would advice u to wait a minute, because its difficult to release the choke to "normal" while driving.

    drive safe and always wear a helmet =)

  • Triumph T-100... hot sexy piece of machinery...

  • thanx for the tutorial I just bought my new kawasaki zx-12r today and I am learning

  • what if you start the bike and you thake off in first and you want to go to second! don't you hit neutral again if you shift up?

  • You go past neutral and straight into 2nd. You shouldn't have to pause.

  • Thanx a lot dude.... Just got my bike 2d... Tried it but was nt satisfied... I even did a wheelie by mistake.. I think its because i released the clutch too swiftly... Now just watched the clip and am sure that its going to help me for tomorrows second trial....

  • cool video. My little bro watched it and road his first time like a charm because of this video, thanks mate.

  • Thank U... I just brought my first BIke a suzuki gs500. i am riding for the first time today. Thank U Much....

  • thanks i just started riding a dirt bike...

  • thanx alot man  i need this ..

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