full face helmets, as a few have mentioned, are a good thing. A dragonfly to the chin at 45 mph or more is like getting hit with a hammer. Avoid sand and oil in the lanes like the plague. Toll booths are horrible for these conditions. I hit a patch of sand on Cape Cod and the bike just went right out from under me. Luckily I landed first so Mrs. Krisolov had a nice soft spot to land. If you ride where it’s frosty cold part of the year get plenty of layers under your leather! And always drive like they’re out to kill you.
This thread is great ! Had me grinning the whole time 
Thanks for everyone’s input.
As far as falling off, I heard the same things when I started horse riding, so I’m expecting to come off my bike and hope it’s sooner rather than later and hopefully at a reasonably slow speed. With that expectation in mind, I will always gear up appropriately.
It seems that though I already drive my car fairly defensively (two major car accidents as a passenger will do that) I will be on a steep learning curve and find a new definition for ‘defensive’ Cool, if nothing else it should make me a better car driver, too.
Tavalla, I think we are long-lost sisters or something. It’s scary 
Thanks again everyone. I’m looking forward to this and your posts just made me that little bit more excited as well as a little bit more prepared.
Know what ‘countersteering’ is, and make a point of being aware that you’re countersteering when you turn. That is, to turn left, you push the left side of the bars AWAY from you, and THINK about it.
That way, countersteering will be instinctive, so when a truck jumps out of nowhere into your lane, you won’t swerve INTO it.
The advice about curves and looking ahead are good, what also helps if you actually get into the habit of turning your head in the direction of the turn which assures that you’re looking in the right place.
Something else from my dad re the size of bikes (I know you’re limited to 250cc for a while, but after that) - if you can’t lay the bike down on its side and then pick it up again, it’s too damned big for you. What are you gonna do if some idiot tips your bike while you’re away from it, wait for someone else to come along and pick it up for you?"
He also strongly advocates that you should be able to do basic maintenance on anything you drive or ride, so you can tell if the chain’s slipping or change a tyre if needed.
Isn’t she from NSW? The upper capacity limit there is 660cc I think. You should be able to get a list of learner approved models from the transport authority. From what I recall, there were some pretty decent machines on offer.
I’m allergic to bee stings, so I want to make sure I am covered up as much as possible. Basically gloves, full helmet w/visor, leather jacket, etc.
Will jeans be enough to stop a sting? I assume that if you hit a bee at 45 mph the business end of the bee will be pointed away from you and stings are unlikely? Also what do you recommend for the neck that does not look too geeky?
That’s changed then - when I was living in NSW, L platers were limited to 250cc until they got off their Ls. Minimum three months, even with a current driver’s license, I think.
Actually, Mum had to stick to 250cc for a while, and that was only two-three years back.
I couldn’t tell you if jeans would be enough to stop a bee or not, it’s never happened to me in 20+ years of riding. I would think that because of the position of your body when riding, your shins would be the most vulnerable part of your legs, and being so close to the engine, I would think the chance of this occurring would be slim. I usually wear chaps anyway, mainly for road rash, but an added benefit is that they look so damn kewl. But you definitely want the leather jacket if your worried about stings.
As for the neck wear, I usually just wear one of those cheap convenience store bandanas. Even in freezing temps, those things can keep your face warm. Although, I don’t recommend breathing into it after a night of heavy drinking.
“Ducati kickstands are springloaded”
Mine isn’t…none of the new ones are (2002 models and later).
Two tips I can think of:
-
STOP as soon as possible to adjust a helmet, shirt, jacket, boot, glove, ect if it doesn’t feel right. Trying to fiddle with something while riding is a bad, bad idea.
-
Always wear gear, and if possible…get a jacket or helmet with some bright colors. You should feel very naked, and uncomfortable, and exposed on the rare occasion that you ride your bike without full gear.
Just stumbled across 128 ways to drop your bike. Pretty funny stuff as I’ve witnessed many of these and have done many myself.
I’m gonna second, or third, or fourth the call for a full-face helmet. I see people riding around in the rain with 3/4 or beanies, and they grimace as every drop stings like a rock.
A full face is warmer in cold weather, but not that hot in the heat, really (that’s what adjustable vents are for).
Latex gloves that fit under your gloves are handy in the rain.
Bandannas are nice and useful.
When filling up the tank, make sure your bike is on the centrestand…
Believe it or not, lots of times you steer with your tush too.
Some advice (a few repeats of earlier posts but they bear repeating):
-
You are invisible. Think about that deeply.
-
When you’re riding anywhere where there is traffic, you must be focused and pay attention. Try to stop or reduce the internal dialog going on in your head. I’ve nearly run into the backs of cars twice from watching some pretty young woman on the sidewalk and not seeing that the car in front of me was stopping suddenly. That made me stop looking at women while riding.
-
When it’s raining, everything needs to slow down. No quick turns, swerving, braking, or weight shifting. Be still.
-
Find ways to allow traffic to “see” you more easily. Don’t let yourself get blocked behind other cars at an intersection. Don’t sit in someone’s blind spot.
-
You are invisible.
-
Learn to trust your bike in a turn.
-
Assume other cars are a constant hazard. Stay away from them.
-
Wear a helmet (preferably a full face) even if it’s not in fashion.
-
Look where you want to go.
-
Don’t accelerate into intersections. Instead, become instinctively aware that intersections are dangerous.
-
Ride with a headlight on.
Then go enjoy yourself.