[pheenix42]

Was putt-putting around an empty parking lot with my cousin teaching me, and after I finally was getting comfortable handling the machine...I got overconfident and didn't set up right for a stop. When I wanted to maneuver away from the fence I was next to, the bike lurched away from me and down I went. My half helmet allowed my front teeth to get broken off on the asphalt, jammed my left thumb against something and cut myself as well, and my right shoulder took a hit but didn't break.

Learned from that incident that I have to pay more attention and think through everything I want to do from the saddle, and that I need a lot more practice seeing as how that session was the first time I was in command of my bike. But, on the happy side, I was finally pulling away from stops without killing the engine (noob error No. 1!) and was coordinating throttle and brake. My crazy cousin jumps out in front of me saying, "Don't hit me, don't hit me!" :shock: Got that stop exactly right!

 

[RoadRunner322]

Sorry you dropped it and hurt yourself. What was the bike? Sounds like it may be too big and heavy for a beginner. I started riding on a Honda CB350 (in 1971) and I'm glad I started on a small one.

 

[Hilts]

Ouch! Not good news about your teeth! You say your cousin is teaching you?? Best thing to do would be to sign up for the MSF course if you haven't already done so.

 

[martin-csr]

Re: Crashed

Sorry you crashed the bike. It happens. Maybe consider wearing a full face helmet. I can't count the number of photos I've seen of FF helmets with road rash on the chin protector & face shield. I don't mean to sound harsh, but you crashed the bike. A drop is when the bike falls over when it's not moving --- there's no sense in sugar coating a crash by calling it a drop. Motorcycling is serious business. :shock:

Good luck & ride safe!

 

[pheenix42]

Re: Crashed

My apologies; I thought 'dropped' was a rider's term that covered from a standstill or a moving accident. See, I've learned something else! For those who might be interested, my Kawasaki is an '82 KZ440 LTD. I failed out of my Beginner Rider Course in the first 1 1/2 hour on the first range session day, due to no experience at all and my goggles fogging on me all the time. That day I just couldn't get the Suzuki GN125 into Neutral, neither could I feel the 'friction zone' on the clutch lever. All that contributed to creeping panic, and when I took off my helmet and gloves, the instructor asked what was wrong and could see my hands shaking. So, he directed me to sit down for a while and get some water, and he came back a few minutes later with a form asking me not to continue that day. I'm entitled to take the course again, but that's another $199 I gotta come up with, and I'm not sure the local organization will have a session I can attend before they completely sell out for the year.

 

[RoadRunner322]

Re: Crashed

Best of luck to you! I hope the learning process won't be painful again! The 82 KZ440 should be okay to start with. But, it's kind of funny how time changes things. When I started riding my CB 350, a Honda CB450 was considered to be a big bike. I bought my 71 CB350 new and then asked the salesman how to ride it! He got a mechanic to ride me around a parking lot and show me the controls. Then he went back to work and I played with it an hour and then rode it 60 miles to home. I had recently gotten out of the Army and back then I could standing press 200lbs. So, I could manhandle the bike if need be.

 

[martin-csr]

Re: Crashed

My apologies; I thought 'dropped' was a rider's term that covered from a standstill or a moving accident. See, I've learned something else! For those who might be interested, my Kawasaki is an '82 KZ440 LTD. .....

Many riders will probably disagree about what a drop is. To me it's a harmless boo boo, such as forgetting to put the side stand down or dropping the bike when you're pushing it around. I have a hunch that many riders use the word because they don't want to admit crashing their bike.

I learned to ride on a similar sized Kawasaki, going around a tree in a small bumpy yard. Without realizing it, I accidentally taught myself excellent throttle control --- it wan't easy doing it the way I did, but at the time I didn't want to ride in the street.