Newbie to all newbie’s and experienced riders / question.

[tonyk]

my friend really want’s to buy a bike and ride with other people who ride motorbikes..
BUT
To all newbie’s have u ridden a cycle and if so how long before should you wait tillYou decide that you are ready to go to the next stage of a motor cycle.
.I asked have you got a feel of balance for bikes ?
Have you ever let your hands off the handle bars and used your body to control your bike
Have you ever ridden with one hand cos the other is busy getting flies / hair out of your eyes
IMHO
You first need to ride a cycle before getting a motor bike….If you cant ride a cycle what are you doing in riding a motor bike…
Please lets hear some comments…..
AM I WRONG IN THINKING THIS ?

[G]

I think very wrong, completely different kettle of fish.

I havnt ridden push bikes for year infact since I was about 16. I hired one in scotland last year and couldnt ride in a straight line and found it very awkward......does that mean I shouldnt be riding a motorbike?

A motorcycle will balance itself (due to gyroscopic effect plus the design of the vehicle).

A push bike is generally harder to balance.

It won't hurt to learn on a push bike first (well, that depends on how many times you fall off I suppose), but it's not required.

I feel a push-bike reacts the same as a motorbike, counter-steering, balanced braking, leaning over. to me is 100% relevant.

No one else agrees with me tho, be they riders or not.

only differences are (and they are big differences) Speed of machine, and weight.

*I used to do a lorra lorra cycling as a lad, and i reckon has helped me on the motorbike .

[tonyk]

Originally Posted by injury_ian

I feel a push-bike reacts the same as a motorbike, counter-steering, balanced braking, leaning over. to me is 100% relevant.

No one else agrees with me tho, be they riders or not.

only differences are (and they are big differences) Speed of machine, and weight.

*I used to do a lorra lorra cycling as a lad, and i reckon has helped me on the motorbike .

I agree /
to me, i see the first step is to learn how to ride a cycle then when youve got your balance then go on to motorbikes.

IF YOU CANT BALANCE ON A PUSH BIKE,
WHAT CHANCE HAVE YOU GOT ON A MOTORBIKE....
some how my friend does not understand this concept.

Having said that, if i had never cycled before and wanted a M-bike I'd be damned if id take up cycling first?!?

I think injury_ian has summed up everything I was going to say!

Alex

[tonyk]

if that person has not a clue how to ride a push bike am i wrong is saying
learn pedel bike first then go to motor bike....
am i the only one who feels this ?......

I think thats the main aim of CBT - before you're allowed out with other traffic, prove to us that you can survive a wobble around these cones.

I think pedal bike experience (as a lead into powered two wheelers) might be counter productive, if anything - the brakes are in the wrong place, as are the accelerators

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by orose

I think pedal bike experience (as a lead into powered two wheelers) might be counter productive, if anything - the brakes are in the wrong place, as are the accelerators

No they arent front brake is in the same place on a pedal bike as a motorbike.

The only things relevant are

1. Lines through corners
2. Braking i.e brake in a straight line not in a bend
3. Road positiong and common sense
4. Counter steering does work on a pedal bike but only if you are gonig fast and even then it makes the bike steer really fast as it has no weight so its easy to tip off

As for riding no handed, yes I do that, as for using my weight to steer the pedal bike yes I do that to. But is it necessary to have these skills to ride a motorbike, no its not. As long as you can balance then thats all you need I think, everything else you'll get taught, learn along the way or through bike safe or IAM.

I dont think its counter productive, the being vulnerable and riding defensively is more relevant on a pedal bike than a motorbike IMHO. Also I find it teaches me to read the road better and get better feel from the bike as I have a tiny contact patch on the pedal bike and I get used to lack of grip etc etc.

It has made me more cautious on the motorbike and it takes time when switching between the two to get used to the additional weight and slower steering of the motorbike as opposed to my pedal bike.

However what riding a pedal bike doesnt teach you is how to deal with speed and acceleration and thats what gets you into trouble on a motorbike.