"I thought wrong..."

[2 Wheels Less]

Hey everyone (1st post... yeah buddy!)

Anyway, I'm assuming there are some things you originally thought/learned about riding that you were misinformed about (aka just plain wrong). For example, "I was told that you should always downshift when _____. I always did until one day when ____. Come to find out that what you should really do is _____."
Basically, what habit did you pick up (on the advice of someone else or by yourself) that turned out to be bass ackwards. safety gear... riding... maintenance.... it's all fair game

P.S. There may be more of these type of questions coming from me ALL SEASON LONG.

 

[Mikesmotorbike]

not sure. But I'll definatly think about it. could you please make a post in "introduce yourself" so we can learn a wee bit about you and welcome you properly?

 

[2 Wheels Less]

not sure. But I'll definatly think about it. could you please make a post in "introduce yourself" so we can learn a wee bit about you and welcome you properly?

Done and done... thnx for the reminder

 

[Mikesmotorbike]

not sure. But I'll definatly think about it. could you please make a post in "introduce yourself" so we can learn a wee bit about you and welcome you properly?

Done and done... thnx for the reminder

no problem =) sorry for not having a good answer but it's kinda late here. the only thing I've been told which is kinda dumb is "gun it, if you can ride fast you can ride slow!" far from the truth. Don't let people egg you on to do something you don't want or aren't ready for.

 

[Friz]

No one told me that you should change down gears when slowing down.

For the first 2/3 months of riding I would just pull in the clutch as I came to a stop and then try and force down the gears, I suppose like you would in a car.

I always thought something wasn't right but didn't understand till I asked someone about it. Felt like an idiot after that.

 

[Mikesmotorbike]

No one told me that you should change down gears when slowing down.

For the first 2/3 months of riding I would just pull in the clutch as I came to a stop and then try and force down the gears, I suppose like you would in a car.

I always thought something wasn't right but didn't understand till I asked someone about it. Felt like an idiot after that.

I can imagine that being a bit embarassing

 

[Friz]

No one told me that you should change down gears when slowing down.

For the first 2/3 months of riding I would just pull in the clutch as I came to a stop and then try and force down the gears, I suppose like you would in a car.

I always thought something wasn't right but didn't understand till I asked someone about it. Felt like an idiot after that.

I can imagine that being a bit embarassing

Just a bit

It's like a lot of things though. I mean, you don't fully appreciate the need for shoulder checks till you're out there riding.

 

[senthx]

I didn't know about riding with the back brake half on, when moving slowly in traffic, I do it all the time now.

 

[LeedsRider93]

I was told to always ride to the right hand side of my lane. Did that until my mod 1 instructor told me how stupid I was. Never thought it seemed right. My father still maintains this is the safest way to ride, as 'police ride like it'. What a load of rubbish!

When I stopped listening to his advice I passed the test

 

[CoseyDuntMotovlog]

In my CBT I was waiting until the bike had fully stopped before putting my foot down, because that was how I was used to riding my push bike. The instructor soon sorted me out though, to stop me from dropping their practically new bike.

 

[Trinith]

I've had people issue me a LOT of misinformation over the years. So far my favorite has been "The rear brake is useless. It's only good for causing high-sides."

 

[Yarek]

I was told to always ride to the right hand side of my lane. Did that until my mod 1 instructor told me how stupid I was. Never thought it seemed right. My father still maintains this is the safest way to ride, as 'police ride like it'. What a load of rubbish!

When I stopped listening to his advice I passed the test

It's funny you say that - I was in a police riders talk, presented by the local police bike safety guy a week after I passed my test (after riding in the left hand side of the lane). I brought up the very question of riding in the left side of the lane and he (and quite a few other very experienced riders) said that riding in the left side of the lane was a complete and utter no-no and that riding in the right hand side of the lane was the correct and safest position...

Very odd...

 

[Trinith]

I was told to always ride to the right hand side of my lane. Did that until my mod 1 instructor told me how stupid I was. Never thought it seemed right. My father still maintains this is the safest way to ride, as 'police ride like it'. What a load of rubbish!

When I stopped listening to his advice I passed the test

It's funny you say that - I was in a police riders talk, presented by the local police bike safety guy a week after I passed my test (after riding in the left hand side of the lane). I brought up the very question of riding in the left side of the lane and he (and quite a few other very experienced riders) said that riding in the left side of the lane was a complete and utter no-no and that riding in the right hand side of the lane was the correct and safest position...

Very odd...

In your case I can see how riding on the left side would be unsafe, it causes the car you're following to do a much better job of hiding your location for oncoming traffic, making it easier for someone to turn in front of you. I tend to ride more to the left of the lane so I have a more clear view of oncoming traffic and turn signals and things like that.

 

[Yarek]

I was told to always ride to the right hand side of my lane. Did that until my mod 1 instructor told me how stupid I was. Never thought it seemed right. My father still maintains this is the safest way to ride, as 'police ride like it'. What a load of rubbish!

When I stopped listening to his advice I passed the test

It's funny you say that - I was in a police riders talk, presented by the local police bike safety guy a week after I passed my test (after riding in the left hand side of the lane). I brought up the very question of riding in the left side of the lane and he (and quite a few other very experienced riders) said that riding in the left side of the lane was a complete and utter no-no and that riding in the right hand side of the lane was the correct and safest position...

Very odd...

In your case I can see how riding on the left side would be unsafe, it causes the car you're following to do a much better job of hiding your location for oncoming traffic, making it easier for someone to turn in front of you. I tend to ride more to the left of the lane so I have a more clear view of oncoming traffic and turn signals and things like that.

That's exactly what they were describing too - being closer to the middle lane let people see you more and if cars pull out on you in your near side then you have more room to manouvre (if they're slightly ahead of you, you can pull to the near side - if they're slow you can pull out to the middle if there's no oncoming traffic). Also, if they brake suddenly, you may be able to scoot past, whereas if you're on the left you may have to ditch it.

 

[Chrus600]

It also means any idiots who try to overtake you in the same lane because they're impatient will have to overtake properly rather then wedge you in the gutter if an oncoming car makes them swerve back in. It's just a more defensible road position I reckon.

I just tend to ride in the right hand portion of lane I'm unless on a motorway or going round a blind right hand bend.

I can't think of many motorcycling myths I got told, both of my parents ride which probably helps.

 

[LeedsRider93]

Re: Re: "I thought wrong..."

I was told to always ride to the right hand side of my lane. Did that until my mod 1 instructor told me how stupid I was. Never thought it seemed right. My father still maintains this is the safest way to ride, as 'police ride like it'. What a load of rubbish!

When I stopped listening to his advice I passed the test

It's funny you say that - I was in a police riders talk, presented by the local police bike safety guy a week after I passed my test (after riding in the left hand side of the lane). I brought up the very question of riding in the left side of the lane and he (and quite a few other very experienced riders) said that riding in the left side of the lane was a complete and utter no-no and that riding in the right hand side of the lane was the correct and safest position...

Very odd...

Interesting. My riding has changed since I got my bigger bike (in the time between my last post on this thread), tending to ride more to the right side of the road than I did on the 125. Still, I don't ride anyway near as close to the white line as I used to. Funny how your riding alters when you change bike.

Although I have to agree that riding on the left is an absolute no-no.

 

[pete86]

Re: "I thought wrong..."

Shouldnt you ride where you get the best view of the road ahead? Use the whole road.

 

[LeedsRider93]

Re:

Shouldnt you ride where you get the best view of the road ahead? Use the whole road.

Of course, your riding position depends on the road situation.

 

[Iroquois14]

I've had at least one. Someone once told me I needed 2 wheels to be on the ground to ride. Then I bought a supermoto. What a fool I was.

 

[Trinith]

Re:

Shouldnt you ride where you get the best view of the road ahead? Use the whole road.

Part of your statement is correct, part of it isn't..in a sense.

Absolutely yes, you should use the whole road.

However, where you have the best view isn't the right spot to be. The right spot to be is where you're safest after you account for anything that is in the road ahead, that includes other traffic, debris, water, pretty much anything. I know it goes without saying that if there's a tire in the way you should move, but you don't want to put yourself at risk of someone pulling out in front of you just so you can see another 15 ft down the road. You constantly have to weigh your options. Don't get lulled into thinking that any given factor is much more important than another. Take them all into account, and remember that often times getting a better view is as easy as slowing down a little. That's the kind of logic processing we have to do constantly, and it's why the mental fatigue factor is considerably higher than the physical.