The best way to learn to ride - is not on a motorycycle!

[Fridgitator]

I agree with you, Danger. Like most people, I learned to ride a bicycle before a motorcycle. I rode them for years, and had a pretty good sense for balance and braking. While there are differences, I would not want to have been learning the basics of two wheeled steering the first time I got on a motorcycle. As for the shifting, while the mechanics of it are different, sensing when the engine needs a different gear is a learned skill in itself.
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[davidc83]

[wheezeburnt]

[quote="davidc83And it is cheaper to feed the motorcycle than the horse. We have 12 horses-$$$$.[/quote]

Yeah, but when they get too old, you can eat 'em.

[Debby]

When I was a kid, I had a friend with the meanest darn horse around...she would get on this horse and run the snot out of him, and pull on the reins so he'd back up till he'd rear and dance around wild on his back legs ...well, maybe the GIRL was mean the meanest kid around . She talked me into getting on her horse one day and the darn thing took off running through town with me on him and I was afraid to pull back the reins cause he might rear . Was a pretty long time with me screaming on this thing before a man ran out and stopped the horse...I hates horses
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When I hear the music, all my troubles just fade away

[fastpakr]

[Humble Hob]

Bicycles are more expensive than they were whne Iw as growing up as a kid or else I'd pick one up. Maybe I should start shopping around on craigslist for one.

[miscusi]

I got on a bicycle a few months ago, it had that racing style seat,

I was so used to comphy motorcycle seats that this thin little seat felt horrible. ALL the pressure was on this little seat area right in the middle of my crack.

So ya, bicycle no good.
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[wheezeburnt]

[delurker]

Practice makes perfect.

[LaFazinator]

Hilarious ;0) *runs down to the local park* Gotta improve my lean angle! hehe

[Sarobin]

I've been practicing learning a standard car to help prepare for the MSF course. (I figure the weight of the bike, balance, and clutch shifting is wayyyy to much pressure, though not impossible in two short days).

I have to say though, between practicing on the bike and trying to drive a standard, shifting on the bike is way easier. I think its just because its simpler. Still a bit of a help though, just to think "Okay, its not just brake and gas anymore." Gets you in the right state of mind when you've been on an automatic forever.

I'm still waiting to borrow a bicycle too, I haven't ridden one since I was 15. Of course I don't want to drop a bike at the MSF course, and I still might do it, but why go into it with so much on your plate when you can ease it up a little? For me personally, I think a bicycle will help the most, especially being out on a road and feeling vulnerable.

[Duckster]