The friendly "dumb" bike questions thread
Discussion
We were all new once, thought it might be nice to have a thread where we go over our silly mistakes, things we've learnt, dumb questions we've heard/asked, or ask any basic questions we have.
For me: I was forever flooding my old Yamaha (first bike) because I'd put far too much gas on when trying to start. Since I've had kick-start bikes that's become much more important! Until I know "the knack" I always go with no throttle and build up very gradually on subsequent kicks - easier to add slightly more fuel on the next kick than take it out from a previous one! Though now I do have the knack with the BSA and Triumph so I'm all good. Or buy a bike with fuel injection
Another is my FIL telling his son to mainly use the back brake. When braking, weight transfers forward, so use the front as the main braking device.
For me: I was forever flooding my old Yamaha (first bike) because I'd put far too much gas on when trying to start. Since I've had kick-start bikes that's become much more important! Until I know "the knack" I always go with no throttle and build up very gradually on subsequent kicks - easier to add slightly more fuel on the next kick than take it out from a previous one! Though now I do have the knack with the BSA and Triumph so I'm all good. Or buy a bike with fuel injection
Another is my FIL telling his son to mainly use the back brake. When braking, weight transfers forward, so use the front as the main braking device.
jjones said:
civicduty said:
Tinted/Smoked Visor or Sunglasses?
Visor is nicer and my preference but sunglasses give the option of removing them if you are out later than planned.1. Just because a zx10r has sat stock still on a sloping drive for 8hrs doesn't mean it will remain still once you start it and leave it running while you put your lid on........
Oh.....
f###.....
F###.....
S###.
My brothers face when he looked at me holding the broken off left hand mirror in his hand! He just managed to grab it as the weight of the bike toppled it over.
2. Never think: I can clean the chain with this rag while the bike ticks over in gear.
Oh.....
f###.....
F###.....
S###.
My brothers face when he looked at me holding the broken off left hand mirror in his hand! He just managed to grab it as the weight of the bike toppled it over.
2. Never think: I can clean the chain with this rag while the bike ticks over in gear.
If you have aftermarket clutch and brake levers, keep a spare clutch lever under the pillion seat, as if you get knocked off the bike, it will invariably drop onto its left side and snap the clutch lever. At this point you wont be able to ride home. A snapped brake lever isn't so bad as you can limp home using the back brake.
EagleMoto4-2 said:
If you have aftermarket clutch and brake levers, keep a spare clutch lever under the pillion seat, as if you get knocked off the bike, it will invariably drop onto its left side and snap the clutch lever. At this point you wont be able to ride home. A snapped brake lever isn't so bad as you can limp home using the back brake.
A bit brutal, but you can start it in gear then limp home too without a clutch, preferably not in heavy traffic tho
Farlig said:
EagleMoto4-2 said:
If you have aftermarket clutch and brake levers, keep a spare clutch lever under the pillion seat, as if you get knocked off the bike, it will invariably drop onto its left side and snap the clutch lever. At this point you wont be able to ride home. A snapped brake lever isn't so bad as you can limp home using the back brake.
A bit brutal, but you can start it in gear then limp home too without a clutch, preferably not in heavy traffic thoThat leads me to another dumb biker point: make sure your side stand is properly down before you lean the bike on it
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