New Rider needs help

[DeweyIsgod]

After a couple years riding with me, my girlfriend decided that she wanted a bike of her own. The original plan was to wait until summer, but when the right ride showed up, plans accelerated. She's a little short - 5'1" - so ride height is important. We found a 2007 Ninja 500R with lowering links already installed and a couple low-speed drops already reflected in the price. She had her heart set on a sportbike so this is the best option. She is just shy of flatfooting, but can easily get the balls of both feet down. I'm going to have the seat shaved to try to get her heals down as well.

Anyway, with that piece in place, she signed up for the two-day MSF class this weekend.

She was a little apprehensive at first, but excited and enthusiastic after day 1. She was on a Kawasaki Eliminator 125 with no footing ride height problems. Unfortunately, she came home today with the news that she didn't pass. She lost major points on two parts of the test: the box and the cornering test. The box was outside the lines and a foot down. She says that she did one or the other in practice, but not both. The cornering test concerns me a little more. She apparently downshifted to first when she was just supposed to be braking for the turn. Realizing her mistake she grabbed brake in the turn and then exited late to go outside the red lines.

The instructors offered her a make-up test in a week or two. If she passes then, she won't have to re-take the entire class. Given her struggles, I'm now questioning whether or not the Ninja 500 is an o.k. first bike for her or if she should start on a 250 cruiser to have a little more stability. I also don't know how to help her practice. Should I take her and the Ninja to a parking lot to practice?

Any advice?

 

[wfooshee]

The Kwak 125 is what they had in my BRC, and it's a tiny bike, sitting very low. The 500 is gonna be a bit taller, but I think it's wheelbase is shorter, or close to the same. That should make box practice applicable.

Sounds like she was just nervous in the testing more than incapable. Confidence will rule.

I don't know the box dimensions for the figure-8, so all I can suggest is just practice circles, get them as small as possible in both directions, then add changing directions to the drill. NEVER looking down at the front wheel, of course. That's the biggest mistake, forgetting to look around across the box, head at 90 degrees or so. Early learners also need to remember to use the friction zone; the clutch (not the throttle) is your primary speed control in the small turns. keep reminding her of those basic fundamental points that experienced riders know from muscle memory and don't even think about any more. New riders still have to learn those.

OTOH, some people just aren't made for it. There's a possibility that this will be your discovery here. I would hate to think about my ex trying to ride: she zones out when she drives, only looks straight ahead and is 100% reactive in traffic, no planning. She'd be dead in a few minutes on a motorcycle.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Most states publish the test layout online. You can use it with a tape measure to mark up a parking lot for her. Put them all out, not just the two she had problems with. Then just shut up, sit somewhere with a soda to watch, and let her ride till she's bored. If she wants to break the routine, run it backward.

While you mean well, if she has questions let her come to you or you'll become an additional thing she's processing. About 30 seconds later you'll wonder why she's pissed at you.

Do at least a few of these sessions, maybe some light side street "follow the leader" if near home, the MSF test should be a breeze, and you'll be her hero.

 

[TomInPA]

The N500R is a great bike to start on, and won't leave you wondering why you bought such a small bike after the first six months. Sounds like a good fit to someone willing to put the effort into being a good safe rider. Being humbled on the first test is not such a bad thing. It takes concentration and work to be a good rider. The instructor did her a favor holding her back to work on more skills before turning her loose on the streets. Props to the good coaching. So like the previous advise, this is an opportunity to work on basic skills that will pay dividends later.

Be sure to get your GF in some harder gear for the road.

 

[DeweyIsgod]

The N500R is a great bike to start on, and won't leave you wondering why you bought such a small bike after the first six months. Sounds like a good fit to someone willing to put the effort into being a good safe rider. Being humbled on the first test is not such a bad thing. It takes concentration and work to be a good rider. The instructor did her a favor holding her back to work on more skills before turning her loose on the streets. Props to the good coaching. So like the previous advise, this is an opportunity to work on basic skills that will pay dividends later.

Be sure to get your GF in some harder gear for the road.

Thanks. She was the only one in the class wearing helmet, jacket, pants, boots and gloves. Given the 90 degree heat, I'm proud of her for keeping it all on for both days.

I had a dramatically different learning experience, so it's hard for me to relate and teach her. I grew up riding dirt bikes on my dad's farm and then had a couple years of street experience in high school. There isn't an age when I don't remember riding. I took 6 years off from riding before I first took the basic MSF class about 8 years ago. I remember the class itself, but with my prior experience, it wasn't challenging to pass - just a good opportunity to refine/practice skills I already had.

I guess we'll put her on the Ninja to practice and I'll look up the exercise distance and angles to lay out on the parking lot. I'm also going to try to talk to her instructors this week to see what they recommend.

 

[ahchiu]

When you have her seat taken down it will help to shave the sides of the seat in to give her legs a straighter shot to the ground (the sides of the seat that touches her inner thigh when trying to keep her foot on the ground) I hope that make sense.

 

[kegg]

The box is 20x60. The corner is 135 degrees. See if the range is open to the public when there isn't a class going on. That would be the easiest

 

[SacramentoMike]

I"m thinking of a couple of things they did in the "Total Control" class that I think would be good for her--or anyone--in practice. First, they had some little orange mini-cones, but anything would do. At least as long as they weren't bricks of something that would f*** you up if you ran over them. Lay out a course for her to ride through in a big parking lot. Don't just try to "teach her the test." Teach her how to handle a good variety of turns and road shapes. Start and stop drills, too.

The other thing I got there for the first time is to set up the cones in a circle around something like a light pole (what they used). I'd say the circle in my class had a radius of 20-25 feet. The exercise was to just ride around and around the circle--around the outside of the perimeter made by the cones--and keep your eyes on the pole the whole time--the center of the circle. You were really looking through the turn at the exact opposite side of the circle. And the circle should be big enough that you won't have much trouble with it being too tight, but small enough that you can hold the turn all the time.

When she's able to do several turns at a time, going either direction, she'll definitely have a better understanding of the feel of looking through a turn. And you should stand in the center, keeping eye contact with her, making sure of where she's looking. It might be more advanced than some beginners' exercises, but it's not beyond anyone, or dangerous in any way. Try it yourself first, see what I mean. And I agree, failing the first time could be a good thing for her. Anybody beginning to ride should understand it isn't completely simple and takes some work to do well. This is a good ongoing practice exercise for anybody, by the way.

 

[DonRed7]

Not familiar with the front end on the 500R,...but with lowering links on the rear suspension, the front tubes should be able to come up a bit if the bike has that type of front fork clamps? Keeping in mind that this should generally be done by someone who understands the handling effects.

Cheers

DB

 

[phroenips]

Assuming TX is the same as CO, dabbing one foot down is the same point penalty as 200 dabs down. In other words, if you dab once, you might as well do the duck waddle to make sure you don't go outside the lines.