First Ride

[rpitsch650]

I recently bought my first motorcycle. A Honda Nighthawk 650. I've never rode anything two-wheeled with an engine on it. I attempted my first ride yesterday and failed. My driveway slopes up into the street and I started at the bottom of the driveway, not a great idea for a novice rider I would say. My biggest problem was throttle control. Every time I would start to let off the clutch and twist the throttle the bike would obviously pull away and I would end up twisting the throttle more than I need to. Fortunately I ended in the grass of my front yard spinning my rear tire and not in the neighbors or laying on the asphalt with a 450LB bike laying on me. I haven't tried to ride it again....I've acquired a whole new respect, or fear, not sure which lol, for my bike. I would greatly appreciate some professional advice on riding! 

[talespin]

I'm guessing that you haven't taken a riding course, such as the MSF basic course. You really, really, really should do that. It could very well save your life.

It would take 10,000 words in this post to try to explain something that you will learn in about 3 minutes in the MSF course. Park the bike until you finish a class.

An alternative is to find somebody who is a good rider and who is willing to take the time to teach you, but I think that rates a distant second to taking the course.

Just my 2¢.

[NightHawked]

Yes take the course. Depends you might even be able to use their bikes. You could save

on insurance, also. Regardless the course should teach you the right way from the start.

[Option13]

I never took the course, but I had a great mentor and had been around bikes for some time. Lacking that, you really need to sign up for MSF. Besides, you can take your first spill on someone else's bike at little cost to you!

[ariwhiteboy]

I'm guessing that you haven't taken a riding course, such as the MSF basic course. You really, really, really should do that. It could very well save your life.

It would take 10,000 words in this post to try to explain something that you will learn in about 3 minutes in the MSF course. Park the bike until you finish a class.

+ A Bazillion...

I'd hate to see a new rider hurt or at the very least discouraged from riding.

[flynrider]

   I couldn't agree more with the above responses.   When I started riding, they didn't have the MSF classes and I was forced to learn the way you are, by trial and error.   I crashed on my first ride and had several more get offs in the next several years as I learned the hard way.  Most of that would have been avoided had I been taught what the MSF offers these days.  It is by far the most painless way to learn how to ride.

[Bumblebee]

My biggest problem was throttle control. Every time I would start to let off the clutch and twist the throttle the bike would obviously pull away and I would end up twisting the throttle more than I need to.

You're using the handlebars as something to hold onto, not something to control the motorcycle. Don't do that. If you have to hold on, you're out of control.

Fortunately I ended in the grass of my front yard spinning my rear tire and not in the neighbors or laying on the asphalt with a 450LB bike laying on me.

  Anyone who says they haven't done something similar at one point or another is most likely a liar or doesn't ride.

Novice or not, the incline unless it's 25+ degrees up/down/off camber shouldn't have been an issue. It's an indication of skill level which you are humble enough to admit from the start - good on you for seeing that in yourself. We were all there at one time or another.

Park your motorcycle then go take the MSF class. Then practice what they teach you at least 2-4 hours a month in an empty parking lot for as long as you ride. I practice that type stuff (and more difficult variations of it) to this day and I've been riding for 40 years. The more I learn, the stupider I get.

I haven't tried to ride it again....I've acquired a whole new respect, or fear, not sure which

Respect and fear is a good thing. If you lose either one of those, you're a serious threat to yourself.

You'll get there.

Best advice:
Maintain proficiency above accepted standards and always train to a higher standard.
ATGATT (all the gear all the time including a full face helmet)
Stay humble.

[LOKi]

+1 on the MSF class. 

[talespin]

Fortunately I ended in the grass of my front yard spinning my rear tire and not in the neighbors or laying on the asphalt with a 450LB bike laying on me.

  Anyone who says they haven't done something similar at one point or another is most likely a liar or doesn't ride.

One week after completing my MSF I went to check out a bike I found on craigslist. To inexperienced me, the throttle seemed very notchy - not much distance between "off" and "holy s**t" - and I pulled out of the seller's driveway, turned not quite sharply enough, and scooted into the neighbor's yard across the street, hitting a bush and falling over (my first off!).

The seller came over, picked up the bike, said "You need more practice," and pushed the bike back across the street to his house. I don't think I've ever felt so humiliated, before or since.

I almost quit riding right then and there. If I hadn't completed MSF, I probably would have quit, but that little bit of training and experience had shown me that it was probably possible for me to ride.

MSF is just to get you started, and I think it's indispensable. With 12,000 miles in the seat, I'm still learning.

[Zeheeba]

MSF all the way.  And if you're lucky, you might get a NightHawk 250 to ride on like I did.  ;)  Seriously though, its worth 10 trillion times more than you will pay for it. Do eeeeeet...  its an investment in your life. :)

Safe Riding,
D

[Captainm63]

Hang in there!  I definitely agree the MSF course will help your confidence and learning skills that you can build on.  One thing I have learned is that mastery of riding is always a moving target....you will always be learning.  +1 on the respect and fear...those are good things for a rider to have and use to keep themselves sharp.  Don't ride without ATGATT! (all the gear, all the time)

[TimmyJ]

Yep the MSF course is the way to go. A great and fun way to learn how to ride properly.

Unless you learned like I did, starting when your a kid with a Honda 50, then moving up to a Yamaha GT 80, then a Kawi KE 125, then the KL 250, then the CB 360, and now the NH 750.  But my way took many years. You want to start right away. So forget about getting the Honda 50, and just take the MSF course!

[HawkinSinCity]

 

Just like Timmy; I was on a Honda 50 when I was 6, moved up to an old Zuki cci 90, then Zuki TS 185, several RM's and CR's, from 125's to 500's....I was a dirt boy. Spent VERY little time in a street saddle before picking up my 'Hawk; Yep! I thought I was as experienced as I needed to be,  until I was at the bottom of my drive and hit a small patch of collected irrigation mud... THUD!

I took the class....absolutely loved it! Learned more in two days in a parking lot than I had in over 35 years in the dirt. (possible overstatement, but still...) Take the class! Wear the gear! Stay afraid! Be an adult! Carve a corner now and then! Keep your head up! Above all....relax and enjoy your ride every time.

[LOKi]

I took the class....absolutely loved it! Learned more in two days in a parking lot than I had in over 35 years in the dirt. (possible overstatement, but still...) Take the class! Wear the gear! Stay afraid! Be an adult! Carve a corner now and then! every chance you get. Keep your head up! Above all....relax and enjoy your ride every time.

There fixed if for ya.   

[HawkinSinCity]

Ah....thanks Loki....I knew I didn't say that quite right....

[Ol School]

I still remember my first experience on a Honda 305 ...I was 15 ..a good friend of mine owned the little 305 and he insisted on teaching me how to ride .
I agreed to try only if he rode on the seat behind me .
I stalled the bike twice trying to take off ...third try he says give it more gas  so I did ....the little 305 woke up went into a wheely... my friend thought I would loose it so he slid off the back without me knowing ...I roared down the street in first gear after the front end came back to earth ....asked my friend where second gear was ..no answer ...he was on his butt in the street where I had done the wheely laughing his ass off .
no one hurt ...but I remember thinking ..this is why mama said no motorcycles !
that was many motorcycles ago ...