"refresher" riding course

[swiftee]

I have a sister who has a class 2b license but doesnt own her own bike and hasn't ridden for more than a year already.

 

One day we went out for breakfast, she on my xl200 and me on rz350. Along the way, I was shocked by the way she rode as she seems to have forgotten how to change lane and nearly changed lane into 2 vehicles, fortunately the road was empty at that time and the vehicles gave way to her.

 

obviously she needs more practice. but at the same time, im not really keen on the idea of letting her out alone on the road with her limited riding experience and skills. anyone has any ideas how to allow her to learn some road skills without unnecessarily putting herself in danger? thanks

 

(during my own 'newbie' period, i learnt the hard way by just going out onto the road on my own and experiencing my share of close shaves and even an accident, but i guess there's probably a safer way for her to get started...)

[ProFatSir]

i think can go to the driving center(where she take her class2B) to have a a refreshment course.

 

ssdc used to have.call them to check.

[areal]

bbdc can arrange one for u upon request..call jonathan for a quote (number on the website) refresher riding is conducted 1-on-1 with instructor. circuit + road.

do note that its not very cheap tho..the last i asked, it cost in the low 3 digits if u can get more ppl to participate the price per person might go down tho..

[crazydj]

If you want to save money, i think its good if you can teach her. Then the rest just practice. Short trips to the market, then progressively longer trips.

[Constructicon]

Actually, its the same with many new riders.

 

Many P platers, when they got their ride from the bikeshop, it is perhaps weeks/ months since they passed.

And their new ride is probably vastly different from the bike in the riding school.

 

It reminds me of an fatal accident of a phantom rider some months ago. He was killed on the day he took his bike.

Sad news, and I wonder if thing will be different if he got a friend or who to guide him.

 

For new riders who are out of touch for too long, maybe its good to have a friend or someone in the forum to guide them when they take their first bike/ ride.

It can go a long way.

 

[ProFatSir]

or you can go for defensive riding course.

[swiftee]

the refresher course seems expensive... i think we may not be trying that yet

 

id probably prefer to guide her myself. anybody has any tips on how to introduce a new rider to the road? cause right now when we ride together i usually end up watching in horror as she does something dangerous and yet am unable to prevent whatever is happening.... also i worry about overprotecting her too much (e.g. helping her block traffic) so that she is unable to learn anything

[ChaoPuzzy1968]

the refresher course seems expensive... i think we may not be trying that yet

 

id probably prefer to guide her myself. anybody has any tips on how to introduce a new rider to the road? cause right now when we ride together i usually end up watching in horror as she does something dangerous and yet am unable to prevent whatever is happening.... also i worry about overprotecting her too much (e.g. helping her block traffic) so that she is unable to learn anything

 

i tried to teach my wife........she buiang my bike and kill the cockcroaches and bemaybe give the neighbour dog a heart attack

 

, i vormit blood....

 

 

so i decided :

 

sent her to any driving centre..it's safer ...got insurance incase she kill someone....

 

 

and best of all it's the instructor vormit blood:dot:

 

 

btw if anything happen to your sister while teaching her....you be the one facing the music from your muther

 

 

think about it.....

[stanco]

Actually, its the same with many new riders.

 

Many P platers, when they got their ride from the bikeshop, it is perhaps weeks/ months since they passed.

And their new ride is probably vastly different from the bike in the riding school.

 

It reminds me of an fatal accident of a phantom rider some months ago. He was killed on the day he took his bike.

Sad news, and I wonder if thing will be different if he got a friend or who to guide him.

 

For new riders who are out of touch for too long, maybe its good to have a friend or someone in the forum to guide them when they take their first bike/ ride.

It can go a long way.

 

 

i remember that news, should be in 2008 iirc. really a tragic. and that was why i went to find my friend on the day she did the transfer of her bike despite her telling me she knew the way home.

 

P/s: is that "Road Rash" in your signature?

the refresher course seems expensive... i think we may not be trying that yet

 

id probably prefer to guide her myself. anybody has any tips on how to introduce a new rider to the road? cause right now when we ride together i usually end up watching in horror as she does something dangerous and yet am unable to prevent whatever is happening.... also i worry about overprotecting her too much (e.g. helping her block traffic) so that she is unable to learn anything

 

when the above friend just got her bike last year, what i did was to ride around the estate or minor road where there wasn't much traffic to let her get used to the acceleration, turning radius, riding position and etc. after she felt more confident on the bike, i led her to some major roads.

 

i rode in front of her, helping her to block the traffic when we need to lane change or make a turn. usually as a newbie, they have the fear of losing the person in front, so they tend to follow till very closely, so at every traffic light, try to throw a few quick instructions or tips to her. assure her that you will always ensure that you can see her from your mirror and if really got separated, tell her not to worry, and you will go and find her.

 

by the time i led her home, was around the evening peak hour. although we only rode around 50-60kmh and no lane splitting at all, i must say i really admire her guts for riding in the peak hour after a few hours on her bike. finally when her bike was parked at the carpark, i did an AAR with her. told her what to take note of, where and what she should improve on, how to avoid her near-miss and etc.

 

i don't know how she did it, but the next few days, she managed to ride around by herself. the next few times i met up with her, i rode in front of her and guided her again. if i spot any mistakes, i just threw some quick instructions at the traffic light, or did an AAR at the end of the day.

 

when i felt that she was ready, i got her to ride in front and followed behind her. tried to observe her and spot any mistake she might make. but she is good and she learned fast. i believe now she's very confident and stable on her bike already.

 

operating the bike is very easy but what makes riding so hard and dangerous is becos of the need to anticipate and be observance. the driving center is quite a safe place with so many instructors on the look out for you, but on the real world, we need to anticipate the actions of all the vehicles around us and take all the necessary counteractions. this part is abit hard to teach, but shared your riding experiences with her and try to get her to understand what you are talking about, and how/what to look out for in future.

 

one can only do so much, the rest is up to how much the individual can and want to absorb.

Edited April 4, 2010 by stanco

[Constructicon]

Oh yes, it is Road Rash.

One of the best games on Sega, way back then...

[Blahhh]

Ask her to go for defensive riding course. I think it cost around $50, last half a day and the instructor will teach her all sort of useful stuff. After that, take her out riding in light traffic then slowly increase to the point she can handle JB traffic in peak hour with one eye close.

[CSV]

short trips in quiet estates or roads are useful, thats how i learned and still am.

 

rode around my area first for a week or so to get used to shifting, turning, clutching, etc.

 

then after that move on to main roads, which is where a great deal of my learning took place since traffic is present.

 

then i move to expressway.

 

anyway, i also agree going for defensive riding. helps alot.

[crazydj]

short trips in quiet estates or roads are useful, thats how i learned and still am.

 

rode around my area first for a week or so to get used to shifting, turning, clutching, etc.

 

then after that move on to main roads, which is where a great deal of my learning took place since traffic is present.

 

then i move to expressway.

 

anyway, i also agree going for defensive riding. helps alot.

 

I remember my second day. Rode on the expressway to my station during NS, first time lane splitting because i was gonna be late. Learned alot that day. Few days later, i learnt how to lock my rear wheel and slide. Driver in front of me jammed brake.

 

I think what CSV said is good. Slowly get a feel of the bike and learn it.

Edited April 5, 2010 by crazydj

[fredi]

Actually, its the same with many new riders.

 

Many P platers, when they got their ride from the bikeshop, it is perhaps weeks/ months since they passed.

And their new ride is probably vastly different from the bike in the riding school.

 

It reminds me of an fatal accident of a phantom rider some months ago. He was killed on the day he took his bike.

Sad news, and I wonder if thing will be different if he got a friend or who to guide him.

 

For new riders who are out of touch for too long, maybe its good to have a friend or someone in the forum to guide them when they take their first bike/ ride.

It can go a long way.

 

 

I knew that guy, smart and nice fella. Nobody knows what went wrong that day.

 

I agree with you that first-time buyers should get a riding friend on the way back.

[swiftee]

I remember my second day. Rode on the expressway to my station during NS, first time lane splitting because i was gonna be late. Learned alot that day. Few days later, i learnt how to lock my rear wheel and slide. Driver in front of me jammed brake.

 

I think what CSV said is good. Slowly get a feel of the bike and learn it.

 

i remember my first time lane splitting too. a car knocked its mirror against my handlebar and i fell.

 

so i learnt to be fast when passing cars, or at least car mirrors.

[SV650]

Ask her to get a biker boyfriend. He'll do the rest.

 

On the serious note, as her brother, do encourage her back onto riding and give her some pointers as it goes along. Different bikers ride differently. If too many ppl give her opinion on how to ride, she maybe confuse. Spend some time when you can ride out together and continue to give her your pointers till she gets the hang of it.

 

I've attended a full day advance / defensive riding course previously. The course is design to improve riding skills, not on road experience. If your objective is to let your sister gain road experience, then advance / defensive riding course, in my opinion, is not the right course for her.

 

Take time and guide her along. More important, I guess you will want your close ones to have a peace of mind when both you and your sister are on 2 wheels. Have fun riding.

[JackOHJack]

i'd say dun save on such $.

 

if im gonna get a car i'd also go for refresher course, coz long time no drive ald!