Looking for tips for rookie rider

[Godot]

so I got my 2B license recently but still not so confident riding alone, especially in traffic.  

Wondering if there is a spot (preferably in the west), where new bikers can practice? Or are there any personal trainers available for hire? or any other advice for rookies like myself?

Thx~

[Nakuru]

Best is if you got any friends to ride together with you.. dont lane split unless you are confident to do so.. always check for traffic n stay out of people's blind spot.. just go slow in your neighbourhood to get use to riding on your own.. dun follow to any vehicles too closely too.. 

[adesmond2]

18 hours ago, Nakuru said:

Best is if you got any friends to ride together with you.. dont lane split unless you are confident to do so.. always check for traffic n stay out of people's blind spot.. just go slow in your neighbourhood to get use to riding on your own.. dun follow to any vehicles too closely too.. 

West side, I can't help much.. LOL..

If you stay Punggol area, I can still meet you up.. but dun bang me hor.. hahahahah..

 

Meanwhile, honestly, see which friends of yours are riding.. meet up.. chill.. ride together find nice places to take photos and etc..  

[1bikerider]

I'm having similar question! I just got mine and wondering whether there is any place near Jurong West/Boon Lay side which I can practice in some low traffic routes before jumping to the big traffic... I'm new in this thus would appreciate any recommendation/suggestions on the spot/route.

 

Most likely I will rent a bike first, and try it out. Haven't decided to rent on a monthly bases, or on apps such as tribecar, etc. Any recommendation/suggestions? Thank you everyone!

[Siphon]

On 8/17/2022 at 11:29 PM, Godot said:

so I got my 2B license recently but still not so confident riding alone, especially in traffic.  

Wondering if there is a spot (preferably in the west), where new bikers can practice? Or are there any personal trainers available for hire? or any other advice for rookies like myself?

Thx~

 

Started a tread about this hehee... 

As for riding, frankly you should ride around your neighborhood first because you should be the most familiar with it.  Do not use the GPS first... just focus on riding and getting use to the bike and moving around with it. After that go to the petrol kiosk and shift it around while trying to pump the tire pressure hahaa... that's usually where most of us will drop the bike *oops*.

 

[Nakuru]

Anyway, wear more protection when going out riding.. especially when u dun have much experience.. i got my license in june, skidded on my bike n fell on my knees in july n now wheelchair bound till god knows when

[hellhole]

go bukit batok lah... 

[shiba2b]

On 8/17/2022 at 11:29 PM, Godot said:

so I got my 2B license recently but still not so confident riding alone, especially in traffic.  

Wondering if there is a spot (preferably in the west), where new bikers can practice? Or are there any personal trainers available for hire? or any other advice for rookies like myself?

Thx~

hello, i also just got my 2B license. 

i would say start by practicing during times when traffic is light. As you build confidence, transit to riding in traffic. Best to ride in the day when visibility is best. Also don't ride in the rain unnecessarily, especially at the beginning. But i think eventually one needs to build confidence and experience in riding in wet weather and other non-optimal conditions. 

specifically what area of riding do you wish to practice? turning/cornering, highway, braking? 

i have been doing slow speed handling maneuvers in quiet carparks (tarmac, not cement). And practicing riding in the hills/curvy roads in NTU/NUS. Also practicing shifting gears up and down smoothly on highways.

that said, i have been driving a car for quite a few years, and riding in traffic is still scary for me. I ride in middle of lanes and don't lane split. i also wear bright coloured clothes and helmet so that i am visible on the road. 

[adesmond2]

9 hours ago, shiba2b said:

hello, i also just got my 2B license. 

i would say start by practicing during times when traffic is light. As you build confidence, transit to riding in traffic. Best to ride in the day when visibility is best. Also don't ride in the rain unnecessarily, especially at the beginning. But i think eventually one needs to build confidence and experience in riding in wet weather and other non-optimal conditions. 

specifically what area of riding do you wish to practice? turning/cornering, highway, braking? 

i have been doing slow speed handling maneuvers in quiet carparks (tarmac, not cement). And practicing riding in the hills/curvy roads in NTU/NUS. Also practicing shifting gears up and down smoothly on highways.

that said, i have been driving a car for quite a few years, and riding in traffic is still scary for me. I ride in middle of lanes and don't lane split. i also wear bright coloured clothes and helmet so that i am visible on the road. 

carpark riding have to be abit more careful as tarmac are known to be slippery if wet or sandy.. turning or cornering is better to do it on a cement. but again.. dun go fast.. any slip road, slow and easy.. always remember what they teach.. eyes direction.. where you look, where your bike goes.. dun look down or at the drain or etc..

[quiksilver]

I obtained my 2B license in late August 2022 and bought an old bike with 2 years COE left.

Usually I try to ride twice a week at odd hours to avoid heavy traffic in the day, just to stay in touch with riding and also get used to the bike. 

Sunday early morning just as the sun rises is best time to ride for me, cool and bright.

I do not lane split and keep to the left lane as much as possible (especially highway) and just go slow.

I enjoy my ride every time.

[Jeebberish]

Westerner here.

I used to ride to the Jurong Bird Park carpark to practice. It’s super big with very few cars.  Thereafter, take a nice ride up Jurong Hill. Then back down to the carpark to grab a drink at the prawning place.

All in all, can practice tight turns in carpark, some slaloms, e-brakes… as well as get to enjoy riding up the relatively steeper hill slope and down slope.

Go during the night for a cooler experience. Of course, don’t high beam the cars parked there (esp those with running engines). No need to disturb the occupants doing what they are doing.

 

 

 

Edited December 10, 2022 by Jeebberish

[leon11]

Just got my first bike two days ago 1984 ironhead sportster test rode several times before buying with no problems. rode to work last night ran fine today started up runs great but when I put in gear it acts like still in neutral I have no idea where to start

[adesmond2]

On 1/14/2023 at 11:06 PM, leon11 said:

Just got my first bike two days ago 1984 ironhead sportster test rode several times before buying with no problems. rode to work last night ran fine today started up runs great but when I put in gear it acts like still in neutral I have no idea where to start

bring to workshop around your area.. sound like clutch bearing.. google abit on that..  

[leon11]

thanks for responding adesmond2

[kAspp]

Actually I think there are a few routes around Jurong / Bukit Batok area. 

For neighbourhood wise, for friends whom I go out to help them gain confident at driving, i will choose this route and depending on time, it is usually low traffic. I usually start at brickland road. 

Brickland -> KJE towards PIE -> PIE towards Changi -> Exit Bukit Batok, Jurong Townhall road -> Bukit Batok Road, turn right into Brickland road

This is a very short round trip, but the lanes are relatively big as it caters to big vehicle. However recently due to the construction ongoing at the tengah estate, the road there is actually quite sandy. So slightly dangerous. But as long as it is not peak hour, the road there is actually quite easy to drive. 

If you're looking for a slightly longer road, then you can go this route 

Brickland -> KJE towards PIE -> PIE towards Tuas -> Exit Jln Bahar -> Turn Right after exit from PIE -> Turn Left to Boon Lay Way -> Turn Left to Jurong Town hall road -> straight ahead to Bukit Batok Road -> Turn left to Brickland

Both of the recommendation will go into expressway, if you're not confident to enter the expressway, then you can go around Choa Chu Kang before heading into the expressway. 

Brickland -> turn right into Choa Chu Kang Ave 3 -> turn right into Choa Chu Kang Way -> Turn right into Bukit Batok Road -> Turn right into brickland road 

The round trip is not the easiest road in that area, however, it should be a relatively straightforward road at that area, just be careful of jay-walkers on the road.