Here's my .02 for getting used to the bike. Find a stop sign that makes you start facing up a hill. It will make you nervous, but the more you do it, the better you will be with the clutch. That helped me out a ton, and I started riding a couple of months ago. I haven't had a lot of practice yet, but it seems to me that starting on a hill was the second best practice advice I got. The number one advice was don't lean on the handle bars.

 

Also, look through your turns and keep your body relaxed...

 

MSF was great, just make sure you get used to the bike first before you're out on the road a bunch cause you don't want to be trying to figure out how to make your bike move like you want when you should be paying attention to traffic.

I had my friend ride mine home since it was like an hour from my house, had to pick it up during rush hour traffic, drive it home on highways, twisties, everything and I just wasn't about to risk it or myself. I felt out the bike for about a week mostly on empty roads, parking lots, etc. just cause I wanted to make sure I was confident in my riding and onthe bike and be able to pay attention to all the a**holes on the road. I'd also kill myself if I dropped my bike [:@]

 

i would just have ur friend ride it, if u trust him.
i wouldnt ride ont he road yet if ur questioning urself.
i rode ina parking lot for a long time before i got out on the street.
i didnt have insurace/plates then so all i could do is ride in the lot across the street, but im really glad i did i felt much mroe comfortable on the street afterward. there is alot to riding.... u need to practice certain situations like, if ur coming to a light... and hit the clutch to slow down, but then the light turns again... u have to give it some gas before u let the clutch go in order to not engine brake.. it took me a while to get use to this, but riding in the parking lot helped me. thats just one example of things u can only learn from gettin miles under ur belt so idk if i would try a 20 min ride on public roads with basically no experience.

 

in my opinion if your really that nervous about getting on the bike dont buy one yet. If you feel scared on the bike you will be hesitant and i think any experienced rider on this forum will tell you that hesitation is a terrible thing to have on one of these bikes. you have to be ready for anything to happen because unlike a car that has airbags and seatsbelts for safety a bike as NOTHING. get yourself a ****ty dirtbike or any kind of old motorcycle and learn the use of the clutch. OR grow a set and get on the F4i and be confident. if you are scared of it you shouldnt be on it.

 

I agree with you man, but at the same time you have to balance fear with respect for the bike. You don't want to be out on the bike and terrified of it but you also don't want to be cocky. As soon as you think that you have mastered the bike, it will master you all over again. Respect the bike for what it is, powerful, and potentially dangerous for you and the others out on the road. If you're not comfortable don't ride it home, but don't get too relaxed that you think you "own" the bike.

 

In a hill situation, it's best to hold the rear brake and then start your gas/clutch. Less wear on the clutch, and much safer than relying on the friction zone.

 

If you take your test and do that though, they will doc you. In Nebraska they have to different tests, one where you go through an obstacle course, and one where they follow you around and have you do different things. If you stop without puting both feet down, or try to start without having both feet down they will doc you for that.

 

Any rational driver's education organization will not dock points from you for using your rear brake on a hill. It is to keep you from rolling backwards into the car behind you, or all the way down the hill, thus keeping you and innocent bystanders safe. Maybe on a normal road, but not on a hill.

Besides, if they're looking at that kind of little **** instead of more important things like how you're actually controlling the motorcycle, then they ned to reevaluate something, because that's ridiculous.

 

I completely agree with you F4iChica. This guys seems like he is terrified of the bike and asking us whether he should get on it. You definately have to respect the bike with its power and the nimbleness(not to mention other a$$holes on the road) but you cant be afraid of it.