hey everyone. i'm brand new to this forum and just wanted to say hey. i just bought an '04 600RR with ~850 miles, and am expecting a delivery date of later this month(i bought it in another state). anyway, here's my question....i rode on the dirt all through high school, on both dirtbikes and 4-wheelers. any tips for moving onto the street? this is my first street bike and am eager to get riding. so, anything i should know about making this transition? of course i have ridden my dirtbikes on backroads, but i know it isn't quite the same. so fire away guys, thanks!

 

I suggest reading "Sport Riding Techniques" by Nick Ienatsch. It covers your situation as far riding dirtbikes in the past. Sportbikes handle completley different, with little leverage provided from the stubby clip on handlebars. The book covers counter- steering, body position, vision skills and drills.
I read it every Sunday morning before I go out riding; not the whole thing; just open it to a section and read that chapter. That way it is in the back of mind when I am riding..It really does help.
The book can be purchased at any large bookstore such as Borders, Barnes & Noble, or online at Amazon.com
Other than that dont ride over your head and dont try to keep up with your buddy..I have seen to many people run in a little hot and fall on thier face.
Enjoy your bike and have fun.
Welcome to the site!!
I am sure there other books you can read as well, but this one is the one I personally read and love it.
Kieth Code has a book called Twist of the Wrist but it more based on racing..Nick's book covers racing as well as canyon riding and even dirt riding, riding with a passenger, in the rain, trackdays....ect....

 

ok cool, i'll go check that book out. fortunately, i live right behind my local mall, so i plan on going out there at night and practicing while no one is around. anyway, thanks for the quick reply

 

Another suggestion could be to take a MSF riding course. The classes are usually inexpensive and provide a lot of practical knowledge and riding skills. The people who teach the classes are usually great to work with.

QuiK

 

Quik, i have thought about taking the class. but i'm taking 18 credits right now in college, so i don't think i'd have to time to do so right now. but i do actually have the MSF book because my father just took the course, so he sent me the book to read. but on a better note, the bike is very rider-friendly. it's very smooth and precise, so no complaints from me

 

I highly reccomend taking the MSF course as well. I encourage any rider, weither they are new to bikes or have been riding for 20 years to take the course. It is fairly cheap and is a short course that can save your life. It's well worth the time and money. Just reading the book won't help. The class here in Jax is 3 parts. a wed night from 6 to 10 that is all classroom time and all day saturday and sunday. Both of those days are split between the classroom and on the course. Bikes are provided. Trust me your life is worth finding the time and money.

 

Neon, i understand where you're coming from. maybe i'll look into it down here. if they have a schedule that can accomodate mine, then i could probably work it out. thanks.

 

I'm by no means a professional rider, but I have been riding for almost 15 years.

I am still considering taking the MSF course next summer.
I actually wish I would have taken it when I started riding. Then I could have avoided 15 years of bad habits that I likely have.

 

yeah i hear ya. you see, i've ridden on the dirt for years so some of those skills helped me transfer to the street. but like you said, there are probably some bad habits that i have and don't even know it.

 

I took an MSF class last summer, I thought it was really helpful. I had never been on a street bike until then. It was three Saturdays. What a great way to spend a saturday morning