Just this weekend I got my first bike - a Honda XL750 Transalp. Winter is coming where I live, so when I saw a blue sky, dry roads and temperatures just over 0, I thought I could have a little ride. But that wasn’t the stupid, even though I forgot the keys after being completely suited up with thin jogging gloves and winter gloves.
There wasn’t any stupid during the ride, although I forgot the keys again after putting on the two pairs of gloves after a little break. Or that I kept hitting the hazard lights by accident, or the high beams.
The stupid was when I got back and rolled into the driveway. I wanted to slowly roll in and park in front of the wall of the garage. Had the clutch pulled and apparently twisted my wrist to get my thumb on the kill switch. The motor revved up so loud it scared the whole family out the house and onto the porch, where they witnessed me rolling towards the wall, bumping into it because I was so startled I didn’t remember to apply the brake and me falling very, very slowly and gently (almost with a certain grace, I hope) to the side.
As far as I could see, there’s only a few scratches on the bar end and the peg. Whew! But, I was told I bumped hard enough that the rear wheel lifted into the air! Hope that the fork and frame are ok!
Was a real downer after the nice ride, but I guess it’s true what I heard, that all riders fall at least once!
Yeah I feel like one, too. I took a course for the unrestricted A license here in Europe, so I had a few rounds in an empty park swerving around traffic cones. I think the problem was that I was using the thick winter gloves for the first time and kept fat-fingering.
If you’re in Europe and passed your A test you’re about ready to start learning how to actually handle a small bike.
Get extra instruction, and start doing Moto Gymkhana. Consider getting a cheap small and light bike like a CBF250 or Duke 125, and learn to really master it.
Your instructor probably shrugged when you said you were getting a TransAlp because he knew there was no point in telling you not to. He’s seen umpteen people pass their test and then go out and crash right away.
European tests requires you to be quite good at both high and low speed(along with a theoretical test, and a test in traffic) maneuvering with the bike size you’re getting your license for. Unrestricted is at least 650CC and at least and 40kW or more. You’re not passing the tests if you’re not adept at maneuvering the bike.
I’m well aware of what the European test requires, since I have a European license.
It teaches the bare basics to be on the road and not die on a normal sized bike. It is the starting point from which to learn how to handle a bike properly.
If someone has just taken their test they are not ready to handle a 650 to it’s full potential, never mind a tall 750 like the new TransAlp. Getting a smaller bike and finding out how to scrape the pegs at 30kph in Moto Gymkhana is a good start for the road, for adventure riding trials is the best.
Learning to ride in the winter isn’t ideal, you’ll probably have a hard time gaining the muscle memory to ride properly.
I’m still struggling with some things after my last winter commuting, as a new rider and having done training. Having the rear tire slip out daily while leaning has turned me into a chicken-strip generating machine.