My motorbike lessons don’t start until next week and I have had my bike for two weeks now and its really frustrating not being able to ride it. Since I know how to drive a manual stick car, and I also know how to ride a bicycle, I decided to go ahead and try to ride my bike since I figured it can’t be too different from driving a stick shift and balancing it can’t be too different from a bicycle.
So around 30 minutes ago I headed down to the parking lot and turned on my bike and tried to ride it. The first 6 times I tried to drive off I ended up stalling the bike. I was releasing the clutch too early I think because as soon as I gave it some gas and moved like a centimeter the bike would stall. Finally I got the hang of it and was able to release the clutch right and my bike took off! I drove the length of my parking the whole time expecting the bike to stall with me but it never did. Once I got to the end I did a u-turn and headed back and then started driving up to higher floors of the parking. It was really cool and I loved the accelaration.
I stayed in first gear the whole time and I was able to speed up a bit and then brake with my hand when I realized I was actually riding the motorbike as if I was riding my bicycle. I wasn’t using the foot brake which I am guessing I should have been using because my braking wasn’t very smooth, I also wasn’t changing gears because I didn’t know what would happen if the bike stalled while I was moving or if the brakes would continue to work with the bike off. For my first time riding (if I can call it that) I think I did pretty good. I think I will go back down later and try riding some more and maybe even try shifting. I am really having fun with this although I am not doing much.
15 replies on “My first ride.. kinda”
I’m jealous. I want a Bike too.
I was going to say that!
Brakes are independant of engine. Also dont do too much riding on 1st gear, not too good for a new engine.
You will learn in driving school that braking with the rear wheel is pretty important. Only braking on the front wheel has a high risk of skidding… Some bikes (dont know about the Ducati) automatically put some 20% on the rear wheel autmatically.
I really envy you for the Ducati, its one of my all-time favourites, too 🙂
learning on impulse..
Mark, I ride a Banshee ATV, its basic driving is like a motorcycle cause there both manual, you shouldnt worry about the brakes not working if your bike stalls while your changing gears, the brakes SHOULD always work even if the bike is switched off. One tip when changing gears, have an EQUAL balance when releasing the clutch and giving acceleration, that way the bike won’t stall. Hope this helps. 😉
You’re gonna wreck the bike man! Take those lessons first!
Clutch release and accelaration should be in roughly equal proportion and never use only the front brakes!
I started riding when I was 15. I’d be glad to give you a few free riding lessons for the chance to sit on that monster 😉 !
you did a great job.
I fell 3 times in my first week and went back home usually like I had a fight with Mike Tyson.
Blue feet, Blue hands, Blue ankles.
You could call me blue.
dude dont go breakin ur neck on us!!!easy on the bıkey!!!
Man, I want a bike too now. I was hunting for a car, but after reading something marzouq wrote about going for a ride in the evening with his mp3 played, DAMN HAWT, i wanted in. So yes, i am envious.
Patience is the key
Go on ahead without expiernce on an expensive piece of machinery , The result will always be a failure
Like other says, you are also doing damage on the bike.
Relax, instead you should’ve checked the bike manual or resources on the net to get your mind enligtened before attempting it physically
T.Maniac
Sounds like you’re getting a bit carried away! You don’t really need to apply gas to start out on a bike like you do on a car. Just slowly let the clutch out to its friction point until the bike starts to pull itself. At this point, you can essentially apply a MINUTE amount of gas and let out the clutch completely. I know this is your first ride and it’s exciting, but it’s also the perfect time to develop bad habits.
dude.. jus release the clutch easily… the thing is it should be fluid in motion… riding a bike is one of the easiest things around… took me like a few hours … and before you know it i am goin 70kmph… ofcourse it was fun… until a spotted a buffalo a few hundred mtrs infront of me… freaked out… but was lucky…
it should be propotional the releasing of clutch to the acceleration… 1:1… put the bike in gear and give it a lite acceleration and similar release of the clutch…
why the hell would you learn to drive on a ducati? My fist three bikes were all 125cc or less and its still dangerous. Nice bike, but I think your crazy and are better off with a machine that fits your ability and experience (or lack of it) for your own safety. A helmet cant help a broken neck amigo.
its confusing!! last time i tried, i was confused as hell. its exactly like driving manual car, except what u do with ur foot in the car, u do with ur hand on the bike and vice versa. I was so confused the first time, I drove into a wall. But I gotta try again:)