dsn_klr650 rant!

[scipio52]

I'm a relatively new rider, have passed the written test for being licensed and am taking my riding test next Tuesday in MD to finish up the process. I'll be taking it on my 1990 KLR. Anybody have any advice?

[Randy Phillips]

Here is info on the riding test. From the Idaho Star site, but is MSF standards - I believe. So, should be the same for all states. http://www.sde.state.id.us/stars/guide/Default.htm Randy A17 - Idaho -----Original Message----- From: scipio52 [mailto:scipio52@...] Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 12:00 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Motorcycle Skills Test for License I'm a relatively new rider, have passed the written test for being licensed and am taking my riding test next Tuesday in MD to finish up the process. I'll be taking it on my 1990 KLR. Anybody have any advice? List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . Yahoo! Groups Links

[mccallchris]

Do a lot of nose wheelies while exclaiming loudly, "whoa, that one got away from me!"

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "scipio52" wrote: > I'm a relatively new rider, have passed the written test for being > licensed and am taking my riding test next Tuesday in MD to finish > up the process. I'll be taking it on my 1990 KLR. Anybody have any > advice?

[klr650a17l]

I took my test last year on my KLR, and the most important thing to practice I thought was riding tight figure-8s, circles and weaving around cones spaced 10' apart. These exercise are a little harder on the KLR and other tall bikes with high centers of gravity. Pick an empty road or parking lot, mark it up with chalk and practice. Good luck! Carsten Smidt 03 KLR 650

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "scipio52" wrote: > I'm a relatively new rider, have passed the written test for being > licensed and am taking my riding test next Tuesday in MD to finish > up the process. I'll be taking it on my 1990 KLR. Anybody have any > advice?

[Jim Priest]

scipio52 wrote:

> I'm a relatively new rider, have passed the written test for being > licensed and am taking my riding test next Tuesday in MD to finish > up the process. I'll be taking it on my 1990 KLR. Anybody have any > advice? >

- Don't fall over? - Don't hit the DMV personel giving the exam. - If you drive your bike to the DMV (doesn't everyone do this) park around back. The KLR though tall has great slow speed ability. During the ERC I found it really easy to let it just chug along. Remember to tap the rear brake to keep the speed down when going really slow. Look where you want to go. Wide bars are great for weaving. I'd suggest printing out the diagrams from the previous post - hit a parking lot and setup some markers, etc and practice a bit. Can't hurt. jim

[cosmoboj]

I wouldn't have too much gas in the tank, keep it nice and light for you figure 8s and slow speed manouevers. Good luck...cosmo

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "scipio52" wrote: > I'm a relatively new rider, have passed the written test for being > licensed and am taking my riding test next Tuesday in MD to finish > up the process. I'll be taking it on my 1990 KLR. Anybody have any > advice?

[azman321]

Go to an empty parking lot and practice, practice, practice. LOOK where you want to go. If you want to go between the cones, force your eyes to look between the cones. If you look at the cone, you will run over it. Keep a little pressure on your rear brake when you want low speed stability. I don't know how it works but it does. It must be magic. Practice feathering your clutch. That means letting the lever out around half-way so that you have some forward motion but not full, completely release clutch forward motion. Feathering the clutch for partial motion while applying a little rear brake for stability is the way to do the stuff that seems impossible. Take a deep breath and relax; this is supposed to be fun, and it is. Keep your shoulders and arms relaxed. Let them move easily. The KLR is actually a very good bike for this kind of riding. The worst that can happen is you have to take the test again, and you certainly wouldn't be the first. Let us know how it goes. Jett, A15 AZ

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "scipio52" wrote: > I'm a relatively new rider, have passed the written test for being > licensed and am taking my riding test next Tuesday in MD to finish > up the process. I'll be taking it on my 1990 KLR. Anybody have any > advice?

[Randy Phillips]

Yes - practice and then practice some more. I just took a Jimmy Lewis Off - Road Clinic and he emphasized how important it is to continue your "drills" as often as possible. He admitted that he makes it look easy because he practices the same drills over and over. Just my two cents, but after 30 years of riding I never made it a point to go out and "practice" panic stops, tight cornering, etc., so when the time comes you are "conditioned" to react correctly. It's actually a lot of fun to go out with some buddies and set up off-road drills.... Of course, some of them turn into a outright races... Also, as a new rider sometimes you forget to feather that clutch at friction point. You'll need to do that to make it through the cones unless you have a great sense of timing/balance. My wife forgot to feather the clutch in the Star MSF test and actually made it through on a Yamaha XT225. A number of riders failed the test at this point by missing many cones. Remember they test on ability not on how fast you do the drills. Go slower and be "heads up" aware. I'd highly recommend a MSF course. My wife is a new "road rider" and has mentioned a few times how much awareness the MSF course gave her. She does great! More confidence in her skills. Randy A17 - Idaho

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "scipio52" wrote: > I'm a relatively new rider, have passed the written test for being > licensed and am taking my riding test next Tuesday in MD to finish up > the process. I'll be taking it on my 1990 KLR. Anybody have any > advice?

[Paul Dent]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "scipio52" wrote:

> I'm a relatively new rider, have passed the written test for being > licensed and am taking my riding test next Tuesday in MD to finish > up the process. I'll be taking it on my 1990 KLR. Anybody have any > advice?

When I took the test, I only had my Monster, and there was no way I could do the figure-8 due to steering lock issues. I wound up renting a H*nda 250-4 and it was a piece of cake. I agree that the KLR is awfully top heavy for that kind of slow speed maneuvering, although a good rider could certainly do it. If you can rent, borrow or beg a small bike, I'd do it. CA even lets you take the test on scooters. Paul A16L 01 M750 'G' SF, CA

[Jim Priest]

Paul Dent wrote:

> a H*nda 250-4 and it was a piece of cake. I agree that the KLR is > awfully top heavy for that kind of slow speed maneuvering, although a

I had a blast at the last ERC trying to see just how tight I could turn the KLR. Wonder if there is any penalty for standing up during the test - cause once you start shifting your weight around it'll turn pretty damn tight. Jim