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Private Lessons a good choice?

Thank you to everyone for such a warm welcome to the message boards. This place is great so far :)

sv2007 said:
Get good gear from the start. This way, for example, you won't end up with 6 pairs are cheap gloves that now costs more than 1 good pair.
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I already have a pair I bought for the MSF and found really uncomfortable after day 1 and now have no use for :)


I've been unable to decide what my next course of action should be with regards to learning/lessons so I've decided to just spend time buying lots of protective gear first.

Maybe suited in armor from head to toe I will feel less frightened by the idea of riding a motorcycle around. After I complete this step, I'll reassess how I feel.

I have been reading through some of the other newbie gear threads, and the result is rather inconclusive (many people here have strong opinions!).

-Are racing leathers the most protective form of equipment?
-Can those high tech armor plates be added into a racing suit?
-How long could I reasonably wear a suit like that before overheating?
-Am I correct in assuming that there is not a need for progression in regards to gear?
-Would one of those jumpsuits that someone said helmut likes be comparable? (dorky looking is fine with me)

If I buy the best, I'd like to buy something I can use well for a good duration of time and not worry about upgrading. Is this a reasonable expectation?

I'd prefer not to buy online if it's possible.

Are custom items a reasonable choice?

My reading here on the forum is leading me to believe that tight is good, loose is bad.

I'm not really adult shaped so I'm worried off the shelf may end up loose. I have very long fingers compared to my small palms (gloves are eternally a big problem for me, so I always wear mitts). I usually wear junior clothing. Money is completely negotiable, I have no budget limits unless we're talking new car money, but of course I don't wish to be wasteful.

So, I guess my next task is to wander to some of those stores listed by GearChic and see if I can get some assistance finding items to blow my money on :)

Any more feedback is very very super welcome and appreciated.
 
Buying good, comfortable gear is always a good step to take.

Racing leathers are definitely a great option as far as protection. The downside is that they might be inconvenient and/or uncomfortable to wear. For example, having a one-piece makes going to the bathroom more awkward. Most leathers are not designed to go over regular clothes, but textiles usually are. The most protective gear is no use if you leave it at home because you want to hang out in jeans at your destination. Also it is quite an investment of money so you want to be sure that you will be getting good use out of them.

Overheating will depend on a number of factors. You can get perforated leather if you are concerned about heat, but it won't keep you as warm in the cold. If you do go with leather, I recommend wearing a thin base layer underneath (from REI or equivalent), it will actually keep you more comfortable in the heat than if you wore the leather over bare skin.

I definitely recommend trying out in person if possible. And when you do try it out, sit on a bike, because the fit in riding position is a bit different than the fit when standing.

My best luck with finding off-the-shelf women's gear in the bay area has been at Scuderia (SF), Dainese store (SF) and Road Rider (SJ), in that order. Also, you might take a look at dirt bike gear as well (although not all of it is suitable for street use). I have a pair of textile pants that fit me very well, but the knee/shin armor in them were a bit too big and thus quite uncomfortable. I ended up buying kid's dirt bike armor to replace it in the pants and that has worked out much better for me.

For custom options check out Helimot.
 
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It is sad that there is nothing much available after MSF and before your new wheels meet the real world.

I wish that the CHP would host civilian advanced MSF days; it would be great revenue to them and a fantastic experience to learn from the best street riders in the world...but until that is readily available......

I fully understand from your OP that you are not interested in either track or speed and congrats on focusing on skill.
However the Zoom Zoom RoadRiders 2.0 class...offered at Sears parking lot is a perfect next step for you or anyone looking to advance their MSF skill set into real world riding....next one being Sunday November 12th.....Yes it is offered in conjunction with a track day, but NO it is NOT a track day in any sense of the word; It is truly just an advanced MSF class held in a parking lot with a taste of what track days are like all around you. SAFE Secure No speed involved and focusing on the next steps forward from your MSF base.
If you will trust me, NOT be nervous and just go to learn- as you did the MSF-, you'll come home with a solid base and a more "real life" sense of the bike and what it can do to build on from there.:ride:thumbup And you'll thank me for that big freaking smile on your face.

www.zoomzoomtrackdays.com
 
All of these replies have good info.

My contribution is that I'm very glad my first bike was used and pretty cheap. Yes, I did drop it (more than once) practising in my parking lot. If I had dropped a new bike I would have. . . I can't bring myself to say something that bad.

I bought relatively inexpensive gear, mesh pants and jacket with armour, that I'm still using. It took awhile to figure out what kind of riding I would really be doing, since it turned out to be different from what I thought I would when I started. That changed what I needed so I'm glad I didn't spend a bunch of money for stuff I would have ended up not using. I finally spent about 800 on a suit and I wear it most of the time because by the time I spent the money I knew it was the right gear for me.

Did you get help getting fitted right for your helmet? I got bad advice and my first helmet was completely wrong for me but it made a nice commission for the salesperson that got it off the shelf and out the door. A good helmet is where to spend but only if it fits well. Each manufacturer makes a bit different shape, find the one that works for you.

Take your time and don't let circumstance or anyone else push you too fast. Some one else may know more about riding but you know your capabilities and limits better than any one else.

Good luck and ride safe.
 
if you want motocross style full body armor jacket and knee/shin guard, i have a really small size you can have...should fit you...shopping for gear was tough for me...finding something that fits...shops not having my size and having to always order online, wait, try on and return..repeat...it was quite frustrating and long shopping experience...

i was tempted to go the custom route, but i didn't want to toss in over $1,500 on something i wasn't sure on...
 
OP, I have a 2-piece leather suit that will probably fit you if you want to borrow it and try it out. I'm not using them now so you can borrow them for a while.
 
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horsepower said:
It is sad that there is nothing much available after MSF and before your new wheels meet the real world.
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But there is! What about Rich Oliver? I went for a private lesson about a month ago on my ride back from Phoenix with Rich. It was worth it! He wore me out! :laughing
 
lam@barf said:
Did you get help getting fitted right for your helmet? I got bad advice and my first helmet was completely wrong for me but it made a nice commission for the salesperson that got it off the shelf and out the door. A good helmet is where to spend but only if it fits well. Each manufacturer makes a bit different shape, find the one that works for you.
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When I went into the store, I just told the person that I was looking for a helmet to take the MSF so I wouldn't feel all squirmy and gross because my head was in a well used sweaty helmet. I knew it would make me uncomfortable so I just didn't want to have that extra anxiety.

He did not do any "fitting" checking, and never stepped closer than a few feet of me, but I did watch several fitting videos on youtube and I did the motions myself, and it does not seem to be a bad fit if youtube is to be trusted.

...but it's hard to know if I'm doing it right.

It is brand "Kali" and it was 150$ and is size XS, the smallest he had.
 
When I took the MSF, the instructor invited everyone to come back with their own bikes to practice with the class for free. See if that is still available.

Buy a bike you don't mind dropping. Ask the seller if you can take it to a local shop for inspection before you buy.

I would recommend you get a trailer. It's much easier to push a bike on a low trailer than the back of a pickup.
 
vctralsh, you're asking good questions and have already noted that there is a range of opinions on the answers.

vctralsh said:
-Are racing leathers the most protective form of equipment?
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In an absolute sense, I'd say yes, particularly in the case of the highest quality suits.

In practical terms, the best suit for protecting you is the one you'll wear every ride. Beyond crash protection, consider how you would like to use a motorcycle. If it is to be purely a toy to use on weekends, maybe racing leathers are a good choice. If there is any possibility that you will use it as transportation to work, social occasions or any other situation where showing up in leathers would be problematic, consider a suit that is easy to get in and out of and that can be worn over street clothes. Many textile suits address these needs and the good ones offer good real world protection.

vctralsh said:
-Can those high tech armor plates be added into a racing suit?
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Good racing leathers have the armor they need. You may choose to wear a separate back protector underneath. If so, you'll want to size the suit with that in mind.

vctralsh said:
-How long could I reasonably wear a suit like that before overheating?
Click to expand...

It somewhat depends on you and your level of fitness and tolerance for temperature extremes. I often ride all day on the race track, at tracks all over the US, in high heat and humidity. My preference is cold weather, so I'm a bit of a fish out of water in those conditions, but I can stay comfortable by drinking water often, taking salt and potassium periodically throughout the day and letting evaporative cooling work for me. If you choose leathers, I would recommend a lightweight synthetic inner suit made of Coolmax or similar material. The suits wick away moisture, provide a slippery layer to avoid chafing and make getting in and out of the leathers a lot easier. On a really hot day, you can pour some water into your suit to enhance the evaporative cooling. In this climate, perforated leathers are a necessity for me.

vctralsh said:
-Am I correct in assuming that there is not a need for progression in regards to gear?
Click to expand...

Choose your suit based on quality and protective capability, overlaid with practical considerations. You don't choose gear based on experience level, though some people do make choices based on how committed they are to riding long term. When you get right down to it, this is a financial consideration.

You seem to place a higher value on protection than on price, so shop accordingly, taking into account how you will use your bike. Like many of us, you may eventually choose a textile suit for the days when you're riding for transportation and leathers for rolling around corners in the hills.

vctralsh said:
-Would one of those jumpsuits that someone said helmut likes be comparable? (dorky looking is fine with me)
Click to expand...

I'm not clear on which suits you mean, so no opinion here.

Riding is a great game. I hope you love it for many years to come.
 
Having an idea about where you are in Millbrae, I would suggest you scout out some locations to street park your bike near a big open parking lot (one of the high schools?) or a nice flat deserted area where you can practice. (Or near a buddy's house.) Then invest in a good lock and bike cover, so you can park the bike there for awhile and practice at your leisure. If you really made the effort to practice every day after work, this remote parking arrangement is probably only necessary for a month. It would be disheartening and troublesome if you had to ride up your hill and driveway if you're not comfortable. Good luck.
 
Used 250, good gear, what you can afford. Figure $500-1000 in gear alone. Good boots, good overpants, good gloeves, good jacket, and a good helmet.

Bilt gear generally is decent, it comes down to fit. I only make this recommendation because often BILT Gear is name brand stuff just off branded.

You do not NEED a suit to drive around on the streets, but YOU have to determine what your level of personal risk is.

Full disclaimer- I have ridden my motorcycle with no clothing on at all, and Im obviously not dead yet.
 
It's good to finally see some experienced folks chiming in here with good advice.

You can never learn enough.

Buy the gear first. You do not want to crash without gear.

Get a cheap used bike. You will drop it. Probably multiple times.

Ask for help. BARF is great, but sometimes you have to wade through the BS.

Try not to lean too hard on fellow beginners. You don't want to inadvertently pick up bad habits.

Take the class that horsepower discussed. It will help you immensely.

Keep asking questions.
 
mcarb said:
It's good to finally see some experienced folks chiming in here with good advice.

You can never learn enough.

Buy the gear first. You do not want to crash without gear.

Get a cheap used bike. You will drop it. Probably multiple times.

Ask for help. BARF is great, but sometimes you have to wade through the BS.

Try not to lean too hard on fellow beginners. You don't want to inadvertently pick up bad habits.

Take the class that horsepower discussed. It will help you immensely.

Keep asking questions.
Click to expand...

Great advice!

I bought full one piece leathers, helmet, and gloves a full 3 years before owning a bike :laughing

You mentioned you live in Milbrae....I work off of Millbrae ave on Adrian road (the frontage road by the freeway) this little industrial area gets almost no traffic on the weekends and is a nice area to putt-around.

If your interested in getting on a bike and practicing some handling skills I don't mind you borrowing my bike. I've damaged it myself and have no care for how it looks. If you wanted to meet up one afternoon/morning/when-ever and get some saddle time in, the offer is up for grabs.
 
Yes private lessons can help you out tremendously. You can never learn enough.
 
mcarb said:
It's good to finally see some experienced folks chiming in here with good advice.

You can never learn enough.

Buy the gear first. You do not want to crash without gear.

Get a cheap used bike. You will drop it. Probably multiple times.

Ask for help. BARF is great, but sometimes you have to wade through the BS.

Try not to lean too hard on fellow beginners. You don't want to inadvertently pick up bad habits.

Take the class that horsepower discussed. It will help you immensely.

Keep asking questions.
Click to expand...
+1 This.

I would not spend a lot on gear initially, only because you will not know what sort of riding you prefer, and the gear can vary. You can get good decent gear used from CL or here on Barf, and then when you are more experienced you can pick up the ideal gear for your needs.

Likewise on your bike - get something older/used and good to learn on first - can then sell and get a more appropriate bike to your liking. You said you were petite/slight build - you should also consider a small dual sport 250, as they are very light and easy to learn on (but you will still need to find one that fits you). And another option is to buy used from a local shop, many offer used bikes that they have checked out...Evolution Suspension is my shop in the south bay and they have bikes for sale - ask around. The local IMS Moto show is coming up in Nov - plan on going - great place to see and sit on lots of bikes and they also do demo rides :thumbup

Classes and constant learning is always good - but in most cases you will need a bike for the classes. Another option to your living on a hill is to meet up with another rider, and have them ride your bike while you drive to a local parking lot to practice, with them giving you pointers. Best comment I remember in the MSF class was the instructor saying the MSF certification is really a license to practice in a parking lot...but it won't take you long after a bit of practice to be out and riding and improving.

GL and post up with you questions :thumbup Enjoy the :ride :ride


T
 
Like you, I wasn't very confident when I passed the MSF course. I feel like they weren't as critical of their students(Myself included). The bike I used had no rear brake which made those tight figure-eights a bit of a pain.

Cruisers like the Honda Rebel have been out for AGES and there will always be one on craigslist, especially during the colder seasons. The seat height is pretty low and the powerband is pretty unintimidating.

Dual-sports like an XT225 or dr200 won't be enough to really hop on the freeway but will be more than enough power for city use and can take being dropped.

If you need practice and don't want to develop bad habits from other people, go to a parking lot and practice the things you learned in the MSF course. Bring some tennis balls cut in half in place of cones and go at your own set pace.

Best of luck!
 
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