Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique Operation Sav-A-Newbie

I've noticed we have members whose first bike is an America or a Speedmaster. I learned on a 3hp mini-bike so the idea of a 120mph 'learner' is a little shocking to me. Since the rest of us have a bazillion years experience combined, I thought a thread like would help turn newbies into oldbies.
What's your best Save A$$ advice? I have three:


1.Practice,practice,practice-
And I don't mean slow and gentle either! An emergency situation is not the place to discover the limits of performance. Go to a mall parking lot (when it's closed) and find out how hard you can brake before the wheel locks up. Find out how hard you can accelerate from a dead stop. Try it in the rain too. You don't have to go crazy, but you need to find this stuff out.

2.Let the cagers know you're watching them-
It's amazing the effect turning your head and staring at the guy waiting to make a left in front of you has. Also turning around and looking at the car pulling up behind you at a stoplight. Like a little kid who realizes daddy's watching, they behave a little better.

3.Keep one eye on the mirror while braking. Braking a little harder and a little later also reduces your chance of being rear-ended.

Beware of crowned driveway aprons where you pull up with the handlebars turned and tap the front brake.

Hard to describe the ooops,oooop hoping to regain balance before you totally drop the bike at 0 MPH til you do it.

been there done that.

also beware of putting your foot down in a pot hole at a stop sign.While carrying a somewhat wobbly nervous passneger.Who decides to jump off because she thought you were going to fallover. This can also lead to a 0 mph crash.

Leave PLENTY of room between you and the vehicle in front of you. If he straddles a road gator or a pothole or whatever, you need time to react.
Don't ride in blind spots. Wait for the vehicle in front of you to pass to the point where you have room, then nail it and get by as fast as you can.

700+ miles per week, combined slab and street, these are the two most common hazards I see.
(plenty of less common, but this'll do for now)

Never feel like you have mastered the bike. A little bit of respect for the machine will save some hide.

Assume they're all trying to kill you... because they are.

Stay out of cagers' blind spots(the rear corner of their cars on both their left and right sides) as much as you can. Too many drivers today it seems, think just checking their mirrors is enough of a look in order for them to change lanes.(I guess new drivers aren't taught to turn their heads momentarily to check those blind spots anymore...kind'a like parallel parking being a "lost art" too, huh?!)

So if you live in a state where you are not allowed to "split lanes"(seems the only "enlightened" state when it comes to this VERY SAFE practice is California) and must ride "with the traffic", be sure that if you are stuck traveling at the same rate of speed as that cager next to you, that you can see that cager's EYES in their mirror or are at least slightly in front of their front doors, so that cellphone using/makeup applying/newspaper reading...ahem..."person" with the wheel(and your life) in their hands, is aware of your presence next to them.

This practice is actually safer(and a whole lot less annoying to your neighbors and LAW ENFORCEMENT) than those "loud pipes" that way too many dunderheads today THINK will "save their lives".

Cheers,
Dwight
(naw...I "ain't opinionated" AT ALL....why would you think THAT?!)

Hmmm, Ohio has NO Laws on the books about Splitting Lanes.
But Best I can advise is this:
No matter where you are, IF you are scared, worried or nervious? Pull over, take a side street, what ever it takes.
Better to be late then never arrive.
Confidence comes with experience.
Experience comes with years.
Years come by staying alive!

Jeff,
So in Ohio you CAN lane split?

There are no laws at all about it!
As long as We don't cross the center line
nor pass on the right!
And we've been helmet free for over 26 years?
Sometimes I think THEY ARE out to get us!

Huh! Interesting! I thought this here place was the only state that allowed it. I wonder what other states allow it?

Oh and BTW...Your "Confidence comes with experience, etc....." was very well put! But, keeping with the intent of this thread, I think "false or over-confidence" is what probably trips up most newbies. They begin to think after a few months or a few years that they've got this motorcycling thing "down pat", and then will find themselves in over their heads in some situation that they might not have encountered before.

Could be that a lot of people don't realize that unless something is specifically prohibited by law, it's legal. In Nevada, it's called "lane sharing" and it's illegal . So check your laws, if it's not prohibited, go for it.

(you might have to test it in court though)

For the first 15 years, I thought I had it down.
This last 15+? Heck! I'm lookin at helmets again!!!

Not because I fear what may happen.
But because I know from haveing been there,
what may happen again!

And I don't heal so quick anymore!

In Florida, it's called "Failure to remain in lane". In 1988 it was 3 points and $98 fine, probably close to $200 fine now. And yeah, I got one.

NEVER use your mirrors to make a POSITIVE decision...IE: It's ok to change lanes...ONLY use them to make a NEGATIVE decision...IE: It's NOT ok to change lanes...ALL POSITIVE decisions should be made by TURNING YOUR HEAD TO LOOK!!!

When pulling up to a stoped lane of trafic...ALWAYS leave an ESCAPE route...and the room to use it...so when that sweet-young-thing yapping on her cell phone realises its to late to stop before hitting you...YOU can get the Fu(K out of her way...it helps greatly if your bike is in first gear and you watch behind you untill the car approaching has come to a complete stop...

One good habbit I picked up in my safety course was downshifting to first as I come to a stop every time for that very reason.

Be careful putting your foot down on traffic markings in the road. Turn arrows, crosswalk lines, etc. Even when dry, they can be very slippery (slippy for those of you from Pittsburgh...). I had a very embarassing, slow motion drop because of a left turn arrow under my right foot.

never be the first to leave at a light... use someone else to block for you.

When crossing a busy 4-way intersection, get closer to the traffic in front of you and let them run interference for you.

Stay to the right or left in a lane at a stop light to avoid to crap people drip from their cages.

Pay particular attention to the old beaters out there. They give even less of a crap about you.

Always do a safety check before starting out (lights, brakes, chain, tires....)

Years ago when I use to live in California, I remember the statistics regarding new motorcycle riders. This "new" included anyone new to the state, new to motorcycles or just getting a new bike. The statistic was that the "new" rider had a 50% chance of being in a accident within the first 6 months. Almost 40% chance within the first year. After 2 years it dropped down to 25% and each year down a little more.

So this to me showed that experience as a rider, with the roads and with your bike where all key to surviving. I managed to survive for 18 months until I sold my Honda Goldwing (stripped down version, no fairing or bags).

I have also found that most bike accidents that are due to the biker are because the rider is going to fast for the conditions at that time.

When in city traffic try to stay within 5mph of the speed limit. The cagers have a hard enough time seeing bikes, but when going to fast in heavy traffic you will become just a shadow to them, and thus the excuse that "I never even saw the bike until we hit".

Tom

Well said! Pulling over is sometimes the best thing to do

Good point! Especially down hill stop signs where the road slopes to the right. Just a little too much front brake and you're picking it up off the pavement.

LOL! Years ago I was turning out onto the street and my wife thought we were going over so she jumped off and pulled me with her! Broke her tail bone.

Never ride next to or behind dual rear wheel trucks or trailors, especially at speed. Those tires shedding tread can take you out.

LOL! We don't ride double anymore.

1. As long as your speed is within the limitation of your tire traction and all else is as it should be, the space between you and other objects (including the road!) is the one thing standing between you and crashing. If that space is allowed to drop to zero, you have crashed.
2. Never show off, especially when someone you know is watching. Showing off increases the probability of something going wrong. Being watched by someone you know increases the probability of something going wrong. Add the two together and you don't have a chance, so just behave as if you had good sense.
3. If the people next to you, behind or in front of you, or coming the other way weren't raving maniacs, they'd be on a bike same as you, so watch out for them.

Don't beep your horn at wild life....made that mistake by beeping at a huge condor like thing just off the edge of the road, at 70 mph... he jumped strait up, expanded his 11 foot wing span, and grazed my helmet with his talons.....Guy behind me in a F-150 got a great show!! Just slow down and go around if possible...

Just when you think you and her are as one and she will do anyting you ask, you'll do somthing dumb and she will throw you to the ground and smash your head into the pavement.

Use even more caution when the seasons change. When the cool seasons arrive cagers see very few bikes on the road and become even less aware.

Watch out for the shiney tar strips sealing cracks in the road.

Of course watch out for sandy corners and leaves in the fall.

Do not try to pass a turning vehicle you cannot see around or over.

My buddy got a ticket on a rental HD in Cali for lane splitting. Apparently it is NOT completely legal. As is was explained to him it is up to the officer if you are doing it in a safe manner or not. They make the decission on the spot if you will be pulled over and issued a summons. The officers reason was that the bike he was on was too large to safely lane share. Rediculous excuse but he still got the ticket.

When at a light and the light turns green. Keep your feet on the ground and look to make sure some idiot's not trying to make the yellow still. Don't worry about the smuck behind you that toots his horn, He obviously dosen't know better and your bike will have long left him in the dust.
But keep an extra eye on that one behind you, he may wanna test you coming up.

Overshooting turns used to be a problem for me when first riding in the early-mid 70's. I'd sometimes end up in the lane to my right, or shoulder if it was a one-laner.

Look through the turn, not directly in front of you when turning. You should be looking at where you want to end up at turn completion at the start of the turn itself.

Ditto on the above mirror statemet. Always, turn your head to check before changing lanes.

Look where you are going, not where you are.

Take the MSF course!

Ride! If you only ride on the weekends, you start all over again every Saturday! Ride every chance you get - take every opportunity!

Learn to ride in the rain and not be afraid of it. Respectful of it, but not afraid.

Gear up.

Do your safety checks before riding (lights, air pressures), and perform proper chain maintenance when needed.

Ride. Alot. Experience comes from hours/miles in the saddle.

Don't try to keep up with those on faster bikes, or those with more experience - ride your own ride, and don't worry about them. They will get over it, and would rather have you behind them on the road, than left at home.

Never question the abilities of your TRIUMPH motorcycle. It is as good a bike as there is on the road, limited in performance ONLY by your riding experience and confidence. It will keep up with or outperform any other cruiser (except the Rocket III) except in acceleration at speeds over the speed limit anyway. Most sportbikes I see on the roads around Houston are not riding around Houston as fast as I ride my Speedmaster. They could, but either lack the experience/skill/confidence, or are just not in a hurry to get there. I pass most other motorcycles I ever see on the road simply because I am riding faster to begin with. It is not a race. My Speedmaster just stays at about 80 mph all the time. They won't.

As it appears that the new cast wheels on the America are now shod with the same Metzler tires as the Speedmaster - be confident that you are riding on some of the finest tubeless tires available, affording exceptional grip and traction at all lean angles and on wet pavement. More than a lot of other aspects of machine, I think the high-end tires contributed the most to my confidence in the bike, and influenced my feelings about riding in the rain by proving to me that traction is minimally affected. Because of that, I'll ride in any weather (except snow/ice?), and this has helped me accrue 26k on my SM in only 26 months of riding.

I am/was a newbie. The SPEEDMASTER helped me get over it, along with a lot of support from the family here at BA.COM.

Thanks for all the good tips. They taught us to head check in the MSF class but I was getting out of that habit because I didn'nt feel like I had a blind spot. But I will take ya'lls word for it and get back in the habit. Do you guys think that it is worth while to change tires? Are the Bridgestones that bad?

Thanks.

CT,

I don't know as I'd go so far as to say Bridgestones are
"bad". But it seems the majority, if not all people here replace them with Metzelers, Avons, Dunlops or something else when it's time. Myself, I'd run them until it's time. Metzeler and Avon seem to have the largest following

JH

Just to put my 2p in...
I rode the Bridgestones till they needed changing. I heard what people were saying and it was happening to me..the following ruts in the road and other stuff. I changed to the Metzelers. They weren't the cheapest, but I'd heard nothing bad. The difference was remarkable. I could throw the bike around corners in ways that I didn't think were possible before. OK so my riding style was better than when I first got the bike, but all the same.
Cut to 6 months later. Some prat has hit my beloved, but a very nice man has lent me an America (he still at the time of writing hasn't ridden it). The only problem, the man he's bought it from lives 100 miles away. No problem. I'll ride it back from there. Am I sure...? Course I am. But it's got those bloody Bridgestones on. I'm back to following grooves in the road. And I don't mean the ones coming from my iPod. And not throwing one round a corner.
And when I pick the shiny new one this week, that will have bloody Bridgestones on too... but they'll have to stay. I have plans for that one, and I'll be skint after buying the flaming thing anyway.

Change them...? I would when they need doing. But you'll be able to tell the difference. And wonder why you didn't before. I did.

Thanks a lot. Didn't mean to hijack the thread. I'll shut up and keep a look out for more good advice.

Never touch the front brake while the wheels aren't dead straight, even at walking speed.

Going fast not only limits your reaction times to danger, it also limits others reaction times to you . You may feel that you are not going dangerously fast - ie you will be able to stop before any perceived danger, but are you prepared to bet your life that the next guy you overtake is as clued up, alert and sober as you are? Unless the road is deserted, you must factor into your "speed appropriate to the conditions" calculations, other road users, not just whether its been raining or not.

Don't think about how good you're looking - even if you are Brad Pitt on a Bonnie! If you're not concentrating on riding, you really improve your chances of crashing.

Exercise extreme caution when pulling up in front of cinema queues, biker gatherings, dealerships, office colleagues. This is always when you will forget to put the kickstand down or something.

Excellent advice. I started always putting my foot down at a stop sign. Lot's of guys laugh me. This weekend, a guy riding in the hill country went through a stop sign and got hit by a big Mercury. It killed his passenger and he's in the hospital. No excuse for that

Quote:

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Never touch the front brake while the wheels aren't dead straight, even at walking speed.

---

Gotta disagree with this one Rich. Using brakes in combination is a necessary skill to achieve the best performance. The technique of "trail braking" involves use of the front brake while in turns. Too much back brake can cause a traction loss.
In fact some times, I don't use the back brake, just the front. Of course you must always be aware of any potential traction compromising situations.

wait.... there's a back break.... I find I'm about 70/30 front to back...and for "stops" it's more af a "cross fade" from front to rear...

Wow I thought I was just riding wrong. Glad its ok to use the front again. My first dirt bike didn't have a rear brake. So I almost never use one, it has to be a conscious effort on my part to use the rear.

Use a little more back brake and a little less front in the rain. Using one gear lower than normal helps too.

it's not just save a newbie stuff we're concerned with. sometimes refreshers or reminders are good for all of us.
heavy front braking even if the wheels are straight can cause a problem too. know your bike. know your grip and how the brakes respond individually and together in all kinds of weather conditions. always good to check that before you head out OTR.

i went absolutelyairborne many years ago off a bicycle trying to avoid getting in an accident. water bottle in left hand my reflex went for the front brake(aka free hand) rather than ditching the bottle and using both brakes.

still holding onto the bike i flipped buttoverhead then crashed down hard bike on top of me. broke two ribs and got cut up pretty bad. and that was just on a bicycle.

I'm not one for slaming the front brake on either....Like mert I went over the front of a bicycle when I was younger. After that I never used the front brake. I don't use the front brake a lot now. Even when I did slam on the front brake I didn't stop in time...hence the new bike...

I took a fly over the handle bars of a bicycle once myself...hurt like hell as i recall.

Learning trail-braking on the streets can be dicey, this is why I recommended practicing in the proverbial empty parking lot. Gina, was 'slamming' on the brakes just an expression or did you just jerk the lever? Like firing a pistol, you should be smooth and squeeze the lever and steadily increase the pressure. With empty lot rain practice, it gets a lot easier. You would be suprised how hard you can use the front brake in the rain.

Tip #2

Continue to look cool, even though you just laid your bike down because you forgot to put the side stand down.

Maybe slamming is a Brit term...

Jumping on the brake cos a car was in the way...... and hoping I was gonna stop before hitting it. I didn't and that is why I have a new one....
And it was dry.

Practice full on front and rear braking Gina. Get comfortable with the process so it becomes instinctive. It helps to have someone watch you, at least until you know what the rear brake locking up feels like (you don't want this). A locked front is actually much easier to deal with. Simple sensory input-output here. Hands are much more dexterous than feet. It's much easier to judge how much brake you're applying with your fingers.
Might just save you another nasty meeting.

I find it very helpful to go to a large (empty) parking lot and practice several things. One of them is emergency stopping. Run it up in the gears and slam in both brakes and try to come to a controlled stop. The practice really does help give you a good feel for what the bike can do and gives you confidence in your ability to make a emergency stop.

Ride straight. Always. Party at the END of the day's ride.

I lifted these from a police motorcycle course:

The key to safe low speed motion is to modulate and control your speed by feathering the clutch and rear brake in unison. This allows one to travel slower than stall speed in first gear, and won't hurt a wet clutch if done in relative moderation. (This is how the cops do it)

At slow speeds, ignore the instinct to look down at the ground. NEVER look down at low speed. If you look down, you'll go down. I find this practice handy for grooved roads and bridges too. DON'T look down.

When making turns at low speed, turn your head in that direction, and the bike will follow. For very tight turns and U turns, turn your head as far as it will go, like an owl. The farther you turn your head, the tighter you can turn. It sounds weird, but it works.

NEVER use the front brake at low speeds.

It is possible for everyone who rides a motorcycle to make controlled full lock turns at 5 MPH. It just takes practice. Start by having someone stand in one place, or prop up a broom as a sighting target, and circle around, while looking at their head or broom height only. (DON'T look down!) Feather the rear brake & clutch as you go. Keep making the circle smaller, and practice in both directions. If you practice this on a hot day, make a run or two now & then to cool the engine. This is a very handy skill to have in traffic, when parking, and when making tight U turns. It should be second nature to be able to make a U turn within two parking spaces, with both feet on the pegs, in complete control, and with full confidence. EVERY production motorcycle sold in the US* is capable of this U turn in two parking spaces maneuver. A few hours with the circle exercise will get anyone there. Try it and see.

These techniques and many more are on this DVD, which is primarily devoted to low speed high proficiency riding techniques.
http://www.ridelikeapro.com/RLAP4.asp
This is a great DVD for low speed technique. Depending upon availability, it could make for a right nice stocking stuffer too. The second portion of the DVD is the actual police riding course, which requires ample & sturdy crash bars, even for the majority of skilled and highly experienced riders interested in riding it. If one can master that section, they can literally drag the pegs at 3 to 5 MPH and in full control. (I never tried that part of the course - my knees are my crash bars.)





*OK, so maybe the 14' production choppers can't U-turn that tight

The 'Ride Like a Pro Series are great! The example of his wife handling a big hog sent me to the closest high school parking lot on Sunday mornings. Circling a light pole works well if you don't forget the little feet that come out at the base.

The latest Rider mag has an interesting tidbit about a guy who took a police riding course. 'Everyone has one side they are better turning on.' I noticed that during practice and thought I was just weird(different subject). I can make tighter slow left hand circles than right circles and I'm right handed.

The Rider peice said this police dept makes it even worse by putting the tight U turns up against a brick wall so you can't shicken out and exit.

OUCH!

I've found that just a new pair of winter riding gloves has required a lot of practice with covering the front brakes.

Me & thick gloves don't get along too well either, but sometimes they're a must in the cool weather. A throttle lever helps some while covering the front brake with thick gloves. Some say you shouldn't cover the brake like that, but after a quick stop the other night to make room for Bambi, I believe I'll keep covering the brake at night whenever I remember to.

My dear old dad told me to treat all car drivers as idiots,i forgot this advice twice and got the various busted bones and bruises..

Be careful what you carry in your pocket.
I am guilty of this one too often. We use single-edge razor blades at work. I have a huge pile of them at home because I always forget to empty my pockets. I bet some of you do too. Tools or parts in a jacket pocket, backpack, or belt pouch will do some damage too.

It seems we have a lot of new riders these days. So I thought I'd bring this topic back up.

Hey Brian,

Thanks for bringing this back up. I'm a newbie and I've just gone on my first long rides after taking the MSF course and practicing a bit more in quiet residential areas and parking lots. Of course I need to work on all of my skills, but the most glaring right now are:

1. Taking a tight right hand turn from a stop sign or light in a residential area with very narrow roads. I slowly let out the clutch and seem to give to much throttle because I don't want to stall, and I've ended up making the turn way wide and ended up on the wrong side of the road. Not good. Maybe I should just release the clutch very slowly and stay off the throttle?

2. For some reason I can't get it through my head to cancel my turn signals everytime I use them. I've spent alot of time in cages and they've all done that for me. I know the answer here is to develop the habit of cancellinng them, I hope my writing it will drive it home.

3. When coming to a stop or slowing for a vehicle to turn, I am not sure whether I want to use engine braking, or Pull the cluth in and shift all the way down to first without letting it out and apply the brakes. I think I am beginning my slowing stopping processes later than I should.

Any pointers would surely be appreciated. These sites have helped me tremendously already as a beginning motorcyclist. I'm glad they're here.

Travis

Here's the link for the engine braking. I like it! But I also consider it sort of a "secondary skill", more of a preference. Not an essential skill like coming to a controlled stop outright. Get the basics down, then worry about splitting hairs.

I'll second the head turning. I also tend to turn the bike just a bit as I am coming to a stop so it's slightly less than a 90 deg turn, sorta cheating.

Habbits for the signal cancelling... Just like you said.

Get the book "Total Control" and read about counter steering. If you're turning right push on the right side of the handlebar and the bike will fall/turn to the right. It starts at a VERY slow speed. Counter intuitive but true. Get the book, well worthwhile.

The law of gravity gets us all sooner or later.Yes I have been down over the years a few times.Last time just coming to a stop.Cracked left elbow then.I try to always wear a jacket even in the summer now.Cool thing about helmets if you bump your head,they usually show a mark.New helmets are cheap compared to hospital visits.They also are warmer in the winter and dryer in the rain. In the summer they can actually keep you cooler and help keep you from getting sun burned.I've gotten hit in the head riding by rocks,trash,bugs-big bugs of all sorts,bees included,and birds.I know I have a thick head,but a helment helps.Down side to the helmet,yeah supposidly you cannot hear as good.****** my hearing is not as good anymore anyway.Helmets miss up your hair,there again I don't have much hair anymore! You have to clean the face shield of bugs.Boy that's a hassle.Better than your face or a trip to the eye doctor.Oh I have gotten a bee inside the fullface helmet going down the road.Scarry yes!! I managed not to crash or get stung.Good luck out there!!

You can make your tightest turn by feathering the clutch. Let it out a little, get going a little, pull the clutch back in a little, and turn tighter. Most riders have to use this method for their tightest of U-turns. Practice in a parking lot.
Your bike downshifts easier when the output shaft is spinning, in other words, while you're still moving. It can be harder to shift if you wait until you're stopped. I like the sound of an engine on overrun(coasting down), but serious braking should be done with the brakes, both together.

Thought of a guy at work reading some of the other comments.He's a new street rider.Bought himself a GT650R Hyosung.He let me take it out,seems like a good starter bike.He got a good deal on it brand new.He has not had it six months even yet.He told me he has 1600 miles on it now.Guess what he's thinking of getting a CBR1000 Honda now.I'd like to see the guy get more exsperence on the 650 before jumping onto the CBR1000. He's a young guy and I know he thinks faster is better,but not always.I personally think he would do better to wait a year and get some miles under his seat.

I know a lot of people in situations like that... Plus my neighbor is egging this one girl on "but an inline 4 is soooo smooooth" like she really cares how much smoother a motor is. Yeah it's also powerful enough to go right out from under her. That's a BIG step up from a little thumper.

Newbies, this one's for you!

This subject & context should be a separate Forum in it's own right , some darn good advise here.
Hoffo

That's a lot of reading a chock full o' good info. Here's my advice: relax your death grip on the controls, if you're hanging on for dear life you're not in control. Head up, look where you want to go, expect the worst from everyone else and stay out of the oil slick at intersections. Me, I watch everyone else's wheels at a stop, folks who creep will jump in front of you every time. Oh yeah, never hurts to offer a friendly wave to other riders

When I first started riding a street bike (@14), my mother was worried about an accident. A guy she worked with (who also rode) reassured her by telling her that bike riders become much better drivers because they learn to stay aware of their surroundings at all times and those skills carry over with them when they are driving their cars. That was almost 40 years ago. The fact that this thread exists today proves that it's still true.

Mom still worries though and I won't even go into the chaos that ensued when Dad bought a new bike @ 80.

This is what I told my son and his friends when they got their sport bikes... "There's a time and place for fast riding!" Always think about where you are, and what the results of your actions could be. They have all told me since that these words kept coming back to them...hopefully it made a difference.

later, Tom.

Your new bike is going to attract alot of attention. Don't let it distract you.
I should know better, but when a beautiful Spanish girl in a bikini is staring at your bike and smiling as you ride by, you're going to return the favor.


I stopped a couple feet short of hitting the city bus.

Live and Learn
or
Crash and Burn

Steepen your learning curve, newbies.

Been to TWO different bike club meetings where the guest speaker prefaces his discourse with "There are two kinds of riders - those who HAVE crashed and those that WILL crash" Aaackk ! I wanted to leave ! I sincerely believe , and it's not arrogant or naive , that one can ride a lifetime and never "crash ." It would be like sitting on a plane before departure and the flight attendant says "there are two kinds of passengers , those who have crashed and burned and those that will."

OK braking. There's a reason that many bikes have twin disks on the front while only having a single smaller one (or even a drum) at the rear. The front brakes are your MAIN brakes and at anything above walking speed they should be doing 70-90% of the work. At riding speeds the rear brake is more of a "stabiliser" for the rear too keep things in balance. At SLOW speeds (ie: walking speed, maybe up to 15mph/20kph) things change and your rear brake becomes more important than the front, but ONLY at those speeds. Relying on the rear at speed is a death wish, because as soon as the brakes start slowing the bike the centre of gravity moves way forward and you lose most of the traction on the rear wheel.

Brakes are also good for more than slowing the bike, they can help you control the bike in corners. While turning, gentle pressure on the rear brake (combined with easing the throttle off a little) will pull the bike further down into the corner. Conversely gently using the front brake (possibly with a slight increase in throttle) while cornering while stand the bike up. Note the emphasised words, this technique requires proper brake skills. Simply grabbing a handfull of lever will result in a very bad day. The correct technique is to move the lever (hand or foot) till you start to feel pressure then smoothly increase the pressure rather than applying it all at once.

Road position can save your life. Many newbie riders find themselves watching the road a few feet ahead of their front wheel - try to keep your vision 2-3 car lengths ahead of the bike, far enough ahead that you can anticipate things like pot holes, spilt diesel etc. If the road condition is clear and you're riding alone try to stay near the centre of the lane to keep the most distance between you and the traffic. If you're riding in a group, ride in the car wheel-tracks, with riders staggered left to right. This doubles the amount of space available to stop suddenly, and might help keep cars from pushing in front of you.

When pulling up at an intersection pay close attention to the road surface, and move from the centre of the lane to the car wheel tracks. You'll often seen "grease strips" at intersections where cars & trucks have spilt oil, diesel, coolant etc while waiting at the lights, and sitting to one side or the other will help avoid this. This is especially important in the wet.

Look "through" corners. If you focus on what's immediately in front of you on the twisties then what comes after will always be a surprise. If you look as far ahead as you can on corners you'll have ample time to set up your road position & speed to enter & exit the corner smoothly, and set yourself up for the next one. Your aim should be to enter the corner at the right speed to move through the entire corner, accelerating gently as you leave the corner to increase rear wheel traction and help straighten the bike up. Trying to change speed mid-corner will result in an unstable bike.

Use your gears! The single best way of losing traction is with your brakes. In general riding (ignoring very low speed maneuvers) you should generally only need your brakes when coming to a complete stop. If you're looking far enough ahead that you can anticipate what's coming, change down a gear or two to slow down rather than grabbing handfulls of brake. Using the gears to decelerate keeps the bike under power so you're ready to throttle up again to stand the bike up, or reduce throttle (perhaps feathering the rear brake) to corner harder. Relying on the brakes removes your control from the wheels, and takes them a lot closer to breaking traction & skidding. I'll say it again: In general riding you should almost never need brakes unless coming to a complete stop. If you don't believe me, watch the professional racers driving & riding - they rely mainly on the engine & gearbox to control the vehicle's speed than the brakes. Even when they do brake heavily, they still use the gears to assist in slowing the vehicle.

A couple of favorites...

Do Not Panic! If you keep your head you have a much better chance of coming out the other side of whatever is happening in one largely functional piece.

Caution and confidence (both born of experience) will keep you alive, fear and cockiness are the killers.

Be aware of the sun. In the direction of your shadow you are worse than invisible, you are painful to look at / for. If you live where the time changes, remember that this has a big affect on where the sun is at your normal riding time.

Learn how people in cars behave on Friday afternoons, and Wed. mornings and at long lights and in traffic jams and at rural stop signs. Learn to watch for folks to look lost. Understanding the things that impact cage driver psychology / actions will help you avoid meeting them close up.

That "gunk strip" is mostly at intersections. Otherwise, it's not too bad.

stay close to the center line, so that oncomeing traffic can see you.

As a returning "newbie" I have found this most educational.

Thanks Guys.

I have a little problem with the lane position theory being some kind of "rule". Where you should be in the lane varies depending on type of road, traffic, and weather conditions. The important thing is to use the whole lane accordingly.
In rain conditions on a heavily travelled road, the water will be deeper (ponding) where the car tires run. Bikes can hydroplane too.
On an interstate highway at 70 miles an hour, you can hug that center line if you wish, but an oncoming semi can push a whole bunch of air at you. And crosswinds can move you around a bit as well...
In city traffic, stay as visible as possible, but assume no one sees you. They will pull in front of you, pull right in behind you and in some cases try to occupy the same space you are in.

So use the entire lane, keep your mind on what you're doing and don't make any sudden moves. You will eventually develope a "sixth sense" - that guy isn't going to stop/that girl behind me is on a cel phone and not paying attention/that truck driver doesn't know I'm back here/that minivan is going to pull out in front of me, etc. etc.

I rode up on a sidewalk once to avoid a jerk who ran a stop sign..... it happens. Keep your options open and you will lessen your chances of becoming a statistic.