What Now??!!! :( By tyscoots (Read 1,360 times)

[tyscoots]

Hello Everyone!

My name is Tonya! I recently bought a 250cc Scooter and I am afraid that I made a terrible mistake!

I guess like a lot of folks, I thought that since I know how to ride a bicycle, an 250cc scooter (JCL-MP250A) would be a breeze to learn to ride. Boy! Was I Wrong!

The first day, I was just about in tears because I could not even balance myself up. That darn bike is heavy! The second day, I was able to balance myself and the bike. I even took it for a few trips around the block. Now, I am having problems taking off from a complete stop and making left turns from a complete stop. Boy, I thought I'd be enjoying to wide open rode by now, but well, NOT!!!

I decided to enroll in a riders safety coures so I know that will help a lot. I never learned how to ride a motorcycle. In the mean time, this bike is my only form of transportation and I have a few weeks before my class is to start. Should I wait or should I keep trying to ride? Any suggestions as to taking off from a complete stop and making left turns from a complete stop? Should I start with an 150cc or 50cc bike? Help!!

Thanks in Advance
Tonya

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[turtle8]

I had never ridden a scooter or a motorcycle before I bought my 150cc scooter. It didn't take more than a few laps around the block to get used to that small ride. Before I bought my scooter, I did try out a friend's Honda Silverwing (600cc) - I couldn't even turn it around!

Maybe you could borrow a 150cc to practice with. I sure wouldn't give up yet.

[ccprof]

Tonya - don't get yourself all depressed because you CAN ride that thing. Lots of women are riding big cruising and touring bikes so a 250 is nothing compared to them. You didn't just get on that bicycle and go and the scoot's going to be the same. Like JR says - get out and practice. Remember, that scoot has a minimum speed at which it becomes stable - maybe at about 10 mph. Turns are probably the trickiest when you're first learning and represent a big hazard. Left turns are probably the hardest because you're probably leaning to the left. The MSF course will teach you proper turning technique including stops. SLOW down (works from a dead stop) LOOK through the turn to where you want go. PRESS the handlebars in the direction you want to go. Gently ROLL back on the throttle - give gas. Pretty soon you'll be leaning the bike a little as you go.

I just about wiped out on the first couple stops until I learned how to turn. You'll get the hang of it quickly.

Question - are you able to get both feet on the ground when you're stopped? Some women are a little on the short side for their seats. If you can't flat foot, consider getting the seat cut down and/or wearing shoes with thick soles.

Where do you live? There may be other riders who can give you a little coaching.


By the way - welcome and nice looking scoot!

[fubar05]

i agree with cc the most help is going to be dont look at the bike ,look where you want the bike to go !
think positave tell yourself ... i got this ,no problem, if you say you cant ..you won't
if you go at it in a i WILL do this mind set than yo WILL .
even put out some cones or can's to use as a focus point for your turn's and stop's ,pay attention to how you progress each couple of stops and turns and youre confidence will grow.
where helmet and gloves and jacket and good boots while you practice , if you spill dont give up !my wife spilled 3 times in a church parking lot , she used the front break in turns and whell....poof.good luck to you and ...sweet looking scoot!
happy highway's

[jct842]

A motorcycle saftey course is the very best way to go. Advice here helps but some hands on training in your home state is the best. laws do vary and they will see that you have what it takes to ride in your state. like has been said going slow in a parking lot will build confidence. john

[scootaway]

Tonya one of your questions was taking off from a complete stop. I can say don't lift your feet off the ground until you have given power because it is the power that pulls the vehicle upright. My little sis made that mistake of taking her feet off the ground first then apply power because at that time the bike was falling over already. The other common mistake when pullin off and turn is that you get a freight and then close the throttle, this immediately lets gravity take over and down you go, so when you pull off and turn, give power, raise your feet lean slightly over into the turn and go, do not close the throttle when turning slowly unless your balance is good.

[tyscoots]

Hello Again Everyone!

Wow! Thanks for the great advice! Now I I am ready to get out there and try again. I live in Milwaukee, WI, so I don't have much time hey? lol!!
Milwaukee has a big bike rally going on this weekend. Nice seeing all the cool bikes.

I am able to get both feet on the ground so that is a good thing.

I am going to give it another try and work on it all weekend. I will let you all know how it goes. Again, thanks so much for the super great advice!

Oh and yes, it is a nice looking bike, a real head turner BUT, keep in mind, that is the BEFORE picture, lol!!!!

Happy Labor Day Everyone!

[speedracer]

What everyone has been saying is true. The class will help a lot. No one has mentioned however counter steering on a scooter. If you do a search on google you'll find videos and articles on counter steering. There are several different methods you can use but I use what I think is the easiest. If I want to turn right I push the right handle grip forward and just hold the left handle bar grip.

What happens is the scooters front wheel actually turns left making the scooter lean to the right and the bike turns right. Just the opposite for turning left. Counter steering usually works when you reach about 10 MPH but the scooter will turn right when you push the right handle grip forward and it will turn left when you push the left handle grip forward.

I would say you are right handed and when you want to make that left turn you are pushing forward with your right hand which will make the scoot go right and if you are fighting it the scoot goes straight.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice.

Good luck and enjoy the ride.

[wolfhound]

What am I missing here, gentlemen? Tyscoots bio beside the message indicates that he is male but Tonya is the person requesting advise. My guess is that Tonya is a family member
and while some of us have answered her some have answered him. All have given good advise. So take your time learning to ride, go slow at first til you are comfortable, take the courses(here is GA they are taught on 250 motorcycles) and enjoy the ride.

[scootaway]

Speedracer what you are saying is so true, if people don't understand that well it is because they lack experience. Strange but flying a microlight works the same, push bar to right, craft goes left

[tyscoots]

Hi Again Everyone,

I hope you all are enjoying the Labor Day Weekend!

I just wanted to mention that yes, Danny and I (Tonya) are sharing an account/username. He will set up his own account soon. I hope I we did not cause to much confusion.

Well, I did not get to much practice in. We were only in the 60's this weekend, which is not so bad for Wisconsin, but the wind has also been horrible the last two days. I am hopeful to get out and practice tomorrow.

Danny did try to teach me to ride before I posted for help a few days ago, but that did not go well. He made me very nervous. Boyfriends, are sometimes not so patient. I dropped the bike and then he got scared that I'd hurt myself, so that was the end of lesson one lol!!

I did take a look at a few counter steering videos. I understand the concept, but it is still a bit confusing. I hope to take another look see. Thanks for the info.

Well, again thanks all for the help everyone. Maybe the next time I post, I'll be a pro!

Stay Safe All

Tonya

[wolfhound]

Thanks, Tonya, for clearing up who is who . I thought that might be the case. Stay with this group and you will recieve a lot of good info and encouragement. When you can, practice in
empty parking lots and at slow speeds at first. As your confidence grows so will your riding
skills. Two rules to follow are: 1. always wear correct safety clothing, ie; helmet, correct shoes, good safety jacket, Jeans or some sort of durable leg wear, and riding gloves. 2. Always be aware of your surroundings especially at intersections. Keep an eye out for safe exits in case your scoot has a problem. Watch the cagers at all times!! You are small, they are
big and many times unobservent of what is going on around them.
Remember that it is about the ride and enjoy it.

[ccprof]

Tonya - you may find it helpful to do this in steps. Slow speeds around the neighborhood and parking lots if you can. When you're comfortable with that move to bigger roads with higher speed limits. Time your rides for off peak hours like evenings or Sunday mornings. Go a little farther and longer as you get the hang of it. Plan your ride to avoid problems

Like Wolfie just said - proper safety gear and ride like the cagers can't see you.

Safe ride to you!

[oldchopperguy]

Tonya,

I've been riding for more than fifty years, but I can't add much to the good advice you already have here. One thing I have noticed with these modern scooters is that while they are similar in weight to a small/mid-sized motorcycle, the weight is centered MUCH lower.

This makes them just a little "twitchy" and that's great for snappy handling at low speed. It also increases the phenomenon you experience when taking off from a stop. Big motorcycles have heavy engines up high, the higher the center of gravity, the easier it is to balance. (Prove this by balancing a baseball bat in the palm of your hand.) With the small end in your palm, and the heavy end up high, it's easy. With the big, heavy end in your palm, not as easy.

Even so, scooters are STILL easier to ride and balance than bicycles... LOL!

If you accelerate a little faster, you may find it much more stable and easier to not be awkward on starts. My scooter manual even recommends that... "When start from stop, open throttle and do not be gentle, for easy ride..." You GOTTA love the Chinese translations.

Based on a half-century of enjoying two-wheel transportation, I can ASSURE you that you'll be glad you got the 250. It takes you past the surface-streets-only realm, and allows you to hit the freeway for some serious travel. It just takes a little time to get used to it.

Having ridden just about everything from mini-bikes to stretched-out choppers, I will say I've found scooters to be just slightly more challenging to ride than big motorcycles, BUT only SLIGHTLY. Basically, they are slightly snappier at low speed, but a lot easier to pick up if you drop one! LOL! Picking up a Harley will give you arms like Popeye... and get expensive!

You're going to love riding that scoot (except maybe during Milwaukee winters...) just be careful, and you'll have a ball!

Ride safe,

Leo in Texas

[tyscoots]

Hi All,

I just wanted to again thank everyone for the super great advice. I have not been on busy streets yet, but I am a whole lot better than I was a week ago!

I think I am doing a lot better with starting from a complete stop but I think I need more practice with left turns from a complete stop. I guess now all it is to it is to keep practicing.

I am going to try and ride a busy street this weekend.

Oh, and thanks for the kinds words, Leo. Starting from a stop with with a little more power does help a lot!

Thanks everyone!!!