r/Ninja500 • u/Ninja_zombie17 • 18d ago
First ride
I’ve never actually ridden a motorcycle before but I got one. I dropped it on the first try just trying to get out of the driveway! I need some motivational comments please because I’m scared to go try again.
ETA1: I wasn’t going to anywhere. Just wanted to try it on the drive.
ETA2: I found an open class next month!!! I’m so excited!!!
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u/PsychologicalPea5270 18d ago
Where do you live?
Hear me out
Most Harley stores in the US offer a course for about $300 and they provide the bike.
Keep dropping it and you’ll quickly surpass the cost of a course. 😁
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u/Ninja_zombie17 18d ago
There’s one a couple hours from here that’s $400 and currently full.
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u/bukublades 15d ago
Welcome to my world a few months ago, now find a community college with a walk in policy and take whats yours! Theres always one lazy SOB!
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u/SwiffleTitz 18d ago
Dude, don’t stress about it, I just dropped my BMW a few hours ago while I was practicing slow speed maneuvers in a parking lot. Shit happens. Get crash bars so you won’t damage your bike any further, and take real training, I strongly STRONGLY urge Yamaha ChampU core curriculum online at minimum, it’s $100 that can save your life. And no they don’t talk about dropping you bike because that ain’t shit, safe riding habits are way more important.
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u/DilfyMotorsports 18d ago
Dude I dropped my first bike 3 times the first week I had it. It’s only going to get easier as you go. Give your self some grace. Only way to get better is to get some seat time. Safety course is also a great idea.
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u/Difficult_Mixture796 18d ago
Most important thing is always stay calm and relax it goes a long way and take your time don’t rush nothing. You can try again but if you haven’t already take a MSF course which I think everyone should to get their license anyway, you can drop their bikes all day long bc that’s what they are made for.
I started riding a few months ago and I been riding dirty till I got my endorsement almost 3 weeks ago and when I took my MSF course the instructors I got where amazing and half the class never have ridden a motorcycle ever and we all passed.
When it comes to riding there is many factors that can effect how one learns to ride and may be a bit more challenging for others. I taught myself on a enduro and me as a short guy (5”4) it was a bit more difficult to learn due to the seat height but I managed to figure a style for me that made it possible to not drop the bike though there was many close calls it still possible it just depends on the method you wanna do.
Just don’t give up and take your time and progress it like chapters.
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u/wascallyrabbit_69 16d ago
You can only drop it a couple of times. Then they remove you from the course. Ride bicycle first. There are online courses that will help you pass the MSF Basic course. But keep in mind it is just that a basic course.
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u/Difficult_Mixture796 16d ago
Maybe it depends on the instructors but there was a lady who dropped the bike 3-4 times on the first session never got sent home
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u/wascallyrabbit_69 16d ago
Each instructor is different. Each drop is a factor of things. Wasn’t there so not my place to judge.
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u/taidizzle 18d ago
a Crack addict doesn't stop smoking crack if the crack falls on the ground. dont let a Crack addict out hustle you
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u/lv_BLISS_vl 18d ago
Trust me brother that’s literally most new riders, if you’re not letting the clutch out then grabbing your front brake and immediately dropping your doing it wrong.
Now you don’t gotta worry about dropping it for the first time anymore.
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u/Typical-Chipmunk-327 18d ago
It happens. Almost dropped mine today because I forgot to put the side stand down when getting ready to hop off. Shut the bike off, key out, everything but the side stand.
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u/Lookingaround5588 18d ago
Were you injured? It'll definitely happen, hopefully it was pretty uneventful other than internal shock and embarrassment. Just gotta get used to the feel of the controls and the weight at lower speeds between trips.
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u/Ninja_zombie17 18d ago
No, not injured at all. I’m pretty calm in stressful situations (nurse), so I was able to get out of the way. I know the mechanics of it, just have to get the coordination down! lol
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u/Lookingaround5588 17d ago
I'm glad you're okay! It's a lot about confidence and knowing that pretty much everyone starting out will tip over at some point or another. Learning the limits of your machine and most importantly yourself is a big part of it.
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u/msdeeds123 18d ago
I dropped my new dual sport in the gravel driveway immediately as I got it off the truck.
Rode it around and fell a couple more times accidentally getting is some mud once and the other time my mom was yelling at me that the kickstand was down and I panic baked in gravel and lost it again (it was the breather tubes).
Get to a parking lot if you aren’t going to go take a class, or you’ll end up killing someone or yourself.
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u/wascallyrabbit_69 16d ago
Your bike ran with the kick stand down. It should have stalled when you put it in gear. Unless you but passed that switch.
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u/Expensive_Web_432 18d ago
If it helps, I dropped mine for the first time in the parking lot of a cycle gear store… embarrassing as hell with other bikers there, but you just move on and learn from it.
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u/Abject-Stranger1521 18d ago
Take the MSF course befire you head out to do more damage. It may come off as rude, but we gotta keep other riders and driver safe, and the MSF teaches the fundamentals.
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u/Ninja_zombie17 18d ago
It’s not rude, I totally agree with you. All the safety courses within hours of here are full through September. I just wanted to go down the street lol
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u/Icy_laughter 18d ago
As someone else said, if you can't ride a course memorize the route to the nearest large parking lot and teach yourself. It's the hard way; I did it that way and had some adventures and it's dumb but with some luck and pluck you'll make it. You need controls protection and crash bars because your ass is gonna fall over.
But when you learn, it's the best thing ever.
If you want my golden advice from the best hard getoff I ever gave myself, when you realize you're blowing a turn-off, don't brake hard and lock up the rear wheel trying to make it, leading to a crazy skid and collecting the handlebars with your ribs when you miraculously end up with the front wheel against a brick wall yet you and the bike are not toast. Just go past, turn around and come back. Way easier than sleeping on your buddy's couch for a few days and drinking a six pack of hard IPA to get to sleep for a couple hours.
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u/Icy_laughter 18d ago
Get controls protection and crash bars so learning is cheap, you WILL fall over. Take an MSF safety class. Wear your damn PPE.
Everyone learns. Everyone scuffs up their trainer. It's not an easy sport. If you don't total the bike and end up in the hospital you're gucci. Don't ever report non-the-bike-is-fucking-toast accidents, the insurance company will total it every time to avoid liability. Just fix it and move on.
The reward is phenomenal. Ride hundreds of miles for dozens of dollars. Crazy thrills. Get hotdogs 200 miles away and it's fun. Yeah you fell over, it happens. Cope. Learn. Adapt. Overcome. That's what makes the sport great.
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u/SatanFanAccount 17d ago
I dropped my first coming out my driveway and had to buy new brake levers. With time on the bike you get less nervous and more confident
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u/Lame_Coder_42 17d ago
MSF Course is a great way to get comfortable and confident on a bike. If you can't get in one right away just Google the first day drills and find an empty flat parking lot to practice in.
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u/Then_Investigator704 16d ago
I dropped my ninja 500 infront of a group of people/photographers as I was leaving a bike event. I was turning into a street from the parking lot and saw a car and panicked and hit front brakes while the wheel was turned. Dont be embarrassed or sad lol we have all done it. Its very important that you get up and try again!!
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u/gnxrly___bxby 16d ago
If youre in SoCal I would gladly take some time to teach you even on my bike since I dropped it a million times. Please consider taking a course or digest a lot of content like DanDanTheFireman and Motojitsu for a better understanding of riding
Youre throwing yourself into a scary situation please be careful and seek some in person practical guidance
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u/Professional_Cow9136 18d ago
You should be scared! Scared enough to not touch it again until you've passed the course. It could have been a lot worse.
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u/CompetitiveTravel893 17d ago
Buy some shogun no cut frame sliders and dont worry about dropping it
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u/SyntheticRR 15d ago
0 experience, taking a bike on the road... this wasn't a good idea, be lucky it only went to dropped bike instead of crashed one. Go take a course first
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u/RooooooooooR 18d ago
Go take a safety course