[Ravaloft]

First, she's fine.

After passing the MSF class she wanted to ride. And being that she let me get the bike in the first place how can I say no?

Anyway, down she and the bike go. Doing a left turn. I didn't see what happened but, I think she target fixated on something wasn't going fast enough and hit the front brake.

**Damage all pertains to left side:**
-Driver peg twisted
-Last few letters of yamaha sticker and damage to fairing in said place
-bar end
-pointy area under mirror
-shift lever bent in so that you can't shift down
-clutch lever bent and ball part busted off

Worst part is she asks if I'm sad/mad/disappointed several times. Yeah of course I am disappointed. But naturally have to play it cool. Just kind of sucks.

Hopefully, at least, she learned what she did wrong and we think happen again.

Got to get some pearl touch up paint to hide her scars tomorrow. And as usual I read to post pics but this site hates my phone.

 

[YR3]

Sorry to hear that happens, I guess through the learning process at times you have to go through things like this.

 

[u3c307]

The bike can be fix. As long as she is ok then that should be all that matters. Probably start training her in the parking lot or neighborhood roads doing different speed. Practice makes perfect and everyone crashs. Sign you and her up for advance course it may help her even though if you already are knowledgeable. GL!

 

[Ravaloft]

Advance coursed to come eventually. As I said, she's fine and eager to get back on.

 

[Mike-the-Bike]

Color Rite has the paint; you can get "paint pens" for touch ups. I just painted all the black parts of mine--"Vivid Red Cocktail" and "Bluish White Cocktail" ( red and pearl white). Same paint as the 2012 R1--search it on their website.

 

[EcoRider]

They say learn to ride on an old bike...

 

[Texas250]

Get her a cheap knock around 250 like a ninja or CBR that's already been down. Learning a motorcycle's grip and weight is not the easiest thing to do.

At least is not a new 11,500 dollar GSXR600. I girl in my MC got one as her first cycle, and it been down like 7 times with 5 broken clutch levers.

 

[barett]

get her out on the bicycle for a bit. I did that with my lady when she was looking to get a scooter. I found that getting her used to the balance and leaning aspects of riding was easier on the bicycle then on a scooter or moto where the extra motions of throttle and gears are introduced...

 

[JerseyR3]

I knew how this was going to end as soon as I read the title...:crying:

Bummer

 

[Mouse1371]

I have seen a few posts on here that riding a bycicle to better understand a motorcycle. Is it really that similar? I have never ridden a motorcycle but I ride my bycicle all of the time.

 

[ahakanc90]

Not really. I started on R3 and doing just fine after the MSF course. knock knock

They say learn to ride on an old bike...

 

[RandyD]

This thread terrifies me but I bought the bike for her not me. If she crashes all I care about is her getting up. Plastic and parts can be replaced. My wife can't. I'm in the same boat as she's never ridden anything other then the MSF course bikes. First couple street rides and she's doing pretty good. she target fixated the first corner and almost rode off the road on her first ride. She's been doing great ever since. Told me her biggest problem is death gripping the bars and she knows she needs to relax. We did a little 60 mile round trip yesterday. Super proud of her.

 

[Ravaloft]

I have seen a few posts on here that riding a bycicle to better understand a motorcycle. Is it really that similar? I have never ridden a motorcycle but I ride my bycicle all of the time.

Personally, the comparison ends with just the feeling of being on two wheels. When you have some speed the motorcycle wants to be upright, just like a bicycle. I guess maybe turning a little bit in that you can feel how the bicycle leans a bit. My feelings though. I'm sure others see it differently.

 

[Ravaloft]

This thread terrifies me but I bought the bike for her not me. If she crashes all I care about is her getting up. Plastic and parts can be replaced. My wife can't. I'm in the same boat as she's never ridden anything other then the MSF course bikes. First couple street rides and she's doing pretty good. she target fixated the first corner and almost rode off the road on her first ride. She's been doing great ever since. Told me her biggest problem is death gripping the bars and she knows she needs to relax. We did a little 60 mile round trip yesterday. Super proud of her.

I think the R3 is a good beginner. And agree with what you said about the moto being repairable. My wife has some basic scooter knowledge from living in Vietnam for 16 years but, scooter was automatic. I've restricted her to parking lots for now as she still stalls and doesn't understand why until I tell her to calm down and think about it. She also stalls getting started from a standstill going uphill, which can be a little tricky for a beginner.

I think when parts are easily accessible and the bike can be brought down a little for her (I'm the main rider at 6'2" and she is 5'3") things will be smoother. I can't have the bike going lower than what it is for me just yet!

Also, we only have the one bike for now so I can't really watch how she does on the streets unless I am the parking lot supervisor.

 

[mattdc5]

Lol my Wife did the same thing.
She bent the shift lever scraped the fairings and scratched the blinker.
Wet sanded the blinker, sanded and repainted the fairings black, and bent the lever back. All as good!

 

[Golem]

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but I have a couple of scratches on my side fairings. What did you end up getting to cover / touch-up the scratched areas? And did you need anything else besides the paint. Thanks!

 

[Ravaloft]

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but I have a couple of scratches on my side fairings. What did you end up getting to cover / touch-up the scratched areas? And did you need anything else besides the paint. Thanks!

I touched it up with white out lol. It was just a small spot. You wouldn't notice it unless I showed you.

 

[Vince]

I agree on not bother much on the bike
The next up you can get/should get for her is a full suit, that's next on my list to have in a month or two

 

[Yamamama]

Yep. MSF course, full gear, touch-up paint, chalk it up to experience. If it makes you feel any better, my DH, who has some 15 years riding experience on me, dropped my bike in wet grass the first time I let him ride it. (Not the R3 - many years ago - and we're still together. )


As far as two wheeled experience - yeah, you need to know how to balance on two wheels, that's why the MSF course requires students to be able to ride bicycles. Beyond that - you'll learn WAY more about bicycling from riding a motorcycle, than you'll ever learn about motorcycling from riding a bicycle. You can get away with a lot of stuff at 15-20 mph (not looking where you want to go, not countersteering, not using your body weight to steer, etc) that you can't at 70.