Hi I have also passed the test and have been riding hundreds of miles so far here's what I have learned.
1. SPEED IS LIFE
If you go too slow its dangerous and if you go too fast its dangerous. Always be asking yourself if the speed you are going is safe...too fast or too slow?
2. FRONT BRAKING DISASTERS
Many new riders crash due to using front brakes around corners. Do not do that but instead try not to brake at all in corners. As you learned in the msf course, always slow way before the corner and add a bit of throttle going through it. The tires grip better that way rather than coasting through the corner. If you have to brake going through a corner I suggest light rear braking only but not too hard or you can lock the tire and crash. Don't forget to check your brake and
lights.
3. EQUIPMENT
I strongly suggest 4 things
1. Helmet of course
2. Gloves
3. Riding jacket WITH ARMOR
4. Protective riding pants
The rule here is ask yourself if you are prepared to crash while riding 80 mph. If the answer is yes then you are protected.
4. AVOID BEING STRANDED
I would get a magnetic gas tank bag ( Or until then wear a back pack) and put some spair oil in there and also a kit called STOP AND GO TIRE PLUGGER which can be found on the internet. If you get a flat you can use that to fix the tire.
5. Handling a flat tire while driving
First off it is rare to get a blow out if your tires are good so make sure you have very good tires. When it comes to riding TIRES are everything. They really make a difference in how good the bike rides. Anyways, you can tell your rear tire is going low if you start to fish tail a bit while driving. I had this happen to me on the freeway and it was terrifyingly scary as hell. Lol but it was seriously. In that case as you probably learned, DO NOT BRAKE but rather cautiously pull over to the side. I was prepared with my kit and here is how I fixed the tire and drove off.
a. I found the damage. It was a dull bolt! Huge bolt. I pulled it out and then used the kit to add glue to the plugs. The plugs are in shape like a mushroom. I put it in the tire and then aired it up with the co2 cylinders that come with the kit. It was awesome! The cylinders get like ice in your hand (Good because on the freeway you cant hear the air going in) so you know the tire is airing up. The tire got hard as a rock and it was fixed! I drove off happy I had the kit. I got a new tire later and some more co2 cartridges.
I guarantee that sooner or later you'll get a flat. It was awesome to be able to fix it myself and it took about 9 or 10 minutes. You should or could also get triple a or AAA for motorcycles where if you get a flat they tow you free. This is a roadside service that you prepay for like insurance and that is more expensive than the kit but another good option.
6. ALL ROADS ARE NOT EQUAL
When driving on the street, not freeway or highways, you'll find that there are some roads that are all tore up and messed up with gouges and cracks. So its good to route out your commutes with the smoothest routes as it makes your tires and back last longer.
a. Freeways
If you ever drive freeways you will right away notice the road has a different feel to it. Sorta slippery compared to the black top types. Also if you look closely you'll see grooves in there which is to catch the rain and make it easier for car tires to grip...I say car tires because some motorcycle tires (especially if the lines on your bike tires are going the same direction as the lines on the freeway) react to these grooves by moving you all over the freeway.
You will also notice that a freeway lane really has 3 different areas to it. The middle area seems higher and the left side and the right side of that lane are lower. I suggest not riding in the middle side, although it may be smoother to ride on, but on the left or right side because crap and nails and debris "for the most part" end up in the middle. If it was where the car tires are some car driving in front of you has already picked up the nail. But car tires don't hit the middle lane. This is how I got the bolt in my bike on the freeway by riding the middle area.
b. Curves
When you are new and going around curves again stay away from the middle area as oil and coolant and liquid reside there and you could hit a big glob of that oil while turning and the chances of crashing are higher.
STAY AWAY FROM THE FRONT CAR!
When you are at a light do not pull up close in back of the car in front of you. Sometimes they realize they missed their turn and, I kid you not, they back up! They don't see you there and put it in reverse thinking they can back up and then turn down the street. A friend of mine got ran over like this and I remember what he told me and sure enough it happened to me. I was at a light and the sonof a b**** put his truck in reverse as he wanted to cut into the gas station. Thank God I had seen his reverse lights so I started pushing my bike back as fast as my legs could move while laying my thumb on the horn and he finally saw me....he was literally only 3 inches or so from my front tire. Ever since that time I stay a ways back. I was even in his mirror so I dunno why this dope didn't see me.
TIRES
Do not put armor all on your tires or anything on your tires. Wash them with water or mild soap and water. Not only does armor all or tire dressing ruin your tire but it makes it slick and dangerous.
I can go on and on as you can tell but the question you asked is a good one. There is so much more to riding a motorcycle than passing the course. I took that course too and you notice how they never taught you about high speed lessons?
Well you'll find that speed is life. 90% of safe riding is that.
Drive safe have fun and who knows, maybe we will low 5 each other while passing on the road!
