Be careful everyone!

[Cam22]

Check out this story from my local online newspaper:
TEWKSBURY - On July 1, a woman police described as an inexperienced motorcyclist lost control of her new metallic blue Suzuki and crashed nose first into a Honda Accord, causing a major rush hour traffic headache and sending her to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston.

Police Detective James Hollis said witnesses told police 22-year-old Melissa Hall, who recently moved from Tewksbury to Tyngsboro, came to the light in front of the Tewksbury post office around 4:15 p.m. When the light turned green, Hall appeared to have a problem with the bike's clutch. She revved the gas and disengaged the clutch simultaneously. That caused Hall to lose control of the bike as the front wheel reared up. She crossed the center line striking 38-year old Laurie Montgomery-College's Accord, sending Hall airborne and into the windshield.

Firefighters had a Medflight helicopter land a few hundred feet away at Osco Plaza, behind Picadilly Pub, and airlift Hall to Boston. She reportedly suffered head, leg and arm injuries. Police say the full helmet she wore riding the bike likely saved her life.

At press time, a Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital spokesman said Hall was still in the hospital, but information on her condition was not available.

Montgomery-College had minor injuries resulting from the crash, but was clearly shaken. Police closed a small section of Main Street between Pinewood Road and Aubut's Liquors for two hours while state trooper William Pultar Sr. investigated the accident. Strewn along the accident scene were a coat used to cushion Hall's head until help arrived, a small black boot emergency personnel cut from Hall's foot, chrome pieces of the motorcycle, the bike's separated front tire, a black motorcycle seat and plastic from the bike's headlight. Inside the ignition were the bike's keys, which still had the dealer's tag attached

[Piper5177]

That's why an SV should not be considered a "beginners" bike.

[Toecutter]

No, that's why you should take the MSF course and not be a moron, riding in traffic when you obviously don't know how to ride yet.   This woman was a victim of her own stupidity.

[Piper5177]

Buying an SV 650 to learn on isn't the smartest move either. IMO

[scratch]

Throttle control, throttle control, throttle control...

Also, if unsure, learning in an abondoned parking lot at night and practicing starting and stopping, and turning, helps keep you out of trouble with other drivers.

I just read the PACE 1 by Nick Ienatsch from Motorcylist magazine and it states that the throttle and brakes are the two most abused controls.
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=e914fd124862ff7bb11ee7492c9bc631&threadid=35910

[bbanjo]

I've been riding one bike or another since I was eight (now 36) so I forget what it was like to learn controls. Everyone who's riding regularly does take for granted what it's like to break it in.

Mentors in the form of riding buddies are the way to go. Someone to show you what your bike can do, and what you can do with the bike. That's why networking boards are great, like this one. Get with the new riders and show them patiently what they are in for commuting. Then show them how to take control of the bike and how to ride it 100%.

It will save on the dumbass stats that the states keep. It will save on the premiums that all of us pay for insurance to ride.

[Arpee]

That's why an SV should not be considered a "beginners" bike.

Good point.  One needs to be quite patient with the clutch on that bike.  Most likely the gal forgot she had it in neutral, revved it to the sky, instantly figured out the problem and slammed it into gear rocketing the bike across the intersection....sucks.  Totally ruined the motorcycling experience for her most likely forever...

[Blueknyt]

ok first off, i went through the MSF coarse, its good for First timers wanting to learn how to ride a bike, and if you have ridden  previously has some good stats to learn. 2 months after the coarse, its gone. i learned more by riding with experienced riders and had it stick then anything else.  as to SV not a good beginers bike? would a rebel 250 be a good one? i watched ont of my fellow students in the MSF procede to not only  pickup the front wheel, but managed to carry it 10' before she let go of the throttle and locked the rear brake sliding the ass end around 2" short of taking out another student.   (she drove her harley to the class ,but do to insurence reasons, had to use class bikes.)

she kept stalling the rebel, finnaly in Frustration she over goosed it and then paniced (when she let go of the throttle she grabed the tank with both hands and he pant leg cuff snagged the brake pedal when she kicked out locking the back brake.)   MSF does not compensate for user error including impatience, and panic.   MSF is a good starting point but havent  SEEN proof of much more then that.   nothing will teach or Hone one skills  better then doing, be it new or vet. reading foldouts and watching VHS conversions of old scratchy reel to reel footage from the 70's isnt going to do it.  MSF cant teach what milage can.

[Michael]

I've been riding one bike or another since I was eight (now 36) so I forget what it was like to learn controls.

I've been riding for 28yrs and I STILL remember my first experience with a motorcycle.  I was about 13 and it was my brother's Honda SL350.  Had the same problem- kept stalling when I let the clutch out so gave it a fistful and pulled my very first mono.    Fortunately it was in the back yard and the only thing I damaged was the chookyard fence.  My brother never let me ride another of his bikes again   :x  so I had to get one of my own.    But the point made by others is a good one- learn to use the controls where it doesn't matter much if you get it wrong.  Once it is habit to do it right, then try your luck with traffic.

[Cam22]

Well, I'm glad I posted this story. I totally agree that this woman did it herself, but being a new rider, I didn't want to state that, I guess because I wanted to hear it from all of you who have way more experience than me. I remember the first few times I got on the bike this year, when I first bought mine in May. My boyfriend took me to office parks on Sunday afternoons and that's how I got back into it. (Took the MSF course last year so it had been a long time between rides!!) The first day I took it out in the pkng lot, I almost drove the bike right into a fence! If that had been in traffic, God, I shudder to think what could have happened! I just panicked really, and gave it too much throttle. (Although not nearly as much in this awful newsstory I posted!) I agree too, that an SV650 is NOT for beginners. I don't care what anyone says. No one should start out in anything more than a 500, imho.