I'm in europe > Macedonia and there aren't any riding schools here, I did take my licence but they learn you nothing in the school..

Are there places online to learn stuff they teach you on MSF courses, maybe watch some videos or something?

Many times, your friends have picked up bad habits they are more than happy to pass on to you  But riding with an experienced friend does help a lot.  As for MSF, a lot of the stuff they teach you is stuff you already know, but practicing emergency stops, swerves (i would think stops and swerves are definitely a busy Europe necessity) and proper turning.  There are several books out on the market, like Twist of the Wrist 2, Proficient Motorcycling, and others that give very good advice on skills and accident avoidance.  

Find a nice, smooth parking lot and practice.  Get your skills down in a controlled, non-stress environment.  We all should be practicing skills regularly  

Quote from: Turkinaswerves (i would think stops and swerves are definitely a busy Europe necessity)

Find a nice, smooth parking lot and practice.  Get your skills down in a controlled, non-stress environment.  We all should be practicing skills regularly  

I had to do a swerve to pass my bike test, and the instructor basically said "here is how you do a swerve, you have to do it to pass your test. Don't use it in real life, you'll kill yourself..."    
I've used it twice, and nearly killed myself once...  

Doing low speed stuff is good, it's hard to do. practice U turns and slaloms between cones, stuff like that.

definately practice emergency braking. Did you get taught the "setup and squeeze" braking technique?

I found myself into "emergency stop" situation 2-3 times on my GS...
2 times it was a dog, 1 time was a stupid cager that went from side section of the road, passed 3 lanes and went into mine. I had to pull the front brake not so tight, and the rear brake also...the rear wheel started to swirl left and right and I loosend up that brake and continued with the front, it was f%$king scare, I felt this is the end...

the dog also, I was driving 50 mph and had to stop for like 30 meters... Decided never to drive above 35mph (60kmh) while in the city ever again.

Buying Yamaha FZ6-Naked (black) model, should be here in 3-5 days max, and they say the front brake on that bike can make you do an endo if you squeeze it the way you squeeze the brake on the GS

Ehhh... don't let up on a locked rear unless you are certain the bike is pointed straight.  The rear can hook up and toss you  I'd keep riding the GS as your primary bike for a while until you're cool with the throttle and brake on the FZ6 Gotta keep the new bike pretty!  With good tires and a stainless steel brake line you can upset the GS pretty well... just ask AdamR

Swerves, I've never used one, but I figure a sideswipe has got to be a little better than a drilling into the back of a car    By the time you think about the swerve, it's probably too late too

If you lock up the rear it's not a total disaster, but you should take your foot off it and brake again, but not too hard. You don't need to stand on the back brake, it locks up really easily.

You should also pull the clutch in and tap down to 1st when you do an emergency stop.
you don't want to ruin a good stop by stalling or trying to take off in sixth, and getting nailed in the ass by the guy behind you.  

Even when you stop at lights you should be in 1st, ready to go and have an escape route planned.

As far as swerves go, we were taught: don't get into the situation in the first place, stop if you can and swerve as a last resort.

You've got to watch you position and spacing, and what everyone else is doing as well.

I think I'll leave it at that, and get to you all when I've got a couple of years riding experience. Good luck  

a good technique, (taught in most msf courses), accellerate, shift to 2nd, about 25 ish mph, (sorry i dont speak metric-ese) , apply both brakes firmly,WHILE downshifting to 1st.

Quote from: panikIf you lock up the rear it's not a total disaster, but you should take your foot off it and brake again, but not too hard. You don't need to stand on the back brake, it locks up really easily.

You should also pull the clutch in and tap down to 1st when you do an emergency stop.
you don't want to ruin a good stop by stalling or trying to take off in sixth, and getting nailed in the ass by the guy behind you.  

Even when you stop at lights you should be in 1st, ready to go and have an escape route planned.

As far as swerves go, we were taught: don't get into the situation in the first place, stop if you can and swerve as a last resort.

You've got to watch you position and spacing, and what everyone else is doing as well.

I think I'll leave it at that, and get to you all when I've got a couple of years riding experience. Good luck  

I've been riding the GS for 3 years now. Sold it and now waiting my FZ6 to arrive.

Several books you can read:

-Proficient Motorcycling covers much of the info covered in MSF course. Good basic reading on street smarts.

-Now that you're getting a bit bigger bike you might consider one or both of the following books: Twist of the Wrist II and Sport Riding Techniques. Both are exceptionally good books that help you become a faster, safer rider.

Congratulations on the new bike! Also, if you DO buy any of these books please (whenever you can) go to amazon.com through the "buy a repair manual" link above as it gives this site a dollar or two per purchase, regardless of what you buy through the link.

Hey mate,

Here is a link to the msf handbook:

http://www.msf-usa.org/Downloads/Rider_Handbook_screen.pdf


Here is something that may be of interest to all:

http://www.pro-bike.ro/informatii/en-genunchiul/page_01.htm


Cheers,