Miss Meg Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Hey guys. Hope you're all well I've started driving lessons now, been on the bike for 8 years (full license since June), so I need to break some of the bike habits (like where my ass sits in the lane) and how to get around the corners without causing a blow out (first lesson ended 15mins in cause I hit a kerb and blew the tyre...).So any tips from bikers going to cars? My mum is gonna put me on her insurance so when I need a lift places I can drive the car, but I'll still be using the bike the majority of the time so gonna be harder to break bike safe habits so I can learn to drive properly. Any tips are very much welcome! Miss Meg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorian Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 There is this thing called a steering wheel which turns the car, unlike a bike which is turned by an unmentionable topic and prayers.But seriously, just drive around a car park for a little while and get used to using foot for clutch. There's not many tips i can give as i went car then bike. Just remember you have less visibility of other road users than on a bike so always do a shoulder check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhJay Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Don't drag the clutch in the car like you do on the bike, they're very different designs and dragging it will shorten it's life. Replacing a car clutch isn't as easy as a bike's, either.I went the other way, car first, and on my first lesson on the bike one of the very first things my instructor said was "so how long you been driving?", apparently I used the clutch far too much like a car.Don't filter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissb6 Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Top tip forget about filtering and swerving to avoid potholes and also be prepared to get as frustrated as hell when stuck in traffic when you wish you were on your bike.On the plus side it's always good to have a full licence to be able to switch on the heater and wipers when called for. Being that you took to the roads first on a bike normally your road sense and collision avoidance skills will be a good step in front of the average car driver. I firmly believe bikers make better car drivers. I also believe that car drivers should first ride two wheels to make them realise and respect just how vulnerable they are on the roadsBest of luck with your lessons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Meg Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 There is this thing called a steering wheel which turns the car, unlike a bike which is turned by an unmentionable topic and prayers.But seriously, just drive around a car park for a little while and get used to using foot for clutch. There's not many tips i can give as i went car then bike. Just remember you have less visibility of other road users than on a bike so always do a shoulder check.Well I got that far I've driven cars plenty, safely in fields at a max speed of 20mph. Yeah the reduced visibility irritates me. why do cars need them stupid pillar things in the way grr Don't drag the clutch in the car like you do on the bike, they're very different designs and dragging it will shorten it's life. Replacing a car clutch isn't as easy as a bike's, either.I went the other way, car first, and on my first lesson on the bike one of the very first things my instructor said was "so how long you been driving?", apparently I used the clutch far too much like a car.Don't filter Yeah, The clutch thing I need to work.. so frustrating trying to learn my way around a car in comparison to the bike.. Top tip forget about filtering and swerving to avoid potholes and also be prepared to get as frustrated as hell when stuck in traffic when you wish you were on your bike.On the plus side it's always good to have a full licence to be able to switch on the heater and wipers when called for. Being that you took to the roads first on a bike normally your road sense and collision avoidance skills will be a good step in front of the average car driver. I firmly believe bikers make better car drivers. I also believe that car drivers should first ride two wheels to make them realise and respect just how vulnerable they are on the roadsBest of luck with your lessonshaha, yeah I'm cool with that, only gonna be driving in rain and shit weather.. Bike the rest of the time. Hate cars, I get car sick Bikers do make better car drivers, well unless they cant break bike habits to get used to it.. Would love responses from bike to car drivers.. Might have better tips (no offence lol ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XmisterIS Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Best tip I can give is to slow everything down compared to a bike.I drove a car for years, then went to a bike. Since I've been on the bike I hardly drive!When I get back in the car, I find myself trying to throw it around like it's a bike. Doesn't give a nice ride and XmrsIS says I drive it like a go-kart.Also, remember that you have a LOT less acceleration - the little gap that you can nip into on the bike just isn't doable in the car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazW Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 There is this thing called a steering wheel which turns the car, unlike a bike which is turned by an unmentionable topic and prayers.But seriously, just drive around a car park for a little while and get used to using foot for clutch. There's not many tips i can give as i went car then bike. Just remember you have less visibility of other road users than on a bike so always do a shoulder check.Well I got that far I've driven cars plenty, safely in fields at a max speed of 20mph. Yeah the reduced visibility irritates me. why do cars need them stupid pillar things in the way grr Don't drag the clutch in the car like you do on the bike, they're very different designs and dragging it will shorten it's life. Replacing a car clutch isn't as easy as a bike's, either.I went the other way, car first, and on my first lesson on the bike one of the very first things my instructor said was "so how long you been driving?", apparently I used the clutch far too much like a car.Don't filter Yeah, The clutch thing I need to work.. so frustrating trying to learn my way around a car in comparison to the bike.. Top tip forget about filtering and swerving to avoid potholes and also be prepared to get as frustrated as hell when stuck in traffic when you wish you were on your bike.On the plus side it's always good to have a full licence to be able to switch on the heater and wipers when called for. Being that you took to the roads first on a bike normally your road sense and collision avoidance skills will be a good step in front of the average car driver. I firmly believe bikers make better car drivers. I also believe that car drivers should first ride two wheels to make them realise and respect just how vulnerable they are on the roadsBest of luck with your lessonshaha, yeah I'm cool with that, only gonna be driving in rain and shit weather.. Bike the rest of the time. Hate cars, I get car sick Bikers do make better car drivers, well unless they cant break bike habits to get used to it.. Would love responses from bike to car drivers.. Might have better tips (no offence lol ) Had bikes from being a kid, and spent 18 months on a road bike before passing my car test.I found it quite easy, left hand side of the body deals with clutch and gears, and right hand side deals with acceleration and braking, same as the bike albeit laid out differently.Two completely different things as far as driving and riding is concerned, the main thing I struggled with was killing off speed, I could get round a left turn down a side street at 15-20mph without any drama, I actually tried that on my first 'lesson' in the car, ended up on the wrong side of the road, luckily nothing coming the other way. Resulted in a monumental bollocking, and an afternoon spent getting it right. I didn't use an instructor though, my grandad was ex motorway police, and he taught me to drive, couldn't have passed any quicker, started learning when I booked my theory and 8 weeks later I had passed. In a shitty 1.3 proton with no power steering. 3 point turns were fun.It's practise mainly. I was driving every night and for a good few hours at weekends when i was learning, not feasible with an instructor, but maybe your mum could put you on her insurance as a provisional driver and you could get some hours in that way. Ask the insurance company what the crack is when you've passed too, some charge extra, the one we used didn't, but that was about 9 years ago now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Meg Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 Well my second lesson went much better than my first lesson! Really glad about that.. Did some clutch control stuff, using the clutch as a break, weirded me out a little I have to say. My instructor told me that driving a car is exactly the same as riding a bike... I don't think he's been on a motorbike some how. It is completely different. Different method for controls, different layout different road positioning. Next lesson is next monday, hopefully do some reversing stuff then .Thanks for the tips guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 I think he means the principles are the same ie going and stopping You should already be using engine braking on your bike so should know how it works etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XmisterIS Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 I have written a haiku to help you:My car is not small,It is wider than my bike.Best not to filter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hitcher Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 I did my bike test before my car one but they were within a few months of each other, if it's any help at all I found the car test much easier.The only thing I didn't like was having to feed the wheel back round with your hands, who actually does that after they've passed their test?!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Fro Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 I think a lot of it has to do with how well one adapts to physical tasks.I'd been riding for a year or two before I took my car test - only had four lessons before passing but then I'm a very practical person. In my opinion, being a (regular) rider and driver gives a much better appreciation of both forms of transport with regard to their capabilities and limitations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogof Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 The only thing I didn't like was having to feed the wheel back round with your hands, who actually does that after they've passed their test?!. Driving instructors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 The only thing I didn't like was having to feed the wheel back round with your hands, who actually does that after they've passed their test?!. Driving instructors.And Police drivers.............and me..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techno Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 The only thing I didn't like was having to feed the wheel back round with your hands, who actually does that after they've passed their test?!. Driving instructors.And Police drivers.............and me..... I'd be surprised if they do anymore than other people driving on the road.Same as people using 1 or 2 hands while driving it will be personal preference chances are when you pass your test you'll drop that push pull nonsense immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullscreenaging Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 As an ex driving instructor, the pull push method is not a requirement of the driving test and hasn't been for over 10 years. You may cross your hands to turn the wheel as long you are always in full control and never let it slip/spin back. You must always have both hands on the wheel when driving in a straight line unless you are changing gear or using any of the controls. Pull push is better for new drivers initially, but once any of my ex pupils got comfortable I would tell them the above and then leave it up to them. Some would adapt to suit themselves and some would continue to pull push. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hitcher Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 It was still common when I did my test in 2000 so sounds like I just missed out!.I found it ok but it just felt un natural so I dropped it as soon as I had passed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychybikey Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I did my bike test before my car one but they were within a few months of each other, if it's any help at all I found the car test much easier.The only thing I didn't like was having to feed the wheel back round with your hands, who actually does that after they've passed their test?!. I do..................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guinnless Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 As an ex driving instructor, the pull push method is not a requirement of the driving test and hasn't been for over 10 years. You may cross your hands to turn the wheel as long you are always in full control and never let it slip/spin back. You must always have both hands on the wheel when driving in a straight line unless you are changing gear or using any of the controls. Pull push is better for new drivers initially, but once any of my ex pupils got comfortable I would tell them the above and then leave it up to them. Some would adapt to suit themselves and some would continue to pull push. Well I didn't know that.Did it get dropped because all cars come with power steering these days?Apart from slow speeds and parking I generally don't cross my hands.My Granada doesn't have power steering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullscreenaging Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 That was the main reason yes.I remember not having power steering once upon a time. Bloody awful when manoeuvring lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.