Ok, experienced riders. Serious question. What’s the one beginner habit you can spot almost immediately? And be honest, which one were YOU guilty of when you started?

I do them all … because I am a new rider.  At 62 I’m on a bike for the first time in 40 years.

Been riding since 1971 but I find myself now with full gear while riding my Harley. Most here in Florida that I see lately have no gear sometimes just shorts and flip flops but as I pass they give me the look like I started riding yesterday since I don’t fit the Harley culture. Makes me chuckle every time and in my head all I hear is BROTHERRRrrrrrrrrr.

I was one of those 20 years of riding and still acting like a noob riders. Finally started taking my riding more seriously after '19. Now every gas stop is slow speed maneuver and u-turn practice if possible. Still have to fight target fixation, but I can at least recognize it in time to correct. The biggest beginner habit I can spot is the guy talking about chicken strips.

I am a new rider every time I ride.  Each ride is its own and I do everything to enjoy my ride.  Been driving motorcycles 54 years haven't not made it home yet.  When I was younger I cared about what others thought, not any more I learned to enjoy the ride.  Do what you need to do to get home safe, enjoy.

I've been riding 55 years. Bought 2 new bikes this year and decided it was time to gear up.

Yup,  my first jacket with protective pads was viz yellow. Not because I'm a newb, because I like it !!!  Doesn't hurt it helps me be seen better !!!

I'm probably a better driver now than I ever was. Much more careful,  not so reckless !!!  No more need to mash the gas at every stop,  then stomp on the brakes. I'm more like an orchestra now;  smooth,  flowing,  and melodic. I'm drifting like a butterfly, then a smooth brake,  I balance,  then my feet go down,  all like a melody !!!

Yes,  both feet!!!  I'm 6'2"  my feet touch easily and I like the balance it gives me. It's OK you laugh at me from your bike. I'm the one laughing as I pull away because you fell over !!!

I'm enjoying my Best rides ever this year !!!  I'm going to keep on just as Long as I Possibly Can !!!!!

~3:40 - Hundreds of thousands of miles on road bikes and now on my first bagger after 20+ years of no riding.  The ONE thing I learned on YouTube before I took delivery that made a difference is looking where I want to go at slow speed.  I practiced in the lot and that one thing saved my confidence.  When I did two 360s inside 14' of fire lane, I knew I could probably make it home with the bike staying under me.

Go to Sturgis or any bike rally and you will see them absolutely everywhere. 98% of riders can’t operate a motorcycle properly. Especially at slow speeds

I got my first bike 3 weeks ago. It's a Yamaha Road Star 1700. I get crap all the time because they say the bike is too big for a new rider. I respect the bike and have learned a lot in a short time, and have never felt out of control or overpowered. I think maturity and respect matter more than the time someone has been riding.

The posture around the bike Is a dead give away.  Some people I can actually feel their anxiety. I'm a powersports tech at a dealership with a ton of brands. . You hit all the right points! Thank you so much. I get so tired of seeing people post about counter steering, or lean angles like it's a mathematical equation. They get people hurt. You have good honest information

I really enjoy parking lot practice. This involves lots of high lean angle maneuvers done at low speed. My chicken strips are tiny.

This is a really good topic. I think what stands out to me most is when riders drag their feet or do the duck walk. One of the many instructors I have had over the years told me if the bike is rolling your feet should be on the pegs. I have worked hard to make that my habit. I am also a relatively new MSF rider coach and the one thing I see a lot of is stalling due to lack of use or even understanding the friction zone. Or not releasing the throttle when braking quickly. I really try to help new riders with those two things.

Yeah man, I hate the happy feet/duck walk thing...It's looks stupid and messes with my slow roll training.

A great thing for new riders, take one of those riding courses

I am definitely guilty of the target fixation thing. I need to practice that, because it usually rears its ugly head when I am in a bit of a situation (like when I missed the apex of the turn and I need to correct). It’s an easy impulse to feel, difficult to control, but very important to fix!

Walking the bike when starting or stopping.  When I started riding, I had a sport bike and an old GL1000, I was AGAT on the sport bike but on the GL10000 it was boots, jeans, tee shirt, half gloves and half helmet.  Still have the GL1000 and it is AGAT now.

My time on dirt bikes at the sand dunes taught me a valuable lesson with your #2 point (death grip). The more I tried to control the bike, the less control I usually had (to a point).  But if I loosened up and got comfortable with the bike floating a bit, I figured out that the bike “wants” to stay upright even if it feels like it just wants to drop out from under me. This has translated to relaxed riding on the street, especially if I hit some wet pavement or gravel. The worst thing I could usually do is to overreact, but if I remain calm and ease my inputs, I will almost always make it through.

Leave the Duck Walk to its inventor : Chuck Berry😂😂

Thank you for the content. Look forward to seeing more from your channel

Coming from a mountain bike background, I didnt think the front brake would be as crucial as it is. Hit a yellow light on the highway and figured I could stop. 100% rear brake, 0 front, and no shifting. Fishtailed until I hit about halfway through the intersection, where I decided I just need to run the light, in 5th gear...luckily, I didnt stall, looked up and the light finally turns red. Recently hit a similar yellow light, and was able to use both brakes and shift down quickly and smoothly to come to a quick stop.