or three - from events since my first Whizzer motorbike and on through some hairy machines.. and based on my jaundiced eval of the competence (and obliviousness) of the average cluless auto motorist du jour:

You aren't 14 any more. Strongly suggest you *pay* the best local pros who do this - for a basic intro / lectures, slide show + ride + more talk, etc. Knowing someone who rides (even well) is a lot better than 0, but as we all know: Doing something is not the same as being good at Teaching.

On a sl. more esoteric level: there comes a time when you think you've got-it; 'it' seems to go where you planned it to go and - what more do you need? Watch Out just then (satisfying as that feels - maybe especially because it is so satisfying ;-). Statistically this is where most 'accidents' happen, and it's easy to see why in hindsight.

This is the stage at which I'd recommend the borrowing of a lightweight (250 cc or less) dirt machine and your learning how to slide in a controlled manner; if you drop it there, you are unlikely even to skin anything or scratch the hardware.

You Will get the hang of it and - this piece of lore for the inner ear + seat of the pants + instinct is IMhO the most valuable piece of SYA insurance I can imagine re two-wheel equilibrium. Without this Sense, your first accidental wet-leaves patch will pitch you into full-panic / over-correct mode. Really: It Will.

I mention this process at length because I've experienced its minor form and seen the results of the major form, too often. This danger can be entirely evaded for life, with just an afternoon or two of experience in the dirt. A 4-500# machine is simply much less manageable for 'mastering' by all except maybe, the kid who began at age 5. So you learn it with a much more maneuverable size, which you will soon be able to throw around gleefully :-) And yes - you will notice the effects of all that weight, when you give back the dirt machine :(

The instinctive center learns this process well; you won't ever forget that you need not freeze, but gently turn into the direction of a slide (and it feels both natural and satisfying as an accomplishment, too). Why there was the time with the Norton that . . .

HTH,

Ashton