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+--- Thread: Riding Tips (/showthread.php?tid=3104)
Riding Tips - linuxology_imp - 04-06-2015
This thread is for all to share riding tips that others may not know or even those many do know. They can even be tips that work for you. I am returning to riding, so it has been a joy to get back on the seat and enjoy the ride. Here is one that I just experienced.
Keeping feet closer to the bike allows me to feel more connected than my feet floating out or just laying on pegs. Never knew this before and read it somewhere though can't find it now.
RE: Riding Tips - PowderToastMan_imp - 04-06-2015
A good firm grip on the tank with your knees (but not a death grip!) is a good habit to have, as an addendum to your comment. It helps you stay firm on the bike without holding on too tight with your arms. Loose on the arms means you're not sort of fighting with the bike as it tracks naturally, and your arms are more free to make inputs to the handlebars when you need to.
Also, check out the book Proficient Motorcycling if you haven't yet. There is a great wealth of experience and info in there on pretty much all aspects of riding on the street!
RE: Riding Tips - rboe - 04-06-2015
I have rarely used the knees on the tank grip but hear this advise from time to time.
For riders coming back to the bike, especially riders around my age (just this side of geezer) and never took a motorcycle safety class (because they simply did not have them back then) I highly recommend them this time around. Mainly because you don't know what you don't know and they make you practice things you would not have thought of. Plus it gives you a chance to mess up in a controlled environment instead of on the road where it could kill you. Or worse, hurt the bike.
Keith Code has some vids on youtube that are pearls of wisdom too.
RE: Riding Tips - Pterodactyl_imp - 04-06-2015
Rboe has got some good advice there. Take a professional school to your level or a coached track day. They are worth their weight in gold, so to speak. In addition to those, I repeat in addition, both Lee Parks and Keith Code have written good books.
Cheers and enjoy the ride.
RE: Riding Tips - emptysea - 04-06-2015
Make your intentions as clear as possible: Use hand signals AND your turn signals. There's differing views on whether you should just use your mirrors rather than looking back, but at least turn your head a little even if you're keeping your eyes forward--the guy in the cage may notice it. Pump your brake at a stop light. Try to be doubly sure that everyone around you knows what your next move is likely to be.
Just remember that we can say "Start seeing Motorcycles" until we're blue in the face, but if we don't help them see us, we will not be seen and that can have some pretty ugly outcomes.
RE: Riding Tips - ChipBeck_imp - 04-06-2015
Gentlemen,
There are two major components to potentially deadly pursuits like gun fighting, flying, and street biking. The first is physical skill set. The second and far more important is mindset. An entire book would be required to detail this but in short, most street riders are deficient in both areas.
Every year thousands of motorcyclists fail to make a turn and hit obstacles because they are afraid to lean farther fearing the bike will slide out from under them. They have no idea how far their bike can lean safely, or how hard they can brake, or how to brake. These physical skills are best learned on a track with good instructors. One quality track day course is both life changing and may save your life.
But the best track skills are worthless without an always "on" street survival mindset. Constant awareness of traffic, conditions, positioning, blind spots, etc, keeps a rider on point and ready to use those physical skills to evade, escape, stop, or take some other action. It's not enough to obey the traffic laws and assume auto drivers will both see you and do the same. To stay alive riders need to avoid accidents that are others fault.
The advise I give young riders is to imagine they an their motorcycle are completely invisible. How would you ride then? Would you ride beside a car or try to be in front or behind it? How would you approach a busy intersection if you were invisible? How wary would you be crossing a busy intersection or of a car at a stop sign that might pull out in front of you? If new riders imagine themselves invisible their mindset will immediately improve. Give it a try. All the best.
Chip
RE: Riding Tips - Wisedrum - 04-06-2015
Giaccomo Agostini once said, never underrate the power of your bike.
He's right!
Power to me means, the power of the engine, the CB provides some good horses, but also the tendency to drift, to slide and to unfortunately fall apart. All this may never happen, but it could......so better build an awareness for it and always keep it alive,
so to say implant it in your subconscious.
But this will take some time, many years and even thousands and more thousands of miles. Miles, in which you first stop your bike and then leave it, not the other way round. The meaningful word is you!
Wisedrum
RE: Riding Tips - DJS_imp - 04-06-2015
PLP. (parking lot practice)
highly recommended after getting a new cycle or starting after a winter of being off the bike.
i have not had a chance to do a PLP with the cb1100 yet.
i hope to be able to this weekend.
the most important thing i need to do is work on braking and the ABS in a controlled environment.
emergency swerving is also very important.
also i am a firm believer in ATGATT.
and also recommend taking the safety class to new or returning riders.
RE: Riding Tips - Ack-CB11_imp - 04-06-2015
Counter steering.
Makes all the difference. Ride smooooth.....
RE: Riding Tips - Chapomis_imp - 04-06-2015
I learned counter steering 6 or 7 years ago. I found it to be very counter-intuitive, took me a few hours in a class to get it down-pat.