04-07-2015, 10:45 PM
(04-06-2015, 06:16 PM)ChipBeck_imp Wrote: 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
This is one of the best pieces of advice I have seen in a long time!