Riding skills

[The Gecko_imp]

How good is your riding ?
I know I overestimate my skills, ... at home on the sofa.
When on the bike I go rather slow, unless it feels that the road is mine and there is very little traffic. I take it easy at intersections, in bends where I cannot see into the turn, I rarely pass a big truck on a 2 lane road (cannot resist passing Ferraris and Porschs).
Back home again I ponder my 25 years on the bike w/o accident.
... and keep overestimating my skills.
And you ?

[Cormanus]

Great question Gecko.

Alone on a curving road, no MotoGP rider could come close to me, until a kid on a 250cc trail bike roars past and I’m reminded not to overestimate my modest ability.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I do not over-ride my abilities in-the-moment under the situational conditions.

If another vehicle (any) needs passing, and the situational conditions are favourable, then the said vehicle (or vehicles) appear in my rearview mirror.

[Nachodaddy]

As they say in the aviation world:
"There are old pilots and there are bold pilots,
but there are no old, bold pilots."

[the Ferret]

Not sure how to answer this. I usually answer this by saying: slower than some, faster than others. Other than the occasional slip up I don't ride foolishly anymore (ahem Back of the Dragon one time exception) and haven't for years. Those that have ridden with me, often comment that I ride very smoothly. I don't intentionally speed (I'm a +- 5 kinda guy) and I don't pass across double yellow lines, I don't take unnecessary risks or chances etc. I generally obey laws and rules. Empty Sea calls me a Boy Scout lol.

I have been riding on the street for 58 years now (an estimated 850,000 miles), in addition I raced motocross for 10 of those years from 1972-1982. I have ridden in all of the lower 48 states, 2 provinces of Canada and 5 countries in Europe, so I'd say I am certainly an experienced rider. I practice my riding skills nearly daily year-round in a 4-season state. Since I started tracking my mileage and days ridden in 2014, I have averaged 22,552 miles per year and ridden an average of 302 days per year. I probably won't make that mileage this year, since our annual Fall Men's Trip is questionable this year, but I should still be able to make 20,000 miles and beat the average days ridden. Today's ride was number 244, so I only need to ride 58 of the next 96 days. I have only missed 25 days riding in the last 9 months. I should be able to make 330+ days this year, letting myself miss 10 days over the next 3 months. My record is 350 days out of 365 in 2020, missing only 15 days that year... the year I turned 70.

There are certainly people that can ride faster than I can, so if that is a measure of a rider's skill, then I fall short. If longevity surviving on the street with traffic is the measuring stick, then I'd say so far, I am doing pretty well. Knock on wood!

[PowerDubs_imp]

This says it all..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAhxI9pIp2s


and if that doesn't prove it to you there are COUNTLESS motorcycle obstacle course videos online...on all sorts of bike that will AMAZE you.

[mvk24_imp]

I ride in NY/NYC so you either learn how to ride like you're in Mad Max or you die.

Best explanation I can think of lol.

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

[misterprofessionality]

My riding is usually done with a strong priority on discipline and best practices. I check my blind spots, I maintain the best position, I cover my escape routes, I dont stay behind people and always make progress.

Empty out the road of cars and give me consecutive curves and good pavement though....I get loose and quick. Very. That flow just takes over every time.

[Gone in 60]

I ride in NY/NYC so you either learn how to ride like you're in Mad Max or you die.

Best explanation I can think of lol.

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

I’ve driven and ridden in L.A. my whole life and have driven in most of the major cities in the U.S., but the only time I was truly terrified was driving in NYC.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I ride in NY/NYC so you either learn how to ride like you're in Mad Max or you die.

Best explanation I can think of lol.

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

I’ve driven and ridden in L.A. my whole life and have driven in most of the major cities in the U.S., but the only time I was truly terrified was driving in NYC.

My beef with NYC is not driving in it, but finding street parking. It is fiction.

In terms of fear:

Once in Cleveland, Ohio.

Crossed the tracks once and within seconds the community zeroed in my vehicle and started chasing it, making yelling and screaming sounds. I got back to the other side of the tracks quickly. It was weird.