Riding Tips

[linuxology_imp]

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.

 

[PowderToastMan_imp]

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!

 

[rboe]

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. :angel:

Keith Code has some vids on youtube that are pearls of wisdom too.

 

[Pterodactyl_imp]

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.

 

[emptysea]

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.

 

[ChipBeck_imp]

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

 

[Wisedrum]

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

 

[DJS_imp]

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.

 

[Ack-CB11_imp]

Counter steering.
Makes all the difference. Ride smooooth.....

 

[Chapomis_imp]

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.

 

[redbirds_imp]

To the point of mindset, If I have an "off" day, feel tired or distracted, I don't ride. As example, several years back a dear friend to my wife had passed away from cancer. About a week after, my wife and I were out for a ride and she nearly rode straight off a curve. I was behind her and felt helpless as I saw what was happening. Fortunately she recovered from her mental distraction in time to avoid running off the pavement. The loss of her friend was weighing heavily on her and she decided not to ride again until she felt past her grief.

 

[mininsx_imp]

"Look where you want to go" is probably the best advice, ever. Target fixation (looking at the obstacle you want to avoid instead of around/through it) will mess you up every time. :biker:

 

[the Ferret]

Counter steering.
Makes all the difference. Ride smooooth.....

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.

I posted this up last night and then deleted it as Chapomis says it's counter intuitive and as these are meant for beginners I didn't want to confuse anyone.

When going thru a turn at speed, to tighten your turn, push on the downhill or inside bar. Lets say you are going thru a tight left hander. You'd think you'd want to push on the right handlebar to go tighter left (like you would in a parking lot to turn left), but in reality you want to push on the left handlebar. You'd be surprised how tight of a turn you can make. Practice this as you go thru turns, push on the inside bar and watch your line tighten up. Go easy when you practice but you will eventually see.

Living on a motorcycle is a COMBINATION of offensive and defensive driving..it's not all defense. Sometimes you have to be aggressive (offensive) to get yourself out of situations that could turn dangerous.

Don't tailgate, especially on the freeway, but anywhere and especially behind vehicles you can't see through. This is the hardest one for us (well it is for me) because we tend to run faster than other traffic. If they run over a skid, muffler, dead animal that they can clear with their undercarriage and between their wheels, you will not see it until it suddenly pops out under/behind them, and if you are following too close then it will be too late, you will see it, focus on it and you will hit it.

For over a year I have been doing the weave (developed in Britain I believe) when approaching a car that may pull out or turn in front of me. I am convinced after seeing peoples reactions that it has stopped people numerous times from pulling in front of me.

 

[Rebel73_imp]

Now, this is not specifically a "riding tip", but it pertains to the issue of rider safety.

I'm a big believer in headlight modulators and brake light flashers. Something about a flashing light that helps kick cager brains out of their stupors.

Now, might they be a little annoying? Perhaps, but if a cager is annoyed it means he knows you're there! I've seen cars start to pull out of a driveway then suddenly stop when they notice the flashing headlamp.

Of course, electronic gizmos are no substitute for situational awareness, but every little bit helps.

 

[DJS_imp]

Now, this is not specifically a "riding tip", but it pertains to the issue of rider safety.

I'm a big believer in headlight modulators and brake light flashers. Something about a flashing light that helps kick cager brains out of their stupors.

Now, might they be a little annoying? Perhaps, but if a cager is annoyed it means he knows you're there! I've seen cars start to pull out of a driveway then suddenly stop when they notice the flashing headlamp.

Of course, electronic gizmos are no substitute for situational awareness, but every little bit helps.

i would like to add extra brake light flashers.
where is best to tap into brake wires?

i have a set of 2 wire (ground and brake) pods and a 3 wire (ground run and brake) bar.

 

[DGShannon_imp]

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

I could not agree with this more. Track days will help you understand far more about what your motorcycle is capable of. As Chip says, so many accidents are the result of folks running into a turn too hot for their skillset. Survival instinct kicks in, and rather than knowing how to turn harder, they run wide and gamble on the consequences, which can sometimes be disasterous.

The idea that track days are only for roger racer, the crotch rocket crowd, etc. is totally wrong. The higher lever classes do cater to these guys, but the beginner classes are for everyone. I have seen all sorts of bikes out on the track for novice classes. Do it, and as Chip says it may well save your life.

 

[Blockhead_imp]

Great thread...so much good advice.

One thing I will add is keep your head on a swivel, checking mirrors constantly, especially when approaching or sitting at an intersection. Keep the bike in gear and always leave yourself an escape route when that distracted cager is coming up behind you....a couple flicks of the brake light is always a good idea.

 

[Rebel73_imp]

Now, this is not specifically a "riding tip", but it pertains to the issue of rider safety.

I'm a big believer in headlight modulators and brake light flashers. Something about a flashing light that helps kick cager brains out of their stupors.

Now, might they be a little annoying? Perhaps, but if a cager is annoyed it means he knows you're there! I've seen cars start to pull out of a driveway then suddenly stop when they notice the flashing headlamp.

Of course, electronic gizmos are no substitute for situational awareness, but every little bit helps.

i would like to add extra brake light flashers.
where is best to tap into brake wires?

i have a set of 2 wire (ground and brake) pods and a 3 wire (ground run and brake) bar.

i would like to add extra brake light flashers.
where is best to tap into brake wires?

i have a set of 2 wire (ground and brake) pods and a 3 wire (ground run and brake) bar. Sorry, I wish I could be more help but I cheated and just got a plug and play bulb - all the electronics are integrated into the bulb so no wiring to worry about.

 

[treytexag_imp]

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

To me, these are the two paragraphs that spell it out. The always "on" mindset - every one of the metal boxes near you on the road is an "enemy" and to live, you better watch them like a hawk - diligently, completely, and not assuming a thing about what they will or won't do . . . .

 

[Rebel73_imp]

I always assume that I'm invisible and that everyone else on the road is an utter and complete moron. It helps to anticipate stupid maneuvers before they happen.