DataDan
Mama says he's bona fide
Spring can be a nasty season for motorcyclists. Though riding in California is more of a year-round sport than in cold weather states, rider deaths here still increase by 50% in spring over winter. That's because it's a time of new riders, new bikes, and rusty skills.
Harry Hurt found that noobs (less than 6 months experience) are 40% more likely to crash than more experienced riders, and spring is when many take up the sport. He also found that 48% of crashes among more experienced riders (over 6 months) were on a bike new to the rider, and, of course, spring is when the latest and greatest new motorcycles become available.
If you just got a new bike, or if you haven't ridden much recently, consider taking extra precautions for the next month. Here are a few suggestions for sharpening your skills and your mind for the upcoming riding season.
Harry Hurt found that noobs (less than 6 months experience) are 40% more likely to crash than more experienced riders, and spring is when many take up the sport. He also found that 48% of crashes among more experienced riders (over 6 months) were on a bike new to the rider, and, of course, spring is when the latest and greatest new motorcycles become available.
If you just got a new bike, or if you haven't ridden much recently, consider taking extra precautions for the next month. Here are a few suggestions for sharpening your skills and your mind for the upcoming riding season.
- Read a book, watch a video. The MSF's Motorcycling Excellence—Second Edition augments basic teaching on riding skills and protective gear with additional articles on advanced topics by Nick Ienatsch, Kevin Schwantz, suspension guru Paul Thede of Race Tech, Freddie Spencer, and more. David Hough's books, Proficient Motorcycling and More Proficient Motorcycling, are must-reads on street riding technique for beginners and veterans alike. Jerry Palladino's Ride Like a Pro DVD will teach you motorcop secrets for maneuvering even the biggest bike in tight spaces.
For sport riders, Nick Ienatsch’s Sport Riding Techniques, and Lee Parks’ Total Control stress safety, emphasize real-world technique rather than track skills, and include drills that can produce noticeable improvement in your riding. Keith Code's book A Twist of the Wrist II details a cornering method that will help you to take turns more safely and confidently on the street and faster on the track. Code's recent video, A Twist of the Wrist II DVD, brings his method to life in demonstrations of the techniques and their benefits.
- Get some formal training. If you've never taken a riding class, or if it's been a while, enroll in an MSF RiderCourse. They have introduced new curriculum for experienced riders in the past few years, including a half-day skills practice course and the full-day Advanced RiderCourse. You ride your own bike and you'll get individual coaching--a great opportunity to brush up on skills you don't normally practice. This is especially valuable if you have a new motorcycle because you can practice critical skills on the new machine in a controlled environment. [Not all training sites offer all courses. If you know about a particular site, please post offerings and contact info in this thread. Thanks. DD.]
Another option for a 1-day skill refresher is the Alameda County Sheriff's civilian training class. Lots of BARFers have attended this and recommend it.
For an on-street learning experience, attend a Doc Wong Street Riding Clinic.
- Ask a question. Got something that's been puzzling you about riding--maybe a nasty traffic situation or a road you can't quite figure out? Post a question in the Training forum. Chances are someone else has had the same problem and can help you figure it out.
- Practice fundamentals. Can you brake hard enough to make the front tire "howl at you" as Nick Ienatsch describes it? If not, you could use some practice. And you must be able to steer the bike hard. Practice will help develop the countersteering instinct and build confidence in the bike's ability to change direction quickly with forceful steering input. I use a rural road near home and slalom around the centerline reflectors at speeds from 30 to 60-plus.
- Do a "skills ride". When I'm having a bad riding day--no confidence, not hitting reference points, etc.--I turn it into a "skills ride" and work on technique at moderate speed. It's hard to concentrate on more than two skills simultaneously, so pick just one or two. Things I focus on from time to time include: visual skill (keep eyes ahead of the motorcycle, focus on aim points when steering), line variation (quick steering vs. slow steering), smooth throttle control, trail braking, and even sitting on the motorcycle correctly (head up, upper body relaxed, light grip on the bars to prevent unwanted control inputs).
- Set a speed limit for yourself. Rather than blitzing all the straights at triple-digit speed, keep it down. Resolve to observe, say, a 60mph limit on twisty roads as you clear the cobwebs from your riding brain. Take slower turns as fast as you want and accelerate out hard, but roll off at 60. And if a sweeper is no fun under 70, just let it be no fun this week. On a new bike or with neglected skills, too much speed too soon can easily earn a helicopter ride.
- Know yourself. Each of us screws up in ways we tend to repeat. Maybe you over-ride sightlines and are rewarded with unpleasant surprises around blind turns. Maybe you just can't say no to Mr. Throttle and experience oh-shit moments when the straight isn't as long as you hoped. Maybe riding with a certain group makes you stupid. Whatever. Think about the mistakes you make and what you can do to correct them.
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