Ride Like a Pro video, any suggestions?
#11
Get proficient with the friction zone, throttle, and rear brake coordination before you get too involved with turning the bike in the exercises. You won't be able to turn the bike well until you coordinate those functions consistently and confidently.
Congrats on trying to improve your riding skills.
Carl
Congrats on trying to improve your riding skills.
Carl
#12
Carl
#13
Bought the disks for my wife, but being a supportive spouse I watched them with her. Was suprised at how well they were organized. Lotsa good tips. I found some small cones at Wally World, and we use a defunct car dealers parking to practice. She has gotten better with remarkable rapidity. Highly recommended.
#14
#16
I have not seen the video tapes, but I took the Ride Like A Pro class in Los Angeles late last year. Mark, the instructor (who I am guessing is on the video tapes), is awesome. I paid the extra amount to rent his old police bikes to do the course. Like others have said, the friction zone technique that he teaches you is very important. But maybe the single most important technique to safe riding (in my opinion) is learning to look and turn your head in the direction of where you are turning the bike. This seems obvious, but if you haven't been doing it, you will soon realize it once you start doing it. This simple technique helps you maneuver the bike so much better and safer--and with confidence. My only concern about the video tape instruction is that you aren't going to get the benefit of Mark watching and telling you what you did right or wrong. Also, don't worry about the comment about wearing out the clutch from "riding the clutch" to execute the "tension zone." Mark explained that bike clutches are not like the clutch in a manual transmission car. Basically, you can "ride" the clutch in your bike without wearing it out.
#17
I would suggest taking the MSF experienced rider course first. If you are doing the ride like a pro videos, you will more than likely be by yourself, so you will lack the feedback a group of peers can provide. The can watch you and see what you are doing both right and wrong. As you master there experienced skills, I would then try the ride like a pro maneuvers. Why risk damage to your bike and possible injury to yourself just tp prove a point. I have the video series as well, and I understand that riding like a pro will take many months if not years to master. Remember that the officers on the video ride / rode motorcycles for a living, so they got much more time in the saddle than the average rider.
Take your time and be safe.
Dwayne
Take your time and be safe.
Dwayne
#18
ride like a pro course
After watching the video a few times and practicing the "friction zone" technique for a while, I took the "Ride Like A Pro" course yesterday in Pensacola. Best $150 I ever spent. 35 year rider here - all FLH's. Took the class on my Ultra Classic. At the start, couldn't successfully navigate 12 foot cones. 4 hours later, 24 foot circles and figure eights, u turns in 24 feet, etc.. Cones? Didn't even think about it, just ran em. What a difference. Need to practice to stay proficient? Yes. It's a lot different hitting a cone than a curb, but overall, excellent experience.
In my opinion, the video isn't enough. What works is the critique by the instructors - yelling at you to "LOOK OVER HERE!" until you get the concept down, and following these instructors around the course also is a key to mastering these techniques.
Oh, and by the way, after 3 or 4 maneuvers max, a couple of cooling laps and lots of "let the bike rest" time. After 4 hours of the course, rode her 170 miles home. Not one issue with the clutch. I believe the strict cooling off periods helped. Great course.
Guys will spend 2k on chrome and not invest $150 on their skills. Doesn't make any sense to me.
In my opinion, the video isn't enough. What works is the critique by the instructors - yelling at you to "LOOK OVER HERE!" until you get the concept down, and following these instructors around the course also is a key to mastering these techniques.
Oh, and by the way, after 3 or 4 maneuvers max, a couple of cooling laps and lots of "let the bike rest" time. After 4 hours of the course, rode her 170 miles home. Not one issue with the clutch. I believe the strict cooling off periods helped. Great course.
Guys will spend 2k on chrome and not invest $150 on their skills. Doesn't make any sense to me.
#20