[SuzukiGirl1]

I've done a lot of reading on this forum and others and have heard the following theory more than once...

Only ride to 75% of your ability in order to reduce the chance of panicking and causing accidents. This theory says that if you push yourself to 100% of your ability or comfort zone and something comes up...sharper turn than anticipated, pothole, animal, car, etc...all of your attention is used up and you will panick; however, if you ride to 75% of your ability and something like that happens, you will be able to think more rationally about it and most likely avoid the problem.

This theory completely makes sense to me, but I have the following question...

How do you become a better rider if you never push yourself beyond what is "comfortable"? In every other aspect of my life, I've always learned that you don't get better unless you push yourself out of your comfort zone. For example: Working out...you're not going to improve unless you push yourself to work harder, Playing guitar/piano...you won't know if you can play something difficult unless you try it. I know that these events won't kill you if you mess up, but I'm just trying to give examples.

What do you think? How do you improve your riding skills? Do you push yourself, or do you always ride w/in 75% of your ability or comfort zone?? :?: :?: :?:

 

[bat4255]

You might see if there is a local track around. Some offer days you can run and some have instructors available here is a link from another forum where he talks about track day. I couldn't find the link directly but this is an interisting story on his day hope it helps.

http://burgmanusa.com/ipw-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1034&highlight=track

http://burgmanusa.com/ipw-web/gallery/Track-day

 

[Novaz3]

im not an expert at bike riding but i would say that in LIFE it isnt the same as riding a motorcylce because with life you get second, third, and even fourth chances with a motorcycle you only get one chance usually to make a mistake that could cost you your life. I think the answer to your question is just be patient take your time and take as many MSF courses as you can afford that will increase you skills also take your bike to a track where you can be one on one and get to learn it and not have to deal with traffic

 

[Louis]

I agree with Novaz. Take the time to know your bike and skills. With experience, your comfort level will increase on its own.

And as bat mentions, you can do some advance riding schools.

 

[SuzukiGirl1]

Thanks for the links bat...

I hadn't thought of hitting the track to use it as a learning tool, but it makes sense! Plus, if I can find advanced classes...that would be aweseome!

 

[Novaz3]

Yup Suzuki GIrl i so it the other day on the speed channel they were talking about MSF hosting track times were beginners,intermidate and expierenced riders can go to the track and get some One on one with there bikes it was pretty awesome. Also this tuesay at 12am on Discovery Channel is Biker Girls its a show about Female riders in the Professional circuit its a really good show

 

[OgreRod]

Did anyone catch that the #1 bike of all time is the Hayabusa. That was on discovery last night as well. I'll have to check that link out I'd love to hit a track to learn some new skills here in central FL.

 

[axel_2078]

At some of those track schools, you can usually use one of THEIR bikes for the lessons if you pay a little more. I think it's about $300 more than the cost of the class alone, but that's cheap insurance compared to crashing your bike on the track (not that you would). I would do it just to have peace of mind.

 

[tlwisner]

What do you think? How do you improve your riding skills? Do you push yourself, or do you always ride w/in 75% of your ability or comfort zone?? :?: :?: :?:

The more time you spend riding at 75% of your ability, you will find that 75% of your ability is greater than it used to be. Riding at 100% of your ability leaves no room for the unexpected, and you should always expect the unexpected! Riding at 101% of your ability will only be a test for EMT response time. Keep some ability in reserve for when you need it.

If you want to ride on the edge of your ability, go to a track! No minivans... 8)

 

[dmdan]

you can ride at 100% when your are at your full attentiveness, are on your toes, and only do it in safe areas (that you know extremely well) like curves you have ridden 90 times, low traffic times, great weather conditions. Even when you are going 100% you still may have to drop it down to 75% around dangerous areas, with intersections/traffic, low visability (depth), or areas that might be slick/dirty. I am not condoning this type of behavior rather giving an impression of how I feel, what level I'm at, when I ride. I certainly won't go full bore if I feel that I am in the slightest danger of hurting my bike (who cares about me!). But after you do it a couple times, you inch up the percentage every time to feel out what your limits are. You are right about not being able to fully appreciate what to learn if you don't push it.
I live on a one laned road (in one direction) and a very curvy mountian road in the other direction. I drive both frequently and have for a while, so have a bit of fun on them, but oncoming cars and sandy areas can be dangerous. I have learned valuable lessons about reaction time, and reaction parameters. One of these lessons is a gut reaction to straighten the bike when confronted with an obstacle (car/stick/dirt/or pothole). Usually I encounter them on a curve, and immediately have to stand the bike up to assess the situation correctly. I have noticed that doing so, quickly and cleanly without panicing, allows me to manuvuer through any situation. Sometimes I think riders may feel that when they are disturbed from their natural path (leaning in a turn) that they will fall off the road if the righten themselves, but with the right jolt upright with less gas, and you can stay on course.
Ok the second thing I have noticed, is that slightly rapid acceleration can get you out of a leaning turn that isn't going as well as you had planned. Say if you misjudge a curve a bit, and feel as though you are heading into the soft shoulder. Accelleration allows me to lean a bit more to survive the misstep and blast out of the curve.

These are things I notice about my riding habits, and they are not for everyone. I would advise practicing before a dangerous situation shows up. These examples are just more examples (such as countersteering) of how riding techniques that sometimes seem to be the exact opposite of what you should do, may be your only hope.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Pretty much agree with everybody here, you abilities will gradually increase and the situations you may not have been able to face last year will be possible next year.

Advanced rider courses or even retaking basic MSF could help, who here can say that they absorbed and put into practie 100% of what was tought at the course.

The instructors are capable of pointing out flaws in your riding style and offering hints on improving your riding even beyond the newrider level.

Books and videos such as Proficient Motorcycling by David Hughes or Jerry "Motorman" Paladino can also be of great help.

 

[Novaz3]

New rider here what do you mean when you say soft shoulder????????Also when you straigthen your bike up from going into a complete turn i dont know for sure but that sounds like it takes alot of skill

 

[98G]

New rider here what do you mean when you say soft shoulder????????Also when you straigthen your bike up from going into a complete turn i dont know for sure but that sounds like it takes alot of skill

//It'll do it whether you want it to or not if you get on the brakes hard....Or get on the accellerator hard while leaned over.. Trick is keeping from going off the road...(You can use this to advantage when coming out of turns)

//'Soft shoulder' refers to shoulders constructed of anything other than asphalt.

98G

 

[Novaz3]

PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Drake]

New rider here what do you mean when you say soft shoulder????????Also when you straigthen your bike up from going into a complete turn i dont know for sure but that sounds like it takes alot of skill

//It'll do it whether you want it to or not if you get on the brakes hard....Or get on the accellerator hard while leaned over.. Trick is keeping from going off the road...(You can use this to advantage when coming out of turns)

//'Soft shoulder' refers to shoulders constructed of anything other than asphalt.

98G

Ummmm... If you're in a turn and leaned over, DO NOT hit your brakes hard to stand up. You need to steer yourself upright to hit those brakes if you're needing to stop fast. There are 2 examples of standing up here.

1) You pick a tight line on a turn and find that you've chosen too tight a line for the speed you are going (say it's a right turn, and the side of the road is on your right). So you are about to come in contact with the right edge of road line and maybe even touch the soft shoulder. To avoid leaving the main travel lane on the road, you accelerate, which will widen your line around the curve, putting you back towards the middle of the lane, and at the same time, it will start standing your bike up unless you lean more to offset it.

2) You are in a turn and you suddenly need to stop. In this case you steer out of the turn standing yourself upright in the process because you've just eliminated the lean you had going from counter-steering. Once you are upright (not leaned over anymore... don't have to be fully vertical). You apply your brakes for rapid decellaration. Sometimes, you can do this fast slow down, and then counter-steer again back into the curve and avoid your obstacle. Other times you need to come to a complete stop.

You should learn how to do this by taking the MSF course. It's where I learned. I wouldn't have known otherwise and likely would have had a lowside in my near future.

 

[Fox]

I would answer the question this way, if I were to ask it to myself... by asking more questions.

First and foremost, how much do I know about my riding ability. Am I good, fair, poor. How accurately do I observe my riding. Where am I weak at, where are my strong points. Why am I strong at these areas and weak at others.

If you can ask yourself the right questions and find a solution, you have just improved your riding skill.

Even on the race track, generally, just pushing yourself without an understanding does nothing to improve your lap times. It will lead to mistakes and crashes, but having a good intuition, and taking accurate notes and being able to make changes is the key.

 

[Novaz3]

If you take a MSF intermiadate course or even the expierenced course they will rate your riding style and inform you of what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong. I think thats the best way to access your own driving abilitys is to allow the pros to examine it.

 

[98G]

New rider here what do you mean when you say soft shoulder????????Also when you straigthen your bike up from going into a complete turn i dont know for sure but that sounds like it takes alot of skill

//It'll do it whether you want it to or not if you get on the brakes hard....Or get on the accellerator hard while leaned over.. Trick is keeping from going off the road...(You can use this to advantage when coming out of turns)

//'Soft shoulder' refers to shoulders constructed of anything other than asphalt.

98G

Ummmm... If you're in a turn and leaned over, DO NOT hit your brakes hard to stand up. You need to steer yourself upright to hit those brakes if you're needing to stop fast. There are 2 examples of standing up here.

1) You pick a tight line on a turn and find that you've chosen too tight a line for the speed you are going (say it's a right turn, and the side of the road is on your right). So you are about to come in contact with the right edge of road line and maybe even touch the soft shoulder. To avoid leaving the main travel lane on the road, you accelerate, which will widen your line around the curve, putting you back towards the middle of the lane, and at the same time, it will start standing your bike up unless you lean more to offset it.

2) You are in a turn and you suddenly need to stop. In this case you steer out of the turn standing yourself upright in the process because you've just eliminated the lean you had going from counter-steering. Once you are upright (not leaned over anymore... don't have to be fully vertical). You apply your brakes for rapid decellaration. Sometimes, you can do this fast slow down, and then counter-steer again back into the curve and avoid your obstacle. Other times you need to come to a complete stop.

You should learn how to do this by taking the MSF course. It's where I learned. I wouldn't have known otherwise and likely would have had a lowside in my near future.

//I wasn't saying standing your bike up mid curve by using brakes was desireable, but rather that that would be the result. Perhaps that wasn't clear from context.

//You gave a very accurate and detailed description of obstacle avoidance and curve negotiation.

98G

 

[zleviticus]

I fyou want to become a better rider ask questions, read books, and take classes.

I knwo that is what I am doing. I would recommend buying or grabbing from the library the book Proficient Motorcycling Not a bad book.

 

[zooey]

third gear

How much time do you spend practicing? I've been riding two years and gave up some activities so I would have time to ride. I noticed that the more time I spent riding, even if it wasn't particularly challenging, the better my performance was when a new situation came up. Riding with more experienced riders I learned even more. I assume you took the MSF course. There's an advanced course you can take on your own bike. That sounds like it might be useful to you. Also, check out the links on vtwinmama.com. You're going to like 4th gear.