How do I get to be a better rider... cheaply.

[green427]

Having a good role model helps too.

If you can find a riding buddy, preferably one that is laid back and safety-conscious, you can learn by observing him/her.

I was lucky enough to team up with another guy that is a little too anal about perfection. He is a very odd individual; a man of few words, but a very good riding partner.

[ariwhiteboy]

I ride with a guy who teaches MSF courses at the local military base! 

[skramer360]

Darian, Dont listen to skramer 360. I have ridden with him and last time out he got a speeding ticket    I'am just kidding,he is a good rider but he really did get a ticket 

It was only 27mph over the limit 

[coffee_brake]

Americans (who drive on the right side of the road) tend to make better right-hand turns, go figure.

Same thing applies to both left and right, as regard the delayed apex and keeping  your head and eyes up and looking where you want to go.

good on you for practicing! A lot of riders are just too lazy to go actually do it.

[darian]

I've been practicing smoother throttle control too!  Since reading the Proficient Motorcycling I've realized going into a corner in too high of a gear wasn't a relaxed turn.  There just wasn't a good way to go smoothly between no throttle (compression braking) and accelerating... which explains the wobble when trying to accelerate out of the corner.

It's been a good week.

[Adam Roby]

Being used to high compression engines I always throttle up when downshifting, (not sure the correct term for it).  Do you all do the same?  It is just habbit with me but some of my ride companions ask me what I am doing and think it sounds cool... but I got used to it when downshifting high compression bikes the rear tire may lock so you give a shot of gas before letting go of the clutch, matching the RPM's and essentially preventing that from happening.

[coffee_brake]

Adam that's a technique I read about and learned to do during my Harley days, it does make a much smoother shift to raise the engine RPMs just as you downshift, so the RPM's match more closely. It became habit and I do it on the Nighthawk too.
It also GREATLY decreases stress on the transmission parts, particularly on big twins.

If you don't "blip" the throttle while downshifting on some bikes, you  are right, you can lock up the back tire. It doesn't sound like some as$hole making noise when it's done right, it sounds like an automatic transmission.
You don't rev high, just enough to catch the gears at the same place they'd go anyway. If that makes sense.

If I don't raise the RPMs on the Vmax as I downshift, I stand a good chance of going sideways. And the brakes suck, if you don't engine brake you better put your boots down!

[Adam Roby]

Hehehe... I thought of you with the VMax when I wrote that, I had to do the same on the Sabre or else I would go sideways. 

[Naches]

I'm late to the forum and this thread... "Ride Like a Pro" video is pretty good, but I can give you the whole thing in two or three statements:
1. Head and eyes. Turn your head AND your eyes, not just your eyes, so you're looking where you want to go, not immediately in front of you. The point "You go where you look" has been made already. Head and eyes has saved my bacon.
2. Never use your clutch when moving slowly. Keep throttle on, drag rear brake if necessary, but keep the engine driving the bike. (The temptation is to put in the clutch and stick out your foot: bad news.)
There: two statements.,
I'd also google Nick Ientash's article on The Pace. Excellent.

[geaux]

I have been riding just a few months and just got proficient motorcycling. Very good reading and near as I can tell sound advise even if I haven't got everything down he advises and some of his advise is contradictory of other stuff I was taught in MSF. He doesn't seem to be a big fan of the back brake at all.  Maybe I am textual dyslexic but with some of his instructions of what bar to pull or push on I get confused. His write up on turns and curves has helped me.  The ideas of how to position yourself for a curve, where to aim the bike, the importance of throttle control was good. I tended to try to stay in the middle of the road instead of taking advantage of all the pavement available to me. I had a fear some yahoo would try to pass me if I was too far to the right but so far that is unfounded, especially since we are going in a curve.

I am blessed that N. Georgia has some gorgeous country roads through low mountains and hills. I am still taking them in my comfort zone but with a little practice and good advise I am increasing my speed without feeling compromised. Just stuff like TRUSTING yourself and your bike and the laws of physics has been the hardest thing to me. Just stuff like if you feel you are out of line leaning MORE and using a little MORE throttle instead of grabbing the brakes or letting up on the throttle is beginning to feel natural but it darn sure is not. Put the instructions in your brain and add a little courage to experiment is going to equal out eventually to a proficient rider AKA ME! I don't mind doing a lot of thing half ass but tweaking fate on a motorcycle is not one of them.

Today it was threatening rain so I didn't want to get too far away from the house. I did get introduced to the joy of light mist on a face shield. I went to the mall that has a couple of big anchor stores out of business and parking lots that are almost always empty. I practiced curves especially with this new concept of counter steering, high speed braking, slow turns.  It is a lot less stressful than the road for sure for sure. One of the things I did this morning was set a point and pretend it was a sharp curve. I would practice coming up to it at different speeds and see how aggressively I could make the turn left or right. FUN and without some huge drop off or oncoming cagers to worry about. I could turn left, turn right, practice S curves or any other I imagined to be there. I really do not know how well my Nighthawk handles but it has done everything I asked it to do.  I honestly do not know how well I would ride a different motorcycle but it feels good to be developing a comfort with my mechanical partner in crime. I firmly believe I have a damn good bike.

I have feared making Us on a two lane street but just messing around I taught myself a technique that works mo better. Before I would start my turn all the way to the side and run out of road. I discovered start near the center line and making a tight nearly complete circle gives me plenty of room. Lean and stay on the throttle to keep it powered. If you are too far cut the wheel sharper, lean more little, more throttle. Anything else, ease off, hit the brakes you will fall down. HOW DO I KNOW? Baby steps. Again you have to accept you are doing the right thing and it will work if you let it.

Practice makes perfect but only if you are consciously practicing practical techniques.  There is no way to build motor memory without practice. Even stupid stuff like I was having turning on and off the blinkers has become habit and not something that occupies mental space.