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Old July 8th, 2009, 08:50 PM   #1
Jerry
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What riding Skills do You Practice, and How Often?

For example:

Do you practice quick stops, or maybe just extreme slowing? At what speeds?

Do you practice changing lanes in turns? Motorcycle lanes, or full lane changes?

How about U-turns?

What do you do to improve turning technique?

For bonus points, describe a situation where your practiced skills saved your bacon...

Not really looking for wheelie-stoppie practice, more along the lines of safety-first....
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Old July 9th, 2009, 03:30 AM   #2
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I am always practicing.Like a doctor Haha

Lately it has bin picking turn and braking points. As I get to a turn I spot a tree or where the guard rail starts . And use that is a turn point or a break point Then I wait till I get to that point to start my turn .

I have bin going to the drag strip .My engine is down for mods so I am on my scooter . I have bin practicing launching as soon as the red light goes out. (Not at big intersections.)Got to watch for the Baltimore red runners.
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Old July 9th, 2009, 03:54 AM   #3
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I ride everyday , that's how I practice :P

Actually I will swerved around manholes in town, using quick weight shifting to go around, and when I come out of parkings or in slow traffic I try to keep my feets on the bike the longest possible before I actually have to put one down..good for balance...and do the occasional hard braking for no reason practice, lol.
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Old July 9th, 2009, 04:12 AM   #4
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As part of my daily riding I practice quick stops and tigjt turns such as doing a u turn in the middle of the street with no cars coming.
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Old July 9th, 2009, 06:33 AM   #5
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Well, daily riding is practice. A few times ive been out to the Same parking lot that i took my MSF class. Its in the parking lot behind a Community College. They have Painted things on the ground, and im able to Remember MOST of the MSF exercises that i once did there last Oct.08'

Like the 'S' u-turn thing... sharp low speed turning, going into a Curve then standing the bike 'Up' b4 you come to a Hard Stop. I had a guy, whom just got on his nice yellow Suzuki after his class (had his books n stuff in his backpack) , as he saw me doing these exerises.. he asked me "Are you practicing your MSF things?" I told him yes, but i took the class last year... im just here messing around!
he replies: "Cool, i do sometimes too! lol. Well see ya Bro."
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Old July 9th, 2009, 07:41 AM   #6
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about once or twice a month i practice going as fast as i can.
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Old July 9th, 2009, 10:02 AM   #7
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I guess I go through those daily in traffic or back roads.
Riding the friction zone going as slow as I can on main roads with lots of stop lights while being behind someone who is creeping up on the stop light.

Quick stops because people love to pull out in front of me. I get to practice that at least once a month.

U-turns on a narrow road because there is the "S" turn with a 15mph posted and another easier 15mph posted almost immediately after - good times right there. It's is fun to do a U-turn and do it over again.

Changing lanes in turns...almost daily. Nothing too crazy though. Crazy is reserved for no traffic, 100% visibilty, and already checked the road moments.

Manholes and potholes for the quick swerves.

Start rolling from a stop already prepped for turns can be necassary too.

Now for the bonus:
Going straight on a main road and a side road comming up on my left. A truck pulls out. I start layin on my horn and doing some hard braking. It has happened a few times. First time got me with my rear wheel locking up but it has happened a few times since at that location and various other spots. I think I have the hang of it now.

Most time on the road is relaxing and incident free. Just don't ever lose focus, they come out of nowhere.
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Old July 9th, 2009, 10:10 AM   #8
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I start layin on my horn and doing some hard braking.
I would suggest putting the horn in the secondary category, and the hard braking and/or swerving in the primary category. First worry about how you're going to move, stop, or accelerate the bike to avoid or escape from the immediate danger, and only after you're confident that things are under control then feel free to blast the horn. I'm afraid that any instinct or reflex to go for the horn first costs a few feet and perhaps just a few tenths of a second that may end up to be critical, and quite often a horn blast is going to ineffective anyway.

I use the horn from time to time, certainly if I see someone start to swerve into my lane, and I'm sure there are other similar situations. Sometimes it can be quite effective, other times it's ignored and completely ineffective.
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Old July 9th, 2009, 10:19 AM   #9
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Quote:
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about once or twice a month i practice going as fast as i can.

LOL, of course!

As for me, my personal issues were with u-turns and take offs from slopes. Luckily I live in a neighborhood that's still under development so I can ride around the streets and safely practice u-turns and slow maneuvers.
Also, our driveway is extremely steep which makes for some nice slope practice.
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Old July 9th, 2009, 11:03 AM   #10
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I actually go to a residential parking lot at one of the universities near by and practice many of the msf maneuvers, especially panic stopping, swerving and stopping, and simple things like taking off from a stop on a steep incline... every little bit helps
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Old July 9th, 2009, 11:18 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex View Post
I would suggest putting the horn in the secondary category, and the hard braking and/or swerving in the primary category.
I suppose I should have typed that in order of reaction. Brakes are first. The horn comes after.
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Old July 9th, 2009, 11:21 AM   #12
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Every time I go out on the bike, I'm practicing something I've discovered or picked up from other riders.

Right now I'm experimenting with balanced braking vs. front braking based on the recent (and controversial) braking thread. Lots of opinions, only one real way to find out
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Old July 9th, 2009, 01:26 PM   #13
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Just started an Advanced Motorcycling course and as a result of that am practicing slow speed stuff and at the moment conecntrating on positioning and using gears more effectively to minimise braking and maximise effective acceleration.. I try to ride to work everyday which involves lots of slow speed traffic work in rush hour so I guess I'm practicing that all the time!
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Old July 10th, 2009, 04:42 PM   #14
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U-Turns, U-Turns, U-turns.

Right to left or left to right swerves.

Sometimes emergency brake and swerve.
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Old July 10th, 2009, 05:23 PM   #15
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Quick stops, u turns, turns and swerves. I use the msf course which is a 2 blocks away from my house.
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Old July 10th, 2009, 05:25 PM   #16
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U-Turns, U-Turns, U-turns.

Right to left or left to right swerves.

Sometimes emergency brake and swerve.
I practice all of the above daily. I have been riding for 40 years--have had a license for 50. Plan to replace the horn on the Ninja--definitely wimpy. Used it once since I have had the bike--to no effect.
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Old July 10th, 2009, 06:57 PM   #17
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I practice starting my bike, wishing I had some gear and wishing the DMV would let me transfer the title of my bike over already.
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Old July 10th, 2009, 07:08 PM   #18
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Hi Scott! I wouldn't start it too many times without actually riding it; you may be surprised how quickly the battery can be drained past the point where it will be able to start the bike. Running it at idle will not appreciably charge the battery either; for the alternator to be providing enough extra juice to recharge, the engine needs to be running at normal operating RPMs. Motorcycle batteries tend to have much less reserve capacity than car batteries. Hope you get the title transferred soon.
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Old July 10th, 2009, 07:36 PM   #19
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I've only had it a few days, and only started it about 3 times. Should be alright, me-thinks. Appreciate the advice though, so i'll stop starting it until I can actually ride it on the road legally and geared up = ) Will post when the bike is actually legally mine (hoping its Monday).
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Old July 10th, 2009, 09:28 PM   #20
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Old July 10th, 2009, 09:35 PM   #21
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I've only had it a few days, and only started it about 3 times. Should be alright, me-thinks. Appreciate the advice though, so i'll stop starting it until I can actually ride it on the road legally and geared up = ) Will post when the bike is actually legally mine (hoping its Monday).
don't mind Alex... he spoils everyone's fun. You can sit on the bike and make "vroom, vroom" sounds all you want and it won't drain one bit of your battery.... just don't start it.
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Old July 10th, 2009, 09:56 PM   #22
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don't mind Alex... he spoils everyone's fun. You can sit on the bike and make "vroom, vroom" sounds all you want and it won't drain one bit of your battery.... just don't start it.
hahaha. If i had a way to record that I would.
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Old July 10th, 2009, 10:03 PM   #23
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any digital camera in the "movie" mode can make a vid.
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Old July 10th, 2009, 10:39 PM   #24
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I swerved around a 4ft long cat in the middle of the road today, does that count as practice?
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Old July 11th, 2009, 01:04 AM   #25
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Depends, were you trying to hit it or miss it?
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Old July 11th, 2009, 09:02 PM   #26
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Depends, were you trying to hit it or miss it?
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Old July 13th, 2009, 12:00 AM   #27
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i've been practicing being smooth while riding. not just at speed on challenging roads, but smooth everything...from stop and go's to shifting, braking and turning.
another thing is enhancing my 'situational awareness' by doing the defensive 'what if'. not spending too much of my dollar's worth of attention on it, but enuff to recognize a possible threat and what i'll do IF.
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Old July 13th, 2009, 01:14 PM   #28
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I practice not crashing everytime I ride. It takes a lot but I think it's worth it. It's more concentration than skills, although some skill is involved.
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Old July 13th, 2009, 01:17 PM   #29
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I practice not crashing everytime I ride. It takes a lot but I think it's worth it. It's more concentration than skills, although some skill is involved.
how's that working out for you in the short time you've been riding? You do know crashing is a part of riding and everyone crashes. If you haven't you're just not normal.
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Old July 13th, 2009, 01:55 PM   #30
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It's funny you should bring that up. I was at a pub yesterday with a bunch of riders from Daytona Sport Riders and the guy next to me asked me what I was riding and how long I've been riding. I told him I had my son's GSXR 1000 and I've been riding for over 40 years. He told me he started riding at 35 and started racing at 37 (he was 45 now). The discussion of crashing came up and I told him I had crashed many times. I said that you crash in practice to see how fast you can take a certain section of a track. I then said I have never crashed in a race. He told me he had crashed too many times in races and had too many broken bones. I told him you are better off finishing than crashing so he needs to change his strategy.

The same rational applies to the street. You're better off getting to where you are going than crashing. Slow down a little and last longer.
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Old July 13th, 2009, 02:02 PM   #31
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i tell my endurance teamates the same thing.... if you're going to crash, do it during practice.

sometimes crashing is imporant as a racer. when you haven't crashed in a while you start to become scared of it. once you have a little get off and realize it wasn't so bad, then you can loose some of that fear and pick up the pace a little. all thats for nothing if you do it during a race though
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