Street Wise

I read an article in this months Cycle World titled, Pace 2.0.  It was a good read on basic...let's call it, motorcycle technique albeit I use the term loosely.  One of the key takeaways from the article is simply this; learn to be smooth with your controls.  Sounds simple but breaking it down and defining what "smooth" means makes you quickly realize that regardless of experience, you (me) are still stabbing our controls versus being fluid with them.  Example: being truly smooth with your brakes means you can use them in a corner IF they are handled with an extreme amount of care and finesse.

I preach over and over again in my BRC classes for my students to work on being smooth with the controls. Me and my fellow RiderCoaches are constantly saying, "Squeeze the brakes. Don't grab them!" and, "Ease the clutch in & out; use the friction zone!"  Refining what that means includes gaining a full comprehension of what the bike is doing. How preload and geometry play a part in leaning the bike into a corner. As motorcyclists we should be on an ever-ending pursuit to understand as much as we can about riding including the how's and why's the motorcycle does the things it does. Another Example: When downshifting to reduce speed (especially before a turn) increase throttle before engaging the next gear to prevent too much front end compression.

If reading an article, book or owner's manual leaves you scratching your head then don't shrug your shoulders and throw it aside.  Read it again, break out the dictionary, talk to somebody in the know so you can comprehend what you are reading because it is important. MSF defines a good motorcyclist as someone who has, "the desire and motivation to choose to reduce risk while riding." You reduce risk thus, increasing safety for yourself and others by being a better rider and being a better rider happens with experience and education.