Master this skill on your motorcycle.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- Slow speed training on a motorcycle is often a forgotten skill to develop. In this week's video, we will talk about why slow speed skills are important. Members can get access to the Field Guide and begin using the slow-speed exercises right away.
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Was just sent for me to watch...yes, do everything!! Street, low-speed, dirt, trials, flat track, track days, supermoto, etc. and ride as many different bikes as you can in order to have a well-rounded level of experience/understanding on how certain bikes perform/feel in various environments/drills. Numerous high level training, full gear and put in the time to practice and you'll likely have a long riding career while having more fun. The better you get, the better it is! -FE
Slow speed skills are an absolute essential. Much more valuable than the street rider ego.
Classic "hold my beer" thinking. When I go to group rides, I watch everyone when they come in and negotiate getting parked. I make a mental note of who looks like they can't handle their bike at slow speed, and I stay the heck away from them. I also work to get ahead of them in formation, cause I don't need that kind of headache on a ride I'm trying to enjoy. I'm good with new riders...I help them a lot. But I am astounded at how many people ride for years and years and can't handle their bike in tight spaces. Keep up the good work Kevin.
On two occasions I have spent the weekend leading demo rides for Ducati over in Dallas. You would be amazed at the riders who come to these things...
Leading a group of 8-10 riders on a motorcycle they have never ridden and likely more powerful than they have ever ridden, is not for the faint of heart. ;)
You're right brother MW
It's a matter of seat time. We can all enjoy some more of that
@@charlieball9569 seat time isn't that useful unless you're constantly pushing yourself. Most of my improvement as a rider has come from low speed handling of the bike. I noticed the better I got at handling the bike at low speeds, the better I got at handling the bike at road speeds. If you're not improving your low speed handling, you're not really improving your overall handling of the bike. I've only been riding for less than 2 years and I can ride better than guys that have been riding far longer than I have. I'm pretty sure I can embarrass most guys with 10+ years of "riding experience" and I still have a lot to learn.
I push myself to become better because I refuse to become a statistic.
It’s a scary thought of how many people are on motorcycles that truly can’t ride and I get that some of those people are beginners and I’m sure some out of those people actually practice and or know how to ride. I will never forget when I took the basic Liscens test that just has the four thing you have to do and it’s pass or fail and there was two guys that stuck out in my head are one that was around that 60 year old mark that said he has been riding since the 80s and he was on a big Electra glide full dresser bike and he failed the easiest test there is. He couldn’t do a u turn he couldn’t do simple cone weave or anything. He is the “road rider” lol. I wonder what his family thought when he had to go home and tell them he failed and in my opinion is that he most likely lied to them and or made up some excuses. The other guy was kinda new rider. He said he has been riding a couple years and I wouldn’t have remembered him but his excuse for not passing is what I will remember. I was behind him in the line and I could clearly see what he was doing wrong and that is he wasn’t using friction zone so he was going way to fast for cone weave and the other one but when he would get back in line he kept messing with the carburetor and saying it’s running to high and the funny thing is that his bike was fuel injected and he didn’t have a carb but he was acting like he was adjusting It while setting in front of me in line for the next test lol. He did this two different time and that’s all he got to do before he failed and left. So he did 2 of the 4 test and failed because of his “carburetor “ and the guy that’s rode since the 80s so 30 years at that time and he failed after only doing 2 of the 4 test also. He not only couldn’t ride at all but he also didn’t listen or pay attention to the others because on both of the test he did try on he had no clue what he was supposed to be doing and he’s out there riding a 900 lbs bike. Just practice people. I enjoy practicing to me it’s fun to get in a parking lot and play around. Just playing around in a parking lot is practice guys.
Started riding 17 months ago, between MCrider & Mojitsu, this is the best advice they have given me. At the start of every ride I go to a local parking lot to practice my slow speed skills. Has helped my entire riding skill set TREMENDOUSLY💯🏍👍🏽🦾
Couldn't agree more!
Way to go James, I’m a big believer
Totally agreed, best 2 pages to seek the right advice
The other thing guys forget is you need to practice to maintain those slow speed skills. You get rusty sooner than you think. Great video Kevin.
A few years ago, I took a job as a motorcycle postie with New Zealand Post. Thought it would be cool to get paid to ride a motorcycle... and it was, but this is not the point. The point is that they immediately got me protective gear and sent me for away for 3 days of motorcycle training. During those 3 days, we spent a good 80% of the time learning how to handle the bike at slow speed, turning the bike around at full lock, holding the bike up in slopes using the rear brake while putting mail and parcels in the mailbox. The rest of the time was spent learning how to survive spending whole days on a small motorcycle in an urban environment. It was a really good learning experience and made me a much better rider. Like it has been mentioned, all those skills are perishable and they need to be practiced often on the bike(s) you ride. I cringe inwardly when I see experienced riders on flash bikes that brag about doing insane speeds on the road but are incapable of doing a U-turn on the street...
Slopes! Even though I am a little beyond intermediate with slow speed turns and can turn my Honda Pacific coast within two parking spaces, making a tight turn out of an up slope still feels very unfamiliar to be honest, Must find a parking lot with slopes to practice in!
Just watch the TH-cam videos from the big motorcycle festivals like Sturgis, Daytona, etc. You’re likely to see lots of bikers dragging their feet, walking their bike at slow speeds, putting their foot down going slow around corners, etc. These guys can laugh at me all they want practicing in a parking lot. I’ll be laughing last. Thanks Kevin. Safe riding!
Summed it up in one phrase "you don't have a motorcycle problem, you have a technique problem"
Worth watching every video for these gems
True, but some motorcycles are not very agile and poorly suited for many cyclists. So I'd say it a tad different....maybe that person selected the wrong bike for themselves and their skills. As an example - I can take a BMW R1250GS and turn it on a dime, but I can't do that on an Indian Scout or Chief or any Harley.
@Bissell All bikes are different but most riders need to ride what they are on better than they do.
So, not a motorcycle problem…a technique problem.
@@bissellsmith2954 I agree. I’m 5’3””. My Indian Roadmaster had forward controls which I never got used to. I switched to a Honda Goldwing and the difference is night and day. I understand what Kevin is saying, if you learn proper techniques you become a better rider.
I try, at a minimum, to make to a parking lot once a month for an hour workout on four different skills. That way you're not over worked, not bored, and generally reminded that "I need to do this more often."
You will always going to encounter "Super Men", those that think they know everything.... but as you said, to each their own
Yeap...meanwhile the REAL..."super men" of the moto world are guys like Greg Widman ( aka fast eddie) from Motojitsu who are ALWAYS humble in that " dude...I have SOOO Much more to learn and master. I'm just chipping away at that big iceberg,,but loving it. " kind of attitude.
I have ran into riders with that type of attitude, and they had only been riding a few years. Hopefully, their refusal to listen to a more experienced rider doesn't cost them more than they hoped.
Like the line from Cool Hand Luke, "Some men you just can't reach".
' What we have here is a failure to communicate' lol
I love this video, I talk about slow speed maneuvering constantly to all my riding buddies all the time.
As a motorcycle cycle instructor in the UK it's good to see our brothers in the US saying the same words as we do. To relax them I say feel the force just like a Jedi knight then the bike becomes part of you. Think it feel it...
I met a new rider a few weeks ago that was talking about how the low speed skills weren't useful to him, so he didn't practice them after he took the MSF course. He almost dropped his bike twice leaving the parking lot of my business wearing just a half helmet and a cheap leather jacket clearly not designed for riding. I hope that guy is ok.
Video is spot on. ATGATT. I suspect more drops and crashes occur at slow speeds.
I used to hate slow speed maneuvering, because I couldn't handle my bike. Now I practice the right techniques and get as much enjoyment getting around a busy car park as I do on the open road. In fact I think I rather enjoy showing off!
Thanks again Kevin for your messages. I live in a neighborhood that have several cul-de-sacs very near where folks either park in their driveways or their garage. This provides me a "parking lot" with no traffic to do slow ridding refreshers. I do figure 8s in the cul-de-sacs and also do u-turn practices in the street in front of my house. Point being, that one can find alternate places to practice the slow riding skills.
Great message today, Kevin. See you out on the ro... I mean... See you in the parking lot! :D
...or in the MCrider Garage. ;)
I don't go out to parking lots as often as I should, but I do ride almost daily, and do u-turns and ride in busy parking lots pretty frequently, which keeps me sharp.
I've slowly gotten better at taking sharp right turns from a stop, which has greatly increased my confidence in traffic. I almost lane split and lane filter, sometimes at low speeds, and being able to handle bike at low speeds is CRUCIAL if you don't want to hit a car while riding between them at 5-10 mph. Don't waddle my bike even at those speeds.
its tough finding good parking lots nowadays. ive gotten kicked out of a few when i first started learning. injuries that occur in private parking lots incurs risks to the owners so i get it. once a cop kicked me out of a university lot and said i needed to practice on the street. thats when i didnt feel comfortable on the streets yet. wish there was more of an alternative sometimes. we need more venues for new bikers.
I typically do schools on weekends or malls
ride a push peddle bicycle slowly or fast off road on wet and dry days. You will improve you balance and grip awareness in minutes, if you fall you will do less damage, and not damage or trash your motorbike. Do not ride a range of other bikes on other surfaces, ride a smaller light weight bike something like Honda trail 125cc ride it off road, when you have got handling that in all conditions. You will have sorted out balance and grip. Avoid any training on beautiful flat car parks with cones on your own bike. it will leave you with false sense of security, the road and the highway are hardly ever flat and surfaces usably have loose debris gravel or oil or pot holes.
yoda: you must unlearn what you have learned
Great teaching
"guide, not control" Love it!
I’m convinced. I need to get back in a parking lot.
It will help.
I do drills from Motojitsu and RideLikeAPro
Legit....those have DEFINITELY helped me improve over the past month alone.
Great timing on this video. My wife and I went for a ride yesterday, She was on her bike after a several month hiatus. In the second slow speed turn she failed to maintain speed and gently set her bike down on the ‘backup kickstand’. Turns out she had pulled clutch in thinking she could glide through the turn. The bike quickly slowed and control was lost. Next time out we’ll be spending much more practice time on the slow maneuvering.
That’s why Police Motor Officers spend so much time doing slow speed patterns. I still try to pull into a church parking lot for some figure eight’s once a week. Riding is a perishable skill and it perishes quickly.
Same. Figure eights, tight u turns, panic stops and since I practice at my church with the pastors permission, dank wheelies.
This police motor officer spends a bunch of time practicing slow speed maneuvers. I've been at it for 25 years. Heck, I even belong to a group of riders who practice it on their own personal bikes on the weekend. You can NEVER have enough practice.
@@kman-mi7su Watching those motorcycle rodeos lately, there is some amazing slow speed control like pausing mid turns and very tight radius turns. Also learning how the Japanese police approach u-turns from a stop with a counter steer start, which is something that I don't normally see. It really takes daily practice to build up from the novice level and probably monthly or weekly practice just for maintenance! Good to have such a high bar to aspire to in my own practice.
@@aurelioramos8463 Yes, and a life-saving skill.
There’s a deer on Vancouver Island that is still wandering around because of regular practicing emergency braking in parking lots. I practice at 60km/hour in the parking lot but the technique is equally effective at 120km/hour.
Kevin, you’re preaching good! Practicing techniques in the parking lot has saved my life on more than one occasion on the streets. Yet I always recall an old saying. If common sense were common, everyone would have some. Keep the videos coming, I appreciate you!
Stupid is as stupid does. I love what you do both with this channel and out on the parking lot
Thank you for what you do! I've learned so much from your videos and the field guid. I've been off of 2 wheels for a long while and recently picked up another bike. Becoming a member has helped me get my feet back. So thanks again! ✌🏻🤙🏻
The parking lot is where I drop my bike to avoid doing it on the roads.
Agree, rather dropping her at near stop speed than at a +40mph with an 10 wheeler on my back..lol
If Darwin says so, gotta be truth
Been there bro and total agree with you 👍🏽
Me too. My poor 2003 Buell XB9R
Awesome channel! I love that you're not prideful, or condescending to others. Something that helps me is remembering the shortest verse in the Bible: "Jesus wept." The King of Creation wept as he felt the pain of his subjects. If He does, then it certainly won't hurt me to have compassion on others. I thank you for your advice, and your light shining in this fallen world. Your walk is truly inspiring. Happy riding!
Agree. I always thought certain activities, including motorcycle riding, performing music, carrying a gun, all require regular "reality checks" with a big dose of humility and sober thinking.
After too many years of riding, I still have to remind my self occasionally to relax a bit . Usually when I leave home .. Death grip is not good.
Thanks Kevin
I was practicing in a parking lot just a few days ago. It really helps. I find it fun to strive to put my tires exactly where I want them. Practicing emergency stops helps with front brake skills too.
Kevin brother, You are So right. Im 6', strong legs and calves, when I work out, at least 2 a week, I hit my legs hard with my bike in mind. It's a Honda Interstate. . 70' long, 705 pounds.1312 cc. Nicest baddest bike I've ever owned...Very comfortable, very balanced, its chopped from the factory, think around 38'..anyway, you're right. Anyone can ride at 10 mph and above, it's the slower speed that can get u. Especially with that fork. Little bit of a learning curve at first, but very comfortable now..8 mph or so and below is about the only time you really dont counter steer. Thank you Kevin for not endorsing a lot of silly lane splitting, etc. I think that's just really dumb. One person opening a door, pass or driver, at complete stops in traffic..you're at a huge risk and why? To impress a complete stranger, maybe a kid in the car? Come on guys, give the onlookers a little rev if u want, but pls. Stop the splitting. It gives all riders a bad name. It really does.. I know, anything can happen at any time, no matter how safely we ride, but guys, let's lower the odds! Have a blast responsibly. Stick to the nicer backroads as often as possible. .I know, of course the sport bike guys will maybe disagree, that's cool.
The goal of parking lot practice should not be to master going slow necessarily. The goal should eventually become being fast in tight quarters. In the US, for some reason, we have decided that counterbalancing and slipping the clutch is the pinnacle of parking lot skills. However, If you go to places like Japan, you'll find that those are only beginner skills. Eventually we should strive to lean with the bike and not touch the clutch in the parking lot. We should start to focus on trail braking into full lock rotations and accelerating out etc.. This not only requires much more practice, but it also better applies to skills at higher speeds.
Well Said Sir... I practice at least 2 to 3 times a week. Agree with Guide it as well as ride it..
Definitely sir.
Love the Yoda reference!
...there is not try. 😉
Great video Kevin... I love that you started looking at the second camera for the second angle. I know a few of us were picking on you about that. It definitely makes better use of the second angle. Keep up the good work!
Regarding your story with the stereotypical Harley rider, you really need to have an individual, non-group-think attitude in order to do the right thing and wear gear and ride sober. My dealer serves free lunch and beer at 11:00 AM for heavens sake. I love Harleys but I understand that I won't fit in with the majority of riders. They usually wave though.
Great point...I wear a hi-viz jacket and a fullface helmet when I ride my Harley...it is all about individuality and doing what is right for you.
Exactly. That’s why I always say I am not a Harley rider. But I do ride a Harley.
I made this same comment on a different motorcycle channel the other day. You have to control your bike at all speeds. If you don't believe that try making a couple of laps around a walmart parking lot or pull into a full gas station. Slow speed skills are harder but just as important as higher speed skills.
This was a great video. When I started riding, slow riding was really hard to get. It takes practice practice and more practice
At riding speeds motorcycles are self balancing, they cannot fall over unless you lock up the spinning wheels
but going slow its totally up to the rider to keep the bike from falling over
THATS why its necessary to develop your below 10mph riding skills
Thank you brother!!!
I really appreciate your knowledge. I would however recommend you look into why the wheels turning hold the bike up. It's a slightly tricky force termed gyroscopic precession.
Those same guys that say "I don't need classes, I ride on the street" or some other version of the "I'm a tough guy BAMF REAL biker" are the same ones you see dumping their bikes at a stop lights on a poker runs, or nearly hitting their buddies as they pull out.
Though, when I first saw the title, before watching, I was thinking "well, of course slow speed control is important, even if you only do slab touring, you still need slow speed skills to get from your driveway, through the neighborhood to get to and from the interstate, as well as navigating gas stations to fuel up... you can't go or stop anywhere without slow speed riding, it is unavoidable."
Yes, very correct.👍 One should first write individual alphabets to start writing sentences!
Excellent logic, precisely presented.
Kevin, what do you change in your technique to do low speed maneuvers on your DCT?
Thank you mister!
Let the time play a little longer on camera switches, don't cut the clips so tight. You are on the right track.
I wonder if he was Wearing his gear? Knee pads that fit well. Lee Parks is what I use.
Hey Kevin did you hear about @MotoJitsu / Fast Eddie becoming Rossi personal riding coach and psychologist?? Like you he really helps us keep safe and always learning something new. Hope he’s gets time to make new content like you. Maybe a video together? Do a meet up somewhere? I would love to see that and almost sure others would as well. Thanks for your info and time. Gratitude 🙏
I practice show speed stuff in empty lots constantly. U turns, tight turns, slow race...e-braking and swerving (ok that's at higher speed). But truth be told, I detest the offset cones.
RideLikeAPro's offset cone course is what got me to loving it.
Most parking lots ( like big ones at a big church) are 9 feet in width in each space. Set one pair of cones ( one at the tip end of a parking space and the other cone on the same line of it around 8 to 10 feet apart from it)
Now count over 3.5 spaces away...then go across to the other line of parking lot spaces right in that in between spaces line....put another pair down....rinse and repeat until you have at least 8 to 10 pairs of cones setting up what I call the " snake course"
At the end of that snake course, make a circle that is 30ft in diameter and that the "entrance" to it is basically dead center of it ( as in not beginning towards the left corner side of the circle.and not to the right corner either)
** now... When you go through the snake course and enter that circle, make two full turns around that circle turning ..RIGHT...as you leave it, go back through the snake course, do a circle and go back into the snake course, this time entering that circle, make two full turns around that circle turning LEFT.
I also set up another 3 or 4 pairs of cones on a completely different lane of the parking lot just for hard/fast braking practice ..starting off at 20mph and trying to stop quicker than the 13 foot mark and eventually reaching the 10 foot mark on the dot consistently, then 25mph and seeing how close to the 13foot mark I can achieve.
If you hate the "snake course" as I call it ( aka offset cone weaving), try focusing more on using your left hand to do the motocycle turning/prepping it to lean where you want it to go. This keeps your right hand free to " lock in " or basically keep the same throttle/acceleration speed ..consistent throughout the course which will make it easier to "feel out" how much lean you need to turn through each pair of cones.
Keeping your speed at between 7 and 10 mph is your goal, but if you can only do it safely at between 5 and 7...hey..don't feel bad. Baby step it for a few rounds if you must. There's nothing wrong with that until you can warm up to getting used to doing more leans with trying my idea of the " left hand turns the bike..and right hand is just for throttle control)
When in doubt...throttle out...DON'T pull in that clutch no matter how badly your instincts will tell you to as you'll THEN..drop the bike and have a fooked up day.
@@motoryzen
Thank you very much for your reply and the effort. But I think I wasn't clear enough in my original post.
The course you described I love!
What I meant in my op was from the beginner rider course. About five to seven cones spaced about fourteen feet apart and then about four feet off the centre line alternated left and right. That one for some reason I'm impatient with. Maybe this is called the cone weave?
Im not a biker. I will be but am not yet. Thanks for the lessons.
Your story of the angry biker saying he rides on the street not in the parking lot makes me want to ask him where he parked his bike! Must have left it on the street. The parking lot is where you need these slow speed skills. Cars quickly back out of a parking space, you must stop or swerve or possibly both. I bet that rider is not a good street rider either. Practice makes perfect may be a great saying and most of us will never be perfect, but we will be much better than those with attitudes like that angry biker. So get out and practice whenever you can. Ride safe and ride home.
I was watching Robert Simmons be the boss of your motorcycle and TH-cam recommended this
I like his content...but he just takes..FOR E VER to get to the point. Sorry but there are way too many just as good youtube coherent channels that get the job done in a more practical amount of time to say and prove the same things ( Motojitsu and RideLikeAPro are two of those examples )
Both are good channels.
Had a crash over a year ago and was timid getting on a new bike. Went out tonight in a car park and was practicing slow manoeuvres and fell off, jeez I felt like selling it. I got back on and kept going at practice. Then went down the express way at speed and still felt wary, any advice would be great.
Hey Matt
Saw your video talking about the solo police seat you put on your Road King. I would really appreciate if you could tell what to look for. There are so many solo seats on EBay and Marketplace. I really want one for my 2018 Deluxe. I’m a little low and I think the couple inches raise up could help.
I have a 2020 factory street glide. When I get my bike up to speed to where I should be able to let go of the handlebars are it maintain a straight direction, well it doesn't it pulls to the left! I can lean right and it will stay straight. Any input on why my bike pulls to the left would be greatly appreciated. This is my 5th bike over 12yrs and roughly 100k miles experience. I can't figure it out! The bike has 3k miles on it.
Looking for experienced opinion. I have a shorter wheelbase Ninja 650 and really enjoy all the lower exercises and can do them very well. I am looking to upgrade technology abs, etc and power. My bike does not have abs. I am considering a Ducati Supersport but it weighs about 60 lbs more and has a longer wheelbase. How much of challenge will it be to learn the slow speed on this bike? Ninja 650 is 1410 vs Ducati is 1478 wheelbase.
Always love seeing some burly biker guy on his $40,000 HD bagger waddle a u-turn because he really doesnt know how to ride.
Nice Honda Trail 125 there Kevin... ;-)
I've been riding since '84 and for some reason, lately I've dropped the HD Fatboy 4 times in the past 2 years. All at slow speeds or stopped... It's embarrassing. Now it's on my mind every time I ride...
If there is a Ride Like a Pro or Pro Rider class in your area, it wouldn't hurt to take it.
I couldn't agree more with MCrider's point and not to harp on you. Don't feel bad about dropping that sucker.
Just remember one thing..worst case if nothing else. In that nano second of doubt ( when your instant gut feeling is that the bike is going to fall) throttle out. Pump that throttle just a little and it will stand you right back up if it's a slow tight turning situation.
Beyond that...it depends. Good luck to ya Ted. Cheers.
Simple logic the more you do anything the better you get at it
My naked bike seemed to be easier to ride at slow speed than my sports bike. I wonder if it's because the higher handle bars🤔
I tried practicing today. I realized my bike was kicking a bit and was not moving steadily at low rpm. So I can't practice until I get it fixed.
BTW I hope to see some uneven ground lessons, like stopping and starting on a tilted uphill etc.
If throttle freeplay adjustment isn't in the equation ( meaning it isn't the problem), then with that particular bike..you may need to practice better "friction zone" control and/or adjust the freeplay in your clutch lever.
It's any combination or any one of those things....chances are. You'll need to experiment to see which one. Some Honda DCT goldwings are just more difficult to deal with involving that friction zone than most other bikes though, truth be told.
@@motoryzen my bike is a 1995 XT660Z Tenere which might have a vacuum leak.
It's just like playing drums. If you can't play it at slow speed. You can't play it fast.
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
What can you do to protect your bike from inevitable drops when practicing slow speed stuff?
Buy crash protection for it. Engine crash guards/bars set. Axle sliders, handlebar guards...things like that.
Barkbusters makes handlebar guard kits for a variety of bikes
T-rex racing as well as swmotech and others have a variety of bikes covered with engine crash bar kits.
Yep
Hooah
Good vid
Yea, I need to put hours on parking lot doing U-turn and figure 8
More sweat in training, less blood in battle
The guy you met will be duck walking in Sturgis in 10 days.
Did he think the street is safer than a parking lot??