Thanks Kevin. Last summer I was in a lean on a tricky left curve. I took the outside to give me the best line of vision and be most visible. Suddenly a large SUV heading towards me hit her turn signal and turned her wheels right in front of me. I couldn’t straighten it or I would go right for the ditch.. Eased on the brakes and just as I felt my back end start to go she stopped....thank goodness. It all happened in a blink. I rethink the incident often and about what I could have done differently. ps...We never miss a MotoGP race and have been to Austin to see the race ........and ride the hill country... loved it!
This is a good point which I see is about starting on the outside of a curve. By doing so I feel we risk not having any room to straighten up to brake hard. I wonder if it could be worth sacrificing some visibility around bends in order to gain braking space by starting, say, just two thirds out. Where might I be wrong in this thinking? Thanks Kevin, as always.
Excellent advice. All of it. I ride on switchbacks to get to work and home every single day of the year (17 degrees F @ 4AM is my coldest ride to work) unless there is icy rain before a freeze. We have a lot of deer, javelina, coyotes and elk wandering around in the winter and the snow/ice often makes rocks fall into the roadway as well. The advice you offered counts just as much for stationary objects like debris and rocks as it does on (sometimes) moving objects. One thing I've learned is that when an object is ACTIVELY moving I lean toward where it IS when I see it and not to where I think it will go. When I see them grazing on the side of the road...well...I think that is the luck of the draw because you never can predicts how a critter is gonna behave.
Great video as usual Kev. 👍. Just last week I faced a mid corner scare. I misjudged my incoming speed and nearly collided with an oncoming truck. I just increased my lean angle till knee down and rode away safely. But it was a lesson learnt. I was able to ride off safe because of one of your previous videos wherein you mentioned about keeping a reserve of your skill limit. So the reserve lean angle saved me n my bike. Thanks again Kevin. I owe you one mate. 👍🖖.
Thanks for the great tips. I've only been riding a few months, and could have avoided the one spill I had if I'd watched more of your videos beforehand!
This video should have been a accompanied, in my opinion, by a demonstration on the road or a parking lot. however I appreciate all your work and dedication.
Where I live in western Missouri, we have a LOT of Tar Road Snakes, as well as long, deep scrapes that if you get caught in one, will guide you erratically. Having knowledge of this before one rides in Missouri can be a life saver. Just slow down in the curves.
The turn-straight- turn technique gets used every time I ride a local road. The road has an S curve that has a nasty dip in the first corner. Lean, straighten for the dip, lean to complete the turn, lean the oppistie way to finish the S curve. Kevin, keep the videos coming.
I was fairly new to my present bike and went for a two lane twisty road ride. It did get a little tense when I went around an almost 90 degree turn and here comes a pick up pulling a horse trailer about half way in my lane. Luckily I was riding tight with the inside and slow. Another time on another bike I was coming up to a 90 with a passenger and same deal a pick up and horse trailer was almost completely on my side as he was coming out of the turn. I was riding in the crumbs at the edge of the road to avoid that one. I was already expecting to have to take the ditch but didn't. You just can't go into these corners without expecting the worse. If its not a vehicle it could be gravel or animal or who knows. All I can say is you have to ride like its going to be worst case or you won't ride long. I'm 69.
I agree, I'm 68 and want to make it to 69. The older we get the intelligent we get or is that the more cautious we get due to experience which translates to intelligence? Either way safety is best all around.
@@2bikemikesguitartopics145 I guess when we get to be our age most of the stupid is gone. Not all. Lol. I still like to stretch the belt on my 1200 sporty on occasion.
Good stuff, Practice over time of good riding techniques and a road strategy have made mid corner issues rare for me. In my early return to riding it still took time and practice to remaster cornering is the various situations. Thanks Kevin for the reminder!
Sometimes only option is a 4th one: stay leaned and do nothing and pray gyroscopic and other physical forces allow to get over/ through obstacle unscathed. Like when on new black highway asphalt at midnight while well into the curve and well leaned over I saw, barely and at the very last possible moment, a DEAD SKUNK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD! A split second later there was a quick thud-thud as both tires hit that ripe skunk squeezing out his musk all over my hot pipes. The stench was atrocious. It was a real pain to clean off let me tell you. Thanks for the video.
Love your tips and use them often. There is a wide sweeping left turn on my daily commute that is a dream in left lane, but in the outside lane the turn seams to square off and I get that oh no I'm in to deep feeling. I find myself chopping off the throttle, the engine brakes slow the bike quick. I currently have an 05 CBR600rr and a 13 CB1100.
Turn - straight - turn Just used this one recently. In a canyon with a decreasing radius right turn into a left, just as the right turn opened up, there was a bag of cement broken open dead center. It was spread to outside of the lane, so I had to straighten up to get closer to the center line, before dipping back into the next turn.
Good info as always. Only critique is that beginners would profit from showing something visual of these techniques. That said I did just advise a friend who needs more technique in the braking dept that he should spend some time watching MC Rider. Thanks Kevin.
I remember a left corner with a rise.... as I was entering the corner, a pickup came around coming towards me over the double yellow lines. I straightened up enough to bring me to the outside of the corner, then leaned back into the corner enough to scrape the side stand, but the bike never twitched or slid. Turn-straight-turn.
I miss the demonstrations. I learn better with a clear example. I liked when you would show us, out on the lot, what you were talking about. Maybe I am just weird. I have always learned better that way.
Better still is to sign up for a training course and get out and put these skill into practice. 12 months ago I took a cornering clinic at my local track and had an opportunity to test how far I was comfortable of leaning my bike and at what speeds it could get around a corner, all done in a relatively safe environment under the watchful eye of experienced instructors. The instructors talked and demonstrated correct cornering lines and showed the effects of getting it wrong. They were also able to demonstrate hazard evasion and discussed real life options, such as if you were running wide towards an object looking as far towards your intended destination and leaning hard in that direction, in the worst case scenario you avoid the hazard but low side the bike and suffer minor injuries, but you may actually find the bike grips better than you thought possible and you get through unscathed. All in it was a good day and one I would recommend to anyone serious about riding.
I just moved to Orlando. I've watched your videos and many other's videos on being safe in traffic. I have read about tactics and even taken several rider's courses. I normally am very comfortable in traffic and have a plan. Orlando has traffic that is beyond anything that I have experienced. A good day here is worse than a bad day where I came from - Columbia, SC. Rush hour in Columbia, SC, has it's own issues, but it's all day every day here with absolutely senseless drivers. There's the international drivers, the US tourists, the snowbirds, and the frustrated locals that either need to get to work or home. Is there any way to do an honest video of let's say yourself in as close to these conditions in traffic and discuss the best ways to deal with situations when all the riding techniques are being followed, but the traffic is doing anything but following the traffic laws? Right now I'm keeping up which makes me feel like a squid, but I do need to get places. I honestly have been trying to find some peace of mind about this, and I have to be aggressively defensive in traffic which is a bit undesirable as I'm usually a patient, calm, and collected driver/moto pilot. Now I'm calm and collected, but have to share the impatience of traffic to keep up with speed differentials and avoid cars suddenly stopping in lanes or pulling out to turn left and blocking lanes because no one can seem to find the time to turn around or go around the block or anything. I get shoved out of my lane by drivers who definitely see me, but don't care. I have had to lane split twice due to this. I'm fairly certain these were international drivers here on vacay and are utilizing their own skills from home to best navigate this madness themselves - but it's a problem for me and I've been here a week. Help me feel ok that I'm doing the best for myself that is possible in this situation, or make a video that shows examples of bad traffic situations and how I could better address them. I am doing the best that I can, and I'm having to buzz around like I'm in the Fast and Furious like everyone else here which I gave up doing in my mid 20's lol.
I think tourist areas are particularly bad. A lot of people sight seeing, distracted, and do not know where they are going. Be extra cautious out there, it can be bad quickly.
I-4 is very bad in both directions, often bumper to bumper, but there are alternate routes that may be better. Using GPS is almost indispensable. I have my phone with it mounted on my handlebar.
Hey Kevin! I wanna say: "I knew it!" :) You may remember my question, I've asked some 2 or 3 months back - about slow-look-press and roll in a case where it just simply can't be done. I know few free way exits, that are so steep down, that even if you'd start form a complete stop, you can't (or may be just I can't) navigate them w/o slowing at some point. I am always doing this lean-straiht-lean thing:) - now I have two more ways to practice :) And! as the weather is still fair in Poland, I can start to practice soon!:)
@@MCrider We are still expecting the winter to come sometime in Feb. For now it's a bit above freezing, so still catching up the last miles before the short break. Hopefully no more than till March. Most Tue's evenings we do practice on empty parking lot...
You can slow-look-press and roll-on downhill by trail-braking through your roll on. Start trying it at slower speeds on flat turns, so you get a feel for what the bike does, before you add the downhill element. It's a wicked good feeling when you get the throttle and brake balanced just right.
Huy Kevin, Can you make a video about the (differences of pushing or pulling) on the handle bars. Pushing on them is the best advice I've ever gotten from you other than to start wearing a helmet . When I tell my friends to try it, they seem to blow it off. Help me help them, Please!!!
So I have a question I bought a Kawasaki Ninja 250R to learn on and love the bike "but" the angle that the bike puts me in to ride hurts my back I'm thinking about buying a another bike I've been looking at the V-Star 650 but not sure what I should upgrade to not big on the whole power thing just like to cruise and enjoy the ride but I don't want to lose the mobility sportbike gives but I'm also a big fan of the classic bike with the saddlebags i am wanting something that I can sit upright on and ride comfortably like a classic but also have the mobility of a sportbike any suggestions .
cornfused. any corner i move into and apply the front brakes, my machine ceases to lean. the harder i brake, the more abruptly i lose that lean. not so much a problem with the rear binders, but always with the front.
Stage 2 of 'straighten the bike up' and then brake hard. That might do but it's not just traffic behind that we need to be careful of its the oncoming traffic on their side of the road that we are now heading into at great speed. That's the greatest danger. Yes it may be possible to straighten and stop but that depends on several matters. First our speed and second our position on the bend. Both for when we need to adjust position. The closer we are to the middle of the road the less pace we have to commit to this manoeuvre otherwise its at the expense of riding over the mid line and into oncoming traffic. Something that is not recommended.
Really the hard part is to do the right things when you find yourself in a sudden situation. If you enter a blind inside corner and in the middle of it see a corner cutting BMW on collision course, the last thing you want to do is panic braking. That will cause you to be on your back on the road when the BMW runs over you.
would you know of an advanced class in Houston? I've done ride like a pro (great class) but everything from Harley or anyone else seems to be beginner classes...
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These videos save lives. When I'm riding, I'm always thinking: "what would McRider do in this situation?". Thanks for these videos Kevin. 👍
In my humble opinion, one of your most informative videos. Much appreciated.
Thanks for the video dude. Great info on knowing our own skill level and why we need to stay within our own level incase of trouble.
Thanks Kevin. Last summer I was in a lean on a tricky left curve. I took the outside to give me the best line of vision and be most visible. Suddenly a large SUV heading towards me hit her turn signal and turned her wheels right in front of me. I couldn’t straighten it or I would go right for the ditch.. Eased on the brakes and just as I felt my back end start to go she stopped....thank goodness. It all happened in a blink. I rethink the incident often and about what I could have done differently.
ps...We never miss a MotoGP race and have been to Austin to see the race ........and ride the hill country... loved it!
This is a good point which I see is about starting on the outside of a curve. By doing so I feel we risk not having any room to straighten up to brake hard. I wonder if it could be worth sacrificing some visibility around bends in order to gain braking space by starting, say, just two thirds out. Where might I be wrong in this thinking? Thanks Kevin, as always.
Excellent advice. All of it. I ride on switchbacks to get to work and home every single day of the year (17 degrees F @ 4AM is my coldest ride to work) unless there is icy rain before a freeze. We have a lot of deer, javelina, coyotes and elk wandering around in the winter and the snow/ice often makes rocks fall into the roadway as well. The advice you offered counts just as much for stationary objects like debris and rocks as it does on (sometimes) moving objects. One thing I've learned is that when an object is ACTIVELY moving I lean toward where it IS when I see it and not to where I think it will go. When I see them grazing on the side of the road...well...I think that is the luck of the draw because you never can predicts how a critter is gonna behave.
Great video as usual Kev. 👍. Just last week I faced a mid corner scare. I misjudged my incoming speed and nearly collided with an oncoming truck. I just increased my lean angle till knee down and rode away safely. But it was a lesson learnt. I was able to ride off safe because of one of your previous videos wherein you mentioned about keeping a reserve of your skill limit. So the reserve lean angle saved me n my bike. Thanks again Kevin. I owe you one mate. 👍🖖.
This is the first thing I look for on Saturday morning with my coffee. Thanks for improving my skills. This is an awesome service you provide.
Great advice thanks for sharing this with us. Safe riding.👍🇬🇧
Thanks for the great tips. I've only been riding a few months, and could have avoided the one spill I had if I'd watched more of your videos beforehand!
Another great video. I like how you related frequent cornering troubles with a lack of looking thru the corner.
This video should have been a accompanied, in my opinion, by a demonstration on the road or a parking lot. however I appreciate all your work and dedication.
I agree but 45 degrees and rain make that a challenge.
@@MCrider Then my apologies
Where I live in western Missouri, we have a LOT of Tar Road Snakes, as well as long, deep scrapes that if you get caught in one, will guide you erratically. Having knowledge of this before one rides in Missouri can be a life saver. Just slow down in the curves.
Where at in MO? I have family in KC and I went to college in Bolivar.
The turn-straight- turn technique gets used every time I ride a local road. The road has an S curve that has a nasty dip in the first corner. Lean, straighten for the dip, lean to complete the turn, lean the oppistie way to finish the S curve.
Kevin, keep the videos coming.
Good advice Kevin. Keep the good lessons coming.
I was fairly new to my present bike and went for a two lane twisty road ride. It did get a little tense when I went around an almost 90 degree turn and here comes a pick up pulling a horse trailer about half way in my lane. Luckily I was riding tight with the inside and slow. Another time on another bike I was coming up to a 90 with a passenger and same deal a pick up and horse trailer was almost completely on my side as he was coming out of the turn. I was riding in the crumbs at the edge of the road to avoid that one. I was already expecting to have to take the ditch but didn't.
You just can't go into these corners without expecting the worse. If its not a vehicle it could be gravel or animal or who knows. All I can say is you have to ride like its going to be worst case or you won't ride long. I'm 69.
Always leave room and time in reserve for those situations. Glad you did.
I agree, I'm 68 and want to make it to 69. The older we get the intelligent we get or is that the more cautious we get due to experience which translates to intelligence? Either way safety is best all around.
@@2bikemikesguitartopics145 I guess when we get to be our age most of the stupid is gone. Not all. Lol. I still like to stretch the belt on my 1200 sporty on occasion.
@@funk7875
Me too.
Good stuff, Practice over time of good riding techniques and a road strategy have made mid corner issues rare for me. In my early return to riding it still took time and practice to remaster cornering is the various situations. Thanks Kevin for the reminder!
As always.... learning some new every time I watch. Great job Kevin!!! 👍👍
Thanks Dave
Sometimes only option is a 4th one: stay leaned and do nothing and pray gyroscopic and other physical forces allow to get over/ through obstacle unscathed. Like when on new black highway asphalt at midnight while well into the curve and well leaned over I saw, barely and at the very last possible moment, a DEAD SKUNK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD! A split second later there was a quick thud-thud as both tires hit that ripe skunk squeezing out his musk all over my hot pipes. The stench was atrocious. It was a real pain to clean off let me tell you. Thanks for the video.
Here is an idea for a new shirt slogan: "Without Road Skill you will be Road Kill".
So you don’t have to lay it down? Amazing!
Love your tips and use them often. There is a wide sweeping left turn on my daily commute that is a dream in left lane, but in the outside lane the turn seams to square off and I get that oh no I'm in to deep feeling. I find myself chopping off the throttle, the engine brakes slow the bike quick. I currently have an 05 CBR600rr and a 13 CB1100.
Turn - straight - turn
Just used this one recently. In a canyon with a decreasing radius right turn into a left, just as the right turn opened up, there was a bag of cement broken open dead center. It was spread to outside of the lane, so I had to straighten up to get closer to the center line, before dipping back into the next turn.
Great tips. It's a pity we're getting a foot of snow today.
I think we have about a foot of rain here in North Texas. ;)
Good info as always. Only critique is that beginners would profit from showing something visual of these techniques. That said I did just advise a friend who needs more technique in the braking dept that he should spend some time watching MC Rider. Thanks Kevin.
Thank you Kevin!
As always great information.
I remember a left corner with a rise.... as I was entering the corner, a pickup came around coming towards me over the double yellow lines. I straightened up enough to bring me to the outside of the corner, then leaned back into the corner enough to scrape the side stand, but the bike never twitched or slid. Turn-straight-turn.
Yeah, it makes it tougher when there is some camber to the road.
I miss the demonstrations. I learn better with a clear example. I liked when you would show us, out on the lot, what you were talking about. Maybe I am just weird. I have always learned better that way.
Blablablabla we need real videos!!
@@JohnDoe-uc7et Sweet talk him, yeah that'll work.
I agree with you... a video is a better way for me too... and is a little boring in this talked way too.
Better still is to sign up for a training course and get out and put these skill into practice. 12 months ago I took a cornering clinic at my local track and had an opportunity to test how far I was comfortable of leaning my bike and at what speeds it could get around a corner, all done in a relatively safe environment under the watchful eye of experienced instructors.
The instructors talked and demonstrated correct cornering lines and showed the effects of getting it wrong. They were also able to demonstrate hazard evasion and discussed real life options, such as if you were running wide towards an object looking as far towards your intended destination and leaning hard in that direction, in the worst case scenario you avoid the hazard but low side the bike and suffer minor injuries, but you may actually find the bike grips better than you thought possible and you get through unscathed. All in it was a good day and one I would recommend to anyone serious about riding.
I love the fact that you
Love Moto GP... who would have known
I just moved to Orlando. I've watched your videos and many other's videos on being safe in traffic. I have read about tactics and even taken several rider's courses. I normally am very comfortable in traffic and have a plan. Orlando has traffic that is beyond anything that I have experienced. A good day here is worse than a bad day where I came from - Columbia, SC. Rush hour in Columbia, SC, has it's own issues, but it's all day every day here with absolutely senseless drivers. There's the international drivers, the US tourists, the snowbirds, and the frustrated locals that either need to get to work or home. Is there any way to do an honest video of let's say yourself in as close to these conditions in traffic and discuss the best ways to deal with situations when all the riding techniques are being followed, but the traffic is doing anything but following the traffic laws? Right now I'm keeping up which makes me feel like a squid, but I do need to get places. I honestly have been trying to find some peace of mind about this, and I have to be aggressively defensive in traffic which is a bit undesirable as I'm usually a patient, calm, and collected driver/moto pilot. Now I'm calm and collected, but have to share the impatience of traffic to keep up with speed differentials and avoid cars suddenly stopping in lanes or pulling out to turn left and blocking lanes because no one can seem to find the time to turn around or go around the block or anything. I get shoved out of my lane by drivers who definitely see me, but don't care. I have had to lane split twice due to this. I'm fairly certain these were international drivers here on vacay and are utilizing their own skills from home to best navigate this madness themselves - but it's a problem for me and I've been here a week. Help me feel ok that I'm doing the best for myself that is possible in this situation, or make a video that shows examples of bad traffic situations and how I could better address them. I am doing the best that I can, and I'm having to buzz around like I'm in the Fast and Furious like everyone else here which I gave up doing in my mid 20's lol.
I think tourist areas are particularly bad. A lot of people sight seeing, distracted, and do not know where they are going. Be extra cautious out there, it can be bad quickly.
Orlando is the worst for riding and local riders know it. Ace Cafe is a great venue to shop for gear and hang out for bike nights.
I-4 is very bad in both directions, often bumper to bumper, but there are alternate routes that may be better. Using GPS is almost indispensable. I have my phone with it mounted on my handlebar.
@@rickymark1 I do the same. Fortunately I don't have to use I-4 on any of my regular commutes.
Hey Kevin! I wanna say: "I knew it!" :) You may remember my question, I've asked some 2 or 3 months back - about slow-look-press and roll in a case where it just simply can't be done. I know few free way exits, that are so steep down, that even if you'd start form a complete stop, you can't (or may be just I can't) navigate them w/o slowing at some point. I am always doing this lean-straiht-lean thing:) - now I have two more ways to practice :) And! as the weather is still fair in Poland, I can start to practice soon!:)
Hey Marek...bad weather here in North Texas too. Not too cold, mid 40's, just raining like crazy for the last few days.
@@MCrider We are still expecting the winter to come sometime in Feb. For now it's a bit above freezing, so still catching up the last miles before the short break. Hopefully no more than till March. Most Tue's evenings we do practice on empty parking lot...
@@MCrider Time for a visit to South Texas; it's going to be 80 today. I've got a spare bedroom in Brownsville if you ever want to visit.
You can slow-look-press and roll-on downhill by trail-braking through your roll on. Start trying it at slower speeds on flat turns, so you get a feel for what the bike does, before you add the downhill element. It's a wicked good feeling when you get the throttle and brake balanced just right.
Great video Sir
Thank you.
Man, I really like that shirt. Hmmm, my birthday is coming up in August...tomorrow is August, right? Haha. Always great advice.
Huy Kevin, Can you make a video about the (differences of pushing or pulling) on the handle bars. Pushing on them is the best advice I've ever gotten from you other than to start wearing a helmet . When I tell my friends to try it, they seem to blow it off. Help me help them, Please!!!
So I have a question I bought a Kawasaki Ninja 250R to learn on and love the bike "but" the angle that the bike puts me in to ride hurts my back I'm thinking about buying a another bike I've been looking at the V-Star 650 but not sure what I should upgrade to not big on the whole power thing just like to cruise and enjoy the ride but I don't want to lose the mobility sportbike gives but I'm also a big fan of the classic bike with the saddlebags i am wanting something that I can sit upright on and ride comfortably like a classic but also have the mobility of a sportbike any suggestions .
cornfused. any corner i move into and apply the front brakes, my machine ceases to lean. the harder i brake, the more abruptly i lose that lean. not so much a problem with the rear binders, but always with the front.
Stage 2 of 'straighten the bike up' and then brake hard. That might do but it's not just traffic behind that we need to be careful of its the oncoming traffic on their side of the road that we are now heading into at great speed. That's the greatest danger. Yes it may be possible to straighten and stop but that depends on several matters. First our speed and second our position on the bend. Both for when we need to adjust position. The closer we are to the middle of the road the less pace we have to commit to this manoeuvre otherwise its at the expense of riding over the mid line and into oncoming traffic. Something that is not recommended.
Really the hard part is to do the right things when you find yourself in a sudden situation. If you enter a blind inside corner and in the middle of it see a corner cutting BMW on collision course, the last thing you want to do is panic braking. That will cause you to be on your back on the road when the BMW runs over you.
more B-roll please
would you know of an advanced class in Houston? I've done ride like a pro (great class) but everything from Harley or anyone else seems to be beginner classes...
I think Pro Rider is down there too. Do a Google search for that.
@@MCrider not yet, I've checked, they are supposed to be coming soon. Thanks for the reply.
@@MCrider I was wrong, they are here now, thanks!
Hi ! Which is that lovely bike 🏍️ behind you?
New Honda Goldwing, there's a video about that purchase on this channel. Just search if you want it enough
Nice
I always am aware 10-15 seconds ahead of where I am.
I read: "Road Kill, Road Strategy"
So do I! And rifle scope cross hair as well.
MOTO GP.. best racing in the world!
👍
Thanks Tom.
Best bet is not to ride anywhere close to your capability.
Roskadegy...