Have you taken the Ride Like a Pro class?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Listen to "Motorman". You may take a bath towel to set you bags on when you take them off. I fell in Jerrys class in Florida about 5 years ago. No big deal. Learn to lean.
I have always had trouble with trusting the lean. I am going to try Jerry's suggestion about 40 lb in the front tire. You will do fine if you do what they say. Good Luck
I have always had trouble with trusting the lean. I am going to try Jerry's suggestion about 40 lb in the front tire. You will do fine if you do what they say. Good Luck
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 755
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
I subscribe to his YouTube channel and I think that there is a lot of good information regarding safety and basic maneuvers, such as u-turns. However, I don't see the benefit in taking a class that has a high-probability of dropping a bike in order to perform low-speed turns or tight figure 8's that are IMO not "real world".
Good luck and I'll be curious to hear how this turns out for you.
Good luck and I'll be curious to hear how this turns out for you.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 744
Likes: 2
From: South of The ATL.
Hi neighbor.
I've watched a few of the on-line videos that Jerry has.
I would love to take the class in Florida but would be happy to take the one in Atlanta. I was hoping to take it soon but other things have come up.
Please give us your report afterwards.
Best of luck,
Jim
I've watched a few of the on-line videos that Jerry has.
I would love to take the class in Florida but would be happy to take the one in Atlanta. I was hoping to take it soon but other things have come up.
Please give us your report afterwards.
Best of luck,
Jim
I subscribe to his YouTube channel and I think that there is a lot of good information regarding safety and basic maneuvers, such as u-turns. However, I don't see the benefit in taking a class that has a high-probability of dropping a bike in order to perform low-speed turns or tight figure 8's that are IMO not "real world".
Good luck and I'll be curious to hear how this turns out for you.
Good luck and I'll be curious to hear how this turns out for you.
Got the videos and I take the class here in NC every year. Saturday will be the 4th time I've taken it. J.D. Redmon is the instructor here in NC and he is great! I've managed to take 3-4 friends with me each time and almost everyone who goes, wants to go again. J.D. offers a discount for re-takes so it's pretty easy to pony up a few bucks each year to refresh. Totally worth it.
I tipped a bike over my 1st time. No biggie, bike just kinda flopped over on the floorboards. I was going around and around on the circle, got a little spooked, and did exactly what I shouldn't have done, I pulled in the clutch like I was gonna slow down or something. Well, "down" was involved I guess (haha).
We had a guy on a Beemer last year, poor guy was picking up parts and stuffing them in his sadlebag all day. He was real good natured about it. Laughed it off and kept on going.
What gets me is the folks that I talk about RLAP to that say, "oh, I'm not going to that. I have to use my own bike and I might drop it!" If you are afraid of dropping your bike, that is EXACTLY why you SHOULD go. Just makes sense to me.
The DVDs are great but yea, if you have access to a class, TAKE IT. Worth every penny.
I tipped a bike over my 1st time. No biggie, bike just kinda flopped over on the floorboards. I was going around and around on the circle, got a little spooked, and did exactly what I shouldn't have done, I pulled in the clutch like I was gonna slow down or something. Well, "down" was involved I guess (haha).
We had a guy on a Beemer last year, poor guy was picking up parts and stuffing them in his sadlebag all day. He was real good natured about it. Laughed it off and kept on going.
What gets me is the folks that I talk about RLAP to that say, "oh, I'm not going to that. I have to use my own bike and I might drop it!" If you are afraid of dropping your bike, that is EXACTLY why you SHOULD go. Just makes sense to me.
The DVDs are great but yea, if you have access to a class, TAKE IT. Worth every penny.
Last edited by TurkeyRun; Apr 9, 2012 at 09:40 PM. Reason: Found the pic that goes with the story
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 755
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 290
Likes: 1
From: Ventura, CA
I watched the video and practice it all the time. One of the hardest things on these big bikes is low speed maneuvering. They just feel like they want to fall over if you don't do it right. Really helps in parking lots and tight places where you have to make sharp turns. Especially with someone on the back. Great job Motorman! The video really helped.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,528
Likes: 606
From: Raleigh NC
I took the class here in NC, with J.D. Redmon. Actually took it twice... second time as a "refresher". There is no reason to drop your bike.... but if it will make you feel better... get some "pipe insulation" from any home improvement store and wrap your engine guards etc.
As Jerry pointed out... you will be a better rider after the class. Of course, once you LEARN from the class... you will need to PRACTICE. These skills have a short "shelf-life" if we don't maintain them.
After the class ( I prefer to go into a class without pre-concieved notions) watch the RLaP videos... and check out Motorman's channel on Youtube. Other "channels" worth looking at are "conedown" and "CaptCrashIdaho"
As Jerry pointed out... you will be a better rider after the class. Of course, once you LEARN from the class... you will need to PRACTICE. These skills have a short "shelf-life" if we don't maintain them.
After the class ( I prefer to go into a class without pre-concieved notions) watch the RLaP videos... and check out Motorman's channel on Youtube. Other "channels" worth looking at are "conedown" and "CaptCrashIdaho"