Have you taken the Ride Like a Pro class?
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 22
From: Tyrone, GA
Have you taken the Ride Like a Pro class?
I signed up for the class that is taught by the Atlanta Ride Like a Pro instructor. Just wondering if there is anything I should do to prep myself or the bike for the class. Im looking forward to the training. I've done lots of winter mods to my bike though and am a little nervous about dropping it. Any advice?
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 4
From: Upstate NY
I watched the ride like a pro 5 video. It was really informative, with a lot of great tips and techniques. They had guys tape up their engine guards with foam or leather wraps in case you drop the bike. An you do a lot of floor board or peg scrapping it seems. I wish they offered one where I lived so I could take it.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 31
From: southeast pa
We did the RLP class at Ride Like a Pro NJ. I have the video as well and before the class we set up the different drills and practiced before actually taking the class. Both motor officers who taught were excellent. I took the class on my ultra, as far as the bike goes, I didn't pull off saddlebags or anything but I did get short pieces of radiator hose and zip tie them to the engine guards. Most times in the class if a bike does go down, it's more of a tip over than anything else. In our class, one guy on an ultra fell twice, and another guy on a road king sort made a habit of falling, I lost count of how many times he fell.. aside from that everyone else did fine although not everyone could stay inside the cones. I'd say just go and enjoy, my guess is you'll learn a lot. Have fun!
Cheers
mavrick
Cheers
mavrick
Last edited by mavrickFLHR; Apr 9, 2012 at 10:44 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 57
From: PA
I've heard of some guys taking off their saddle bags, prior to the course. Like someone else said, if it goes down it'll be more of a lay-over rather than a "crash". So, anything to protect or eliminate the points of impact would be good.
Good luck!
Good luck!
I'm the guy who started the Ride Like a Pro course. Here's a couple of tips. If you have no rear bag guards as in your picture, pop your bags off once you get to the course. A six inch piece of heater hose duct taped to the bottom of each crash guard prevents any scratches in a tip over. Have a good handle on the use of your clutch and throttle as in a slow race, before you go to the course. Put at least 40lbs of air in your front tire. That prevents the sensation of the bike wanting to go to full lock when you turn the bars more than half way. If you place your front tire correctly as you enter an exercise, you'll never have to be at full lock. Last but not least, prepare to be 100 percent better rider than you are now.
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 31
From: southeast pa
I have to agree with what Jerry said, I know I learned a lot. The other thing is I still practice. There's a vo-tech lot near here where they teach the msf courses, so I go down there, set up the markers and practice stuff from the class. ( and from the HD motor officer course I downloaded ) I try to go at least once a month for an hour or so just to keep current. The best thing is, I'm down under the 24 foot spacing we used in the class and on a few of the drills, I'm very close to the spacing for the actual motor officer drills from the dvd. I sort of wish I could somehow do the actual motor officer course.. but then I'd have to get a second bike to train on since as I understand it, they run the bikes pretty hard..
Cheers
mavrick
Cheers
mavrick
Last edited by mavrickFLHR; Apr 9, 2012 at 01:42 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Long Island, NY
If you're concerned with dropping the bike during the exercises, like others said protect the crash bar with some leather wraps or rubber, remove the saddlebags. Also, duct tape some foam to the furthest edges on both sides of the fairing.