Slow Speed Skills
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 922
Likes: 898
From: Upstate NY
I admire these low speed rider tricks. Ive been riding for almost 30 years now and I think Im hot sheet until I have to do a U-turn in a street or (gasp) make a tight uphill right turn from a stop. Id love to try all these stunts in a parking lot but my bike is pristine and I dont wanna destroy the levers or highway pegs. (Ive dumped bikes before.......its easy to take stupid chances on a cheap import bike.....but I wont do it on a motorcycle that costs half as much as my first house). Ive recently started 'trail braking' (riding the back brake and giving extra throttle) during slow speeds and that alone has improved my technique 50%. The early M8's seem especially cranky and torque sensitive at the friction zone, so keeping the RPM a little higher while holding that back brake really makes a difference.
Last edited by internet troll; Nov 1, 2023 at 08:59 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 759
Likes: 936
From: Under the affluence of incahol.
Another thing I noticed watching videos of those cops doing amazing things around the traffic cones is they lean the bike from side to side but their body seems to remain upright.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,010
Likes: 6,907
From: NC
Yes, low speed maneuvers the body stays upright, bike leans.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 894
Likes: 537
From: Central NY
I've been watching Jerry Paladino, Be the boss of your Motorcycle, sometimes MCRider(a lot of talking) on youtube for several years now(mostly during the long winters here while I'm working out. I put a lot of this to use especially in the Spring, early riding season, get back on the horse after a 6 month hiatus, as they say. I don't put comes out either, I use the parking lot stripes, and try to stay within those. I find working on these skills really beneficial. I'm going to add the redhead above to my youtube favs, for obvious reasons, not that I need to pick up my bike(not yet anyways)
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Road Master
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 851
Likes: 703
From: Near Memphis
I was checking out a few of the riding coaches on Youtube lately, and I thought i would try some of their recommendations for low speed and U-turn confidence builders.
Essentially, the technique involves 4 things:
1- keep the revs above idle, but not too high. maybe around 1500 - 2000 rpm
2- engage the clutch just enough to feel it grabbing (the "friction zone")
3- use only your rear brake to keep the power fairly constant
4- look over your shoulder, keep your head up a bit and dont look in front of the bike
I tried it on an empty lot near my house a few times and it is amazing the amount of control i have with this technique. i didnt set the cones out, just used some of the parking lines as reference.
I have to admit that u-turns at a light with an 830 lb bike is sometimes a bit sketchy without these skills! Definitely feel better after I do some of these drills...
Essentially, the technique involves 4 things:
1- keep the revs above idle, but not too high. maybe around 1500 - 2000 rpm
2- engage the clutch just enough to feel it grabbing (the "friction zone")
3- use only your rear brake to keep the power fairly constant
4- look over your shoulder, keep your head up a bit and dont look in front of the bike
I tried it on an empty lot near my house a few times and it is amazing the amount of control i have with this technique. i didnt set the cones out, just used some of the parking lines as reference.
I have to admit that u-turns at a light with an 830 lb bike is sometimes a bit sketchy without these skills! Definitely feel better after I do some of these drills...
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 262
Likes: 112
From: Queens NY
I like Jerry Paladino but he gives you a little bit and wants you to buy his video. The guy I use is Kevin - MC rider. Top shelf. New video on you tube every week. I learned everything I didn't know about handling a motor bike. Now I practice low speed skills as frequently as I can.
Thank you what's your name (spell check will not let me spell it like you do) for starting this important and potentially life saving thread.
Thank you what's your name (spell check will not let me spell it like you do) for starting this important and potentially life saving thread.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 262
Likes: 112
From: Queens NY
I admire these low speed rider tricks. Ive been riding for almost 30 years now and I think Im hot sheet until I have to do a U-turn in a street or (gasp) make a tight uphill right turn from a stop. Id love to try all these stunts in a parking lot but my bike is pristine and I dont wanna destroy the levers or highway pegs. (Ive dumped bikes before.......its easy to take stupid chances on a cheap import bike.....but I wont do it on a motorcycle that costs half as much as my first house). Ive recently started 'trail braking' (riding the back brake and giving extra throttle) during slow speeds and that alone has improved my technique 50%. The early M8's seem especially cranky and torque sensitive at the friction zone, so keeping the RPM a little higher while holding that back brake really makes a difference.
https://www.mcrider.com/trail-brakin...iders-need-it/
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 800
From: Colorado
All you have to remember, if you engage the clutch, and give it a little throttle, the centrifugal force force of the engine and drive line, is going to stand that bike back up/keep if from falling over.
So just learn to look where you want to going, learn to balance the bike, and a said, can use the clutch slip and engine speed to bring the bike back up, instead of having to put your foot down as it starts to go over.
And before this, lean how to slip the clutch to get the bike going from a dead stop if third gear, without killing the the motor. The whole clutch slip under power becomes second habit, to use it in tight U turns and corners as well.
And on the front brake, learn to use it correctly without locking up the front tire, and the front of bike will dive down using the front brake, to allow the bike to corner more sharply as well. Think of it as weight transfer, but down more slowly instead.
So just learn to look where you want to going, learn to balance the bike, and a said, can use the clutch slip and engine speed to bring the bike back up, instead of having to put your foot down as it starts to go over.
And before this, lean how to slip the clutch to get the bike going from a dead stop if third gear, without killing the the motor. The whole clutch slip under power becomes second habit, to use it in tight U turns and corners as well.
And on the front brake, learn to use it correctly without locking up the front tire, and the front of bike will dive down using the front brake, to allow the bike to corner more sharply as well. Think of it as weight transfer, but down more slowly instead.
