cONFIDENCE

[Timolgra]

"Most people can ride fairly quick but not many cannot ride slow" is what I tell students from CBT up to full test.

Look where you want go.
Slipping the clutch is ok.
Learn to drag only your rear brake to control the bike.
Don't use the front brake at all for slow speed work until you've mastered using the rear, even then it's much more effective to use the rear.

With this technique you should be able to perform full lock turns with the wheels barely turning, even momentarily stopping them if you want to get cockey

 

[geotim]

... slip the clutch, drag the back brake ... and a tip I learnt from an instructor of mine:

Look well over your shoulder to where you want to go, get a fix on a point and keep focused on it = nice tight turns easy as pie. Looking down or having your eyes wander around is a killer. If you focus on a point over your shoulder, in the direction you are wanting to go, you will find you will be able to accelerate out of the turn in a nice smooth move.

 

[Giles]

I'm preparing to be shot down... but there is something quite different about the GS and GSA from almost everything else I've ridden. I guess that probably goes for trailie/twinduro type bike. I came to a GSA after 20 over 20 years of riding and had troubles.

I wouldn't shoot you down , and you're right, the heavy boxer twins aren't an easy bike to manhandle at slow speed. Pans and FJ's were a doddle compared to these!!

 

[Deleted account 210516001]

Practical demonstration

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[LiquidLAN]

bloody hell, that's impressive and dizzying to watch - nothing slow speed about those manouvers, but god dont the BMs look top heavy compared to the hogs...

kind of disappointing not to see something go crunch

think the most impressive thing is they could actually work out what to do where, think I'd have got well lost in the sea of cones!

 

[PAULHOMAN]

Google Slow speed riding
lots of info clutch back brake

 

[LiquidLAN]

readings one thing... doings another

 

[Giles]

re the you tube clip ....

Worthy of note ....(!!) You don't see any of these guys, covering their front brake - they are all 'fisting' their throttle, but you'll see plenty of brake lights and you can hear the harleys back brake squeeling away.

Notice how loose they all are in the hips and torso. No place here for tension in upper body and arms. Lots of hip movement and counter balancing.

GO PRACTISE !!!!!

 

[Ogmios]

readings one thing... doings another

true.
i can get more across in an hour of 'Practical' then an entire day - typing 'Theory' on this computer thing.

 

[PAULHOMAN]

Thanks all you guys just spent 30minutes riding really slow straight and turning tight corners at walking speed. 2000rpm 1st gear foot on rear brake and slip clutch felt right for me. Felt good. Really so much more confident now. In the morning I'll do another 30 minutes really really slow then I'll go for a longer ride.

 

[everywherevirtually]

The M50's a real pain at present nobody know's how to use all the new lanes

I know what you mean. I arrived into Dunboyne late one night and was a little surprised by the new layout. Also exited Dunboyne later on in the evening and was sad to see the road bypassed the humpback bridge. It was too late and dark to turn around and try it from the other direction. Good opportunities fro practicing around the cones of the M50

 

[PAULHOMAN]

The humpback bridge has now got new concrete accident waiting to happen 3ft high concrete kerbs wouldn't want to hit them
At least the M50 is slowly slowly getting fixed just had a run this afternoon all the way from Newry to Dunboyne with only one stop at the m50/m3 interchange even that should be none stop soon.I'd love to know what twat decided to much bleeding concrete barriers along all the new motorwayshe wants.On reflection I think all the roadworks have also had an effect on my lack of confidence .But I must admit I'm really getting back into riding my 1150gs just changed oil and filter in the morning I'll do gearbox and rear driveshaft oils.

 

[PAULHOMAN]

Ssorry thought you meant bridge at other side of town. I see part of new M3 is now open things are looking up