I had experience on motorcycles and yet when I got my Suzuki M90 it intimidated me. Even though you face your fears and get on it and go. So for me I took full advantage of the lockdown we had in 2020. For over 3 months I was able to practice on my riding and that even includes training in any parking lot I wanted to. Kevin because of your teaching I was able to avoid a wreck in my car last night by using my road skills you taught me. THANK YOU
I started with smaller Japanese bikes, i.e. 250cc, 400cc, 650cc, 1100cc, then moved to a much heavier HD 1450cc. I decided to take an experienced riders class. I had been riding for many years. I believe the instruction I received probably saved my life at least 3 times. At this class they taught me how to make the heavier bike do things I never thought possible. I advocate taking a motorcycle safety training class.
*_So grateful for these videos !_* At 65, as a re-entry rider, I value the ability to practice technique and don't mind tossing a few bucks away on the inevitable trade-UP from the smaller bike. In fact, I look forward to losing a few grand on that trade if it means being accident-free, confident and having learned good solid skills to use on my dream ride. _( I learned on a Goldwing and I would never recommend doing that unless you have a very strong back, full drop guards and at least have heard about the concept of "push steering"! I have no idea how I survived it.)_
One thing that I'd love to point out here is that, if you've figured out that you ended up with more bike than you could handle the first time, there's no shame in buying a smaller one! My husband purchased for me a beautiful H-D Sportster 1200... I'd had a little riding experience, but not much and not in many years. I practiced and practiced and practiced, with and without an instructor... And finally got pretty good on the slow-speed maneuvers. But I just couldn't grow my confidence out on the actual road, at speed. So, I bought for myself a beautiful little 250 Rebel and started riding it everywhere. I quickly found that my confidence grew because the Rebel was so light and easy to handle. I kept practicing the slow-speed stuff with both bikes. A couple months later, getting on my Sportster, I was a thousand times more confident on the road because I was so much more capable! I'm still not 100% where I want to be with riding; but because I invested in the smaller one, it has increased the pleasure I now get from the bigger one. Riding the Rebel has alleviated my worries about dropping the Harley, so now that niggling worry isn't at the back of my mind when I ride her. That single thing alone was worth every penny of my little Rebel.
I did the exact same thing. I love my Rebel it has been a blast learning on it. I still only ride my Sportster when my hubby can go along with me. I've had the Rebel for about 8 months now. I plan to keep it for many years!
Similar situation here too! My husband is a backyard hobby mechanic and built me an older Sportster 883 to learn on, but I was so intimidated by the size and weight that I haven't ridden it yet. Instead, I bought a Rebel 250 for a first bike and absolutely loved riding that all around town last summer. Once I have my license I will try the Sporty.
Hubs was very encouraging when I wanted to learn to ride, he wanted me to learn on something small and work my way up. Bought a Rebel, put 1500 miles on it in 2 months, traded it for a Shadow and got most of my cash back. I love that you saw an issue and worked with a smaller bike to gain the confidence for your larger bike.
Thanks Kevin. The importance of mastering the basics can not be over emphasized. I start every ride with a 90 degree turn from a stop to get out of my driveway, then as often as possible, head to an empty parking lot for 10 to 15 minutes of warmup.
After 4 years on lighter bikes (525lbs to 250lbs), I’m now on a Harley Road Glide. 930lbs of heavy beast. It’s a new learning curve. I can’t imagine people starting on something this huge.
I’m in the same boat as I went from a SG to an Ultra Limited and found that I felt like I was starting over again. However I have a parking lot that I use to practice and I’m getting better but I have a long way to go to where I want to be.
@@jonskowitz I just bought a c50t and I feel super thrown off as I’ve only rode friends 600cc street bikes here and there over the years and dirt bikes when I was younger. 600 sport bike was like second nature, but this c50 has thrown me for a loop. I’ve only ridden a few times, watching a few videos on slow speed maneuvers has made me a lot more comfortable, busted some u turns on my street today at T’s in the street. Getting better at slow speed stuff riding around the neighborhood.
Just got a Honda vtx1800. I've been riding dirt bikes and small sport bikes for about 8 years on and off but this bike is its own new beast!!! Back to practicing for a couple days
I have been a RiderCoach for 16 years. Worked with a lot of other coaches. I cringe every time the other coach would say something like "Buy the biggest baddest bike you can afford" or "They all weigh the same when rolling". These are the same coaches who have to ride the trainer bike in the BRC2 because they can't do a u-turn on their own big bad bike. My advice if asked "Buy small, used and pre-scratched. Ride it for a year and sell it. Then buy your dream bike" True story. Had 2 female co-workers who took the BRC together. Lady C purchased a new Sportster deluxe. Lady E bought a used Vulcan 500. Fast forward one year. Lady C drops her bike very often and is afraid of it. Her skill level has not improved at all. She considers giving up riding. Lady E's skills have gone up immensely . She buys her brand new FXDX and is very happy. Lady C reluctantly tries the 500, loves how easy it is to handle, and buys it. Rides it for a year and finally is comfortable on the Sporty. She had stunted her learning ability by being on too big a bike.
I agree. When I took my training to become a Total Control instructor, I rode the little bikes provided and it was very easy to pass the course on the 250cc bikes. One morning before class began, I went to the range and rode the course on my LT just as though I was talking the final test. I was able to ride the course to standard on my LT, but I admit that the cone weave was much more challenging given that the fairing blocks a lot of visibility forward as was the slow 90 degree turn. I was able to stay within the lines, but the LT is much more challenging to turn a tight 90 on than is a 250cc Yamaha. I am not saying that instructors should have to take the test on their street bike as I believe it is important for an instructor to be proficient on the same bikes they will use to demonstrate exercises to students, but it is good to have the ability to ride your own bike to the same performance standards required to pass the instructor course.
I'd be the first one to admit that buying my BMW as my "first" bike in over four decades was a BIG mistake... Initially. But I was humble enough and not as ego driven as my younger-dummer daze and I realized I needed training. Kevin and MCrider has been an integral part of my further training (along with a couple of big parking lots and one-on-one training) I've scheduled another training session for later this month. KEVIN! YOU HAVE MY ETERNAL GRATITUDE!
"Buy small, used and pre-scratched. Ride it for a year and sell it." Now there's good advice. It makes me cringe to see the videos discussing if a 600 sport bike or even a litre bike is a suitable first bike. Well, maybe there are folks who can learn fast enough to handle it, but there are others that'll get bitten really bad by a bike that can loop a wheelie, lowside in a corner or throw you over the handlebars if you're just a bit heavy on the controls. Small bikes are actually really fun to ride and a lot more forgiving of mistakes.
As a new rider on a 600lb bike, one thing that someone taught me about always making a perfect stop and leaning slightly to the left so I can just put my left foot down is to just look left just before you come to a full stop. Easy to remember since it's the same principle as looking where you want to turn.
I started on a 140kg Honda cb125e, then went to a 180kg Suzuki gs500, now I ride a 280kg Yamaha xvs1100, though it's not as heavy as the "heavy" bikes it was certainly something to get used to after coming from the Suzuki, I couldn't imagine how terrifying it would be jumping on a full fledged cruiser or tourer as a first bike P.S love your videos Kevin I always look forward to them, cheers from the other side of the world
When I was 17 my first bike was a 50cc (3 cui), 80 kg moped with big bike controls and a manual gearbox. The best learner ever. Now I ride a 1750cc 300 kg HD.
Just started riding again. Got a CB500x. These videos are priceless. I Just re-learned counter-steering.....I had forgotten, among other things.....and always learn something new. Thanks so much MC.
Another good video Kevin. Ty. Minus 9 C here in Toronto Canada 🇨🇦 now. No riding for a while. But one can always practice mentally. Best wishes. Happy New Year.
Great advise. I made the mistake of getting a heavy expensive bike for my first bike and for all the reasons you mentioned in this video I’ve struggled with technique ever since. I still practice in parking lots though.
Been riding for 50 years. I still am not the greatest at slow speeds on my SuperGlide. I know, I need the practice. By the way. For those that may read this please hit the like button. After all, this is if not the best it's one of the best how to motorcycle channels on RU-vid. I don't know Kevin and he doesn't know me but he sure has helped me and my motorcycle riding family. Smash the like button! Please?
Great info! I rented a streetglide last summer for an 8 day family ride around Lake Michigan. Even though I knew better I made the mistake of backing down the driveway and when the rear wheel went up on the street I had no footing and me and the bike fell on my left shoulder. Completely blew out my left rota-tor cuff. That was June and in November I got a complete reverse shoulder replacement. I did make the trip just in my van and not on the Streetglide. The other 7 riders were happy to unload their extra bags into my van. I was anger with me for months because I knew better!!
I started on a Harley sportster,thank God there's a church parking lot out where I once lived, plus I took a msf class and watched a lot of Mc rider and etc, myself I really like Mc rider the best, just your a rider and can really break things down,bless you for educated all of us out here 👍
I have a 2000 HD Heritage Classic. I always put both feet down. I usually/ almost always use the front brake when at the end of a stop to hold the bike in one place while I put 2 feet down to balance the MC. I've never seen anybody just use their rear brake or put down just 1 foot. Thanks for your videos, I enjoy them and pass them on.
Thank you for these videos! They really are helpful, sometimes to reassure me that I'm doing something right, and others to point out faults. I bought a Vulcan for my first bike and it's not crazy heavy, but it's not light either. What really helped me build more confidence was doing my MSF course. The Navy mandates that I do the MSF course, but I planned to anyways. I did it using their bike, which was a yamaha vstar250 and it was such a tiny little bike that was amazing to build skills on. I'm not a good rider yet, probably somewhere in the mediocre range, but it helped build alot of confidence because it is such an easy bike to handle. I would suggest everyone do a motorcycle safety course, you always have something to learn!
Any tips? I had a street 750 but only for 2 weeks so not much training, I just now got a harley custom chopper style and I think its around 700lb compared to 400lb
I just got a Triumph Bonneville T120 to keep my Roadking company..I find the Triumph so much enjoyable to hope on and ride..525lb vs 800lb. But of course I still love my Roadking!
I’ve had 14 bikes over the past 50 + years of riding with a 50 cc Honda being the starting point. At 66 I ride a BMW K1600B and have never had an accident. I fully agree that starting with a smaller is much safer for new riders and will allow them to learn techniques much faster. I think we can learn a lot from our UK friends with their A2 requirement for new riders.
Never had an off 🤔. Riders learn from practice and that experience gains the knowledge. If you never come off you don't discover the limit of the differing road surfaces and conditions. I had to come back through France in biblical rain a few years back, to make the ferry. Switched to rain mode mentally and it was fine, because I had ability in these conditions, from riding in all weathers. I remember going from a 50cc to a 200 and then a 250 and was amazed, it handled and it stopped and it had more road presence so the car drivers didn't pull out in front of me quite so much,and if they did I had better brakes.
@@MCrider I agree that we have enough laws and regulations in place already, but I am surprised that insurance rates haven’t been used to drive more training for new riders. Generally, any discounts offered for training are miniscule at best.
I've been riding a Suzuki C50T Boulevard for the better part of a year now and, wanting a better highway bike I picked up a Honda VTX1300 yesterday. Talk about a night-and-day experience! I'm very glad I didn't trade in my Suzi as part of the deal because I am going to want to spend a lot of time in parking lots learning how to get that beast to corner before I make it my daily driver. ...Besides, my son wants the Suzi :D Going over to watch your training vids to build a training regiment for myself right now. Thank you for all you do for us!
I am a reentry rider as well. 63. been riding lighter bikes off and on for over 40 years Started with a nice 2005 sportster and bought a nice 2008 electra glide ultra. Real glad I restarted on the sportster. This man is dead on with the techneak Miss spelled. Started to have trouble in a turn around and quickly rear brake lightly and clutch throttled it and she came right back up before the Heavy lay over. Info is very important. Thank you sir.
I ride a Yamaha Royal Star tour deluxe, they are big heavy bikes (854 lbs, and with my 226 lbs on it 1000 plus) but I love big heavy bikes. I started out years ago learning on an HD Sportster 25 years ago. Now, big touring cruisers like what I have are the only way to go. I will never go small I'm 52 and I like my backrest, footboard, full windshield, etc. all the creature comforts.
In Australia, your first bike must be 250cc to 500cc for a year then you must pass another test for unlimited Ccs. I rode a Suzuki Intruder 250 for over 2 years before moving onto a Honda Shadow 750cc, much heavier bike. Now thinking of scaling back because of my age and strength. Taking riding lessons made me a much better car driver funnily enough. I don’t know what it is but I am much more aware since I’ve been riding a bike.
This is why I traded in my ST1300 at 69. It was 780 pounds of top heavy bike and with my limited inseam I was having trouble with stops, especially when stopping at lights with a crossing grade. Now I have a 2015 Goldwing that a.) Sits low enough to get both feet down and b.) Carries its weight lower to the ground. The BMW K75 I had before the St1300 was even more top heavy. It pays to check how you fit that bike you’re looking to buy.
I’m as green as they come and I bought the cheapest bike I could find to get started. Given I’m a bigger guy, I ended up with a 2003 Honda VTX 1300. I didn’t pay a great deal and thankfully, my bike has guards to protect it from fall damage, but it is a beast.
I been riding for years. Now riding an Ultra Classic. Rear brake stop is the best tip I ever received. Practicing the stop n go has completely changed my riding for the better. Thanks Kevin!
After spending a decade riding two different electra glides for 8hrs a day making people reckon with their speeding problems (guess my job) I notice that most big bike riders do not take the time to practice necessary skills and some even have drunken overconfidence in their poor riding skills, it’s obvious in their 60ft u turns and duck walking. As long as they blip the throttle while they do it they come out looking like a champ. Like they say, anyone can ride fast and in a straight line. Great advice here!
I'm a firearms instructor, maybe it's not the same topic but the same idea, I always advice my new gun owners to start with a smaller caliber because if you put 500 S&W in the hands of a first time shooter is a recepie for disaster because either that thing is gonna swing back at the face, hurt the pride by flying away or the worst by double or triple tapping and now we have bullets flying not where we want it to be.
So true! My Street Triple was so forgiving in comparison to my S1000RR. I am having to unlearn covering the front brake as my instinct is to use it when I should be using the rear and the bite is so much more on the RR with the weight balance being not a lot of room for error.
Lol, I've been riding for almost 40 years. Had standards, sport bikes (liters, 600s, a Hayabusa for 5 years), rode a couple Harley Dynas. I've done many track days, been over 160mph, crashed (both street and track, multiple times), pull up to a stop, stop, then put my feet down, can do the barely creeping clutch/brake thing for a full minute without dabbing, right turns, left turns, U turns, no problems.. But, just setting on a Gold Wing is scary. Dash is 2 feet in front of the bars, 10 feet long, 4 feet wide, 1000lb behemoth. Fecking Kenworth on 2 wheels. I have faith in my abilities, but I know the limit of those abilities. Even with all the skill and technique in the world, one of those things, for me, would be a fall over just waiting to happen. My hat is off to those that can ride them, I don't think I ever could..
I jumped from 50cc to 1400cc straight. I experienced that big cruiser is all about learning from mistakes and facing all fears. I'm still glad that i choose to jump on heavy cruiser immediately but if you have zero experience from motorized bikes, listen what this man have to say. Otherwise it's all about learning to handle weight.
I ride a Maxi-Scooter, but my dream has always been to have a full fledged motorcycle (maybe someday). All of the few riders I've known are big on the idea that a new rider should go straight for what they would want instead of gradually moving up step by step. The reason I prefer their way of thinking is, for one thing MONEY. The average person isn't made out of money to be buying two or more bikes to eventually get to that "ONE." That combined with what you probably haven't stopped hearing, "Why buy below what your heart desires so that you get bored with what you got? Which then diminishes the enjoyment of the riding experience." Admittedly, it may not be wise, but that is where I find I lean on that matter. My taking up the Maxi was because of practical reasons. I needed something other than bicycles because of my current health, and after four years of saving, it was still looking like I would never be able to afford a motorcycle I would fully appreciate over the long haul. So I took what money I did save and went after a scooter. Ending up with better in THAT arena than I was expecting or even hoping for put me in a very happy place about the choice I ultimately made. I still dream of moving up to a full fledged motorcycle, just not as urgently. I sure won't refuse the opportunity, but if that opportunity never comes, THe maxi-scooter I have has been great enough that at least now I could live with that... if I must. I appreciate what you do in these vids. I'm in South Carolina and on the maxi (Yamaha XMAX 300), I have ridden to thirteen of however many southern states... not all in the same ride, of course, but for me it's a lifetime achievement. Peace.
If I had a pound for every time you say "Motorcycle" I'd be able to buy a Goldwing. LOL. Great, informative videos, keep up the good work, stay safe. From a fan in the UK.
I’ve had sport bikes ever since I started riding. Age and injury have convinced me 6 months ago to go for a cruiser. A Suzuki M109R was a huge learning curve even for someone who “knew “ bikes. I have one weak leg and even the most basic of low speed manoeveres make the hairs on my neck stand up. I use plenty of rear brake and have good clutch control but the mass of this thing is just scary. After my accident I have dropped my old bike because my foot didn’t get to the ground when it needed too and I was stuck underneath it. I guess that is always in the back of my mind aswell. 🙄
A lot depends on which heavy motorcycle you choose. My 800-pound Harley was much more challenging to handle at low speed than my 800-pound Suzuki, and the latter was also much more stable at high speed. I guess it comes down to engineering. The Japanese make one helluva cruiser!
Q: How long do you have to train your braking techniques on a big bike? A: You have to train braking techniques until you mastered the technique of changing your brake pads! - That´s what my driving instructor told me. :D
Hi Kevin, a simple Kiwi here from New Zealand. When I first got interested in riding, I started watching alot of your videos. They have helped me tremedously, alot of your tips and explainations on simple and advanced riding skills has done the world for me and my own confidence in riding. Thank you, God Bless and keep up the amazing work! Kia Kaha ( That means "Stay Strong" in my native tongue)
Step 1) get a small Adv bike. STEP 2) HAVE WAY MORE FUN! I sold my Harleys and went to Adv year ago and never looked back. Bonus: other bikers don't try to talk to me about chrome and loud pipes and other stupid stuff
Cool! I want to add one thing too. A big bike don't suffer a small mistakes. When a bigger bike than a seriously payback. Drive safe with heat heart and cold head.🖐️
I find I use the real break in slower speeds a lot more on the big bikes... Maybe it's just because I have really defined my muscle memory on rear brakes because it is absolutely necessary on big bikes.
Orange cones in a parking lot will help you turn better or drop it a lot still riding a bigger bike goes down the road smother so you drop a 700 lbs better be able to pick it up but if you can’t better buy smaller one I did when I first started off 40 yrs ago was a Yamaha 360 then from that moved up to a 400 rd same manufacturer
I bought my first bike before my first MSF class. It was a 2002 Vulcan 1500 Classic. I knew I probably made a mistake with that after my first class, but it all worked out in the end.
My last bike was a Honda XL 185 about 25 years ago. Recently picked up a '91 GL 1500 and been trying to get comfortable with the weight before taking it into heavy traffic. Thanks for the advice on practicing stop and go, will have to work on my technique to perfect it.
I bought a kawasaki vulcan 1500 classic I'm a big guy I also am a "preloader" lol I understand that the power going to the rear wheel keeps me upright and it takes a light touch
My advice has always been and will always be... When you're able to get the bike YOU WANT, BUY IT THEN!!! Cuz you never know if you're going to be in the position to get it again at a later time. Your finances might change, any number of things can change that'd prevent you from getting and owning the bike YOU WANT
Excellent video Kevin. Thank you for always sharing your knowledge. I was a very sloppy rider on a 650 for 8 years. When I went up to a biker bike it was horrible and I almost quit. Thankfully a friend told me about your resources, I traded my big bike in for a Scout and started from scratch practicing your skills every week. Two years and 16k miles later and lots of road trips, I feel confident and happy. Your videos save lives, including mine. Thank you
I just learned to ride on a fat boy and the biggest help I got from these videos was to look where you want to go Second be 100 percent there while riding, say you get dumped in a relationship or someone dies or you get thrown out of a place to live consider not riding especially at night got my leg broke like that
Like my chief in the USCG used to say, "it's physics dipsh1t"! 😁😎 I went from a yz125 in 1978 to a Honda 700 shadow to a Honda vt1100 shadow, and now I'm on a Honda vtx1300c just recently .. Gradual increase over the years👍 commuting everyday helped a lot. Always learning
I started riding a dirt bike in my teens, a Yamaha 125cc. While in military, I bought a Yamaha 250cc enduro so I can ride to work and track on weekend. Then, I went to Honda CB 750 nighthawk in 1982(?). Quit riding until 2010, when we bought a Honda VTX 1300R. Eventually ended up with 2005 Goldwing and now on our 2nd 2007 Goldwing. Have not dropped the Goldwing...still trying to practice and manage U-turns on this bike. Getting better but, still not tight enough, especially with my wife out back...little more "brave" riding solo.😁
Question. How come every now and then my rear end feels like its swaying left and right when I ride? My tires are basically brand new and it happens when I'm just cruising and not being crazy on the throttle. Its not super bad like I'm going to wreck and its controllable but I don't know why it does that sometimes. Maybe its not swaying idk but it just really feels like it is
I'd love to find an empty lot like that to practice a few things in, but here in Vancouver it's rare to find a parking lot of any size, .. let alone one with room to practice. ;)
Mr. Zacher after 30 yrs of non riding at 68yrs old I purchased a Vulcan 900 Classic. I'm 5'7" small frame with a left ankle fused. That motorcycle was awesome except I had no muscle to handle the weight etc. I sold it and bought a 05 V star 650 classic which is better suited. I'm now installing 7" risers with 1" pullback to relax and raise my arms. At 69 soon to be 70 I hope to master skills yet I don't intend to ever bigger. Thanks for your comment
Disappointed. Title is misleading. Big, heavy, powerful Harley adopted me so that is what I have, now looking for any help in successfully riding her. Guess I’ll just keep practicing, we will succeed! Little motorcycle is no bueno when the Santa Ana’s start blowing but my girl stays on the road.
My only light bike was my 1941 45ci Sportsolo everything else was Indian chiefs and FLH type bikes. I do have a 98 Fatboy that seems light weight to me. I took my MC license test on a tank shift bike. Back then.they had you drive thought a few cones and stop once and do a u turn.
I sure appreciate this video... and all that you have to share. Ironically, the techniques you teach have helped me not only with a heavier(900lb) bike, but with taller bikes. Taller bikes are my limitation. Stopping with only one leg down allows me to still ride taller bikes. In addition, I am considering a Russell Day Long seat because your technique allows me to reach the ground in a safe manner. Hope you are still enjoying that seat?! Love your sense of humor - keep up the good work!
Thx Stu... I still really like the Russell seat. One of the most comfortable seats I have used, right up there with the Police seat on the Road King I used to have.
Some are so difficult to handle at low speed it's sometimes better to just acknowledge their presence and enjoy a cup of STFU after that. Respect. 😉🏴☠️
I agree completely. I used to work at a Harley dealership. It was quite common to have a big burly veteran rider come in with hIs gal that was looking for her first bike. Often they Had just finished the rider edge course on the street fighter ( not a bad first bike either ) and I would show them what I consider good new rider friendly bikes. The smaller sportster, forty -eight were just about right. Most of the gust would push bigger such as the low rider and the deluxe “ so they would “ grow into it “ These are still over 100 lbs heavier at least. Some pushed for the various glides. If they pushed I would put them on a glide and ask them to duck walk it. It was exceedingly rare that they could go 10 feel without being close to dropping it. That would scare the gal and she would then lean to the smaller bikes. It’s a fable that Harley salespersons love to sell sportsters as they always get them back when they get them back when they go to a bigger bike. That’s partly true that some will come in for a bigger bike. More often if they got the bike that was too big, they could not handle it and sold it off and went back to a pillion ride
Had my 200kg Fazer for 2 1/2 years now, after a ybr125 for 4 months. dropped her again the otherday; was parking in a garage to pump up my tyres (got new tyre pressure monitor system thats great to know tyre pressures at a glance, plus it has a clock.) when my left foot slipped while putting the sidestand down, down we went; the ground was very wet an there was oil puddles too, nearly got my leg trapped under her. Riding the bike is not a problem, pikking it up off the ground is not possible without help. I felt like the 125 was way too small - would never have a grom etc - an the mate who gave me the opportunity to get her said I am much safer rider on the bigger bike. Had 250 rebel for nearly two years never dropped her, never did maintenance on her neither, had a bike shop do the servicing etc, she was nicked. Then had a gpz500s for 3 months but finance fell thru. 13 years without is no fun. Last year was hell not being able to ride anywhere, just going to the shops an work until the lockdowns an everything is now closed. Have to redo the paint on the crash bars, so no real damage. I mean look at Rossi an those guys their not big people. Riding safe as you say is about technique an ones skill level. Plus its awareness of what you are doing with the bike and especially other drivers on the road. I often have vehicles pullout in front of me, things could have been nasty; I treat every other driver as an idiot an blind. They prove that every day. Wish i could find a real instructor who does not charge an arm an a leg so I can improve my skills an technique. Love your videos, this one way too short. cheers
If I'd started out on a bigger bike, I'd have missed out on the joy that a small sweet handling and agile bike brings. Having done the whole big bike thing, I sold my litre bike and bought an R3. I find it much more fun to ride on the road than a bigger bike, as I can use the whole of the engine and go up and down through the gears, whilst still riding in a safe and legal way.
I bought my dream bike as a beginner bike. I’d already ridden once before and wrecked. I learned more in that wreck than anything. Then, the day I bought my $20,000 dream bike, the abs saved me twice and sheer dumb luck. That said, no regrets. I love my Harley Davidson Low Rider S. You REALLY have to just sack up, stay calm.
Thanks for the reminder for big bike riding. I have a 1998 goldwing 980lb. Last thing I want is a napping bike😀. God bless, Kevin, keep up the good work.
Kevin, I switched to a Goldwing DCT this past year. This is my 4th Goldwing over 24 years. The cornering and U-turns took the longest to to get comfortable with. No Clutch resistance to use! I used some of your previous videos to get my confidence and comfort level up. Trusting the DCT shifting took some real time practicing. I have full trust in the shifting now but I still will practice U-turns every few months. Memory muscle!
@@wflentge Hey Wayne - on the DCT, does combining a drag of the rear brake and the throttle give you a controlled friction at low speeds ....like clutch and rear brake? Just curious.
@@cyclechillers1857 I have not tried this in a Cone Practice, but I guess I will. On the street, I feel it does provide me with a bit more control at slow speed.
Wisdom right here. I rode a Honda750 my last year in college, but sold it in 1972. Did not ride again for about 46 years. Then I went to training class, got certified to ride on two wheels, and bought a Honda VTX 1800 and rode it at age 69. BIG MISTAKE! But I am still riding bigger bikes ( Moto Guzzi California 1400). Am thinking of going with an Indian, as they sit lower and have a lower center of gravity. But will still stay with larger bikes (I think). Will watch your videos to be a better and safer rider. What a blessing your videos provide! I cannot imagine the number of lives you are saving.
I always say, if your motorcycle is too big, eat yourself another sammich. Keep going till you grow into it. In between bites, get something small, used is cheap, and practice till you get full sized.
I have a Honda V-65 Magna a 600 pound motor cycle. I have been extensively practicing u turns I started out at about 30 foot u turns after making about 150 u turns I still cant turn the bike around in less than 30 feet.
I’ve been riding for 55 years. I have a Aprilia Tuono V4. Never been much interested in touring. I will not own a motorcycle that weighs over 550 lbs. I think my next bike will be a supermoto. If I had to ride a thousand+ miles on a motorcycle I think I’d chose a Honda Goldwing. To all the people that love their big bikes I think that’s fantastic. To each “their” own.
