I am as a novice as you can be. Still going through rider's school or whatever you guys call it in America. Last sunday, my brother-in-law lent me his Softail Deluxe, for some rounds around a parking lot, just so I could get the hang of it. I gotta say I did surprisingly good because of your videos, Jerry. Head-eye coordination, friction zone, throtle input, rear brake and leaning. I was doing fairly tight U turns on a big ass motorcycle, something I have never riden before up to that point, and man it feels good... Thank you so much, Jerry
YOU GOT RIGHT 100000%. As I bought this bike as a 1st bike ever in my life. In 1000miles looking to the front wheel wile leaning almost cost me a life. OK, I tried to lean without braking in the flat corner with no cars OR TRUCKS coming in my direction. Crossing the other side costed me nothing. I will try this in parking also. Always lokk where YOU wanna go not where bike is going... Got it. 😂
Your instructions in the 'Snowman' remind me of my 18-wheeler training almost 26 years ago. Use all available space when making a turn and it's easy, don't be afraid to swing wide.
Thanks I'm picking up a yahama strat Friday and Sat morning I'm going to be in the miller park parking lot instead of the road less traveled. man I got work to do yikes :)
Took a 35 mph turn a little fast this weekend and started to look at the curb I was about to hit. Then Jerry's voice in my head said "look where you want to go." Turned my head and eyes and rolled through the turn just fine. I then spent an hour in the local tech school parking lot practicing. '69 Triumph Bonneville
Jeeze. I barely make 28 foot circles on my gated community. And with cones weaving in and out at 14 feet apart. With a full dresser. I better try in a parking lot. I dropped my bike once already. Better get more cones. And I just started 2 weeks ago. With a FLHTK. Better hit the pavement. And practice. Thanks for this.
I have been riding my Harley and I used have a Suzuki I had only had one time that I dropped my motorcycle and I rode my motorcycle for years and I only have had one accident and that’s was because of my health problems and I had a stroke that’s why I crashed into the car in front of me but I now have to give up riding anything
here's the link to my practice guide you can download for FREE from my website, it gives you the dimensions for the exercises, have fun. www.ridelikeapro.com/category/practice-guide/
Great video, this is my 1st video I watched of yours. I think the riders are thinking to much of the weight of there bikes. And trying not to dump them. Do you go over how you can use the weight as positive in riding?
Head and eyes, the friction zone and a little pressure on the rear brake in ALL exercises. Get the Ride Like a Pro video at ridelikeapro.com. It's extremely detailed, runs 2 hours long and it's only 20 bucks.
Ride Like a Pro Jerry Palladino funny, I just saw a Canadian test video and said same thing, lightly feather rear brake at slow speeds helps keep stable and under control
Good vid Jerry! Hope you're well. "Head and Eyes, Head and Eyes, Head and Eyes". My voice gets hoarse when instructing. and saying that over and over..... LOL...Love seeing students progress! Ride safe
You’re a very good teacher. You accent all the technical aspects of “riding” but in a way that drives home the lesson without losing the students interest because of your easy going demeanor. Thanks brother
Really happy to see someone like you take the time to truly teach good habits. I have put just over 430k miles in my lifetime and I still catch myself with bad habits.
I’ve learned a lot by watching your videos, my first bike was a softail and I was nervous about U turns . Now I own a ultra classic and can make U turns with my wife on the back . I’m in Illinois so I can’t ride in the winter. I’m practicing as much as I can in empty parking lots. Thank you Jerry, I hope to meet you one day 👊
After years of riding and even going through a Police Motor Course, I was pretty adept at riding out turns and twistiies. A ways back I was going through a normal right Curving road, and I for some reason looked left at the Car coming around opposite...right away instead of managing that right curve my bike was actually sweeping wider and going for that car for which I would have had a Side Swipe with it. Instantly I leaned right and looked right and the bike corrected and moved right into that curve. This brings complete proof that you must turn your head and look into the Curve....Every time.....Its good to Know whats Going on around you....but concentrate on where you want that bike to go...and it will do just that.
Jerry, I just ordered the flash drive with Ride Like a Pro & Mean Streets II. I was lucky enough to talk to "Camera Girl!" What a sweetheart! I have been riding for 53 years and was amazed at what I learned from your videos. It's true, you can teach an old dog new tricks! I will go to Iowa on my 2016 Heritage Classic this Spring to take the class with Rusty. Thanks Jerry and keep up the good work! You are truly providing an excellent service!
Target fixation is real...training yourself to fixate on the RIGHT target is key! Only have about 20,000 miles on two wheels, and it is still something I have to consciously do.
It's a natural instinct to focus on the danger, not on the way out. You'll likely always need to consciously look for the exit point instead of the impact point, but as long as you can unconsciously switch to the conscious exit point focus, you're a step ahead. :-) When I ride I look for manhole covers, tar snakes, painted lines and all that fun stuff and I started to make sure I look besides it at the path I want to go. It's a neverending exercise for me. :)
When somebody says he does it unconsciously, he is wrong. It isn't a natural habbit, targetfixation and looking direct in front of the bike is natural and wrong on a bike (or car), so you have to consciously do that. I have been riding for 20 years now and when I get sloppy, you f*** up the corners and I always know I wasn't looking correct, having the focus to close in front of the bike or not looking thru the corners. It becomes easier over time, but it isn't something you do unconsciously. Basically you are fighting against human nature and that is something you have to do consciously. Being aware of it is the most important, than you instantly know when you are doing it wrong, reading your comment I think you are on the road to be a good rider (or already are)
20,000 miles? Well I'm way past my sell buy date then... heh. That said the visualization technique is good to hear elucidated. HOw did you arive at the figure. Unless you are a Nick Cave fan? I come in peace
Used these same techniques teaching my 7 year old daughter how to ride her bike. Head and eyes up, look where you want the bike to go and a little break. Worked!! Lol
Dang, I get fired up every time I watch these exercises. I'm on a Fury and, gotta brag, your DVD's got me scraping pegs in full lock! I totally love this stuff!
I had a Fury (loved it) and one of the first things you should do is replace the horrible stock pegs with those long, pointy feelers underneath! While in a turn into an uphill street, I wasn't even leaning that much yet the feeler poked the ground and lifted the rear of the bike and gave me a good scare. I ended up installing RefinedCycle's ForwardControls and no more scrapping or scares.
When I was in a H.O.G. chapter back in L.A., I would try to help the newer Harley owners. I would hold up both hands and say "See these? These are accessories"; then I'd point to my eyes and say "THESE are what turns the bike".
I'm 59 and a few weeks away from doing my pre learner basics course. I'm so glad I found your channel. Patience, trust, correct attitude, techniques and brain training are paramount.
I bought the Ride Like A Pro video after purchasing my 2017 Kawasaki Voyager. I'm a better rider now but still need personal instruction to get better. Highly recommend the videos. Cheap investment and great rewards.
@SteveG. I just picked up a new 2018 Voyager, too. :-) Traded a 650 V-Star for it. I'm concerned about the large weight factor of this (985lb) bike. Jerry's videos are definitely going to help me be a better rider. Stay safe.
Good work on your courses, great tutorials. It amazes me the fact that Here in the UK you have to pass a course like this just to ride a 125cc bike. If you can't do this you aren't allowed on the roads at all. Then, you have to do another 2 tests in order to ride any cc motorbike (as long as you are over 24 years old) the 2nd test is a pass/fail obstacle course where you are assessed on low and high speed bike control and monouvres. The 3rd and final part is out on the roads for 40 minutes and is the easiest part of the test.
I'm an artist painter and that's what I used to teach my students. Don't look at the tip of your brush or pencil, look at where you want to go with your line/shape.
This video is truly awesome! The participants aren't individuals that just got their "new" bike. Rather it's people who have been driving & riding for years!!! Thanks Jerry!!
Gotta tell myself constantly to look where I WANT to go. Hard habit to break after 15 years of riding. Getting better at it but definitely need to practice, practice, practice! Thanks Jerry, your videos have helped me improve my slow-speed handling immensely over the past 3-4 months. Next step: buy Ride Like a Pro. After that, take a road trip to Houston for the class!
I went to the empty mall parking lot yesterday to practice. The police who in the past have observed me practicing with no issue rolled up told me to go home for "social distancing". -Shrug.
Funny how we can wear a 'lid', in an empty parking lot (alone), and be told to 'social distance'. :-) I have more people in my house than when I would go for a solo ride. Lol. :-)
Oh Jerry…… I have ridden since ‘79. 1st accident in ‘18. My confidence left w/that totaled bike. Recently purchased a ‘07 25th Anniversary Edition Honda VFR800. Oh, I dropped that damn thing before I even bought it. Why? Because I was looking ahead instead of WHERE I NEEDED TO GO. I appreciate your efforts schooling us old farts. Stay safe!
My biggest issue is when I'm on the road (not in a practice lot) is I try to force myself to look where I'm turning - but I still look for the Pennsylvania craters they call potholes.. When the sun is out and there are no clouds shadows from trees in my peripheral vision might be a crater. I know what to do, I just need to do it better! (And train myself to use my peripheral vision better)
Great video man. Thanks. Another clear cut example of this are CATS EYES in between lanes. You look at the cats eyes when changing lanes and you run them every time. Look at the gap between the lines and most the times, you will change lanes smoothly and not hit the eyes when moving from one lane to another. Smoother ride and you look like a boss too. 👍😁
I learned to “ride like a pro” from a Miami motorman many years ago. He used to go to the Harley store in Perrine on some weekends on his own time and set up a real cop riding course and teach the skills needed to save your own ass on the road. He would first sit and talk like Jerry does. That’s where a world of knowledge would be shared about riding. Yes, I dropped my Road King a few times on the course, but I wasn’t alone. I once saw Jerry and his team at the Leesburg Bikefest and it was a treat to see them ride. I’m an old fart now but I still ride 2-3 times a week and can still do a smooth u turn and drag a floorboard. One of the best advises we got, and I always remember, is assume every car on the road has an assassin looking to kill you.
GREAT experience. I came into this feeling like I wasnt turning my head enough and now I know exactly what I need to practice. Had a blast, and I'm sure I'll be back!
Love your bike and the simplicity of it not so big you cant handle it. And the color is same as my Jeep Wrangler! Your doing a great service to these folks. Thank you.❤
Hello Jerry, been a rider here in the uk since 1961 and recently discovered your videos. You are a great teacher and lives will be saved thanks to you. I am learning so much already and find my rides are so much more enjoyable with less ego and more determination to be a safer rider. Thank you.
Great videos man. I been on a Ultra Limited about 3 years now. I’m constantly practicing maneuvering like this. Makes riding it so much more fun when you gain confidence in yourself.
Love it. In my MSF class back in the day, the instructor stood where he wanted us to go. Yelled "look at me!" And the bike went there. when we did. I will always remember that. Thanks fo the video!
I have your download and have enjoyed it very much. I was doing pretty well with your techniques on my Street Glide but find my new Yamaha Venture a whole different animal. It's like starting all over again, lol. Practice, practice, practice I guess.
@GabbyHayes. I feel your pain. :-) My wife just helped me get a new 2018 Voyager, after trading my (much lighter) 650 V-Star. The Voyager is a great bike, no choke, & a fuel gauge (finally!). :-) But, I am a returning-rider after 10 years of zero riding. So, my apprehension of a 985lb bike is going away slowly, thanks to Jerry's videos. Shout-out to the Motorman! :-)
Hi Jerry Palladino, Greg from Australia here. I just found your videos etc a few months ago and enjoy them immensely. I have started to practice some of the drills you teach and feel my riding is starting to improve for the better. I just wanted to say a personal thank you for your efforts it is appreciated.
I always like watching these kind of videos on riding a motorcycle because ya I actually practice this stuff on my pedal bike because I just actually want to learn how to ride a motorcycle and I just actually take everything that I learn from these videos and then put them into great use when I am actually riding my pedal bike because this is how I plan on passing my motorcycle test here in Canada because I always write down the name of the video so that I can definitely go back to it on a much later date to Review it again and again
I have been watching your videos for the last two weeks, Just came across your channel. Can I thank you as a nearly 65 year old going back on bikes. I rode bikes back in the 70's. I have a Honda shadow 1100cc ACE 1999. I want to say a big thank you from Ireland, Thank you so much. 😊
So glad i found your videos u helped me not be afraid to lean i scraped the floor board cause of what ive listened to on your videos im a noob with a huge bike that i had to have i am going to take a class but in the mean time every night i listen and watch your students Thank you Motorman!!
I love this Wisdom I thought I already had so one day I went and practiced these patterns where they teach Driver's Ed and in an hour I was no longer using the back brake on a 2016 FLSTFBS. I could always do u-turns efficiently and effectively but now I can do them almost without thinking about it as it really does come naturally once you learn to do it properly. You don't know what you think you know until someone teaches you that you're doing it wrong in such a way as to not offend you. Ive been riding licensed since 1980 and I can't thank Jerry enough for all the lives I'm sure he's saved by doing what he does with his life
It does take some getting used to not look down or at the front tire when you are trying to negotiate slow turns. Your brain wants to look at what is going on in front of the bike, but you have to look way out in front of where your going. Great video as always.!! Thank you Jerry.!!
Jerry, If I'm going down a hill approaching a right hand turn with traffic coming towards me & the suggested speed is 5 mph, then how does one make a turn going that slow without tipping over? Do I just put my foot down at 5 mph so as not to tip over & not to drift over in to oncoming traffic? This turn is OK going uphill. But when going down turning right I end up in the other lane. The turn is so sharp its literally like a 180 degree turn. Very tight.
I have been taught that when you come up on an intersection and a car is setting waiting to turn, watch their front tire not the car. Keep over to left and drive on by. This will give you room to maneuver out of the way if they pull out on you. Again thanks for yer riding tips, sure has helped me. I drag pegs alot....lol
How do the Harley guys get all three of this headlights to turn on? I have a 2000 ultra classic and don't know how to turn on the two side lights next to the headlight lol.
Where are you located? You’re a great instructor. I took the MSA course in 2006 in Florida at age 21 and rode until about age 26, then sold the bike as I’d started a family. I’m 35 now, MSA course is still good. I’m building a bike right now and I’m gonna be hitting the street in a month or so. I’ve driven every type of vehicle I can think of (bikes, tanks, forklifts), but I’m still doing my research as it’s been awhile since I rode a 700lb steel horse. I appreciate you having this channel. It gives us a lot to keep in mind.
This is great instruction. I’m UK based and this is part of the test MOD 1: Slalom then a figure of eight several times at low speed even if you just touch the cone with you boot it’s a fail really does make a difference as you said life saving
I'm wearing my Super Seer half helmet during the training classes Colleen...when riding out on the streets, I wear a full face that I bought on Revzilla last year.
I gotta get into one of your classes....a buddy and myself are gonna try to find one up north here in around Pittsburgh area....do you have classes up here sir?
i have been off a bike for almost 13 years but i have Been practicing and watching your videos for the last few months and its nakes a big difference. Was practicing u turns but forgot i had it in second gear oops lol
Great video, I’ll see what Jerry means by not enough speed , too much lien angle which could result in you dumping ithe bike or maybe breaking your ankle and utilizing all the space available hell why not Jerry paid for it. Thanks guys really enjoyed this one
