I think the "look where you want to go" skill is so under appreciated by many riders. I have a neck injury which does not allow me full range of motion to the right and I find it is so much more difficult to do good tight turns in that direction than going to the left, even on highway clover leaf interchanges at higher speeds. I sometimes shift my bottom on the seat so I can turn my upper body more to the right to compensate and then I can properly "target down range" and execute a smooth curve.
It is easy turn like a waltzzer sweep swerve, sweep swerve, do not look at what you have already observed. clutch release in 1st, with a sweep, then a swerve, pick up speed tighter still keep light pressurisation on your throttle up and around and observe. Grip, panick, a split second, you are not moving the momentum you allow the winding curve to rekease, use leg aids. Pillion pot does not feel anything. Goodo lad xxx
I was a skeptic, I've been riding for 38 years and thought I knew it all, now I know that was hardly true, you've definitely shown me things that I didnt know, thanks man.
I was a Provincial motor officer for 21 years, taught our course for 4 & was on our demo team for 19. Met Jerry at Honda Homecoming in Ohio in 2007 or 2008 & was impressed. I still watch his videos and practice to this day. Your skills are perishable need to be worked on all the time, especially as we age. Thanks Jerry & Donna! All the best from Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦
Police motor school does teach you how to really ride folks, I know what Jerry is talking about he is not telling a lie, I went thru police motor school 22 years ago in my department in DC. It kicked my riding up 10 notches and you really take motorcycle riding to a new level of enjoyment like you never could imagine. I'm a senior officer on the job still, and I rarely get to ride even though I maintain my dept. certifications to do so. Where it pays off now is riding my personal bike on my time, I get to ride on the department's time 2-3 times a year maybe for a big demonstration or event to supplement the full time motor officers duties in big events.
The older you get, the MORE you need to keep practicing these techniques... The 30 yo me and the 60 yo me... At 30.. my bike was 1/2 the weight of my current bike... Train, Train and train some more... Riding is an perishable skill...
As a 65 year old, riding since age 14, I whole heartedly agree... I didn't ride much last year, due to some health issues, and I noticed it this spring.. ..
Best teacher on RU-vid. Your videos have helped me immensely since purchasing my ultra limited and realizing how poor my skills really were going from a 500lb bike to a 900lb bike…thank you!
Thank you for passing on the valuable knowledge you have acquired. So many lives will be saved by your lessons as long as people can lay down their pride and just practice.
Greetings from Costa Rica. 32 years ago I drove an 800cc Intruder, 3 decades later I wanted to drive again, at the age of 51, I did a research and I decided on a 750cc Honda Shadow Aero, 2005, I wanted to buy a HD 883, however the dealership of HD, literally left Costa Rica at the end of 2020, I'm impressed that I didn't lose some knowledge. I really appreciate your videos, it's a shame not to have a driving school like yours, the Hond... driving school ... It is useless ... Thank you, drive free, drive safe. Sorry for my poor English, I studied in California in 1995 and I don't practice your language much except with my daughter.
I can't judge for how you speak, but from what you TYPE, your English is above par for most native speakers. We have a tendency to mutilate things like grammar and spelling or just randomly make words up and hope the readers "manage" understanding whatever we were trying to say. Keep mechanically speaking it with your daughter, though. It can't hurt anything and you will cultivate the skills, enunciation, and vocabulary. She will get along with English better as she grows into it, too... AND it can be a sort of a "secret Daddy/Daughter code" that you two share. ;o)
Jerry, I can't tell you how grateful I am to have watched your videos online. The advice to turn your head and eyes in the direction of the turn has been a life saver. It really works. Thanks, Ross M. Tucker, M.D.
I keep finding myself watching your videos almost almost every day. I decided to take a detour today after work (daily rider flht) and i practice clutch control and leaning my bike today while out on the industrial park. I try to apply your techniques every time, and I'm constantly becoming a better rider. Thanks motorman, you really are a hero.
Husband retiring soon. Your course is on his list of things to do! No courses in Ms. Guess he will ride to Tampa/Port Richey. 3 big fears. Dropping bike, looking like an idiot in front of others and for some reason has a really hard time turning his head right. Have ride like a Pro. Great video. He just needs that instructor tough “love”. Keep up the good work motorman!
Jerry is my go-to you tube, DVD's for anything about riding skills, bought my 1st CD's years ago, I am now 80, still riding with my local HOG members at Warhawk HD, Monroe, La. Thanks for sharing your skills. You must practice if you want to gain better skills, like any other, but you save lot's of time learning with a good instructor.
Hi motor man this is Alfredo from Texas your videos have been a blessing I recently had a close call I was gone 30 to 40 and a pick up back out parking lot I had to swerve to the right back to the left I didn’t hesitate because of your training nothing happened thank you so much I’m 57 and I’ve been riding for a year and one month bought your ride like a pro and Main Street it’s Fun when you get the proper training
I'm not even close to being a pro, I had a Kawasaki 250 in my teens for a couple of years, then in my 40's I had a Suzuki GS750 for awhile, now 70 and I recently picked up BMW K1200. I've come to the realization there's a whole lot I don't know, especially on a bike this size! So thanks for putting these training videos out here, Jerry, I have a dry lake at my disposal and am going to set up my course out there.
I currently do not have a Motorcycle but I still use many of the head and eye techniques to drive my cars. Part of it was how my Dad taught me and an article I read in about 97 or 98 about performance driving. 1) Drive down the road (Your 12 second rule) 2) look at where you want to go 3) don’t drive like an idiot (tailgating, swerving in and out of traffic etc) Once I have a bike again I’m going to apply these techniques I’m picking up from you. I’m going to order your Video Course
To be very frank about it, I find it very enjoyable to find a parking lot and practice S-turns U-turns, getting up to 40 or 50, slowing down quick, and swerving. I do this every few months, it keeps up the memory so if a skill is actually needed, I am ready for it. It is one of the best things a rider can do after they get their ticket to ride. Make what YOU learned to get that endorsement last a long time by practicing it.
I realized That after 49 years of riding I deserved a better bike and upgraded my VTX1300 to a Goldwing . Then I realized I don’t know a thing about riding a motorcycle. Watched your course and have been practicing my slow speed skills. Took my wife for ride last weekend and I did not look like a dufuss!
Thank you motor man for give me the training I needed I bought your videos and it was the best $20 I’ve ever spent I had a car pulled in front of me and I used both breaks at the same time I stopped on a dime I wouldn’t have been able to do that it wasn’t for your training thank you so much you save lives. 😎 you are a bad dude👍🏽
Even though you said not to I did buy a 04 vrod My dirt bike days helped and it easy and fun to ride I do see ur videos and as I ride I can hear You say turn and look where u wanna go Thanks for great advice Hope u love forever brother
There's you, and a gentleman from Texas that share some incredible knowledge in a very comprehensive manner. I THOUGHT I knew how to ride for 32 years when in fact I was just very lucky. Thanks to your videos I've got my Softail doing things that most think are impossible on that bike. I can easily out maneuver guys on shorter wheelbase bikes. THANK YOU!
I started riding 12 years ago. I know I have lots of room for improvement, but it's still hard swallowing my pride when a motor officer in my neighborhood asks if I want him to teach me how to really ride. But seeing how well they ride is just so alluring I just had to say "yes".
Thanks Motorman; your videos are brilliant. I picked up RLAP Experience, Mean Streets 2, and Riding the Dragon... love all three; now its practice, practice, practice... thanks again. marcus
I started teaching in the mid 70’s and certified in the early 80’s and taught in many countries and police officer during my career. I stopped teaching after injuring my knees during Desert Storm. There are many riders that I have seen know how to ride very well, and when I compete against them it always fun. I have trophy’s of field events and due the ride with a dry clutch bike. BMW. I have seen you during bike week and the info is good, I agree that a rider needs to learn and never stop learning. I also believe a rider needs to retake the class with each new bike the rider gets. It is always good to get pointers.
Your comment about engine rpm being 1500-2000 during low speed manouvers caught my attention. On my carburated bike no problem while my 2017 BMW R9T (which is extremely manouverable) is so jerky and rough below 3000rpm, due to Euro emmisions regulations, that it negatively impacted riding in the stop and go-slow city environment. Once warranty was off I had the engine fuel management re-mapped and what a difference! Now I can putter along 1500 to 1800 rpm and do tight maneuvers much more smoothly and easily.
Many folks will dismiss something new citing their experience just like the guy you mentioned. My thoughts are, you may have been riding for let’s say 20 years but if you’ve not taken any courses and or really worked out your skills in a closed course it’s really one year of experience 20 times. I’ve been riding since the 1970s and I learn new things all the time. This is especially the case when I’m riding different types of bikes on different surfaces (paved roads, gravel roads, and single track dirt trails, etc).
Speaking of linked brakes, most of them act independently below a certain speed; meaning at parking lot speeds your brakes aren't linked so you can use just the rear brake
I don’t own a motorcycle but I enjoy your videos! Very knowledgeable, you’re a PRO in my eyes. Maybe one day I’ll have a bike and you’re wisdom will help me enormously. 👍🏻🇺🇸
Get a victory bike!! You can find them all over the country for cheap with low miles... Jerry said Victory bikes were fine machines and he is right... You get one with higher mileage for super cheap with way life left in it... You won't be working on it!!!
A few weeks ago I asked you how to get use to the "scraping" ... you said, "download my video and learn" ... a few weeks of practice and I am already way more confident than I was when I started your program! This, after 40 plus years of riding Harleys!! Thank you so much!! BTW, I have 1372 of 1500 of the Revival Electra Glide which, in my opinion, is the best riding Harley ever made! And that includes my 2021 Street Glide CVO!! Jerry, you really are "the man!" 😎
The original and the best. I bought the Ride Like A Pro CD back in 2004. That and all your videos helped me tremendously. As always, practice, practice, practice.
New subscriber here. Great videos. I appreciate your reasonable and realistic attitude. I like your teaching methods, especially the ride-alongs discussing concepts and sometimes illustrating them. Also you stress safety, accident prevention, and defensive driving. Education, training, and experience are like gold. Improve, safety, quality of experience, and increase personal satisfaction.
After watching your video's I realise I can't ride for sht! lol! Will be going out today to my local parking lot and practicing all these techniques! Be awesome if you came to Australia to do some training sessions! I'd be there with bells on! Thanks for doing these video's, the way you explain things makes so much sense! I'm sure countless lives have been saved because of them, especially mine!
Fear of looking silly In 40 years of parachute instruction I often observed people were less concerned with injury or death than appearing " Silly" in front of others or loosing CONTROL It seemed to hold true for women as well as men.
I was doing 18 foot figure 8’s last fall. Had spine surgery in January. Did a one-on-one with Ride Like a Pro here in Kentucky in July. Wow! After two hours, I was toast. I realized very quickly the limitations that four months of BLT (no bending, lifting, or twisting) imposed on my body. I need to practice the head and eyes twisting to get back in shape because, man, was I sore after just two hours. These guys are the best. I have six screws and two iliac bolts and I am back at it. You must work it every week. If you have spine surgery, especially fusion, think incrementalism and one or two one-on-one sessions before jumping into a full six-hour class. Jerry’s “Dufus” remark is not about duck walking, it is about the “I don’t need training” guy who can’t slow maneuver simply because he has been riding in a straight line for 5, 10, 20, or 40 years.
First of all, glad that you're back at it. Tremendous amount of dedication, I hope you get to where you want to be. Second, it takes a humble person to admit there is more to learn and to get ready to do more work to learn it. To come in with your cup empty and be ready to work to fill it. My biggest wish is that none of us ever lose that curiosity and desire to learn and improve ourselves.
I have been riding for 50 years and learn a lot. Mostly straight line riding..didnt realize how little I did know about riding until I watched the video
Yes, you were on a nomad, I just started on a Vulcan 800 c. Video inspired me to keep practicing skills from the msf and practice those u turns haha. Thank you for the vid.
@dead Keep your hands on that VN800! You'll grow to LOVE that bike. I've kept mine since 2002... And dare I say it? I like it better than most HDs I've owned or borrowed. Performance, reliability, fuel economy, really decent ride quality... The whole package. Cheers, Brother.
@@slicksnewonenow that’s amazing, and encouraging to hear. When I first got it I was worried it was too big for a beginner bike, but the more I ride it the more we get to know each other and you’re right, keep loving and loving it even more. Can’t believe I lucked out finding it! Cheers to you and yours as well!
Great vlog Jerry excellent. Going to order your video for my brother-in-law just purchase brand new SGS before he kills himself. I would teach him but we live on the east coast and he is in Memphis. Be Safe 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I was riding on Military Trail in West Palm Beach about thirty feet behind an auto driver. Six lane divided fast road. Absolutely no way to make a left turn or any paved means of making one. Absolutely no reason to turn left. The driver ahead of me tried to make a left turn in a panic! Slam on the brakes with absolutely on reason to do it, no reason to anticipate from behind. Somehow I threw than Kawasaki transverse 4-cylinder 650 into a skid to left followed by a skid to the left to change lanes in the blink of an eye without hitting that car. Thought didn't save me. Reasoning didn't save me. Only experience so ingrained as to be reflex action saved me. Muscle memory saved me.
These are the best real world riding vids on the internet. To think, when I was an arrogant little kid, we used to run from police. Now I am watching the videos with great interest. Weird how that works ... My HD was easy to get used to. Didn't take any time at all. But the BMW on the other hand ... Ooof, what a beast. That heifer had a mind of it's own. Top heavy, and when you applied the gas, it torqued hard to the right. Made some right hand turns really sketchy, lol. I'll stick with HD or Indian, thank you.
That's amazing I was saying just a couple days ago that I would like to know Jerry's story how he started and what kind of trouble he had in the beginning.
In the U.S. we have some fantastic roads for motorcycles. Just 30 miles outside NYC there is some great riding, then there's the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina/Tennessee, the Rockies out west, Virginia, California and on and on. Florida of course is flat and straight for the most part.
@@motorman857 Hope you come out to Massachusetts and New Hampshire some time. We have some beautiful scenery and great roads to check out. And some good eatin' at the "end" of those roads, wherever that may be. :)
I wish you were still in New York (sorry, but I still live here) for some first-hand training. Riding 50 years, still alive but realizing just how much I do not know.
Honestly, in the UK you can choose to do some courses which helps lower your premiums on the insurance. On the day of the training, They will ask you the same thing too. A lot will be so cocky and confident. Up until the instructors ask them to do U-turn, slaloms, multiple slow riding maneuvers and see the cocky folks duck walking or pulling out legs to stop a fall or just dropping bikes left and right. And whenever possible, I still try find empty car parks to practice now and again. It is both fun and beneficial learning this maneuvers. And look cool doing it too. Cause you know 95% of people on the roads do not know how to do them. Atleast not fluidly.
Hey Motorman! I just took the MSF and I’m looking for my first bike. Definitely want a cruiser but I’m concerned about dropping it so I was thinking a dual sport might be better for a while until I am good at the slow speed maneuvers. Will the hight difference between the two types of bikes change anything too drastically?
