Motorcycling lessons learned: #7 Get training

March 10, 5:40 PMMotorcycle ExaminerKen Bingenheimer

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An ABATE Beginning Rider course

Did you take a driver's education course when you were learning to drive a car? The answer is probably yes. Then why would you think you can just hop on a motorcycle and know how to ride well without being trained? Because you have ridden a bicycle? It's really not the same thing.

So, did I get rider training before I started to ride? No, I'm like you. I just learned by doing. Did I have some close encounters? You bet I did.

I remember one of my earliest experiences on a motorcycle. A friend had two and he said "Let's go ride." I had no experience with counter-steering, so I tried to steer as you would on a bicycle.

And I pulled out of his driveway and immediately crossed the street and ran into the curb. Later on the ride, I almost hit another curb going quite a bit faster. That was very disturbing.

Another early experience was doing a bunch of wheelies--unintentionally. It was a torquey bike and I couldn't coordinate release of the clutch and roll-on of the throttle so as to pull away smoothly. Some kids thought I was pretty cool but I knew I was out of control.

Even years later, with a lot of riding under my belt, I knew I wasn't as good a rider as I could be. My buddies in the OFMC did a lot of dirt riding when they were kids--which I didn't--and they were a lot more confident as riders.

They'd hit a bit of gravel on a curve and that rear tire would slide and they'd just handle it. They were used to sliding around. That same patch of gravel was a major threat for me and I would slow way down.

Nor could I hope to keep up with them in the twisties. I was always slowing down on the curves that they would just power through.

And then I took the ABATE Experienced Rider Course. And I learned a few things.

I learned for one thing that in a curve you need to be looking as deeply into the curve as you can. The bike will go where you're looking, but if you're only looking a short distance ahead you're constantly resetting your target. Look way out ahead and that's where you'll go, easy as pie.

I also took a lesson on a track one day. Track days are a great opportunity to really focus on skills development without the concerns of traffic or road hazards. Plus, you've got an instructor observing you who can point out wrong things you don't realize you're doing and show you how to do the right things.

For instance, I'm much more comfortable keeping up with my buddies on the curves now because I look deep into the curve and I now consciously shift my weight and lean. This keeps the bike more upright and keeps it a lot more stable.

I'm still no pro, and Nicky Hayden has nothing to fear from me, but I'm a better rider than I used to be. That makes riding more fun. And hey, that's why we ride, isn't it?

Do yourself a favor: get trained. You'll be amazed at what you don't know.

Motorcycling lessons learned

#1 - Have riding buddies
#2 - Signal your intentions
#3 - Ride your own ride
#4 - Don't hesitate to ride alone
#5 - Carry proper gear
#6 - Know your bike
#7 - Get training
#8 - Assume you're invisible
#9 - Take your time
#10 - Explore
#11 - Be opportunistic
#12 - Know how to pick up your motorcycle