Before You Hit The Open Road Get to Know Your NEW Motorcycle With These Exercises (pt1)

Often experienced motorcycle riders who trade in an old bike for a brand new set of wheels find that they fall prey to an unfortunate set of statistics that occur along with new machines.

More motorcycle accidents happen on new equipment than on old faithful rides.

Don’t assume that 100,000 miles on your old bike means equally capable handling of your new set of wheels. Instead, take the time to learn some facts about your new motorcycle.

Low Speed Handling Practice

If possible, find a deserted level parking lot that has a relatively clean surface. You don’t need bumps, slippery stuff, inclines, potholes or other defects or obstacles in order to learn more about your new motorcycle.

You need to plan on spending time having fun and getting to know the quirks of the new wheels. Start by doing low speed circles with your eyes on the horizon and practice until you can do a 360 without putting your foot down and with the steering in full lock.

This may require some adjustment in the position of the handlebar or the throttle cable in order to smooth the acceleration action. Follow tight circles with tight figure eights, again without touching your feet to the ground until the bike has come to a full stop. Force yourself to be consistent and precise. This will provide even more understanding of the throttle response in your new motorcycle.

Acceleration Practice

Repeat the previous exercise at higher speeds–both the circles and the figure eights. Keep your eyes on the horizon and your feet off the ground so you learn the feel of the equipment as it corners correctly and consistently. Varying the speed of the engine while you practice these maneuvers will allow you to ride comfortably at highway speeds as well as in city traffic.

Cornering Practice

Follow this with learning about the bike’s cornering limits. Learn to accept the grinding noise without flinching when a floorboard scrapes the pavement. A reflex jerk to avoid the sound of metal on pavement can cause you to steer right off the curve. If you feel more cornering ability is needed, you may need to change the suspension components.

Hard Stop Practice

Practice stopping at low speed with a hard stop in order to learn the traction on the new tyres, the sensitivity of the brakes and how the bike handles with the rear wheel locked. You need to know precisely what to expect in a real life panic situation and the best way to do that (continue to part 2)