Good beginner drills?

[auditude]

That's a good point, and a question of which methods are best for new riders. Should a new rider try to understand the "more advanced" concepts early on and then start integrating it into their riding as they feel comfortable? Or, should they focus on one step at a time and not worry about more advanced concepts until they have mastered the more simple ones (such as getting all your braking done before the turn). I think for the purpose of being the most well rounded rider you can be, the former is best. For the sake of safety and reducing incidents while training, the latter may be better. I think ideally there is a balance somewhere in between.

Either way, I think parking lots are the BEST place to begin learning both basic and advanced concepts as the speeds are lower as well as the consequences of a mistake.

+1

And I wanted to bump this thread because it brings up a lot of good points and areas for discussion.

I know there are a few instructors on the board; some lurk in the shadows, others in the light. Either way, I believe the correct "knowledge" and training should be applied accordingly in some of our parking lot sessions as well as conveyed in the class setting. Bear in mind, teaching/learning riding for the street can and does vastly differ from track.

The OP posed the question pertaining to "beginner drills" and we should try to remain on topic to remain faithful to the question, not what some have learned, taught or gained throughout the years which would indicate non-beginner experience.

OP - I'd take up Nate on the offer...as you may have gathered from G's "secret crush", he's a handsome dood

 

[danate]

I already met up with the OP, though it was brief. My next free day is March 13th (Sunday). Maybe we can meet again at Las Positas for some parking lot play (if security there still won't mind).

 

[zixaq]

In Proficient Motorcycling the author emphasizes emergency braking practice pretty intensively, so mostly what I've done as parking lot practice has emphasized that.

It'd be nice to have a short list of a half-dozen or so drills that experts think are high-yield for relatively new riders or to get used to an unfamiliar bike.

Also, there's a DocWong clinic + ride on Sunday, March 13, so that might rule some folks out.

 

[Vagabond Vivant]

I already met up with the OP, though it was brief. My next free day is March 13th (Sunday). Maybe we can meet again at Las Positas for some parking lot play (if security there still won't mind).

I'm actually taking my bike down to L.A. this weekend.

I'm going by way of Yosemite and Death Valley over 3 or 4 days. I've pretty much been drilling and driving nonstop over the last few weeks and have been doing pretty well. I took a few 2-hour drives through the Tilden/Briones areas this past week. Absolutely ridiculous views.

 

[mykey9]

Oh man,yeah. This was the one area I had most trouble with during the course. I did pretty well everywhere else, but I had trouble managing slow, sharp U Turns without the aid of my feets. Thanks for the reminder!

keep both feet on the pegs...you should feel like you're almost standing on the outside peg..your body should move outside the centerline...be sure you're in 1 st gear and while slipping the clutch be sure you're giving enough gas to keep a good momentum going.don't let it bog down..and as people have said look ahead

 

[Pluot]

I just read the entire thread. Was very interesting and informative to read.

If OP and Nate do a parking lot sess, please let me know if I can join.

I've been riding street for a bit over two years but never really took the time to practice skills outside of commuting. Recently realizing that while a bit late, learning and practicing now is better late than never.

And as far as in discussion mentioned above, regarding braking during turns, emergency braking, etc.. I wish I had known that it's ok to do things differently from what is taught in the MSF course or commonly taught to beginners. Have had some hairy situations or been uncomfortable being forced in situations when I HAD to brake mid-turn merging onto the freeway due to sudden congestion up ahead or something similar. Didn't really know what to do because I wasn't taught what I COULD do because emphasis was put on avoiding the situation.

 

[zixaq]

There seems to be a ton of interest in this.

Just wondering out loud: How much does an instructor make in an afternoon riding session, and do we have enough interest for everyone to chip in and cover something comparable?

 

[Pluot]

There seems to be a ton of interest in this.

Just wondering out loud: How much does an instructor make in an afternoon riding session, and do we have enough interest for everyone to chip in and cover something comparable?

I would chip in.

 

[pt65]

Not a beginner exercise, but good practice now and then, but only when no cars are close to you...on freeways, dry conditions, I use the commuter lane diamond marks as swerve points pretending they are obstacles. NEVER do this when any cars are next to you, or too close behind, or anywhere you might scare them into thinking you are about to crash.

What this exercise does is remind you and reinforce your reactions about how quick (or slow) you can effectively swerve to avoid an object (with no penalty for failing to avoid it, since its paint on the ground). It also draws attention to you (who are otherwise invisible as soon as you pull the helmet over your head) so that cagers are more aware of you.

I didnt read the whole post, sorry if theres a repeat here:
In a parking lot I would
-go in circles
-apply the brakes in the circle
-brake hard in straight lines
-start and stop in straight lines
-ride u turns
-both left and right
-in straight lines try locking up the rear tire so you get a feel for a small rear tire slide
-ride figure eights
-apply throttle as well as brakes in figure eights
-wheelies
-endos
(ok just kidding on the last two)

Above all, if you dont own a dirt bike, make the choice to go to a dirt school to get a feel for wether you like it or not. Dirt riding and street riding ARE mutually complimentary.

I had a douchebag cager brake check me, resulting in front braking so hard and fast that I left a 20 foot skid mark with my front tire, the entire left side of the front AND rear tire were visibly scraped up while the opposite side was smooth. The single reason I did not go down, was because I ride dirt, and have front tire slides quite often; and at the same time, the entire bike bucks around. I was riding a liter bike at the time,and would not have believed that I could have reacted in such a way as to avoid both crashing into aforementioned douchebag cager AND avoid going down. But that was all thanks to riding dirt.

With recent rains, the skid mark may finally have been completey washed away, but it was still there on Grizzly Peak near the reservoir after two years. Every time I ride by there, its a reminder...

Prrractice prrractice prrractice !!!!

 

[Pluot]

I was totally doing the diamond marker swerving today! The rain took a break so the conditions weren't horrible.

 

[danate]

I can't stress enough the importance of taking an actual class to learn the techniques properly before you practice them on your own. I, as an instructor, can't share the curriculum I teach with you privately. You have to sign up and take a class.

If you already have the basics down or have taken the BRC or MTC courses in the past, the next step is an intermediate course. The Total Control Intermediate Riding Clinic is a great place to get the skills needed to take your riding to the next level. I just spent the last week learning their curriculum and I really believe in it (and it helped improve my riding immensely as well).

If we do a Barf parking lot day, I'm happy to help and give advice, however it's not a substitute for taking a real class (and if you have money to spend on it, it's worth every penny).

 

[ThumperX]

I really like the Total Control curriculum. The stress is on riding not so much on "rules" of riding. It's all physics and some of us take to it more easily than others.

 

[beginner]

Hi all! I'll be getting my first bike shortly and am planning on spending as much time as I can just drilling exercises in an empty parking lot. I've found some great resources in this sub for dirt training / exercises, but can't seem to find any for standard riding — what are some important skills to practice in addition to those covered in BAMT class (swerving, stopping, cornering, etc)? What's a good youtube channel to tune into for demos of things I should be doing?

Also, if anyone knows of good spots in Pleasant Hill / Concord where I can find a lot of asphalt to practice on, I'd love to hear about it. Thanks!

These things helped me.

1. Standing along side walk the bike in circles, figure 8s, what ever. You are learning to feel lean angle changes. It will lean away from you or towards you. The farther it leans the heavier it gets. The sooner you notice and correct the ligher the bike feels. If you are worried about dropping the bike do it on grass. Eventually the bike should feel light, not heavy.

2. Make it a goal to always land and take off from the left foot only. It's a test of balance. I read somewhere that motor police are expected to learn this.

3. Make it a goal when you are stopped to steady the bike with the left foot only. It's another good test of balance which I believe is also expected of motor police.

4. The best advice I've heard for serious skills practice is do 8 hours a month of PLP. I believe that's recommended by some motor police trainers to their riders.

5. If you do 8 hours a month for for long enough, starting as a beginner, there is a good chance you'll get addicted. After that practice is not a chore. That's what happened to me.

6. Google earth can help find parking lots. If a lot is in use I move on to the next. I've never been kicked out of a parking lot. I pick quiet times, practice for a short time and move on, no loitering. Sometimes public parks have unused parking and practice will be tolerated if you keep it slow, quiet, contained, serious, etc. I'm allowed to practice in 4 different parks.

7. When you are ready, slow riding on a graveled area is a good choice. Gravel reduces friction on the front tire so steering is easier and quicker and there's less wear on the tire. When gravel does not seem too slippery for that kind of practice you've made some progress. SLow riding on gravel is a way to increase sensitivity to traction changes without the higher speeds necessary on pavement. These days I spend most of my practice time slow riding on gravel.

8, Another test of balance I like. Some streets have wide white lines to mark a bicycle lane. At a slow or moderate speed put your front tire on that line and try to keep it from coming off even for an instant. One of the payoffs for practicing this one is eventually you'll notice you are wondering less in your lane, always a good thing.

9, Come to a full stop and proceed without putting a foot down. Work up to that by getting as slow as possible and proceed before you have to put a foot down.

10. Do lots of uturns and figure 8's because they are fun and a good break from the super slow slow stuff. But slow and precise is more productive than fast and sloppy.

 

[ThumperX]

These things helped me.

1. Standing along side the bike walk it around in circles, figure 8s, what ever. You are learning to feel lean angle changes. It will lean away from you or towards you. The farther it leans the heavier it gets. The sooner you notice and correct the ligher the bike feels. If you are worried about dropping the bike do it on grass. Eventually the bike should feel light, not heavy.

2. Make it a goal to always land and take off from the left foot only. It's a test of balance. I read somewhere that motor police are expected to learn this.

3. Make it a goal when you are stopped on the bike to steady it only with the left foot. It's another good test of balance which I believe is also expected of motor police.

4. The best advice I've heard for serious skills practice is do 8 hours a month of PLP. I believe that's recommended by some motor police trainers to their riders.

5. If you do 8 hours a month for for long enough, starting as a beginner, there is a good chance of getting addicted. After that practice is not a chore. That's what happened to me.

6. Google earth can help find parking lots. If a lot is in use I move on to the next. I've never been kicked out of a parking lot. I pick quiet times, practice for a short time and move on, no loitering. Sometimes public parks have unused parking and practice will be tolerated if you keep it slow, quiet, contained, serious, etc. I'm allowed to practice in 4 different parks.

7. When you are ready for slow riding a graveled area is a good choice. Gravel reduces friction on the front tire so steering is easier and quicker and there's less wear on the tire. When gravel does not seem too slippery for that kind of practice you've made some progress.

This is something everyone should do upon purchasing ortrying out a new bike. Walking a bike will tell you so much more about it than just hoping on it and twisting the throttle.

 

[Pluot]

These things helped me.

1. Standing along side walk the bike in circles, figure 8s, what ever. You are learning to feel lean angle changes. It will lean away from you or towards you. The farther it leans the heavier it gets. The sooner you notice and correct the ligher the bike feels. If you are worried about dropping the bike do it on grass. Eventually the bike should feel light, not heavy.

2. Make it a goal to always land and take off from the left foot only. It's a test of balance. I read somewhere that motor police are expected to learn this.

3. Make it a goal when you are stopped to steady the bike with the left foot only. It's another good test of balance which I believe is also expected of motor police.

4. The best advice I've heard for serious skills practice is do 8 hours a month of PLP. I believe that's recommended by some motor police trainers to their riders.

5. If you do 8 hours a month for for long enough, starting as a beginner, there is a good chance you'll get addicted. After that practice is not a chore. That's what happened to me.

6. Google earth can help find parking lots. If a lot is in use I move on to the next. I've never been kicked out of a parking lot. I pick quiet times, practice for a short time and move on, no loitering. Sometimes public parks have unused parking and practice will be tolerated if you keep it slow, quiet, contained, serious, etc. I'm allowed to practice in 4 different parks.

7. When you are ready, slow riding on a graveled area is a good choice. Gravel reduces friction on the front tire so steering is easier and quicker and there's less wear on the tire. When gravel does not seem too slippery for that kind of practice you've made some progress. SLow riding on gravel is a way to increase sensitivity to traction changes without the higher speeds necessary on pavement. These days I spend most of my practice time slow riding on gravel.

8, Another test of balance I like. Some streets have wide white lines to mark a bicycle lane. At a slow or moderate speed put your front tire on that line and try to keep it from coming off even for an instant. One of the payoffs for practicing this one is eventually you'll notice you are wondering less in your lane, always a good thing.

9, Come to a full stop and proceed without putting a foot down. Work up to that by getting as slow as possible and proceed before you have to put a foot down.

10. Do lots of uturns and figure 8's because they are fun and a good break from the super slow slow stuff. But slow and precise is more productive than fast and sloppy.

Nice advice! What's PLP though?

Edit. Oh, I figured it out. Lol. Parking Lot Practice?

 

[Enchanter]

Nice advice! What's PLP though?

Edit. Oh, I figured it out. Lol. Parking Lot Practice?

The dude has a long history here. Accounts merged / banned.

When you can see the results of his obsession of PLP from space, that says something.

 

[aminalmutha]

Totally forgot about that.

 

[aminalmutha]

These things helped me.

5. If you do 8 hours a month for for long enough, starting as a beginner, there is a good chance you'll get addicted.


.

Or not.

 

[MysterYvil]

Dirt or gravel areas are also good for streetbike practice. Just in case it involuntarily happens.

Saved my butt a couple of times, being (somewhat) comfortable taking my street ride onto loose surfaces.

Plus, if you happen upon non-optimal roads you don't have to turn around. Samantha and I safely got our streetbikes up and down a very rutted, muddy, and gravelly road with a steep grade, much to the surprise of some locals.

Motos can do amazing things!

 

[tzrider]

These things helped me.

1. Standing along side walk the bike in circles, figure 8s, what ever. You are learning to feel lean angle changes. It will lean away from you or towards you. The farther it leans the heavier it gets. The sooner you notice and correct the lighter the bike feels. If you are worried about dropping the bike do it on grass. Eventually the bike should feel light, not heavy.

I don't see much value in walking a bike, other than to learn how to move it around the garage. There is a possible downside: If the bike leans too far away, some riders may not be able to stop it from falling over.

2. Make it a goal to always land and take off from the left foot only. It's a test of balance. I read somewhere that motor police are expected to learn this.

3. Make it a goal when you are stopped to steady the bike with the left foot only. It's another good test of balance which I believe is also expected of motor police.

While I don't see anything wrong with being able to do the above, I think it's a better practice in real life to allow both feet to come down. Less overall risk if the pavement isn't what it looked like, you get an unexpected gust from the side, etc. No need to cover the rear brake; you can keep the front covered instead with a couple of fingers.

6. Google earth can help find parking lots.

As evidenced above, yes it can.