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Slow riding practice tips?

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beginner

beginner

New member
Joined
Oct 28, 2008
Location
Port Austin Michigan
Moto(s)
Kawasaki KLX300r
Motor police are particularly good at slow riding and what I call hovering. For some reason, in the past month, my practice time has been dominated by working on this. I just can't get enough of it, don't know why.

I do the ususal slow ride in a straight line. I do start/stops with feet on the pegs. I do figure 8s in 1st gear with a start/stop on the pegs in the middle. Any other maneuvers I might try?

Any fine points or tips to make practice on this more productive would be appreciated.

Here's what I mean by stop/start on the pegs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ4U_Yzyur8
 
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beginner said:
Motor police are particularly good at slow riding and what I call hovering. For some reason, in the past month, my practice time has been dominated by working on this. I just can't get enough of it, don't know why.

I do the ususal slow ride in a straight line. I do start/stops with feet on the pegs. I do figure 8s in 1st gear with a start/stop on the pegs in the middle. Any other maneuvers I might try?

Any fine points or tips to make practice on this more productive would be appreciated.

Here's what I mean by stop/start on the pegs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ4U_Yzyur8
Click to expand...

If you're going to practice this type of riding, you may want to ditch the knobbies. Just as there's only so much one can do with street tires on the dirt, there's only so much you will be able to do with knobbies on the pavement. If you have a dirt background, this stuff should come pretty easy for you to pick up. If possible, find a practice bike like a KZ1000 Police bike on craigslist and practice on that. they are indestructable and everything you learn will carry over to other motorcycles.

When you are doing your stop/start drill, set up an object like a cone or a plastic pail. approach it at 5 mph and come to a stop within a foot. Apply some front brake/rear to come to a stop. Look out at the horizon as you do this. Accelerate away when the bike tips to the left/right. If you want to challenge yourself, squeeze the front brake hard enough to compress your forks as you come to a stop, then release the front brake. The rebound from the forks will make you roll backwards a foot or two after you stop. It looks/feels really cool once you get it right. Since you are on a dirtbike, you should be able to have enough rebound to roll back 3-4 feet once you get the hang of it. It's all timing. Good luck :)
 
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eddiet204 said:
If you're going to practice this type of riding, you may want to ditch the knobbies.
Click to expand...
I've got only one bike and it's off road a lot. The knobbies are surprisingly sticky on pavement at my PLP speeds but turning practice destroys the outer knobs on the front tire. The front will be replaced in a month when the trails start to open up. By then the knobs will be worn to the carcass.
When you are doing your stop/start drill, set up an object like a cone or a plastic pail. approach it at 5 mph and come to a stop within a foot. Apply some front brake/rear to come to a stop. Look out at the horizon as you do this. Accelerate away when the bike tips to the left/right. If you want to challenge yourself, squeeze the front brake hard enough to compress your forks as you come to a stop, then release the front brake. The rebound from the forks will make you roll backwards a foot or two after you stop. It looks/feels really cool once you get it right. Since you are on a dirtbike, you should be able to have enough rebound to roll back 3-4 feet once you get the hang of it. It's all timing. Good luck :)
Click to expand...
Thanks. I go back and forth between very gradual stops and dipping the forks. I'll try for the rebound. Another interesting variation is 18by36 figure 8s in first gear with a start/stop on the pegs in the middle. The feeling I like is when the bike hovers for a few seconds.
 
Try standing, loading the rear brake slightly, feathering the clutch and weaving slightly.
 
Gixxergirl1000 said:
:Popcorn

and

IBTL
Click to expand...


I would also like to register my compliance with :Popcorn and being ITBL



Oh, lord, I can't wait for certain people to see this!

It's just like being a kid, and ordering something off the back of a cereal box, and you can't wait to run home from school every day and look in the mailbox! I'm going to be checking this thread just like that, like I can't wait for the package to arrive!
 
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flexi said:
Try standing, loading the rear brake slightly, feathering the clutch and weaving slightly.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I noticed some time ago that standing on the pegs improves balance at slow-ride speeds. I generally slow the bike for the stop with front and rear brakes. Using rear brake alone doesn't seem to improve balance. There's weaving until the bike stops or it falls over. The challenge on my bike is the tall seat, 35.5". If the motor stalls trying to pull away it takes longer to get a foot down from a standing position. Going slow from the pegs will get practiced in an unpaved area after the snow melts and the ground hardens.
 
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:Popcorn


Someone defrost that old horse, looks like we might need it again.
:deadhorse
 
the grinch said:
It's just like being a kid, and ordering something off the back of a cereal box, and you can't wait to run home from school every day and look in the mailbox! I'm going to be checking this thread just like that, like I can't wait for the package to arrive!
Click to expand...


:rofl



And:

popcorn.gif
 
eddiet204 said:
If you want to challenge yourself, squeeze the front brake hard enough to compress your forks as you come to a stop, then release the front brake. The rebound from the forks will make you roll backwards a foot or two after you stop. It looks/feels really cool once you get it right. Since you are on a dirtbike, you should be able to have enough rebound to roll back 3-4 feet once you get the hang of it. It's all timing. Good luck :)
Click to expand...
Last night I labeled this a bucket stop. I couldn't see the point until I tried it this morninng. It's braking practice. The straighter the bike is standing the more effective the brakes are. If it will roll backwards on a hard stop the bike is straight up. 3'? I'll start bragging when the bike rolls back an inch. Thanks again.
 
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Heeeee'ssss baaaaaaaaccckkkkk
 
the grinch said:
I would also like to register my compliance with :Popcorn and being ITBL



Oh, lord, I can't wait for certain people to see this!

It's just like being a kid, and ordering something off the back of a cereal box, and you can't wait to run home from school every day and look in the mailbox! I'm going to be checking this thread just like that, like I can't wait for the package to arrive!
Click to expand...

:rofl :rofl

Ya might wanna send out a link or two... :shhh
 
I just practice figure 8's all day with my buddy Enchanter.


I've gotten to where I can actually do them with Enchanter sitting on my shoulders.


Where're thinking of taking our show to Vegas.
 
im behind the times... my March 2010 newness shows b/c i didn't know this guy. So I checked threads/posts/etc...

does he ever ride outside of his parking lot? or on anything bigger than a mountain bike with an engine?
 
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