Find out what kind of rider you really are.
Are You a Good Rider?
When asked, most people think they are a good rider. But what is a good rider? Is it someone who displays impressive control skills on the racetrack or in the canyons or can do a lengthy standup wheelie? Is it someone who can maneuver an 800-pound (363-kg) motorcycle within tight confines? Certainly, these riders deserve to be recognized for their abilities. However, when it comes to describing a “good” motorcyclist, we must place the ability to make it home every day at the top of the list.
No matter how good a rider you think you are, it’s likely that you have at least a few bad habits and attitudes. Poor habits and dangerous perceptions can develop over time without you knowing it. A lot of riders think that seat time is the answer to being a better rider. But experience alone does not make you a good rider. It takes knowledge and purposeful practice to become as good as you think you are.
Start by opening to the idea that you don’t know all you need to know and evaluate your personal strengths and weaknesses. Don’t allow yourself to brush off incidents as an insignificant misstep that is quickly forgotten. Even small mistakes can be a sign that you need a bit more work.
Take some time to evaluate your current habits and assess whether the beliefs and unconscious attitudes you have may be increasing your risk and decreasing your enjoyment. Think back on a recent close call involving a vehicle crossing into your right of way. Suspend any blame for the moment and put yourself in the seat of the driver who pulled into your path. The vast majority of drivers do not wish to cause an accident. So what made him or her think it was okay to proceed? The answer is that the driver either didn’t see you, or saw you but did not accurately judge your speed and distance. Ask yourself what you could have done to help the situation. I bet there was at least one action you could have taken to reduce the hazard.
Riding with “eyes in the back of your head” through busy streets is a sign of a good rider.
We All Make Mistakes
Why is it that even “good” riders make mistakes? The real reason is that humans aren’t perfect, and, no matter how hard you try, mistakes will be made. Fortunately, with self-awareness, we can minimize the number of mistakes we make.
Often, mistakes are the result of weak concentration, faulty perception, poor judgment, or lousy execution. Other times, we make mistakes because of a bad decision, which is often followed by immediate regret. When this occurs, the smart riders asks what was the driving force behind the error.
The point is to increase your awareness of the types of mistakes you typically make. Do you space out and allow yourself to tailgate or enter turns too fast? Are you prone to overconfidence that leads to risky behavior? Self-awareness and vigilance can reduce the likelihood of making a mistake that you could regret for the rest of your life.
The Good Rider Pledge
There is a technique some schools and parents use to help manage behavior in youngsters that involves asking their teenage children to sign a pledge to not drink alcohol, do drugs, or text while driving. The idea behind these pledges is to get the signer to check his or her conscience and think before acting in a possibly harmful way. The promise is made to a respected institution or a loved one, which pressures the signer to keep the promise.
I’m not a respected institution, nor am I your parent, but imagine your parent, children, and spouse asking you to sign a pledge to be the best rider possible. Would that be enough for you to seek opportunities that will lead to this goal? Use this pledge as is, or as a template to create your own. Then sign it in front of your loved ones as a promise to be as safe and skilled as possible. Remember, this not only benefits your loved ones who want you safe, it also makes riding more fun for you!
1.I will continually expand my knowledge of motorcycling safety and control through reading and by taking one formal safety/skills course per season.
2.I will resist complacency and never take my safety for granted.
3.I will practice my physical skills that include emergency braking and swerving to keep them sharp.
4.I will learn and practice mental strategies for managing traffic and other hazardous situations.
5.I will never ride while intoxicated or impaired in any way.
6.I will choose not to ride if my ability to manage hazards is compromised.
7.I will choose to only ride with others who share my commitment to safety.
Are You Really Ready to Roll?
Now that I’ve sobered you up with all this talk about how dangerous riding is, I wonder how many of you are reconsidering whether riding a motorcycle is such a good idea. Truth be told, riding a motorcycle is not a good idea unless you are committed to being the best rider you can be. I am not talking about becoming a professional-level rider—that’s not practical and asks too much from most people. I’m talking about being the best rider you can be.
You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to learn to ride a motorcycle the “right” way.
Let me repeat that: You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to learn to ride a motorcycle the “right” way. This means increasing the repertoire of tools in your safety and skills toolbox and striving to keep these tools sharp through practice. It takes commitment, but it’s not that hard…really.
Even riders who think they are good probably have a few bad habits.
LESSON LEARNED
Who Are You?
Adept Al pulls into the crowded parking lot of a motorcycle café, finds a spot to park his bike, and then makes his way into the café to order an espresso. Al turns to find a seat, but all of the tables are full, except one. He walks over to a table with an empty chair that is occupied by three other riders and asks if he can sit. They nod. Al introduces himself and they do the same. Al learns that Skip, Alice, and Earl have just met for the first time today. Alice gets Al up to speed on their conversation, which involves something Earl learned at an advanced riding school the day before. Earl continues explaining what he learned about cornering and how shifting body weight plays only a supporting role in getting a motorcycle to lean and turn. Earl goes into further detail about how countersteering works and how chassis geometry and tire profiles affect direction control.
Al keeps silent as Earl continues. Al has taken several safety classes, including a few track-oriented courses, and has several motorcycle publications in his personal library so none of this information is new to him. He finds it interesting how each participant is reacting to Earl’s monologue and his enthusiasm about this new knowledge. Alice is listening and asking questions, but is restless. Skip is also listening, but seems tense with crossed arms and a scowl on his face.
When Earl finishes, Skip asks why he is so interested in the details of riding. Alice perks up to hear Earl’s response. Earl explains that he loves learning all about motorcycling and its challenging opportunities. Alice acknowledges that she also enjoys learning about motorcycling, but is often frustrated because she can’t seem to apply the information to her everyday riding or tries a new technique that doesn’t seem to work right away. Skip shrugs off both their statements and proclaims that he has been riding for years and he never gives his riding much thought. He says that seat time is all someone needs to ride better.
This is when Al chimes in. He asks Skip if he has ever been cut off by a driver in traffic or experienced panic from riding too