The Always, Onlys and Nevers of Motorcycle Riding

What are the Always, Onlys and Nevers of Motorcycling? We hear them all the time. Never do this! Always do that! The only way is this way! But what are the absolutes that we need to be aware of so we can be safe riders?

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#learntoride #motorcyclesafety #rideonridewell

[irideaduck]

Rybo's 12 year old son once told me "Don't surprise the bike!" ... mature words from a 12 year old!

[emilioking]

I’ve used the front brake mid turn very lightly, I was told by other riders to never use the brakes in a turn. I am not a fast rider but it’s a good tool. Thanks for your video.

[jamesbaxterandthebeachball]

I've always ridden with 2 fingers on the clutch and 2 on the brake. A hold out from my dirt bike days I guess. Never did me wrong.

[MegaRohan]

I love your videos where you cover such topics! I'm from India and the past 11 years i had been riding a 125cc proper commuter bike from Suzuki. But it was only recently that i started loving riding motorcycles. I thought i had gotten good at riding, so i decided to buy a 250cc bike. Again from Suzuki, a Gixxer sf250 made specifically for countries like ours. The power it puts out is pretty low by Western standards but its pretty decent (or more than enough in my case) for Indian roads, especially the state where I'm living in where its full of twists and turns. So the bike happens to be a sports tourer, the riding posture isn't that aggressive but still its very new to me. I can't help but find myself lean my bike around corners (something which i rarely used to do on my previous commuter motorcycle), the ergonomics of this bike just encourages me to lean. Now i get it why sports bikes are designed the way they are. There is so much more to learn about motorcycles, how each design serves a purpose or evoke a particular emotion. Your videos have helped me get a better understanding on the logic that involves when cornering a bike, I've been learning some of the points you mentioned intuitively but your points have given me much more clarity on it.

[mattguss]

Your and YCRS are my two favorite and most learned sources of riding info. It amazes me how few riders spend the time to actually learn how to ride better, safer, faster. Coaching and instruction is the most valuable part of your riding experience. Thanks for all you do to make this a better sport.

[derricksierra]

New rider here, about 800 miles on the bike
I just want to say I’m glad I stumbled upon your channel
I’ve been implementing the skills you’ve been talking about.
My favorite one so far being to keep my two fingers always ready on the front brake at all times
It has been a good habit to have
Thank you for your experience !

[matthewknowles]

Great discussion to encourage us all to keep an open mind and keep learning. I like the blend of race track to parking lot topics, it’s all about motorcycle control no matter where you’re riding.

[wyrefpv]

Finally someone else that understands that there are no absolutes on a bike. As a rider of 41 years, racing RD350lc's and powervalves in the 80s, and 15 of them as a motorcycle instructor in the UK, I've been telling my students these things for years. I've always 'feathered' my brakes in corners if they are needed, but if they are needed then it was my fault for not reading the road correctly. At our school we also teach the students about tyre profiles when it comes to steering and cornering. The body language you get from a student when you introduce them to using their feet as well as countersteering is amazing to watch lol. I've even held the bike on the tyre limit to show students just how low a bike will lean, which on most bikes is approx 60 degrees, but if you need that on the road then you've screwed up somewhere on entry lol. As to cornering lines on the road I would point everyone in the direction of the UK's Police Riders Hand Book. This is used in RoSPA and IAM training, both of which are advanced levels of riding. The RoSPA Gold level is the basic level a police rider in the UK needs to be before they let them on the road.

Brilliant video my friend!

[MadChalet]

I've been a victim of the 'nevers, ' specifically 'never touch the brake in a corner. The emphasis placed on smooth riding, both here and on other channels, is much appreciated. I could have used in my younger days, when I thought 'late braking' was all about diving deep into a corner and then jabbing the brake. Smooth riding is safer, faster and just more pleasant.

[scotteric]

I will say, from riding basic courses and taking performance driving courses in cars- your advice is spot on. The big part is practicing application to know what has the exact effect, and when or how much to apply said effect. Its the same concepts in all of motorsports. But mastering a motorcycle will definitely make you a safer automobile driver.

[martinelectraglide]

Thank you again for this amazing eye opener! It's a very welcome addition to get the rigidity about the "rules of motorcycle riding" out of our heads and system. After viewing one of your other videos I applied your words to my actions, and to my great relief cornering my motorcycle ( H-D Electra Glide CVO, 440 kgs dry) went way better than I was used to! So, in short, after doing those "do's & don'ts" you mentioned for 40+ years, I've been going over to your " school of riding" and the new views. It's good to keep on questioning what is right and wrong, and by doing so, bettering yourself all the time. Thanks again and greetings from The Netherlands!👏👏😎😎🇳🇱🇳🇱

[ToddMirzaian]

I felt your sincerity really come through on this one at the end. Ride well brother.

[ZanesLife]

I love your videos. I started watching your channel when I decided I was going to buy my first motorcycle, I’ve learned so much. Trail braking has helped me in corners, I feel a lot more confident and in control when cornering.

[pacificj]

"Never apex on public roads"- i have seen the video of a couple who died because they were riding on apex and the oncoming car was little off the apex and they collided, all these advices are life savers for real.
And a big thankyou to your whole team for putting this content online for free. Learning counter-steering(totally changed my riding experience) and trail braking from you has made me better and a more confident rider.✌️

[beniniandrea]

Wow, your videos are so good. They're no doubt the most ready-to use technical motorcycle video i've found un YouTube.

[redbynight]

I just wish more channels were this balanced and encouraged people to think for themselves like on these videos!

[SimonTheSquid]

When I was starting out one of the most frustrating things was trying to find "The" answer to various aspects of riding. As I progressed I realised that context is everything and a time and a place for all things often applies. Great video! The goals approach is a great way of looking at it.

[joemann]

"Never push the throttle against the front brake"

I do think that depends. Unless you mean acceleration and braking simultaneously, then I absolutely agree.

I do press lightly on the front brake around blind corners with a steady throttle, since it reduces perception time should something pop up out of nowhere. The amount of braking is very small, almost insignificant, so, maybe that doesn't count.

[gordonhenderson]

Well said. It's always nice to get confirmation on one's habits and beliefs. Riding for 50 years, vastly improved in the last 4.

[DavidS]

I agree with everything you said in this video. Smooth progressive inputs make perfect sense to me.

I try to take care that I have the speed roughly right coming into the corner, positioning to the left of the road (UK) for right handers and more towards the centre of the lane for left handers, and follow the limit point through the bend, using small throttle adjustments. Rolling on throttle, and bringing the bike upright as the limit point widens out, I try to accelerate smoothly out of the bend. My bike has lean angle ABS, so if I need to brake in the corner there is some safety net there. When I have had to brake mid corner, the bike has shown a tendency to 'stand up', so if you're sneaking in a little two finger action, mid corner it can unsettle the bike if too extreme.