Don't Drop your Motorcycle: 5 Tips + 3 Riding Exercises

Many riders struggle with slow speed skills on a motorcycle. This week I share some techniques to master the art of slow-speed maneuvers and we go out to the parking lot to look at 3 training exercises you can work on today.

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Thanks for watching,
Kevin

[MCrider]

- The Forum is an active, friendly place where riders share riding tips, ideas, travel photos, and show off their new motorcycles. Riders and instructors from all over the world are active on the forums and ready to share in the adventure with you.
- The Field Guide is a section of the forums that have very specific training exercises that you can work on in any open parking lot to develop your riding skills.
In addition to these resources, you can discuss every MCrider video, suggest future training videos, read and share gear reviews, and more.
By becoming a member you help support MCrider and keep the weekly videos coming but you also get access to a world of riders who share tips and techniques to help us all enjoy the ride and increase our skills.

[leroyjarvis]

Dropped mine at maybe 2 mph changing from pavement to gravel, to much front brake in 3in of gravel. Being a veteran rider of over 50 years it's good to know I can still learn better riding skills. Thank you for your great videos and gentle teaching method.

[frankemcgillivray]

Been riding since '63 and have taken advanced training courses. Rarely do I watch a MCrider post without learning something new.

[joshmatthew]

I've got 20+ years of riding experience and never dropped a bike. I've always had smaller bikes. Three weeks ago I got a eletra glide. I've dropped it twice now. Lol! It feels like I'm starting over when it comes to stopping. Thanks for the tips!

[Buster-motorbike]

I've just found this post. I've been away from biking for some years. This is pure gold for me. Thank you so much.

[terrencegray]

In my advanced trainning I learned how to turn my bike in a full 360 turn in the space of two parking stalls. My bike is a Electra Glide Ultra Classic. Very important info here. I have gotten pretty good at lowspeed handling. Riding for 50 years. My friend and I have a game we like to play. Who can go the slowest without putting your feet down. One more thing. Please invest in good riding boots. Sneakers arent really a good choice. Boots can save your feet plus you have better traction when moving around on your bike with your feet. Beware of fixation crashes. When going through turns, look where to where you want to be and thats where your bike will go. Keep your head up. Know your friction zone. Thanks for the great videos. I subscribed. You can teach an old dog new tricks!

[charleschidester]

I used to worry about clutch life by using the zone method. I just turned 60k on my vstar without ever cracking the motor open for any repairs. Guys worry more about repair costs than their own safety. Learning how to use the friction zone several years ago has increased my fun and confidence. Great tips as always. Thanks mcRider.

[RollModel]

Not really about the video.. but all of them. Took my MSF today and got 0 points (a perfect score). My instructors were amazing, but your videos and a few others were really helpful. Thank you

[FLATearthGARY]

I’ve always been taught to look 12-15 seconds ahead in my large truck training. I’ve found this to be useful in every vehicle I drive, including my motorcycle. However, I look even more intense because I’m also looking for road hazards(potholes, gravel, objects, etc). Thank you for all of your tips. I use them everyday.
I suggest if you’re getting a motorcycle to be cool, to keep up with the Jones’s or to be a show off and aren’t mature or disciplined enough to triple or quadruple your attention span at all times, just don’t buy one! You’re already a danger to everyone else on the road in your car!

[billaustin]

Hey Kevin, good morning! Want you to know your doing an excellent job. I'm a returning rider, 50 years since I rode in my early twenties, so I bought a HD electra glide ultra classic before I started watching YouTube videos. Mistake. I dropped it 9 times trying to get it out of my 400 foot gravel driveway before I realized that I didn't want it out of my driveway until I learned what I thought I still knew. So I've signed up for a MSF course and I joined MCrider as a patreon. Watched a lot of YouTube videos and your the best, God be with you and your family and we'll see you on the road.

[rogerpinnock]

Thanks Kevin. When I did my Advanced training I was told not to wiggle my hips when turning at higher speeds. This led me never to wiggle - and consequently no counterweighting at lower speeds. Boy did I struggle with the low speed test! What was missing was “lean the bike into the turn, but at low speeds lean your body in the opposite direction to keep balance”. Now I have grasped countersteering vs counterweighting - it’s made a big difference.

[tobyh]

I also find that squeezing the bike with ur knees/legs while keeping my arms fairly relaxed helps a lot at those slower walking pace speeds as well.

[christopherleecowan]

Even experienced riders need to take the time to brush up on their skills.

[frankbrown]

Between You and Motorman Jerry, Everybody should become 100% in Every Maneuver. Thanks to Both of You, and Don't Stop.🥇😎

[charlesvlcek]

Great video I've been riding for 40yrs have seen riders out of school crash a big bike in corners due to inexperience on a big bike also loved your slow speed riding techniques I still to this day never dropped a bike

[akquicksilver]

Pulled my FJR into a freshly topped parking lot, put my feet down to balance so I could put the kickstand down and I didn't notice someone had dumped a latte on the pavement and I had put my right foot down on the plastic cup lid which was in a pool of latte. On the slick new pavement lubed with a latte, I went down. The only up side, besides reminding my self to always be aware of my ground game, I got so mad I had enough adrenaline pump to pop the heavy FJR right back up straight without getting a hernia. Another great video!

[Swoop]

I've been watching some motorcycle officer training videos and rodeos quiet a bit lately, and it too has been an eye opener. One thing I noticed they will do is make a slight dip in the opposite direction of a u-turn they're about to make so I decided to go give it a try, turns out to be a very helpful technique.
I also noticed in slow speed maneuvers they will very noticeably pump the rear brake while working the friction zone, and I mean extremely slow speed, maybe a foot or two per minute, very impressive!
I really appreciate the work you do with your channel, and what a true service you provide to the motorcycle community, thank you and stay safe!

[kodiakkodiak]

I took MSF course while in the military, which was mandatory to ride on base. That was back in 1982, when I bought my brand new Honda CB750 Nighthawk, straight out of the crate.

It was also mandatory to bring the bike YOU were going to be riding.

I went through the required class room course, passed the written test and proceeded to course work. All in all, a week of skill development.

Fast forward to 2011, bought a brand new 2010 Honda VTX1300R in Phoenix, Arizona.

To obtain a motorcycle endorsement on my license, I had to pass a written and riding test, using that bike. VTX1300R is a cruiser, longer than average street bike.

Although the slow speed figure 8 turns were difficult, I did slightly cross the lines, the test instructor rated the turn as "acceptable" and passed me.

After 19 years, I STILL remembered the skills that was thought through MSF course and I passed with very little issue, other than being very nervous.

My wife's 25 Y/O son, he decided to get a bike, after visiting us in Arizona and saw my "new" Goldwing and we had a talk on the importance of the MSF course, which had kept me safe all those years and continue to keep me safer.

I think I'm over due for refresher to recertify my skills as educated and responsive rider.

Subscribed and looking for all the information that may have changed since my course back in 1982.

BTW folks, my insurance STILL recognized the MSF course and got me a discount, even after all these years...it pays in more ways than one.

[synopticdesigns]

Tips are right on. I learned most of them the hard way. I've been riding on and off (mostly on) for fifty years. For the last eight years I've had a Kawasaki Versys 650 that now has 20K miles. I dropped it numerous times at zero to very low speed before I dropped the suspension front and rear by two inches (and a custom lower seat) so I could put both feet flat on the ground when stopped. I've just purchased a 2019 Kawasaki Concours 14, which is much heavier. I'm not even going to try to ride it until it is lowered, both the suspension and seat and replaced the handlebar to bring the grips up and much closer. I'm sure the Concours will be my last bike (I'm 74) so I wanted a bike that has all the features I've always wanted, e.g., ABS, ESC, shaft drive and heated grips. The only feature it didn't have, which is a must, is electronic cruise control. I've ordered a McCruise Electronic Cruise Control aftermarket accessory to have installed.

[Kendkend]

Great tips. I actually dropped it a very months ago because handlebar was turned and used front brake