Riding Naturally

How long did it take you before operating a motorcycle came as
naturally as walking? If you don't feel at one with the machine yet,

I think I got ya beat :-) If 'let the poor tired little thing
lay down and take a nap' counts as a 'crash', anyway .....

The difference being, Albrecht got back ON a bike instead of just waffling
on about them.

So. Pee Wee Herman also rides motorcycles, and says "I meant to do that"?

Do you drive a car with a manual transmission? Any racetrack time? Do you feel
as one with the car?

Your answers should give you a basis for judging the same with a motorcycle.

how long have you been riding?

Lee Parks wrote a book, "Total Control" a while back. Interesting book in
that he covered a lot of different aspects of riding, including the mental
aspect. One thing he talked about was keeping your mind clear of
distractions while you ride. The reason being is that he states that we use
up a certain amount of 'processor' doing the things we need to do to keep
the bike on the road. We keep our minds clear so that if something
unexpected happens, we have some reserve capacity in the 'processor' to deal
with whatever occurs. As we become more familiar to riding, more and more
of the minute to minute function are handled automatically, like shifting,
adjusting throttle, that kind of thing. It gives us greater reserve
capacity to deal with those annoying little emergencies that crop up at the
most inconvenient time possible. He maintains that it is vital that we
remain focused on our riding and keeping our minds clear.

To me, riding seems very natural. What are my natural reactions? The
minute to minute things are handled automatically without much thought. I
try to stay clear and focused on what is going on. It is natural for me to
constantly scan the 360 degree zone around me for hazards and potential
hazards, prioritizing areas based on the current situation. It is natural
for me to remain conscious that asphalt really, really hurts at 50 MPH, not
to mention fence posts.

The process used and the amount of time is variable with each person.
It depends on a multitude of factors, including personal attitude, skill
level, environmental concerns, equipment (like the motorcycle), amount of
seat time, and others. You will know when you get there.

Riding can seem as natural as walking, I think. It is just that things
happen SO much faster on a motorcycle than when on foot and the potential
consequences are far, far greater. That is why, when we ride, while it may
seem natural, the thought process behind it must be separate and distinct
from the process of walking. If you can separate the two, then you have
made great strides in reducing your risk while on the road.

Andrew
02 Ninja 500

Let's see. My first ride at the controls of a machine with two wheels
and a motor was back in '63, as I recall. Granted, I only took it up
seriously long after that, but even so...

I'm in my second season and I still feel like I'm coming up short.

i dont really recall the transition so much, as i've been on some form
of motorcycle since i was 5 years old. so with that, its always felt
natural to me. i moved to street bikes when i turned 21 (currently 28)
with a nighthawk 650. in 2002 i picked up my first 'new to me' street
bike, an sv650. in 04 i traded it for an r6, which was later stolen out
of my garage last year and was replaced with an 06 gixxer 600.

i've always felt more at ease on two wheels than in a car, especially in
traffic oddly enough. however, i still find myself having to "re-train"
for several rides after coming out of winter hibernation to get back in
the mix of things.

these days feeling natural is a gross understatement. when i find myself
down a twisty road and totally focused, i find that i dont even notice
the bike itself. its more like im flying, and the bike is a part of me
instead of something that im riding on. its quite surreal. its that
which keeps me coming back for more. :)

after riding alone on the sv650 for a couple months, i had found a group
of guys whom went out every sunday to run all the back roads around our
area. they were great in that they stressed the importance of riding
within your limits, and making sure everyone from the fastest riders to
the slower riders were together as a group at every stop sign, turn off,
and rest stop. they were very skilled and i learned a lot from them, and
it helped to accelerate my street cornering and braking skills.

while i no longer ride with them, as most have moved away, myself and
another gentleman who used to ride with them still ride together to this
day. we have been able to, over the past couple years, develop a riding
style thats more like we're riding as one versus two bikes just riding
down a road. whether its him leading and me chasing, or vice versa, we
know what the other is doing and will be doing at any given point. its
this, i believe, which has helped more than anything.

while there are still those "off" days where you want to go for a ride,
but just dont feel comfortable, i still go making sure i maintain
control. if i start to feel like im getting in the groove, i will turn
it up a notch to see how it feels...if i still dont, then i wont.
forcing it to come is as good as crashing as far as im concerned...as
thats exactly where you'll end up. likewise, being overly confident will
also put you off the road just as fast, if not faster.

i guess what im trying to say through this, is that from a natural stand
point, ride how YOU feel comfortable and most natural. whether its 2
years or 20 years, if you dont feel comfortable doing something...then
dont. the minute you try and make it happen instead of letting it
happen, is the same minute you get to test the offroad capabilities of
your bike...or worse.

as far as your comment about coming up short, i disagree. there's really
no measurement on street, nor should there be. if you're not feeling
comfortable, then its just a matter of giving it more time. dont feel as
if you need to be at X by Y time. it simply doesnt work that way.

just make sure you enjoy yourself safely, beyond that...its just an
added bonus. being on two wheels alone should be enough to put a smile
on your face from ear to ear. :)

-chris h.

You are.
What kind of training have you gone through in your 1 short year?
Been to a racetrack? Have any idea what your bike can do? Do you have any
idea what you can do?
I'd say get to a trackschool.

I didn't take it up that recently -- about 20 years ago, actually. It

I was a pretty good amateur bicycle racer starting at about 15, and
rode all around Cincinnati when I was maybe 13 or 14. I'm 51 now, and
between the time that I was 18 and 51 there was only 1 year that I
didn't own a motorcycle. These days I live in a warm climate
(Northern Florida) and motorcycle to work almost every day.

So I guess that I have logged quite a few miles on two wheels.

Moral of the story: practice, practice, practice.

isn't "natural." It takes attention, and anything that interferes with
your ability to give it conscious thought should keep you off the
motorcycle until the effect has passed.

That said, you will probably get better with practice. Get out and
ride. Giving it your full attention.

Al Moore
DoD 734

It should never feel as "natural" as walking because that's when you drop your
guard.