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Tourer
Posts: 506
Woodland Hills, CA | I'm sure some, of not most, of you have seen the Ride Like A Pro videos, or at least know about them. A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to take one of their classes given here in Southern California, and I can tell you that it is something that everyone should at least consider. It was certainly a challenge (to say the least), but well worth it. The class I took offered the option of renting an ex-police Kawi, but I opted to use my Vision, which proved to be more of a challenge than I had anticipated (especially with the linked brakes). And yes, I did drop the bike (tip overs took a beating, but worked flawlessly......again!), but got a first hand look (and feel) at the slow speed characteristics of the Vision.
If you are not able to take the class, at least get the videos and practice what you see. But if you can, you should give the class a try. I guarantee that no matter how good you are, or how long you have been riding (unless you are a motor officer), this one will test your skills, and should definitely improve your abilities. And if you manage to get the courage (or stupidity, based on your point of view) to take it on your Vision, it will give you a whole new perspective on this bike we all love so much, not to mention improve your riding skills.
Check it out at "ridelikeapro.com", or if you in Southern California "ridelikeaprowestcoast".
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Taking the MRC to me proved the challenge on a big bike like the Vision. I hope to get the videos or take a RLAP course, as that is highly respected. I watched some video involving the Fairfax County Police Bike Squad I think on youtube and they are great. To ride like that and make it look easy is definetly a goal to strive for. Thanks Wizzy... | |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | "Ride Like a Pro V" is the best training video that I have seen to date. I hope to take the class soon.
Ride Safe! | |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Wizard, I have some Ride Like a Pro videos and have practiced in a nearby parking lot but didn't notice the linked brakes being an issue. Are they really aggressive about trail-braking during the course? Maybe I haven't been practicing hard enough. | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 154
| As in police motor school dragging the brake in low speed drills is a big part of keeping the bike upright. The thought is as long as you have power to the rear wheel at slow speeds the bike will stay upright. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I have notice that if you are real aggressive with the rear brake in a slow, tight turn it feels like you get all that front brake tries to bring you down. It say in the RLAP video that front brake in a slow turn "will pull the bike to the ground like a magnet". I have learned to overcome this by alot more power to the rear wheel, like the motor cops do in rodeo compititions. Seems hard on the clutch, and since I own my bike I try to avoid this. | |
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Tourer
Posts: 506
Woodland Hills, CA | Let's just say that the linked brakes require more skill than unlinked brakes. If you brake too hard, you will engage the front brake and the bike will go over (personal experience talking). You don't want to be too aggressive on the rear brake, but as I found out, it doesn't take much to engage the front brake, and unless you are really good (which I was not, at least in this first learning experience), you will have a problem.
The techniques taught in the course definitely work, though, and as I said before, it will most certainly make you a better rider. And I am sure (or maybe just hopeful) that with some practice, I will manage to deal with the linked brakes. | |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 13
Phoenix, Arizona | Wizard, thanks for the review. I have been thinking about going out there one of these weekends and taking the course. Sounds like it's worth the trip. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I guess I need to work this more on the linked brakes. My 84 goldwing had it, I just got that 3 years ago. When I first found out, it kinda bothered me because I like to be in control of my brakes. However, I learned very quickly I didn't feel much differece in the braking as unlinked brakes, but then again, I had a twenty year hiatus. When I got the Vision and they said linked brakes, I said okay, I can deal with those. When I took the MFC ERC I didn't seem to have any problems with the fact the brakes are linked. Now, seeing the RLAP videos, but not doing them yet, maybe that is a different story. I can't really image braking that hard on the rear to seriously activate the front and cause you to go down. I think the key here is and always will be experience, as I felt like a goof on my Vision at the ERC. I know I could do a lot better now, but maybe still not perfect. Any rider, especially a new one needs to practice, and I do this everytime I ride mentally, and sometimes physically. I'm constantly thinking what am I doing and what would I do. I'll semi- do panic stops at lights, not to look like I'm a rooky, but I'll brake hard to check the actions of the bike and my reactions. Also, I use my front mostly on the road and my rear only in the slow, unless I'm absolutely straight, the front WILL bring you down, don't ask me how I know. Thankfully, I've never done it with the Vision yet, but did it too many times on my Wing, in front of people no less. | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Kincardine, Ontario, Canada | I have the RLP video from Motorman, Taken the advanced pro rider course at our community college, which is similar to the RLP, both advised to use the rear brake for slow speed control. All this was done on my FLHTC.
BUT!! now I am awaiting my Vision with its linked brakes. There is another course, available free to members of V-Twin forum, http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/ You send an email to the instructor and he will mail you the course, it's self directed and very well done. He is also a retired Motorcycle Training Officer. Guess what. He advises NOT to use the rear brake, and that you can achieve the same results using only the throttle and clutch. I did follow his advice and his training plan and was quite able to do the exercises without the rear brake. Like everything it took some practice. | |
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Tourer
Posts: 320
Savannah, GA -Year round riding!! Yay! | I had the pleasure of riding down to Hydson, FL back in NOv. and taking the course from Motorman Jerry and his lovely wife, Doc Donna (who moderates the "Women Who Ride" forum which I love). I was a chicken, I'll admit, I rode my VTX down there to do it (the wheelbase of the Vision intimidated me for maneuvers, and I had just had the ECM recall done). I highly recommend this course. The way that they teach it is just so dern logical. I would love to take it again.... maybe on my Vision, maybe on the Road Glide.... The DVDs are great. I've actually had them for a few years, ever since I started riding. No nonsense approach to learning (for any beginners you might now), to common obstacles that you will encounter onve you get out of your own neighborhood, and to do twisty mountain roads. I am doing a leg of a cross country ride for Breast Cancer this summer with a bunch of the "Women Who Ride". It starts out at Doc Donna's house in the Tampa area, and ends up in Vancouver, BC. (I am doing a piddling 3 days fro LaGrange, GA to Murphy, NC, and a day slaying"The Dragon). It will be a string of women riding in pink, raising money for Breast Cancer research. Here's a link to my page:
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | candubrain - 2009-02-25 6:33 PM I have the RLP video from Motorman, Taken the advanced pro rider course at our community college, which is similar to the RLP, both advised to use the rear brake for slow speed control. All this was done on my FLHTC. BUT!! now I am awaiting my Vision with its linked brakes. There is another course, available free to members of V-Twin forum, http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/ You send an email to the instructor and he will mail you the course, it's self directed and very well done. He is also a retired Motorcycle Training Officer. Guess what. He advises NOT to use the rear brake, and that you can achieve the same results using only the throttle and clutch. I did follow his advice and his training plan and was quite able to do the exercises without the rear brake. Like everything it took some practice. Okay, I'm a member of the v-twinforum, but I must have the case of the stupids. How do email the "instructor". I thought there was something obvious there that said "instructor" but can't figure or find what you are talking about. thanks if you help me further, type slow because that is the way I comprehend. | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Kincardine, Ontario, Canada | Hey Varyder
I went looking and couldn't find it either. The course was always in the "motorcycle rider safety course" forum and the guys name was Harris. When you see a post from him, his name is no longer active, I don't know if he is still with us, or just no longer subscribing to that forum.
Here is a link with a guy explaining his experience without using the rear brake, along with video, followed by a comment from Harris.
http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/motorcycle-rider-safety-tips/7304...
Edited by candubrain 2009-02-27 7:05 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Cool beans. I saw he had some momentum, and the cones were fairly spacey I'm just wondering if there is an aspect of the course you would have to use the brake. I'm not down playing what I saw at all, I would have mowed down all the cones. When watching some of the RLAP videos, there seemed to be some tighter courses. I would love to learn to do it without the brakes, that is when you have to be really good. It has to take a lot of mental discipline to do any of this. I often see folk, and I was like that when I first started riding again, riding a little shakey at stop lights and in parking lots. They look they are on roller skates when they don't know how to rollerskate. I mean, instead of manuvering they come to a dead stop. I feel very concerned for them as this would be the crash and burn victim instead of manuvering out when things get heated on the highway. I don't care who you are, it takes skill to ride and skill has to be learned. I'm such a novice, where do I sign up.... | |
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Cruiser
Posts: 141
Cumming, GA | I took the Advanced Riders Course here in GA and used my Kingpin. I dropped it once but I think it would have been easier on the Vision. One note... I practice the Ride Like a Pro moves and wore out my rear brakes to the point of having to replace them at around 5k miles. The idea is to be in the "friction zone" using the clutch and rear brake. I got to where I could do 14' circles with the KP. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | I've always been a rear brake rider. Even more so on the Vision (dont like to hear that gear noise from the primary). Keep the power on, use the rear brake for control. | |
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Ride Like A Pro