Best way to improve skills?

[cdlxxvi]

tl;dr: A week ago I almost topped myself after a schoolboy error and now want to better my technique in order to live longer; what should I do?


Full story:
I leant too little into a left bend and consequently got too close to the middle of the road on exit, finding myself on course to meet a car which was about to take said bend slightly short. Instead of leaning slightly more and being on my way, I got target fixation and brushed against the car's side.

The silver lining is that I managed to stay on, so I was able to park the bike and exchange details with the car owner (his female companion was driving) instead of looking for missing body parts for the rest of the afternoon. The damage on my side is torn trousers, unstuck boot sole and bent brake pedal; the car guy is yet to get in touch; might be that there are no scratches under the dirt as the only contact was my textilled leg and a booted foot, but car panels seem to be made of brittle gold and painted with saffron oil these days, so it might still turn out expensive.

It was a silly, avoidable thing to do: good visibility, wide road with dry surface, reasonable speed for the conditions (following some cars at maybe 40). What happened was because of my lousy cornering, followed by lack of correct response to the oncoming trouble.

In general, part of the problem is that I turned into a Sunday rider. My 1st year after CBT was commuting; I was doing circa 800 miles per month in all weathers. My current job is 45 miles away, so I got myself a car, not being hard enough for 1-1.5h of rain and sleet twice a day. I take the bike to work when the weather is nice or go out on weekends, but my mileage is maybe a third of what it was, almost all in dry daytime and most importantly coming in irregularly, so reflexes are not being constantly honed.

I think my road sense is acceptable; I tend not to take risks and usually anticipate what is about to happen, for example I usually see SMIDSYs before they pull out on me so I manage to honk at them preemptively or brake steadily in good time.
My technique, on the other hand, is so-so; I just demonstrated sucking at cornering and probably cannot even tell what other things I do wrong. Also, I lack proper automatic responses; continuing the cornering example: I think "the vanishing point, look there and you won't go wide" and then do it, instead of doing it automatically.

Therefore, the question: recommended ways to get better at riding? Phone my local riding school? IAM/RoSPA? Practice off public roads, if yes, where? Anything else?

[G]

For road riding, I would get a copy of 'Motorcycle Roadcraft' and start with that.
Then consider an advanced riding program like IAM (your results may vary - the one I went to the Thames Valley was pretty good, others less so.)

[Eddie Hitler]

Don't ride beyond your ability. Over time your ability will grow. Skills improve. Simplez.

[WD Forte]

Dont feel too bad, we all make mistakes
Your honesty in admitting your fallabilty will make you
a better rider.
Ridings a skill and so needs practise.
IAM and stuff like that may help you develop your technique
so will concious riding practise.

There are youtube vids of experinced riders doing commentaries while riding which you may find interesting and informative.
Finding quiet road to practise counter steering which is a subtle, easy goes it, process could help.

When my lad was learning I used to encourge him to ride as smoooooooothly as possible, not throttle/brake/fling
He's away in the Navy and been off a bike for quite a while and I've told him when he gets back on, he will be rusty and to go back to basics.
Smoooooooooth ok?


Good luck
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[G]

People aren't necessarily aware of their abilities until they find they've run out.

I'd say focusing that riding practice on learning skills that have been collected over many years and many people to be considered the best method (excepting that it will have a certain bias) is much better than just going out riding randomly.

[yampug]

[Harrier Hound]

I reckon you've answered your own question - "Turned into a Sunday rider, reflexes not constantly honed etc" - it is was it is. Spending more time on the bike is the obvious answer. Reflecting on the ride when you're off the bike, calm, not deaded - what you did well, what you did badly, what and how you could change. You know it's not rocket science, it's just bloody awkward if you're out of the habit of doing it.

I couldn't trust myself to be a "just" a "Sunday rider" cos I'm dodgy enough when I'm riding 6/7 days a week! Best of luck to you - read up a bit, think about it a bit, mebbe go on a course and be patronized a bit but mebbe pick up something useful...but ultimately, try and get on the bike a bit more regularly, and ride a bit more cautiously to the conditions / your experience...

[G]

[yampug]

[G]

So you've met every IAM group, but have no interest in doing the IAM test?

Why?

Where does your experience of the IAM test come from?
Have you had your riding analysed by them?

[Dean-J]

The above mentioned ideas are all good ones, but just to throw something else into the mix...

Trackdays are a great place to learn yours and your bikes limits. The more you know you and your bike can do, the easier it is to do it. Also great practice for looking where you want to go, looking through the bends etc etc.

A wet trackday is a great place to practice getting your riding as smooth as possible, i reckon you'd learn more in 1 wet day, than in 5 dry days.

But the biggest thing is, you KNOW what you did wrong, and you KNOW why, you know what started the chain of events, and the incorrect action you took that made it worse. focus on the first bit, your corner entry. get that right and in future there should be no need to take avoiding action
____________________
Current: 99 Yamaha Thuundercat
Previous: K7 GSXR 1000 K4 GSXR 600 roadbike, CBR 600 Steelie Track bike, 2005 SV1000Sz, 2004 FZ6 Streetfighter,2003 Yamaha Thundercat, 2002 SV650, 1989 Yamaha DT125R

[yampug]

[G]

Nice retraction .



I have no doubt some IAM groups are as you describe, many maybe.
But not all.

The rest of your claims weren't really congruent with my experience, which is why I questioned them, as I thought you might have trouble substantiating reasoning behind your opinions .

[WD Forte]

IAM groups, both bike and car have a somewhat mixed reputation
Some think they're a bunch of string backed driving glove, know it all, fuddy duddies
with a firmly wedged up their own arses 'our way or the wrong way' attitude.

Never having joined I really dont know and cant comment personally but
I can well imagine some of their members getting a bit arrogant and pissing folk off
(including other IAM members) which is unfortunate as it really misses the point
and drives people away.

We'd all benefit from shared experiences and techniques to make us all better riders or drivers.
But as a long time rider/driver and ex driving instructor who passed every test first time
( lucky, just lucky, could just as easily fucked it all up) I do know
taking an "I'm great you're scum, just shut up and listen" attitude really doesnt help.

I hope the OP finds a local group who can help develop his skills in a positive friendly
way.

Ultimately though we're all only as good as our last ride
I could be qualifed up the wazoo then go out and do something completely shit brained
to nullify it all.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[J biker]

Roadcraft. I don't understand the ones that knock it.

Then miles in the saddle.

Sounds like your road position was wrong, should be placed to see through the corner and NOT be taken by surprise by oncoming traffic. If you cant see far enough through the corner for the speed you are travelling at, then its too fast. Get road position right and get confidence in leaning the bike over, it wont fall over...
Looking further ahead instead of immediately in front is essential to making safe progress.

A ride out with an advanced rider (IAM maybe) could be the starting point to sort your road positioning.

[_Iain_]

The IAM lot aren't all bad.

Doesn't appeal to me - but they're a friendly enough bunch among their own.

I did note a few guys got a bit funny with a bloke that'd showed up to see what the IAM meets were all about & refused to let them partake in any of the rideouts unless he paid for membership there and then. Fair enough if its your own bikes & stuff - but we as a dealer go up there with a van full of demos & let them take the bikes out for a little 15-20min ride. Gives us feedback really & helps generate a bit of business. It's left me with the impression that they're all about membership fees & separating themselves from other people - a friend did go a bit up himself after passing some examination with them.

Honestly, the best thing you can do for your riding is to ride more often & with other peope. I had a realy bad problem with target fixation that nearly got me killed twice on L plates - I found the answer was to concentrate on steering actively, by pushing the bar on the side I wanted to go. Still can't corner quickly, but no further over white line situations scince & corner speed is constantly improving - riding with freinds is good as they'll pick up on the mistakes you make and advise what they do in the situations. J.M and Paddy were awesome at this in Spain
____________________
Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[G]

[Teflon-Mike]

[_Iain_]

Fuck me Tef, that's gotta be the longest post yet
____________________
Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Aff]

[Walloper]

[-Matt-]

Good you acknowledge the mistake and care, everyones done similar one time or another. I rode around care free on a ped for 2 years with a few lucky escapes before it really started sinking in.

Depending on how new / attentive you are to riding and training you've had so far, i'd say the police roadcraft book is a good one. You will likely find a lot of it stuff you already vagely or even entirely know - but even if by reading it reinforces it more its a good addition.

I've done a bikesafe [bristol area - can't comment on elsewhere] and found it valuable, definately not your stereotypical 'traffic coppaaaa' scenario. Got critisied on a couple of things, and commended on others - no more or less than in a test scenario, but it was very valuable for insight purposes.

IAM's i'm looking to do in the coming year, although to be honest i've heard from a couple of friends its not what its cracked upto be and is a bit more 'prestigious', so might be something to look at later depending on how its delivered in your area - i'd ask around a bit.

Besides that just remember what you learn as you go - nothing will stick in your mind more than one of your own fuck-ups

[MarJay]

If you've already got good road sense then road based skills can only show you so much. If it's purely an issue of bike control, then I'd suggest doing the California Superbike School level 1. That should help you to get the bike turned and to improve your cornering confidence.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[cdlxxvi]

[Harrier Hound]

Unfortunately, OP has replied, thereby destroying the mental image of them I had trying to put into effect all of the advice given simultaneously. Careening off the road while pressing positively on the handlebars, thumbing through the " motorbike bible", while chasing the vanishing point, riding within their limits whilst pushing the envelope, all under the watchful eye of an official observer in a high vis vest. Never mind.