Excellent figure 8

[ofblong]

Stupid governments should just look at the real cause of bike related accidents. Most of the time it'll be a stupid cager not paying attention or an unlicensed rider.

Enforce the laws already in place instead of banning something based on ignorance. Some people should be killed to save the rest of humanity.

Hey, mandated practice would save us all...and end the plague of overwieght gophers!

im not an overweight gopher (you spelled it wrong) just a pleasantly plump rider .

[beginner]

I would warn folks who practice like this about the dangers of becoming complacent. The danger is eventually you're just riding in your wheel ruts on autopilot without any concious thought about what you're doing. The well worn path actually becomes a rut that you'll just mindlessly follow around--which embeds a dangerous behavior not unlike following the brakelights in front of you.

When I'm not concentrating well I don't ride.

Practicing in new and different venues is a valuable way to stay alert and aware. I have 4 lots I use just to keep things mixed up.

There is only one parking lot anywhere near where my bike is parked.

What exercises were you working on in your last practices?

[storysunfolding]

There is only one parking lot anywhere near where my bike is parked.

last time there were two...

[CaptCrashIdaho]

What exercises were you working on in your last practices?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FamNU6Hsdkk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGY-kLYKqSY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zhFXfX4bl4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNDuYjQNn0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XjaTVGhZ9o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMgU44UwByY

Practice=GOOD.

I even practice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELIYqDktYt0

I would suggest that you truck that bike down to an MSF course or other riding school and learn to ride. I've seen people put bikes like yours into pickups and ride 2 hours each way to take a course.

NEW RIDERS: this conversation is an excellent example of WHY you should get some training! Beginner has no malice in his heart, he's just got shockingly wrong vocabulary and a basic misunderstanding of what is happening under his rump and how it works. I would suggest that anyone starting out GET TRAINED http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16He9S4CPhw because you need to learn the nomenclature of riding.

Then, once you've taken the course you can practice those exercises on your own. The thing is those exercises are DESIGNED to help with real world entry level skills.

Once you have been riding, take an advanced course, read (Code, Hahn, etc...), find others to ride with, and most importantly--be open to learning.

[beginner]

There is only one parking lot anywhere near where my bike is parked.

last time there were two...

There are concrete pads on the farm. I mentioned one next to a pole barn. The pads are cracked and deteriorated and covered with loose gravel, not good for regular practice. The parking lot is still like new and I have to hope it stays that way for years because it won't be resurfaced regularly.

You are being negative. Why make comments if talking about practice doesn't interest you?

CaptCrashIdaho

"Don't forget, if you want to improve your skills you have to practice, you can't just expect to play the guitar because you own one. You've got to go out and do those things. Find an open lot, be safe, work the bike a little bit, and mostly, just have fun."

[Gummiente]

im not an overweight gopher (you spelled it wrong) just a pleasantly plump rider .

Don't diss the gophers... they're more dangerous than you think.

[storysunfolding]

You are being negative. Why make comments if talking about practice doesn't interest you?

To me it seems like both new and experienced riders in addition to your evil instructors are trying to prevent others from falling into the same pit you've dug yourself into all over the internet.

[Tennif Shoe]

Post some pics of your favourite NON-PARKING LOT rides and destinations.

Driveways, field edges, foot paths, etc. We made some trails too. There are roads but I don't seem to have any pictures of those.

I can do all that on my 1800 but then i ride most of the time out of parking lots. beginner do you go to parking lots with your car and practice parell parking? Have you ever gone above 30 MPH?

[CaptCrashIdaho]

You are being negative. Why make comments if talking about practice doesn't interest you?

To me it seems like both new and experienced riders in addition to your evil instructors are trying to prevent others from falling into the same pit you've dug yourself into all over the internet.

Unfolding makes a valid point. Your quest for that basic skill that will save you is your basic error.

Quick--you come around a corner and find a dark patch of pavement in front of you. Looks like diesel or antifreeze...it covers your entire lane from fogline to centerline, there's a truck full of razor blades coming the other way in the oncoming lane! What do you do?

Swerving (which is a skill a figure 8 can help you with) is out of the question. What do you do and how do you practice for it?

[beginner]

To me it seems like both new and experienced riders in addition to your evil instructors are trying to prevent others from falling into the same pit you've dug yourself into all over the internet.

Talking about practice is worthwhile. Motorcycle instructors should not discourage it.