Proficient Motorcycling saved my arse today - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

919Hooligan · 03-12-2007, 10:55 PM

I just wanted to let everyone know that if you haven't read this book you should head down to the book store tomorrow and buy it. It may just save your arse too.

My 919 is the first bike I've owned that has a serious sport side to it, and being that I bought it going into the winter months I haven't had much time to explore it's capabilities. To fill the motorcycle void while it's been cold I've been reading Proficient Motorcycling. Today I set out to practice some of the pointers that are in the book.

As I was heading down one of our scenic backroads at a spirited pace I came to a left hand curve that looked decievingly long and swoopy, but actually tightened up about half way through. On top of that, the outer couple feet of the curve were littered with gravel. I entered the curve from the outside and leaned with the intention of heading for the apex of the turn and exiting toward the outside. As the turn tightened I found myself perilousy far from the apex and quickly approaching the gravel. In a split second I thought "Brakes? No, I'll slide out. Lean more? No, I already feel I'm at my lean limit." Then I remembered the subject of intentionally pushing on the handlebar to increase your lean and tighten up your turn. Can you guess what happened next? I gave the left handgrip a slight push and not only did the bike lean further and come in close on the apex, steering me clear of gravel and saving me from a slide into the woods, but I feel that I just took a giant leap into an area of handling that I had not yet experianced on a motorcycle, even though I've been riding for 16 years. It was very confidence inspiring. Armed with this newfound skill and using it again and again from then on I would say that todays ride was one of the most exciting I've ever been on, even though it was only about 90 miles.

If you're reading this and you've never read his book, I urge you to do so. I've never been much of a reader, but the payoff for reading this book is tremendous in my opinion. It WILL make you a better rider.