dont always follow ..... - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

tallannie · 06-16-2007, 12:51 PM

Since my low side crash (about 1500 miles ago), I routinely have followed a 2 second interval or so behind my husband when we ride together... which is mostly what we do. I learned a lot by following but I discovered that I was keying off him...rather than learning to judge corners and entry speed on my own. My eyes were following his tailight rather than looking thru the corner, as taught in MSF. Dumb...
So... this trip (about 800 mi up to San Juan islands and back) we took turns leading. It was different and I got a LOT of practice. Turns out I enjoy the twisties more than he does...LOL.

maybe this means I have got my courage completely back....and I suppose this is why in groups the newbies are encouraged to lead....

**Clint** · 06-16-2007, 04:13 PM

That's an excellent tip. I'm always amazed at how racers can ride their own line and not get distracted by the rider ahead. We need the same skill on the street.

Congrats on your courage!

MOTOHOLIC! · 06-17-2007, 12:32 PM

That is a good tip.

**inspiron** · 06-17-2007, 02:19 PM

Thanks Annie,

I am "guilty" of the same thing - judging the upcoming turn based on the rider in front of me instead of riding my own line. In my group ride yesterday (see my tour report here) I found myself making this mistake, so I forced myself to slow down even more, so that the rider in front of me was no longer in view. That way, I had to focus on the road itself rather than his/her tail lights.

baum604 · 06-18-2007, 09:46 AM

That's what I like to call the "Taillight addiction" I'm guilty of that too sometimes. Once I break away from looking at it, makes me shiver thinking about the other hazards of the road that I was oblivious to.

**intimid8er** · 06-18-2007, 10:08 AM

Great tip Annie!

Good reminder to everyone.

Fishpart · 06-19-2007, 11:55 AM

Great tip! Never really thought about it, I'll use this to break the habit.

650Doug · 07-11-2007, 01:57 AM

Good thread. I'm gonna have to have my wife read it, as she prefers to follow me, and she says she learns from me, but now I wonder if she's just doing what I do, because she see's it at the time.

Maybe it's time to make her ride up font for a while.

robertc729 · 07-11-2007, 04:53 PM

I always have my wife in front, so I can watch what she's doing, and when we stop I give her pointers. It works out pretty good for us.

Duckonin · 07-13-2007, 02:01 AM

Hmmmmmm!! bad move to follow the front rider or any other vehicle,by whatching what they do..the front rat in the pied piper lead the others over the cliff and the same can happen with riders ..on the other hand a more experienced rider takes a corner without braking, leading a less experienced person into a corner that is beyond their limits, more times than not a disaster follows..

Ride your own ride and enjoy !!!!!!!!

tallannie · 07-13-2007, 10:22 AM

Duckonin... that is an excellent additional point about brakes... a newbie could certainly be led astray trying to follow a very experienced rider.

Lucky for me, even with 40 years of riding, my hubby is conservative and brakes for elves and gnomes half the time, I swear...

but it is/was good training for me.
Now, when I lead, I find that I downshift / engine brake and dont brake nearly as much....and I end up far ahead of him too.
When I follow him now, I simply put my head in his mindset of a tourist enjoying the views around me rather than a motorcyclist enjoying the road....and this works for a while anyway... and preserves our marriage

**Louis** · 07-13-2007, 10:59 AM

Kudos Annie. Thanks for the reminder as well.

HAMMERPETE · 07-16-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tallannie

Duckonin... that is an excellent additional point about brakes... a newbie could certainly be led astray trying to follow a very experienced rider.

Lucky for me, even with 40 years of riding, my hubby is conservative and brakes for elves and gnomes half the time, I swear...

but it is/was good training for me.
Now, when I lead, I find that I downshift / engine brake and dont brake nearly as much....and I end up far ahead of him too.
When I follow him now, I simply put my head in his mindset of a tourist enjoying the views around me rather than a motorcyclist enjoying the road....and this works for a while anyway... and preserves our marriage

I allow Rae to ride at her own pace when we ride a new road. I give her the directions and our intentions before the ride. She can fall back if the road gets to much for her. I always keep her in my mirror.
I do this because I know she will not ride past her ability to keep up with me.
I personally would increase the interval to at least 5 seconds on a twisty road.

06-16-2007, 12:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
tallannie Sit speling cheker Joined: Dec 2006 Bike: C50 Boulevard Location: Hillsboro, Oregon Posts: 1,883	dont always follow ..... Since my low side crash (about 1500 miles ago), I routinely have followed a 2 second interval or so behind my husband when we ride together... which is mostly what we do. I learned a lot by following but I discovered that I was keying off him...rather than learning to judge corners and entry speed on my own. My eyes were following his tailight rather than looking thru the corner, as taught in MSF. Dumb... So... this trip (about 800 mi up to San Juan islands and back) we took turns leading. It was different and I got a LOT of practice. Turns out I enjoy the twisties more than he does...LOL. maybe this means I have got my courage completely back....and I suppose this is why in groups the newbies are encouraged to lead.... __________________ ...Just in Time moto-cookie delivery

06-17-2007, 12:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
MOTOHOLIC! Sit speling cheker Joined: Sep 2006 Bike: don't have one Location: Eastern Kentucky Posts: 1,735	That is a good tip. __________________ One person with commitment is worth a hundred who have only an interest.

06-17-2007, 02:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
inspiron Muscle Biker Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: Blue Suzuki GSX 1400 (2003) Location: Canton Basel-Land, Switzerland (47.4493, 7.76536) Posts: 11,786	Thanks Annie, I am "guilty" of the same thing - judging the upcoming turn based on the rider in front of me instead of riding my own line. In my group ride yesterday (see my tour report here) I found myself making this mistake, so I forced myself to slow down even more, so that the rider in front of me was no longer in view. That way, I had to focus on the road itself rather than his/her tail lights. __________________ There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe blog: gsx1400

06-18-2007, 09:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
baum604 Seat Tester Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: '03 Honda shadow 750 Spirit Location: Southwest PA Posts: 58	That's what I like to call the "Taillight addiction" I'm guilty of that too sometimes. Once I break away from looking at it, makes me shiver thinking about the other hazards of the road that I was oblivious to. __________________ Why am I here posting? I should be out riding!

06-18-2007, 10:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
intimid8er It's A Conspiracy Joined: May 2005 Bike: '06 XB12X Location: 30 41'47.99" N 83 11'26.54" W Hold My Beer Posts: 9,568	Great tip Annie! Good reminder to everyone. __________________ Song Pick of the Week 09/03 Buckcherry - Too Drunk To F..... (NSFW) <Insert nothing original in this space>

06-19-2007, 11:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
Fishpart Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Apr 2005 Bike: 2007 Harley Davidson Electa Glide Location: York, Pa Posts: 765	Great tip! Never really thought about it, I'll use this to break the habit.

07-11-2007, 01:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
650Doug Third gear and cruising Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 459	Good thread. I'm gonna have to have my wife read it, as she prefers to follow me, and she says she learns from me, but now I wonder if she's just doing what I do, because she see's it at the time. Maybe it's time to make her ride up font for a while.

07-11-2007, 04:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
robertc729 M-J.Com Master Poster Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: 05 Boulevard C50 LE, 06 S40 (wife's bike) Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 3,975	I always have my wife in front, so I can watch what she's doing, and when we stop I give her pointers. It works out pretty good for us.

07-13-2007, 02:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
Duckonin Where Am I ? Joined: May 2007 Bike: Suzuki C50T Location: New Zealand Posts: 43	Hmmmmmm!! bad move to follow the front rider or any other vehicle,by whatching what they do..the front rat in the pied piper lead the others over the cliff and the same can happen with riders ..on the other hand a more experienced rider takes a corner without braking, leading a less experienced person into a corner that is beyond their limits, more times than not a disaster follows.. Ride your own ride and enjoy !!!!!!!!

07-13-2007, 10:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
tallannie Sit speling cheker Joined: Dec 2006 Bike: C50 Boulevard Location: Hillsboro, Oregon Posts: 1,883	Duckonin... that is an excellent additional point about brakes... a newbie could certainly be led astray trying to follow a very experienced rider. Lucky for me, even with 40 years of riding, my hubby is conservative and brakes for elves and gnomes half the time, I swear... but it is/was good training for me. Now, when I lead, I find that I downshift / engine brake and dont brake nearly as much....and I end up far ahead of him too. When I follow him now, I simply put my head in his mindset of a tourist enjoying the views around me rather than a motorcyclist enjoying the road....and this works for a while anyway... and preserves our marriage __________________ ...Just in Time moto-cookie delivery

07-13-2007, 10:59 AM	#12 (permalink)
Louis Administrator Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: SV650S '05 (Blue) Location: Gatineau, QC, Canada Posts: 10,652	Kudos Annie. Thanks for the reminder as well. __________________ Louis

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