Took the ERC
So I've signed up for the ERC as an alternate on July 18. It will last from 8 AM to 2 PM. My reasons for doing this is that I personally don't feel that I am at the level that someone who's been riding for two years should be at, and I would like to practice basic riding technique on a closed course, on my own bike. Hopefully this class will help with that.
class tip
Put new oil in the engine just before the class- the clutch will get a hot workout from a lot of starting and stopping and never going over 25 mph. If it is hot outside, it is best to have a mesh jacket. We had to wear a helmet, jacket, gloves and boots.
I took this class in 2002 and I started riding a street bike in 1980, and I think it was helpful. I got an insurance discount for taking the class, but I am old enough and have a slow enough bike to have low premiums anyways, and it did not lower the premiums enough to cover the cost of the course.
I live in PA where the course
I live in PA where the course is free.
The class is more or less the
The class is more or less the same as the BRC but without the videos. There are a few new exercises (one handed cone weave and the "peanut" come to mind) but go in expecting much the same as the BRC and you won't be disappointed. The real benefit is having an experienced eye look you over while you are doing these exercises. Guarantee they will tell you you are not turning your head far enough in the turns :)
(or maybe that's just me).
What Eon Said
I took it last year, and found it mostly the same as the BRC, except without all the yelling (as everyone in the class had enough experience to NOT ride into the side of the storage shed b/c they couldn't control their bike) and with a few addtional exercises (I had forgotten about the peanut!). Everyone in my class (all 6 of us) were amazed at how easy the once-dreaded BRC box had become.
It's a fun afternoon, and a good tune up I thought.
And Eon, I think you're mistaken...you mean you're guaranteed they'll tell you that you're not even noticing you're swinging your knee out during the swerve exercise... ;-)
I'll also echo JackTrade and
I'll also echo JackTrade and Eon. There's nothing in the ERC that will surprise you after 2+ years on the streets, but definitely worth taking if for nothing else than riding your own bike in a class setting and getting feedback from a professional.
The one thing that I found, and this may vary by location, is that the coaches weren't as concerned with the minutiae; holding your wrist a little too low for example. More concerned with the big picture; looking through turns, finesse on the throttle and brakes, knowing that not everyone will do everything exactly the same way.
Will have to disagree with JackTrade, after about $1000 and 5 days of my life invested in motorcycle classes, not to mention the hours of PLP, that box can still drive me nuts.
Well, I just got back from
Well, I just got back from the ERC and, just as I expected, I aced everything easily but the box. I've pretty much given up on the idea of ever passing it (at least on my bike) and I've resigned myself to the idea of putting my foot down if I, for some odd reason, ever need to do a U-turn in that confined of a space. I was the only sporty bike there with everyone else in full size Harleys (even some dressers), so the instructors felt the need to single me out and show me how to do things a different way for almost every exercise. Despite their instruction I still wasn't able to handle the box without going outside the lines, and I even dropped it in the box once. I was expecting to have a good time but truthfully the only exercise where I really had any fun was the one where you practice wide 2nd gear turns where all the Harley guys seemed amazed by the fact that a bike could actually lean like that for turns.
Everyone passed except for one person who bought an Electra Glide for his first bike and was just now trying to learn to ride it. Bad move. He dropped it 4 times throughout the day and, we're not sure how, but at the end of the day one of his speakers no longer worked.
U-turn practices take determination
The really tight slow speed u-turns take determination to practice and master. Doing it with everyone watching is the worst, so practice on your own. You must believe this - if others can do it, so can you; it just takes practice. Due to the stress involved (not wanting to drop the bike) I usually get hot and uncomfortable within a few turns. Any type of learning is not exactly fun, but the satisfication afterward makes up for it.
Doing circles are great, but I'd get dizzy quickly so I do fig-8s, except I'd do two full turns before reversing direction. Don't worry about how small the circle is at first. Pick a diameter that's comfortable to you, and as you go around the circle in a steady state and get used to it, you can gradually tighten the circle without much effort. Within 15 minutes of practice you'd notice the difference. Eventually you'd trust yourself and the bike enough to totally relax the muscles, allow the handlebar to go into full lock, let the bike does what it needs to do, and that turn will really tighten up. 1 hour of this practice is about as much as I'd want to before I've had enough of it (mentally and physically) each time.
Totally Right,
The goal is to achieve a full lock turn figure eight, different rides have different turning radius' and the tightest turn you can hope to track ( without doing flip turns, wheelie turns or hops ) is different on every bike. There are two tricks that will allow you to tighten the turn slightly; accentuating the bikes lean into the corner or forward weighting to compress the front forks will effectively reduce the fork rake and allow for a tighter 8 than the bike can be walked through vertical.
Remember that transferring your weight to the foot pegs Lowers your center of gravity and keeping your legs bow-legged and outbound on the foot pegs gives you more low speed stability control. Keep those elbows out and do Not squeeze that tank with your knees !:i
edit: Anytime it's ridden bike and rider becomes one and when I refer to 'your' anything it always includes both.
After I made this whine post
After I made this whine post last night about still not getting the box I went out and practiced in a local park's parking lot for about an hour. I got down to the point where I can do it and within the confined space, but it's sloppy and feels scary because it FEELS like I'm about to fall the whole way through. Something I hope to never have to do in practice. I'll continue to put my foot down when doing U-turns on the street because it feels safer and more natural.
Foot dragging is false sense and actually dangerous.
Slip that clutch, maintain a smooth high idle, drag both brakes very slightly ( one finger only on the hand controls ) and get that weight lower than your seat !!! If you're foot dragging you have no control, in a right turn you can no longer apply the rear brake ( left on some bikes ) and have just transfered 99% of your weight to the top of the seat. Once you get it all together with a little practice you will smooth right out, relax more and be able to full lock turn any motorcycle.
Same applies if you care to win every slow race :) (...2 wheels only eon;)
With some bikes; adjusting the handlebars forward is like adding power steering, it transfers your weight forward and improves low speed control. Moving the levers in on the bars as far as possible advantages leverage and makes it much easier to one finger clutch, also prevents your fingers from getting crushed in a fall or if you smack the levers into trees, ( car doors or pedestrians. ) :o
Oh I can do it just fine
Oh I can do it just fine without dragging the foot under normal circumstances, just not within the space of the box. That's when I need to put the foot down. But I can easily do it in under 2 lanes of travel.
When I got to the point where
When I got to the point where I could do it sometimes, it felt scary and sloppy and almost out of control. I then seemed to have a breakthrough when I consciously focussed on having a relaxed grip. I think the fear I was about to drop it (as you mentioned, it feels like you are about to fall the whole way through) meant I tensed up and lost any fine control. Once I relaxed it suddenly seemed to come easy. Have to say I now do U-Turns in the street without thinking about it. It's very rewarding when I'm with others and they have to put their feet down.
But when I go back to the range I can't say I get it right 100% of the time. I almost have to warm up to it. It's definitely all my head though.
I find for me...
...that *really* shifting my weight to the outside peg (as in moving my entire body over to the outside of the seat) helps with my confidence when doing a u-turn. That way, it doesn't feel as much like the bike is tipping over in the turn. May look like overkill, but it works for me.
I'm supposed to make a video
I'm supposed to make a video for someone on my scooter forum showing me doing the box (or at least a tight turn). The guy is having trouble doing it (new rider) and needed some persuading it is possible on our scooters. At least the guy is trying. I get frustrated with this other forum as I seem to be the lone voice talking about riding skills and techniques. All everyone else can talk about is mods to the bike (or faults on the bike, it is Italian after all). If I ever get around to making this video I will post it up here and you can all critique my style. Just remember I have no pegs to stand on :)
Peaked my curiosity
So as soon as I got home from work I tried 'the box' ( figure 8 ) with two of my bikes and measured the results; No practice, feet up my BMW K100RS can figure 8 in a box 17' by 35' and my 4RT can do 8's in a 9' by 18' box.
BTW: that is on a loose crushed limestone driveway.
Just as JackTrade noted; transferring weight to the outside peg, lowers his center of gravity and shifting body position to the outside leans the bike more, which effectively shortens the wheelbase and steering angle. The result is tighter turns and perfect control.
Show Off :) So were those
Show Off :)
So were those full lock turns?
BTW for others the "4RT" is a trials bike.
I know it is possible but it is mental. I do need to practice more.
One of my issues is to practice I feel like I need to be able to get my foot down quickly for when I screw up. However at 6'2" on a Ninja 250r my legs are pretty folded up so it makes it difficult to move my feet quickly off the pegs. Plus my knees interfere with the handlebars as I approach full lock. I'm considering a dual sport just so i have more room.
Still I know it is not the bike limiting me only my own skills and confidence.
Craig
Totally :)
Full locked right to the stops turns, 2x 8's in a row wearing moccasins ;)
Never noticed it before ...the bmw has rubber bumper stops.
A few more tips
1. Video yourself doing circles and you'll see that you're not leaning as much as you thought you were, i.e., there's a lot more lean angle left.
2. Find a big enough parking lot with plenty of runoff space so you don't keep worrying about running into the curb if you get disoriented and have to bail.
3. If you go really slow (slipping the clutch and dragging the brake), you have to actually balance the bike. If you go just a little faster (not slipping the bike and no brake, just let the bike glide along with no throttle), the bike balances itself.
4. Start practicing with a bigger circle. If you go directly to a small circle, of course it'll be hard.
5. If at anytime you feel you're about to drop the bike, give it just a little bit of throttle and the bike will stand up and straighten out by itself. Don't touch the front brake when your handle bar is cranked way over.
6. Turn your body and turn your head like an owl to look at your own tail, like a dog chasing its own tail.