At 78yrs I still find slow speed maneuvering a little challenging. I don't care for the heavy bikes anymore and the lighter (under 1000cc) are somewhat easier to maneuver. Glad to see you showing all aspects of handling a bike. Riding safe is paramount and learning to ride slow is a big part of riding safe.
Thank you. I'm just like YOU. I do "ok" with the maneuvers and practice about like you do. Usually on my ride I'll spot an open parking lot so I'll pull in and practice for a few minutes. That said, I'm far far more concerned with improving my "on the road" skills. Being "active" in my ride, looking for road hazards, judging traffic and all the other skills you NEED to avoid accidents. I've never heard of a figure 8 saving you from a 50mph wipe-out. Don't be so down on yourself. Your viewers, like me, have about the same skill set and I promise we are thinking the same things you are. That's comforting and a little freaky at the same time! ha.
Here in the UK our test part 2 is a U turn from standing start within 2 parking bays (our cars are way smaller than yours). Emergency stop at no less than 40mph after a cone weave. Weave through 8 tight cones then 3 tight figure 8’s. Horrible test. Unbelievable relief to pass and way beyond anything ever used on the road. Gives you confidence on our tight roads but way over the top. Love that you’re practising. Us UK guys also follow Palladino and Mojitsu. All good stuff. Stay safe my friend
Brilliant insight. I believe it was Wernher von Braun who first discovered the distinction between seeing and doing. Although many dispute the finding, sighting that Richard Feynman allegedly attained a black belt in karate merely from renting instructional videos and Bruce Lee movies.
I identify with this video completely! While it is great to watch guys like MotoJitsu, MC Rider, and many other great riders demonstrate the techniques as they should be done, it is equally helpful to see these maneuvers done by someone who is still working on these skills, since that is where a lot of us are. If it looks too easy on video, but is truly difficult to replicate, it starts to be discouraging. But videos like this one help riders like me set more realistic expectations for progress, and I think that is very important for new riders and those seeking to improve riding skills. Thanks, man!
I saw on one of Jerry Paladino's videos, a woman having trouble with leaning her bike. So Jerry put her on a bicycle, and told her to lean as far as she could. After a while doing that, he put her back on her motorcycle and she improved alot in a fairly short time.
I agree with that. I've practiced on my bicycle too for tight U-turns and figure 8's.. Still hate them lol.. But it did help me.. I need to practice them more. Love the content! Would love to ride with you and practice together, but we live to far apart!
There's been alot of accidents in my area, and I've been thinking of hosting a motojitsu type meet up. I know that after an hour of lot practice, you feel so much more in tune with your bike. It would benefit people alot to know what their bike can do, and how to do it.
Thanks for showing us your practice, your honesty is appreciated. Practice is where we want to make mistakes, better in a controlled condition than on the road. Also don't forget, the MSF course uses much smaller bikes!
Thanks for showing your drills. Helpful to see, also just helpful to hear someone with experience acknowledging that it's difficult! Right now my task for myself is to find a good parking lot for practice.
You're doing great and have found an excellent place to practice, practice, practice! I've had my X300 for over 10k miles now and it gets easier as you go. However, I would recommend getting some crash bars on the front to help protect your bike and boost your confidence (T-Rex makes an excellent set that even I could install by myself). You don't have to be moving to drop a bike. Lose dirt or gravel can make your foot slip and bike drop from under you. A good set of bars is just a good investment in general. A great way for new riders to learn slow maneuvers is watch beginner dirt bike instructions. There is a huge cross-over in technique between dirt and road riding in slow maneuvers because it all comes down to balance - finding it and keeping it. Your instincts to let the bike lean while you stay upright is spot on for tight, slow turns. Keep up the good work. And HAVE FUN 😄
Your very humble brother but hard on yourself and yes we are just like you which is why what you are showing us is so practical and relatable. Its great to watch a seriously skillful rider on a youtube vid but often you can feel less confident in your own abilities when comparing with them.
Always appreciate your humble, down-to-earth commentary. My approach to riding and skill set is comparable to yours. The biggezr problem I wrestle with is, taking my (albeit limited) slow maneuver skills from the parking lot to the road. Specifically when it comes to u-turns. Can do them quite well in a parking lot practicing, but when I need to do one on the highway, all my brain sees is the drop off and ditch on the other side. Nervousness takes over, and it's very hard to complete that maneuver at that time.
Thanks for the video. You are doing great. Practice makes perfect. I try practice slow speed maneuvers often. The scariest for me is doing a u-turn from a dead stop. I’ve practice it enough that I’m proficient at it but not great..
Thank you so much for this video. As a really new rider (less than a month) it’s great to see this sort of content with real comments about what you are doing. Love it!
I really appreciate the output of videos you've been sharing with us. Especially after the small hiatus, it's great to watch what you've been making, the new bike, the stories, and today's in particular -- the challenges many of us face. I am a fan of MotoJitsu and have spent as much time as possible getting "comfortable" with being "uncomfortable" with slow maneuvers/riding at low speed. You've inspired me to grab my MotoJitsu practice book and hit the practice spot this weekend and take along your advice in this video as well. Keep up the amazing quality of videos and thanks for sharing 🤜🤛
In Switzerland where I live, it’s a little smaller and graded very harshly. My instructor told me that you should plan 20 hrs. in the parking lot, and I was like, ‘no way!’ Turned out he was right. I spent so much time that I had to replace the clutch while I still wore the “L” of shame attached.
I went to no cage's for my MFS class, and I practiced in a big parking lot at a church, I asked them permission and they said yes, thanks for the video ✌️
I'm with you on tight maneuvers. I'm not as good as I should be. BUT your continuing to practice at it is helpful. It will help when you encounter a pothole at the moments notice. Or if someone opens a car door, and you need to make an evasive maneuver. Thanks for sharing! Safe riding man!
When I took the slowspeed test with figure 8 I used a NC750 and it was very easy. My first test I did not get the bike (nc750) that I was used to ride. I got an crf something with an extremely sensitive throttle and clutch. I had some much problems doing slowspeed test and the figure 8. Next day I was able to use nc750 that I was used to ride and I nailed it. Using a X300 well it can't get any easier that that :-) Small and very light weight bike
Nice to see your back , sad to hear about the biker in the E-Burg canyon. Anyway great vid like always. I see u have been doing some bike shopping? Same here I bought a couple new ones. I bought the Africa Twin and enjoying it. Anyway glad ur back and keep up the vids.
Dude, I love your channel even more now that you showed your humility, grace, and self-deprecation. You've always been a really genuine guy, and most other UA-camrs are arrogant and attention-seeking; yet you're humble, and that's awesome! As others said, you did better than you think. Hell, all your turns were comfortably within three parking spaces (27'), and you've got the fundamentals down pat!
Your fears are our fear too, keep doing your best, I try to practice once a week in an parking lot close to home. Your technique are better than my, take care and God bless you
I do low speed maneuvers to scrub in brand new tires. When I got new tires put on my fat bot, I literally road around the parking lot next door to the shop that did low speed stuff for 20 minutes scraping floorboards and stuff just scrub in those tires. It is much harder to do the low speed maneuvers on a tall bike like yours that has that high CG, than it is to do on a low CG harley because the low CG helps so much with balance.
I took the MSF recently after not being on a bike for over a decade. Everything came back to me like I had never stopped riding, except that dreaded figure 8. I need to get a bike so I can practice, practice and practice.
Dude: Is this your first bike? Are you a newbie? I ask trying to get a reference; and the guys you mentioned at the beginning ARE Legit great sources for riding/safety tips. And FWIW: I'm 66, been riding 42 years, still. My first class in late 1970's instructor asks the class: Hey, who here loves to go fast? Everybody puts their hands up. Then he asks: Who here likes to go from 60 to a PANIC stop? NOBODY put their hands up. He said: It's EASY to go fast, it's HARD to go Slow- and STOP under control. So we didn't do any high-speed work, and only did obstacle courses, panic braking (in a cage w/ outriggers on it), SLOW maneuvering, etc. If you have crash bars, bring 'em!
No, this is like my 8th or 9th bike. Been riding for 5 years now, I can do better on my other bikes I’ve owned for a while, this bike is new to me, so I’m trying not to drop it.. It had a very narrow friction zone way out at the end of lever travel. It’s a bit tricky…lol
I know what you mean about those figure-8 drills over four parking spaces being intimidating. On my Monkey they’re pretty easy, but on my Road Glide I find them to be pretty challenging. Sometimes I’ll start by using an area about 1 1/2-2 times the size of those four spaces then work my way down to the size of those four spaces (roughly). I may not look very pretty, but eventually I get it. I have drop-guards on the front and rear crash bars and the primary cover of the Harley, so dropping the bike isn’t a bike deal beyond bruising my pride (except picking up a 930 pound bike isn’t fun). It has helped me a lot in doing U-turns.
We have a 2021 Versys X300 and that thing has 0 friction zone. It's really all at the very tail end. Way more difficult on this bike than my CB500X or other bikes I've ridden.
I have to be careful doing the figure 8's with my Ural. If I turn to tight left and I'll drift, to tight right and I'm flying the chair(the sidecar lifts off the ground). The emergency stops, are better than what I expected.
Start with sunglasses with one lens covered in duct tape. Or half your helmet visor duct taped. Practice like that for a week. After a week, remove tape and everything becomes as easy as chewing gum.
` hope this HELPs: In one video MotoJitsu said to just practice ONE exercise for 15 minutes; then, stop, rest and reflect on what one learned ... and correct when trying again - later ... I noticed a couple of things that you were NOT doing, consistent with the MotoJitsu videos, suggesting to me that you had forgotten some of the video steps/guidelines. I suspect that by not reviewing ONE video and concentrating on that ONE exercise, you are 1. forgetting some essential steps to succeed at the exercise and 2. taking on too many exercises at one time. Doing so, I suspect that you are discouraging yourself - from lower than anticipated results. From your video, I've seen you do things that you said you couldn't do! You CAN do it !!! Just take it ONE exercise at a time after studying the instruction video for just that one exercise. `wishing you more gratifying success.
You're just not putting enough weight on the opposite side to be able to push the bike down. Next time, just increase the amount of weight you put in on the outside and u will see how much easier it is
At 78yrs I still find slow speed maneuvering a little challenging. I don't care for the heavy bikes anymore and the lighter (under 1000cc) are somewhat easier to maneuver. Glad to see you showing all aspects of handling a bike. Riding safe is paramount and learning to ride slow is a big part of riding safe.
Thank you. I'm just like YOU. I do "ok" with the maneuvers and practice about like you do. Usually on my ride I'll spot an open parking lot so I'll pull in and practice for a few minutes. That said, I'm far far more concerned with improving my "on the road" skills. Being "active" in my ride, looking for road hazards, judging traffic and all the other skills you NEED to avoid accidents. I've never heard of a figure 8 saving you from a 50mph wipe-out. Don't be so down on yourself. Your viewers, like me, have about the same skill set and I promise we are thinking the same things you are. That's comforting and a little freaky at the same time! ha.
Here in the UK our test part 2 is a U turn from standing start within 2 parking bays (our cars are way smaller than yours). Emergency stop at no less than 40mph after a cone weave. Weave through 8 tight cones then 3 tight figure 8’s. Horrible test. Unbelievable relief to pass and way beyond anything ever used on the road. Gives you confidence on our tight roads but way over the top. Love that you’re practising. Us UK guys also follow Palladino and Mojitsu. All good stuff. Stay safe my friend
You are absolutely right about there being a big difference between sitting on your couch watching on UA-cam and actually doing it!
Brilliant insight. I believe it was Wernher von Braun who first discovered the distinction between seeing and doing. Although many dispute the finding, sighting that Richard Feynman allegedly attained a black belt in karate merely from renting instructional videos and Bruce Lee movies.
I identify with this video completely! While it is great to watch guys like MotoJitsu, MC Rider, and many other great riders demonstrate the techniques as they should be done, it is equally helpful to see these maneuvers done by someone who is still working on these skills, since that is where a lot of us are. If it looks too easy on video, but is truly difficult to replicate, it starts to be discouraging. But videos like this one help riders like me set more realistic expectations for progress, and I think that is very important for new riders and those seeking to improve riding skills. Thanks, man!
I saw on one of Jerry Paladino's videos, a woman having trouble with leaning her bike. So Jerry put her on a bicycle, and told her to lean as far as she could. After a while doing that, he put her back on her motorcycle and she improved alot in a fairly short time.
I agree with that. I've practiced on my bicycle too for tight U-turns and figure 8's.. Still hate them lol.. But it did help me.. I need to practice them more.
Love the content! Would love to ride with you and practice together, but we live to far apart!
You’re way too hard on yourself, man! Kudos for focusing on this at all! You’re doing better than you think you are!
There's been alot of accidents in my area, and I've been thinking of hosting a motojitsu type meet up. I know that after an hour of lot practice, you feel so much more in tune with your bike. It would benefit people alot to know what their bike can do, and how to do it.
Thanks for showing us your practice, your honesty is appreciated. Practice is where we want to make mistakes, better in a controlled condition than on the road. Also don't forget, the MSF course uses much smaller bikes!
Thanks for showing your drills. Helpful to see, also just helpful to hear someone with experience acknowledging that it's difficult! Right now my task for myself is to find a good parking lot for practice.
You're doing great and have found an excellent place to practice, practice, practice! I've had my X300 for over 10k miles now and it gets easier as you go.
However, I would recommend getting some crash bars on the front to help protect your bike and boost your confidence (T-Rex makes an excellent set that even I could install by myself). You don't have to be moving to drop a bike. Lose dirt or gravel can make your foot slip and bike drop from under you. A good set of bars is just a good investment in general.
A great way for new riders to learn slow maneuvers is watch beginner dirt bike instructions. There is a huge cross-over in technique between dirt and road riding in slow maneuvers because it all comes down to balance - finding it and keeping it. Your instincts to let the bike lean while you stay upright is spot on for tight, slow turns.
Keep up the good work. And HAVE FUN 😄
Really good video, thank you. It's nice to know it isn't just me who finds this stuff hard. Good luck!
Your very humble brother but hard on yourself and yes we are just like you which is why what you are showing us is so practical and relatable.
Its great to watch a seriously skillful rider on a youtube vid but often you can feel less confident in your own abilities when comparing with them.
Always appreciate your humble, down-to-earth commentary. My approach to riding and skill set is comparable to yours. The biggezr problem I wrestle with is, taking my (albeit limited) slow maneuver skills from the parking lot to the road. Specifically when it comes to u-turns. Can do them quite well in a parking lot practicing, but when I need to do one on the highway, all my brain sees is the drop off and ditch on the other side. Nervousness takes over, and it's very hard to complete that maneuver at that time.
Thanks for the video. You are doing great. Practice makes perfect. I try practice slow speed maneuvers often. The scariest for me is doing a u-turn from a dead stop. I’ve practice it enough that I’m proficient at it but not great..
Great video. Very well explained, too. Try adding grip puppies on the handlebar and a crampbuster, I found it very useful trying to control engine rpm
Thank you so much for this video. As a really new rider (less than a month) it’s great to see this sort of content with real comments about what you are doing. Love it!
I really appreciate the output of videos you've been sharing with us. Especially after the small hiatus, it's great to watch what you've been making, the new bike, the stories, and today's in particular -- the challenges many of us face. I am a fan of MotoJitsu and have spent as much time as possible getting "comfortable" with being "uncomfortable" with slow maneuvers/riding at low speed. You've inspired me to grab my MotoJitsu practice book and hit the practice spot this weekend and take along your advice in this video as well. Keep up the amazing quality of videos and thanks for sharing 🤜🤛
In Switzerland where I live, it’s a little smaller and graded very harshly. My instructor told me that you should plan 20 hrs. in the parking lot, and I was like, ‘no way!’ Turned out he was right. I spent so much time that I had to replace the clutch while I still wore the “L” of shame attached.
I went to no cage's for my MFS class, and I practiced in a big parking lot at a church, I asked them permission and they said yes, thanks for the video ✌️
I'm with you on tight maneuvers. I'm not as good as I should be. BUT your continuing to practice at it is helpful. It will help when you encounter a pothole at the moments notice. Or if someone opens a car door, and you need to make an evasive maneuver. Thanks for sharing! Safe riding man!
When I took the slowspeed test with figure 8 I used a NC750 and it was very easy. My first test I did not get the bike (nc750) that I was used to ride. I got an crf something with an extremely sensitive throttle and clutch. I had some much problems doing slowspeed test and the figure 8. Next day I was able to use nc750 that I was used to ride and I nailed it. Using a X300 well it can't get any easier that that :-) Small and very light weight bike
Man I wish I knew what your intro music was. I want it for my riding Playlist. Great vid
Nice to see your back , sad to hear about the biker in the E-Burg canyon. Anyway great vid like always. I see u have been doing some bike shopping? Same here I bought a couple new ones. I bought the Africa Twin and enjoying it. Anyway glad ur back and keep up the vids.
Dude, I love your channel even more now that you showed your humility, grace, and self-deprecation. You've always been a really genuine guy, and most other UA-camrs are arrogant and attention-seeking; yet you're humble, and that's awesome! As others said, you did better than you think. Hell, all your turns were comfortably within three parking spaces (27'), and you've got the fundamentals down pat!
Your fears are our fear too, keep doing your best, I try to practice once a week in an parking lot close to home. Your technique are better than my, take care and God bless you
Sometime when I practise tight turns I make myself dizzy and have to stop. haha
I do low speed maneuvers to scrub in brand new tires. When I got new tires put on my fat bot, I literally road around the parking lot next door to the shop that did low speed stuff for 20 minutes scraping floorboards and stuff just scrub in those tires.
It is much harder to do the low speed maneuvers on a tall bike like yours that has that high CG, than it is to do on a low CG harley because the low CG helps so much with balance.
I took the MSF recently after not being on a bike for over a decade. Everything came back to me like I had never stopped riding, except that dreaded figure 8. I need to get a bike so I can practice, practice and practice.
Dude: Is this your first bike? Are you a newbie? I ask trying to get a reference; and the guys you mentioned at the beginning ARE Legit great sources for riding/safety tips.
And FWIW: I'm 66, been riding 42 years, still. My first class in late 1970's instructor asks the class: Hey, who here loves to go fast? Everybody puts their hands up. Then he asks: Who here likes to go from 60 to a PANIC stop? NOBODY put their hands up. He said: It's EASY to go fast, it's HARD to go Slow- and STOP under control. So we didn't do any high-speed work, and only did obstacle courses, panic braking (in a cage w/ outriggers on it), SLOW maneuvering, etc. If you have crash bars, bring 'em!
No, this is like my 8th or 9th bike. Been riding for 5 years now, I can do better on my other bikes I’ve owned for a while, this bike is new to me, so I’m trying not to drop it.. It had a very narrow friction zone way out at the end of lever travel. It’s a bit tricky…lol
@@GasWorksISO Lol...I've owned my current ride longer than 5!
I know what you mean about those figure-8 drills over four parking spaces being intimidating. On my Monkey they’re pretty easy, but on my Road Glide I find them to be pretty challenging. Sometimes I’ll start by using an area about 1 1/2-2 times the size of those four spaces then work my way down to the size of those four spaces (roughly). I may not look very pretty, but eventually I get it. I have drop-guards on the front and rear crash bars and the primary cover of the Harley, so dropping the bike isn’t a bike deal beyond bruising my pride (except picking up a 930 pound bike isn’t fun). It has helped me a lot in doing U-turns.
You're not alone, I suck at it too, especially leaning to the left (gulp)
I lean the bike under me at slow manoeuvres 👍 but I'm always worried about dropping my bike. Paid a lot of money for it 🤣
We have a 2021 Versys X300 and that thing has 0 friction zone. It's really all at the very tail end. Way more difficult on this bike than my CB500X or other bikes I've ridden.
I have to be careful doing the figure 8's with my Ural. If I turn to tight left and I'll drift, to tight right and I'm flying the chair(the sidecar lifts off the ground). The emergency stops, are better than what I expected.
These taller ADVs are a handful at low speed, especially with a full tank of gas. You just have to get used to more lean angles and keeping it moving.
Thought you did very well.
Friction zone on mine is almost with the clutch all the way out.
As always 👍🇬🇧
Loaner or another purchase?
Nice Vid man! Hey how tall are you and what is your inseam. I'm 6'2" with a 33" inseam. would I be cramped on this bike?
6’1” 32” inseam. The bike feels good sitting on it. I added 1” bar risers to mine.
Thanks for the quick reply. @@GasWorksISO
Add Robert Simmons to that list. He specifically teaches low speed maneuvers on his channel.
At this level don't use ur rear brake making tight circles.. it's one too many things to think about.. gas and friction zone first👍
nice blue color on gas tank. why not remove that "notice" sticker?
Start with sunglasses with one lens covered in duct tape. Or half your helmet visor duct taped. Practice like that for a week. After a week, remove tape and everything becomes as easy as chewing gum.
` hope this HELPs: In one video MotoJitsu said to just practice ONE exercise for 15 minutes; then, stop, rest and reflect on what one learned ... and correct when trying again - later ... I noticed a couple of things that you were NOT doing, consistent with the MotoJitsu videos, suggesting to me that you had forgotten some of the video steps/guidelines. I suspect that by not reviewing ONE video and concentrating on that ONE exercise, you are 1. forgetting some essential steps to succeed at the exercise and 2. taking on too many exercises at one time. Doing so, I suspect that you are discouraging yourself - from lower than anticipated results. From your video, I've seen you do things that you said you couldn't do! You CAN do it !!! Just take it ONE exercise at a time after studying the instruction video for just that one exercise. `wishing you more gratifying success.
My problem is I don’t get to ride often enough to get good!
You're just not putting enough weight on the opposite side to be able to push the bike down. Next time, just increase the amount of weight you put in on the outside and u will see how much easier it is
Thanks! I’ll try that out.