Motorcycle Tips from a Rider Coach
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- Опубліковано 1 гру 2024
- A grab bag of motorcycle tips and tricks that I often see riders asking about.
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Kevin is right about the forums, but he missed a key point. The MC Rider community is also a very encouraging place to be. The forum isn't just full of a bunch of high-viz wearing commuters. The forum is filled with people who encourage others to become better riders. The forum is uplifting....something most social media doesn't do. Give it a shot. If you're listening to Kevin's videos regularly, chances are you'll fit right in.
Steven, It almost sounds like you are disparaging people that wear hi vis gear. Or Commute on a bike....
Here's one I learned. No matter how well you balance your helmet on your seat when you take a break, even in zero wind conditions, it will fall and land directly on the face shield, scratching it. The odds of this happening decrease dramatically with the age/condition of the face shield, btw. Though I haven't observed this directly, I suspect a helmet with an old, badly scratched face shield would be secure on a motorcycle seat during a Cat 4 hurricane. Put a helmet with a new face shield on a bike setting on the show room floor and the air conditioning will knock it off marring the shield. The good news; with experience, you can become incredible adept in replacing face shields.
So true. I’m a little slow-it took me two new helmets to learn this. Those are the only times I remember dropping a helmet on pavement. I’ve only set them on the ground since then.
you can hook a proper full face helmet over the right grip using the part that covers your chin
better than hooking your helmet on the grip by the strap, because birds cant defecate in your helmet hanging by the chin guard....
I set my helmet on top of the right mirror, can't ever fall off. Learned that trick looking at parked police motorcycles.
That was funny 👍
This is a truth of the universe. A constant....just dropped my brand new helmet while it was balanced on my seat...no wind....talking to a group of officers while putting my gloves on...clunk...
I enjoy 3 - 4 day trips and I have found if you get fatigued from less than favorable conditions it's better to stop a little early that day than to keep going , rest up and hit it in the morning , I feel a lot safer .
It's always good to talk to experienced riders. I can't think of any situation I've come away from when I didn't pick up a good riding nugget of information. Thanks for sharing.
Once again love your content! Been riding for 30 years. Still not an expert. Got my dream bike 2004 Honda vfr800. My son now rides a triumph and always trying to keep him in check with the the reality of safe riding, your post are greatly appreciated!
As always, sage advice. Thanks for all you do, brother.
I wear glasses so when riding I always use a pair that has quality clip on sunglasses. In addition my helmet has a clear visor and drop down sunshade. This combo means I can have total clear lenses at night and during the day have sun glasses and if going into the sun drop the helmet's sun visor and have double sun protection. I find this set up has worked the best for me.
I am here watching your latest video drinking from my MC Rider thermos. Really keeps things hot or cold. Looks cool to. Thanks for providing a great product. After watching your videos and practicing what you recommend I feel your trying videos have saved my bacon many times . It is a privilege to be one of your patrons for over many years. Keep u the great work you do buddy. Hope to see you on the road.
I do not like to ride in the dark either because of the glare from headlights and deer. I wish they would make amber or chromatic glasses with side shields that Will fit over prescription glasses. Also I would like to keep anyone else from throwing away $60.00. I bought a stop & go puncture pilot and tried to use it to fix a flat from a roofing nail. First plug leaked really bad so I tried another and it leaked worse. It was very easy to poke the plugs right on into the tire. They have lube on them instead of glue . Used a rope plug and it sealed the first try. I couldn't pull it out of the tire when I had it changed. The place I bought it said maybe the repair was outside the range for the mushroom plug. A roofing nail? The hole was so small I had a really hard time getting it in there.
Two things… First, at night, I have a pair of yellow glasses which seem to brighten things up… My best possible advice, after 50+ years of riding 300K+ miles on 2 wheels is TRAINING… GET PROFESSIONAL TRAINING EVERY YEAR… TWICE A YEAR IF YOU CAN… then PRACTICE-PRACTICE-PRACTICE… PRACTICE till you get it right… keep PRACTICING till you can’t get it wrong… as one of my first instructors often said,” There are only two kinds of riders, those with 30 years experience and those with one year experience repeated 30 times… Be the first not the latter… Be a RIDER not merely an operator 🏍🏍🏍
Great tips
A photochromic visor works well to transition you from day to night riding- Costs a bit more but definitely makes things a bit easier;)! Thank you for all the tips, and your excellent channel in general!
you have a fatal flaw when you enter a tunnel, or a parking garage....
I use these and they work very well. [Bell helmet]
My Bell only laster 18 months daily commute. Not dark now, nor is it clear.
@@MothershipVideos My Bell only laster 18 months daily commute. Not dark now, nor is it clear.
@@kenwittlief255 nope. Try one before judging. Also, it never truly gets to "dark smoke".
Take your riding jeans or pants with you to the store when you go to buy wet weather gear, try them on together to make sure the overpantsgo over your protective pads, some brands are less generous around the knee than they should be.
As a retired truck driver I tell everyone is, when you are on the road, always expect the unexpected. Expect that car at the intersection to pull out at the wrong time.
Always VERY SOUND ADVICE. I follow 2 other very good sites on UA-cam, very good sites. But yours is excellent, straight to the point, and very easy to understand. I've rode for years and it amazes me HOW LITTLE I ACTUALLY KNOW. Thanks for all your GREAT ADVICE and prayers for you and your family on the road, God bless y'all🙏😎
I come from Tasmania, Australia 🇦🇺
We have the best journey's on road known to man.
Amazing that two men from the opposite side of the planet gets how touring on two wheels for a happy & safe ride ❤️🙏🇦🇺🦘🇦🇺❤️🇦🇺🦘❤️🇦🇺🌻
Hi Kevin, thank you for this vid and last week as well. A, perhaps yearly, review of safe riding practices is a good thing. Glad to see it! Back in the day chemically impaired drivers were responsible for a couple of near misses for me. Now, equally as dangerous, are distracted drivers with their phones. I always use the ATGATT principle nowadays. Defensive driving practices are vital on a bike. You stressing the 2-3 second following distance is so important. Good rear view mirrors kept properly adjusted are important as well. It's all about situational awareness and developing those skills. Keep up the good work and God Bless!
Hey Mike. The bit about the mirrors is so important. A few months ago I had a brain fart while parking. Over 58 years in the saddle, and I forgot the kick stand! My ride has bar end mirrors cause I like not having my arm block part of the view. The down side is they are easy to damage when a mistake is made, and the mirror on the down side was broken off. Man did I feel uncomfortable for the rest of the ride not having a mirror on that side! I carry a spare one now, just in case.
I enjoy the challenge of making a slight mirror adjustment while riding, only to hit that sweet spot where the locking nut no longer locks the mirror. And it flops down. D'oh!
People keep saying..’expect the unexpected’ but this means the unexpected becomes the expected
Bingo. If you are expecting every possible negative thing to happen, then it becomes a non-event when it does actually happen -- because you are already prepared for it. That is being a smart focused rider.
unexpected are things you have not thought of
how can you expect something that you have not thought about?!
@@kenwittlief255 for me, I watch these and other UA-cam channel videos and study situations that other riders get themselves into. I try to learn from other's mistakes so I don't repeat them myself.
When that car coming the other way turns left in front of you about 20 times, it gets to be pretty routine.
Hail is my least favorite encounter on the road. Nothing like a golf ball sized hail stone bouncing off your tank and hitting you under the chin. Always interesting, thanks!
I really need to pick up a plug kit. I got lucky 9-10 years ago riding my dad’s ole Honda shadow aero 750, I was riding home from work one day on it and started hearing this ting ting ting ting.... pulled over and I’ll be damned and nail had went through the rear tire and come out of the side tread of the tire and was hitting the swing arm! I didn’t hear air leaking, and the nail was close enough to the shoulder of the tire I decided to pull it out. NO LEAK! The nail missed the tube in the tire! Just went in and came out the shoulder of the tire! Went on to ride a few more thousand miles on that tire without a flat!
The best rain gear for me is called Frogg Toggs. They're a 2-piece design, primarily for hunting, or doing other "tacticool" stuff in the rain. They're heat resistant, with elastic wrist and ankle cuffs. They compact small, too.
Really love your site. I will sign up shortly. But first I have to say I learn a lot from your videos. I'm a so-called experienced rider. I started riding when I was about 8 (dirt bikes obviously) got my license when I was about 20 or so (couldn't afford a street bike before then) and when I got my first bike, I lived on that thing. I didn't care about the weather, road to work and back on very busy roads. Bought a few more bikes after that, but then I had two experiences' where I could have easily died (I mean I really should have). Don't want to get weird but I thank my mom for her Prayers, because I have no idea, how I got out of the situations with no injuries. Anyways after the second incident, I sold my bike and life went on (but had always missed not riding). Well, I'm older way smarter (I now know I'm not invincible) so a couple of years ago I bought a KTM 450 EXC. I never wiped out badly but realized I don't heal like I used to, and I can't afford to break something and be out of work. So, I sold that and got a new Kawasaki Ninja 650R and I love it. For the most part I've had Harley's (My uncle Wayne owns Suburban Harley in Thiensville Wi.) my beginner bikes were a Honda and Yamaha, but from then on Harleys. I only mention that because I love this bike super fun, I know people call this a beginner bike, but for right now it's just right for me. Don't get me wrong I loved my Harley's, and I was going to get another one, but my wife is afraid of bikes and said she would probably never ride with me. So, I got a bike that I can have a blast on in the twisties. However, I got this smaller bike because I don't know if you said this or somebody else but us guys who used to ride and then had a twenty-year gap are some of the most dangerous. So, I was supposed to take a street level 1 course at Road America but rescheduled because the weather here has sucked. I know I'm showing my age.
Facebook is a cesspool of bad advice. I left that sh¡thole years ago. I'd rather watch MRrider on UA-cam.
Great thoughts, well said. Thanks
Happy Friday Kevin talking about gas stops we were in Arizona a few years back and when we left the motel I refused to get gas because of the price well this was on a Sunday I figured we would go to the next town well that didn’t work out so well we got down to about 30 miles left on our gas tank and there was a road going off the main highway to a small city to get gas and then there was a fork in the road to another city well the one that we chose luckily the gas station was the only store open in the city and we found out from some other bikers that went to the other town there was nothing open at that town and we wouldn’t of made it had we went that way never again always fill up at half tank😎
Similar situation for me in NM once...get gas when it is available. ;)
Simple wisdom!
best method: when you flip the tank to reserve stop at the NEXT OPEN GAS STATION - no exceptions
if you pass one up and keep riding you WILL forget....
Another visor option, if your helmet is on the list, is a transitions photochromic visor. I've done two cross-country trips with mine and it works a treat! Across that long, lonely west Texas desert clime. Night or day...ride on! This obviously limits my helmet choices, but, thankfully, I am very happy with the Shoei RF-SR I use. The visors ain't cheap, but they are nice to have.
till you hit a tunnel at 70mph, or a parking garage....
@@kenwittlief255 Never seen a tunnel with a speed limit over 55MPH here in the USA. The visor adjusts for me pretty quickly. The same problem with sunglasses, only more permanent.
Parking garage? Raise. The. Visor. Unless you do 70MPH in parking garages, too. Recommend more MC Rider Road Skills and Road Strategy videos if you do. ;)
I'm 72,000 miles in with my visor. Zero issues.
I have found that a full face helmet with a clear visor and sunglasses works well for me. When the sun goes down I lift the clear visor take off my sunglasses and slip them into a pocket and lower the clear visor for night riding
I got your stocker today! Will be going on my helmet for shure!
I'm glad I'm not the only one with a holey Frogg Togg right leg.
Lots of great advice as always Kevin!
My current modular helmet has a drop down visor behind the windshield. I also wear glasses with transition lenses. Seems to be more than sufficient for me. Any thoughts?
Unfortunately the dark visor is illegal in the UK and the county I live in the police are have a purge on them , I agree in bright sunlight they great and I always have a clear visor to change .
Thanks Kevin!
I'm a returning rider, who recently had a crash. In the 90s I had a couple of cruisers, and would ride an old maco. I lived in a small town, and it was nearly all dirt roads. Now I'm in the city, and I made a stupid mistake on a bike with too much power, worse than that was I though for a second instead of reacting. I didn't have time to think, just to react. I'm too rusty, and unfamiliar. Anyways, I hit a tree, and have been recovering for the past 3 weeks. Luckily no broken bones, but alot of bruising, and that peg really ripped my leg open. First week was a walker, second was crutches, now I'm on a cane. Maybe by the time my bike is fixed I will be too? I also need a new helmet. I was wearing a full face helmet, and my face would look like my leg if if I had not been. I am now a believer in full face helmets. The accident was all my fault, I gave the bike the wrong instructions, and the bike followed them to a tee... and a tree... im still hurting, 3 weeks later, but I'm alive, so I'm thankful.
Great source for accurate, factual advice. MC Rider is the best, 95% of the time or more! The various Internet forums are to be avoided, since there are no controls on accuracy and statements of ‘fact’ there. Stick with a proven source; stick with MC Rider.
Free advice on the internet is worth its price
Andy Strapz sells a strip that attaches to the visor as a sun screen
THANKS SO MUCH To YOU Sir! I tell ALL my MSF Students on and around Killeen/ Fort Hood that your UA-cam channel is my top, (among Several others) "GO TO" Resources for new perspective on my 52 years (- roughly 7 years throughout 22 years of Naval Aviation deployments 😁)
I don't know if you'll see this, which is why I only comment very sporadically. But, IF YOU DO, I'd love to have any of your posters, and visually education items to hang around the walls of my School House at Ft Hood.
Thanks Again, Your Brother in CHRIST and In Motorcycling, Joel.
I have frog togs as well. Have burned one set on the air cleaner cover. The tumbler is great by the way!
Awesome, glad you like it!
Never had good luck with Frogg toggs. I’ve had two sets and always end up soaking thru.
@@chevyon37s Interesting I haven had any issues with our (wife has them as well)
@@chevyon37s This is the same story I find on websites (including Amazon) that sell Frog Toggs. Half the reviewers say, "works great!" The other half say, "worthless... I'm soaked!" I think of it like ammunition: cheap ammo is inconsistent. Expensive ammo is expensive primarily because of the extreme quality control in consistency. I just bought a new pair of Alpha Gear rain pants - middle of the road pricing. Comes with a removable thermal layer, and impact armor already in place. I actually can't wait to put the rain resistant portion to the test. I never want to test out the impact armor, Lol!
@@chevyon37s I too have had great luck with Frogg Toggs. I’ve had a set for over a decade, just purchased a new set last year. They do the job! For me any way.
I live in North FTW near 35W. Love the parking lots you use in these videos but don't recognize them. Can you share their locations?
Brilliant!!
I guess I got lucky finding my helmet. My pop down visor is dark and goes down to about a 1/4 inch from the exterior visor. I also wear ear plugs. I actually hear better with them in and I don’t have to have my Bluetooth turned up as high. I also spent about $200 on my rain gear. I ride every day in S FL so it rains a lot. I’m bone dry when I get home. Well worth the $200.
Great video, thx!
What would you consider to be the most important safe riding video on your channel?
the #1 cause of death for new riders is most likely not knowing how to countersteer when they come to the first curve on the highway at 75mph
they try to steer like a car - game over
I wear prescription eyewear,I also prefer open face helmet,seems everyday in Florida,it rains everywhere I ride lol. I hate riding in rain due to fogging up and/or not being able to see,I have to pull over and get soaked regardless lol
I've repaired 3 tyre punctures in the tyres that came with my new Honda cb650r. Tyre is 3 years old with 11000 miles.
Tires are critical components, and a failure of just one can lead to a very bad day. Why take the risk with an old tire that has been repaired 3 times?
Hey bud,so today me and my old lady are out taking a ride and had a good time just as we are getting ready to turn into my naborhood some meat head came around me on the left this is while my left direction signal is on ,,,I make a habit of knowing what's behind me missed me because I use my mirrors
Motorcycle riding is a double edge knife. Try to keep both edges always as least equally sharp getting into motion. One edge is you actual riding beginning to sense coming moments the other is always a must to bring along, a good mindful head geared for doing it for that is the edge is really needed to have in reserve only to make it the sharpest of the two as you cut along with the both...Remember a motorcycle can be kept in its safest condition your head that will always be another story for it is you who is proving each and every time to your self you are staying a head with a wise enough head.
Do you replace a tire that has been plugged as soon as possible? I've had car tires with a plug last for years but on a motorcycle, there are different stresses on the tire, since it needs to lean. Plus, with just two tires, and the need to balance, a tire failing is a much bigger problem on the motorcycle.
My experience, but am making no recommendations. I use rope plugs, and continue to use the tire until it's worn out. I'll replace the tire early if there is continued pressure loss after plugging. I treat a plugged tire as losing one speed rating.
I have never had a sidewall puncture on a bike, but I would replace that tire immediately once I had limped the bike home to a tire shop. I'd also replaced immediately if the puncture was a tear instead of just a small, clean hole.
Great content 🤟👊👍✌✊😇🔥
Good stuff👍
I went down on a busy street for the second time because I grabbed too much front brake. It’s not about that necessarily- I know the answer…train. What caused the fall was complacency. I was in condition white. After years of riding, that’s impossible to avoid…right?
The first time i wore rain gear, I thought the boots were to be worn as gators are worn in snow skiing . well I found out the boots were water tight,2 cups of water in each boot in minutes...
Another great video! Which dark visor do you use with your Shoei helmet?
The dark smoke that Shoei makes
What about a photo chromeic viser
I burnt my leg on my chrome exhaust and it left a mark. Does anybody have any tips on how to clean the chrome?
Great stuff. "everyone is trying to kill me" is not so much a complaint, as it is a warning to riders that their safety is directly tied to defensive driving. When your on a bike, you have no right of way. There is no such thing. No, seriously, you have no right of way. If you are biting at the bit to argue otherwise, your already in a mind set to shorten your life. I see thousands of Tubes of riders getting crazy road rage over nothing, because "I have the right of way!" I never get mad a cages, no matter what they do, because they are not looking for you. These days, they are not even looking at anything other then their phones. Train yourself to spot "those people", and let them get as far away from you as possible.
🙏❤️
any tips on handling rain on your helmet visor? I've tried car wax but that didn't seem to help
RainX makes a plastic specific water repellent that's safe for most helmet visor materials.
Other options include cutting a potato in half and rubbing it on your visor. Let it sit for a bit and once it looks dull, buff it with a lint-free cloth.
Whatever you choose to do, just remember that the stuff doesn't last forever. One good rain storm and you will need to reapply. Also, it's best to apply water repellent right before you leave when you know it will rain (within a day or two). Carry the bottle with you on trips, you will need to reapply after a few hours in the rain or the next day.
You shouldn't put car wax on your visor, could damage it.
Another tip is once you've treated your helmet visor with plastic-safe rain repellent, when you're moving at speed, sometimes it helps to turn your head slightly to the left or right to blow off the water.
Also I forgot to mention with the potato trick, you want to rub the inside part and not the skin onto the visor, if that wasn't clear.
I don't know about fancy potatoes, just the cheap brown russet potatoes.
2nd vote for RainX
I have tubed tires on my cruiser. What can I do if I get a flat?
call a tow truck
cry and throw a tantrum
Horsepower determines how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you move it. Ride safe Kevin.
Horsepower (H)
Torque (T)
H = T * (rpm / 5252)
The lower your max RPM is, the more torque is needed to achieve equivalent horsepower on a different bike capable of higher RPMs.
My bike easily out accelerates harleys even though my bike has half the torque, because it has considerably more horsepower (due to the much higher RPMs).
Good points but I know I would rather ride my Rocket 3 at 3,000 RPM and all the acceleration I want than to ride a sportbike at 11,000 RPM...different strokes, to each his own.
@@MCrider Exactly. Different bikes for different purposes. A big cruiser made for hauling a passenger and luggage is designed with high torque / low RPM engines. A supersport bike is designed for max top speed (low torque/weight, high RPM). Different purposes different bikes, and there is a multitude of bike styles in between.
Your Rocket 3, has 165 horsepower!!! I think any bike with that much horsepower will have all the power you want when cruising at 75mph (your speed @3,000rpm on the rocket 3). At the end of the day: it is about horsepower, regardless of how the bike engineers designed the engine to produce that horsepower.
As long as it's got two wheels, I'll have fun on it regardless. 👍
The supply of misunderstanding and misinformation about horsepower and torque out there is almost limitless.
@@MCrider All you are saying is that you like bigger engines. Torque is mostly based on displacement. Twice the displacement generally means half the rpm for equivalent horsepower.
@@bikesthatvote2855 its complicated
long throw pistons have more low end torque than "square throw" pistons
but the latter allows higher max RPMs, and therefore more HP for the same displacement....
Something I have employed to reduce my risks riding is choosing when to ride. I would never commute to work on a motorcycle, 50% of wrecks happen on the way to an from work. By not riding at that time I automatically reduce my risk of getting in a wreck by 50%. When I live in a big city (Detroit) I left for trips early in the morning before traffic got too bad. Unfortunately it's tough to use the same trick when returning unless you want to ride in the dark, something I also try to limit. Keep the good stuff coming Kevin.
Sound advice! But come on dude track or street, every once in a while you want that top end 🤣
the bad advice sadly doesn't surprise me. the worst people to learn from are very often other riders. 20 years of bad habits doesn't make for a good rider. Learn from professionals not your buddy or his dad. Most of the guys i grew up with did the 2 day Canadian safety course to get our licenses, the stuff we heard from experienced riders was scary. this was in 1989, lay her down, and don't touch the front brake was the advice of lots of old guys.
I'm guessing these days getting a knee down is more important to many then actually learning how to ride. When i get back into riding i am taking a weekend course again before i hit the streets. Then hopefully some advanced rider training.
I’m glad Frog Toggs just melt and don’t ignite.
For the "everyone is trying to kill me", with everyone on there phones,texting, ig,, Facebook, It seems like people are out there to do harm. The towns,states that have laws against phone use, the Leo need to start enforcement of the law. If I can see dozen a day, so can they.
My rain pants have zippers over the boots.
I still prefer FrogToggs
I like Frog Toggs...and have burned through 2 pairs. ;)
I love your videos but you’re completely off on torque vs HP. In a nutshell torque is only a factor needed to calculate HP. Torque and RPM factor to calculate HP. Slow speed or high speed it’s all HP! Torque isn’t even an indication that anything is moving!
Please say the video, Mcrider was killedwasnt you??
Facebook comments are always absolute horrible garbage, no matter what topic its on, id stay clear away from taking advice on FB 😹😹😹