Practice session question

[dreddd2000]

Since my brother just started riding and I just took the ERC I've been paying more attention to skills improvement. So, having acquired layouts for practice courses, I'm about to start going out to do low-speed practice sessions. Now, knowing that I may drop my bike while I'm practicing I'm wondering if I should take the skins off of the tipover wings before a practice session to avoid breaking them if I do drop. I ride an 1100, and I know the skins are expensive.

Thoughts, pointers, advice? :PoPoST1:

[Sink]

Don't drop your bike!!!!!

You and Sue ride up here sometime and I will work with you on it. One of my favorite things to do. OR I might be coming down there soon. BBQSToc would be a great place to set that up too!

[dreddd2000]

Sink, I'm not PLANNING on dropping my baby. I just thought that if I'm going to be practicing, the possibility of dropping is definitely there. I did the entire ERC with nary a drop and I don't intend to start. But the rates I've been seeing for those wing covers are up in the $100 range. :eek:

[Sink]

You want a zippo that bad????:wink: I know you don't plan on dropping your bike. Just keep thinking that way. Take them off if you are worried about it.

[dreddd2000]

zippo? Do not understand this reference...

[Mark]

Joe,

Leave the gray tip over wings on and just take off the bags. They protect the metal and cost less than $25 each.
(order some the 1st time you order online and just keep them until you *have* to put them on... heh heh You can clean a scuffed tip over wing by running a lighter flame over it.)

If you search for TOA you will get the reference to Zippo... it is a joke you'll soon appreciate.

Remember to pick the bike up by backing into it and using your legs not your back... (oh... and extend the kickstand BEFORE picking the bike up from the right side!!!)

Mark

[Don-STOC237]

Last time I bought a wing cover it was about $17. I just looked them up on Service Honda's website and they're now $26 each.

Like Mark says, take the bags off and don't bother with the wing covers, in a real low speed drop with no weight on the bike, they're not likely to be that damaged.

If you are buying them, remember, there are different part numbers for left and right.

[HankSTer]

Joe,
don't know if this helps much but, when teaching the brc or erc I always stress, 'the box', while challenging, isn't a skill that will save yer life. Basically it allows you to turn around in a parking lot without putting yer feet down.

but the 3 things the brc does count highly on the test, emergency swerving and braking, along with cornering, do save yer life.

we had a rule during exercies 17, skills practice, as soon as everyone got in line to practice the box, and no one wanted to practice emergency braking, the exercise was over.

Regards, and enjoy,

[Sink]

The zippo is the "trophy" for dropping your bike. Fred stopped on the street to pick up 2 zippo's laying there and dropped his bike... On going joke. It would have cost him less to go buy the 2 zippo's!

[dreddd2000]

I did very well on the emergency braking and the obstacle avoidance drills on the ERC.

Basically, what I've got are the layouts of the ERC course exercises. I figure he and I will just start running through them on a regular basis. It can't hurt. If we get good with those, I have some of the Police motorcycle test patterns from Motorman.

Somehow, I don't think I'll be trying the Police patterns any time soon. ;)

[dreddd2000]

Zippo award! Do not want!!! :eek:

[Sink]

Do take your bags off when practicing though. They are the REALLY expensive part!

The police drills look like they are a BLAST! I'd be up for trying them. What would you have to lose? Hitting a cone is no big deal.

[Don-STOC237]

If anyone's interested in setting up their own exercises, the range exercises mentioned in this thread -

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showpost.php?p=229257&postcount=1

are pretty much duplicates of the ones used in the MSF courses, with a few additions. Used in total, they'd be a pretty good set to use as practice, IMO.

[vossman]

If anyone's interested in setting up their own exercises, the range exercises mentioned in this thread -

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showpost.php?p=229257&postcount=1

are pretty much duplicates of the ones used in the MSF courses, with a few additions. Used in total, they'd be a pretty good set to use as practice, IMO.

These are excellent skills "tests". Anyone can ride fast in straight line, it the turns and reactions that'll getcha.

[dreddd2000]

I stand corrected. I should have said, I don't think I'll be successfully completing the Police patterns any time soon. :shock:

I grabbed the Top Gun manual the other day. My brother is freaking cause he thinks I'm going to make him do the Alley pattern. :nuts1: