Reply #6: Another thing to keep in mind [View All]

80% of motorcycle FATALITIES occur at 22 mph OR LESS. The advise given is sound.

People NEED to practice slow speed maneuvers (turning, braking, SWERVING, u-turns etc.) because it's not a matter of IF you'll need to use your skills, it's simply a matter of WHEN.

When I ride on Saturdays, I always head to an empty school parking lot first and practice these moves and I've been riding for a while. Several times I've had to swerve to avoid cars that suddenly brake in front of me, or cars that have turned left in front of me (thankfully with no one coming at me) in order to avoid hitting them. I also DON'T follow too closely which has allowed me the room to perform these maneuvers.

My girlfriend wanted to learn how to ride and I simply told her her left hand is for the clutch, right hand is for throttle and front braking and her other two hands are to steer. Left foot is for shifting, right foot is for rear brake and your other two feet for balance when you stop. This is on top of the 6 eyes you need in your head to see everything else going on around you. She decided riding 2-up is fine with her.