Looking for riding instructor

[clintr]

I am looking for a riding instructor in northern California that can do one on one coaching. My wife still has a hard time handling the nomad in town and I cannot / should not be the one to teach her ;)
Thanks

[moenko]

Perhaps post a picture of your wife and the applications will start rolling in ;) J/K

Did she take the MSF Course? Nothing more invaluable than what you learn in those 1 or 2 weekends!!!

[phenrichs]

Is this her first riding experience, or first bike? The weight of the Nomad alone can cause some apprehension. Perhaps you could find a smaller unit for her to practice a little before climbing back on the Nomad.

[moenko]

^^^ That was my question/thought as well ...

[ells]

I believe some MSF instructors will do one-on-one, but don't know any in N. Cal.

[clintr]

Is this her first riding experience, or first bike? The weight of the Nomad alone can cause some apprehension. Perhaps you could find a smaller unit for her to practice a little before climbing back on the Nomad.

I should have mentioned that she has been riding a virago 1100 for the last 18 years so she is very experienced and very good on her virago. We also did a 5000 mile trip last month on the Vulcans and she was good on the open roads, but as soon as we got into more congested areas IE slow riding, turns stop and go etc. she had a hard time with controlling the bike.

Neithe one took the msf course, we probably should.

[moenko]

clintr, I don't know your wife's height/physics but I think it is safe to say that unless you are reasonably tall (to flat-food) and have strong legs, the Nad can be a challenge to straddle but slow maneuvering is all about technique and most of the time the weight and its distribution plays a big role in how a bike handles. They did quite a lot of slow maneuvering in the MSF course I took and the techniques learned are invaluable, even for a 6'6" guy like me! The only thing that makes slow maneuvering a bit more challenging on the Nad (IMHO) is the fact that the hydraulic cluth does not feather as easily as a cable-operated one.

I can also recommend the "Ride like a Pro" DVD; they give you tons of tips for the "slow" stuff. In fact, they have a lady picking up a fully packaged HD Police Cruiser and show how to do the tightest maneuvering at walking speeds (combination of clutch and rear brake, butt shifting, etc...).

[ells]

Neithe one took the msf course, we probably should.

Yup, the MSF courses (riding part) are mostly all about low speed handling.

[chainsaw]

MSF course would be my suggestion.

[Yellow Jacket]

Well this isn't in Northern California but you might want to check this out. It's a Ride Like a Pro training class in LA. It's supposed to be pretty good and you can use either your own bike or one of his.

www.ridelikeaprowestcoast.com (http://www.ridelikeaprowestcoast.com)

[scion0]

Also, I've heard that the air pressure in the tires will play a big part in the ease (or lack of) of slow riding and control.

[redeye]

Is this her first riding experience, or first bike? The weight of the Nomad alone can cause some apprehension. Perhaps you could find a smaller unit for her to practice a little before climbing back on the Nomad.

I should have mentioned that she has been riding a virago 1100 for the last 18 years so she is very experienced and very good on her virago. We also did a 5000 mile trip last month on the Vulcans and she was good on the open roads, but as soon as we got into more congested areas IE slow riding, turns stop and go etc. she had a hard time with controlling the bike.

Neithe one took the msf course, we probably should.

If you both have riding experience then I would suggest the "Experienced Riders" course offered thru the same schools. You use your own bike & is geared to slow speed maneuvers. Check it out. Just be sure to cover your crash bars with some sort of padding to protect them from mishaps.........-Rich

[rksaw]

As much as we all love the Nomad, and everyone across this great nation is getting caught up in displacement, there is nothing that says that just because you CAN jump up to a larger bike means that you SHOULD. Maybe the 1100 was just right for your wife. My wife is 5' 5" and a buck O' five, and there is no way I'd get her anything larger than say an 800 or 900 cc bike. Each of us needs to know our limitations...granted, we need to stretch ourselves and the MSF Intermediate and Experienced courses, as well as other Motorcycle Instructions courses do that...but riding within our own limitations will allow us the opportunity to enjoy more rides in the future.

(Man, I'm sounding old! )

[clintr]

Thanks all for the responses. Taking all suggestions, I am ordering Ride Like a Pro 5 today, and will sign us up for the advanced msf class which is probably 2-3 months away. Hopefully I'll be able to drag us both to a vacant parking lot ( not easy to find in our area any day of the week) for practice.

[ells]

Taking the class together should be fun. Probably will be other very experienced riders there who got suggestions like you did. Probably no better way to get to know the bike, not likely you'll do much of that stuff on your own. Not sure if practicing for the course will help, it might but is taught at the level that it is for the unpracticed and most all riders will be challenged. But, is natural to a little concerned that you should be able demonstrate mastery right off. Relax, learn, and enjoy.

[clintr]

Taking the class together should be fun. Probably will be other very experienced riders there who got suggestions like you did. Probably no better way to get to know the bike, not likely you'll do much of that stuff on your own. Not sure if practicing for the course will help, it might but is taught at the level that it is for the unpracticed and most all riders will be challenged. But, is natural to a little concerned that you should be able demonstrate mastery right off. Relax, learn, and enjoy.

The practice I want to do is not for the course, it's because the course is so far in the future so we might as well start as soon as I get the Ride like a pro dvd.

[kawgirl]

I would suggest Ride Like a Pro as well. I hang out in Donna Palladino's forum and it has helped lots of ladies. I have watched one of the videos once and learned some things to do for slow maneuvering. My Nomad doesn't like slower speeds and you really have to learn the bike and how to work with it to run at parking lot speeds. I plan to order the RLAP5 dvd as well to watch over and over along with practice sessions in between. Practice is the key.

[radco]

My 2 cents,, I agree the RIDE LIKE A PRO DVD and the MSF course...PRACTICE,, HOW bout a school parking lot..The spaces are just right for the RLP practice http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif,AND the NOMAD is a BEAST with SLOW speed handling....I had a HONDA 1100 Sabre and handld it well high and low speed,,,The Nomad I handle well BUT VERY slow speed its WORK,,,NOT too bad but I can feel it,,Im not a BIG guy either,, Im 6ft3" 220lbs size Pee Wee Hermon http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif...I am trying the practice skills from the RLP and our MSF is booked for 2/3 months :'(... SO I will book for Spring next year..sucks but that a good thig as people are using it http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif Rich