Parking Lot Practice Class ~ We did it!

[cheriann]

Yesterday was a busy day for me!!! LOL! Before learning to FINALLY take a passenger on my bike (see other thread), Chaz and I took a GoldWing sponsored class with friends called Parking Lot Practice, intended to get people back in the swing after a long winter. It was all slow riding stuff....the kind of riding that can give me a hard time!!!

I found out my biggest problem with the slower stuff is wanting to look down, or directly out in front of my tire. Exercises like swerving in and out of cones got me because I kept looking down. Then exercises like the figure 8 type stuff REALLY tripped me up for the same reasons.

So, these awesome guys gave me the best pointers! For the figure 8, one guy told me to not only look all the way over my shoulder, but to keep looking all the way over through the turn until I saw the final point I wanted to end at. That helped me SO much!!!!

Here's a video of Chaz on his pretty Nomad doing that bigger Figure 8 stuff with no problem!!! As you can see, they were very generous with the amount of space they gave to do this, and yet I still went too slow and wanted to put a foot down the first time, until I got the great tips and reminders

[Jared]

I have several bean bags that I take out with me to parking-lots to practice slow handling about once a month. It seems to help a lot.

[dantama]

I've heard of people using soda crackers, marshmallows, and sidewalk chalk too.

I haven't used those, but I can see the ease of not having to pick them back up and let the birds have them, and if you run over them it's no big deal.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

This is something I need much more practice at. I am always willing to learn. I feel my expertise on the highway and around town are pretty good. When it comes to slow speed maneuvering that is where I am uneasy. I will have to give it a try and see what happens.

[nomadbehappy]

I'm lucky, I work at a college where they teach the motorcycle courses. The courses run every weekend except for long weekends, so on those weekends I try and take a ride over and practice as 2 of our lots that have the course permanently painted on them. The lots are swept regularly and are empty on long weekends.

[cheriann]

Originally Posted by AlabamaNomadRider

This is something I need much more practice at. I am always willing to learn. I feel my expertise on the highway and around town are pretty good. When it comes to slow speed maneuvering that is where I am uneasy. I will have to give it a try and see what happens.

That's what I discovered with this class! Riding on the open road, I feel like a pro....but put me in a slow maneuvering situation and I look like a newbie! I really should practice more often

[rickyboy]

I have a plan to head to the parking lot as soon as I'm insured. I have a dozen fluorescent tennis balls cut in half and ready to be my obstacle course. It never hurts to practice.

[len]

I to need practice with the nomad in tight manuvers do to its weight i am like everybodyelse shear weight is intimitating

[peabo2k]

Since I work across the street from the parking lot used for the basic, advance and sports bike riding courses, I do a couple of slow speed maneuvers after work once or twice a month, especially since I added the fairing and tour pak.

[cheriann]

Originally Posted by peabo2k

Since I work across the street from the parking lot used for the basic, advance and sports bike riding courses, I do a couple of slow speed maneuvers after work once or twice a month, especially since I added the fairing and tour pak.

That's the perfect setup for you!!! My problem is trying to find a parking lot to use! Even the school parking lots seem to have cars parked after hours..... ::)

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Sounds like you learned a lot CheriAnn. Practice can never hurt anyone, unless you fall while practicing.

[flightdoc]

I wish it was mandatory to take the basic course prior to getting your licence. It's amazing how much it helps.

vin

[bendusty]

I got the Ride Like a Pro video and watched it a couple of times before I went to the parking lot with the nomad. I try to practice at least a couple of time a month for at least 30min to an hour. It has really helped as I am riding year round. The link to order the video is Ride Like a Pro.com