Training is not just for learners. Whether you are an experienced motorcyclist or just starting out, it's never a bad thing to practice the basic riding skills. We spoke to Mark Jaffe from Phoenix Motorcycle Training to discuss what he considers the three most significant skills needed to ride a motorbike on the road, and what you can do to practice them…
Passing your motorcycle test is a great achievement, but for many of us it marks the end of our journey when it comes to formally learning how to ride a motorcycle.
Sure we gain knowledge through experience, and some of us will go on to undertake advanced training, but most motorcyclists seem happy to end their learning experience the before the examiner has even finished saying ‘I’m happy to tell you…’.
That’s a shame because, aside from the obvious safety reasons, the more skilled you are the more you are likely to enjoy your riding experience.
And there’s no shame to practicing your skill and working on becoming a better rider, in fact we’d say it’s quite the opposite. There are very few jobs or past times where you don’t practice, making it perfectly normal to take pride in refreshing and working on your basic skills.
Elite level athletes practice almost every day, not because they’re rubbish but because they want to polish the skills they have as they endeavour to be the very best they can be. Even if you play sports at an amateur level, you likely practice as much as you play, and at work you’re likely to have a few training days each year where you might be asked to refresh your knowledge or learn new skills.
Motorcycling shouldn’t be any different in our opinion and, as we approach the time of year when motorcyclists start hitting the road, we thought we’d speak to one of the UK’s biggest motorcycle training providers for some tips. Mark Jaffe, owner of Phoenix Rider Training, told us his three top tips he thinks experienced motorbike riders should focus on. You can hear from him in some more detail in our exclusive video but, to summarise, he says:
Look ahead
Motorcycle racers swear by this one. Focussing on the road ahead is critical, after all it has been proven that you steer towards the point you are looking. Getting into the habit of focussing on the corner ahead, finding the apex and pointing your head where you want to go will make you a smoother rider. Anticipating what’s ahead is key, so working on this skill will make you a better rider.
Work on clutch control
Confidence builds from low speed and to have good slow speed control, a mastery of the clutch is crucial. Understand the biting point and clutch action on your bike and you will feel more in control of your machine. All bikes tend to be a little different in the way the clutch feels, with newer bikes often having really light lever actions, so getting to know how your bike’s clutch feels will do wonders for your riding.
Practice riding at low speed
Following on from working on clutch control, practicing riding at low speed, like you did during your compulsory basic training, is a great way to bond with your motorcycle and will inspire confidence. It’s easy to do as well, just head to a quiet car park and practice away.
Mark expands on these three core motorcycling skills in our exclusive video. Why not give it a watch and see how you can develop your motorcycling skills?
Once you’ve done that, why not commit to practicing your skills some more this year? Head to a car park and spend some time perfecting your low speed riding, a great way to not only improve your skills but also to really bond with your motorcycle. Take a leisurely solo ride, focusing on your riding and reading the road, before coming back and reflecting on your riding. Be honest with yourself, practice some more and, if need be, look at getting some coaching from a reputable instructor.
