February 21, 2012 10:50 AM PST
Dolly, I know that you have taken the MSF course and passed, and there is no shame in taking it a second or third time. I've taken the ERC like three times, just for reminders and re train myself after them bad habits that we all tend to pick up.
Hell yes riding on the streets is 10 times different than riding on the range which is a controlled environment, that I believe we all can agree upon. You've lowered the bike, already which is too bad really, for it does affect the lean angles, but the good news is ya can always "raise" it again. Turning in motion and from a dead stop are going to feel different for they are different. Also how far you have to reach may have an effect as well on turning. As you are making your dead stop right turn the handle bar on the left side is the furthest way from you, therefore possibly effecting the confident clutch movements. On left turns throttle confidence may be at risk from the stretch. This can be fixed with new bars and such, or by continue practicing, practicing, and practicing.
Now, I've been called the Hilter of Motorcycle Coaches. Why, Well I walked. ran next to the novice as she was learning. What I did was, A made her sit in the drive and hit the horn, no looking down, she had to look at me right in my eyes as she did this, she did roll one inch until she could hit all turn signals, lights, horn, ft brake, clutch, Back Break, Switch gears, and hit reserve without looking she had to be staring at me the whole time. Why Familiar with the bike, make things happen like hit the turn signal with out thought so it didn't efffect her turning. Or turning on reserve on the fly is a must know, it really is ya don't want to be searching for it.
Next, anyone can roll a bike in a straight line down the road, but can ya stop it, change gears, start and stop, so I'd run next to her and yell give me 3rd gear, then I'd yell stop. she'd stop and better be back to 1st before putting her foot down. We did this until she could roll, change gears, stop, slow then speed up, stop and be back at 1st gear and ready to continue before Hittler would coach any further. I know lots of practice, practice and more practice. She was to practice this around her little neighbor hood. Then we worked on turning in a Cul de Sac, round and round tighter and tighter, then the other way, then figure 8 with in the cul de sac, well we went a little out of the cul de sac for that but you get the idea. Once she felf comfortable with all that then she had to do this at speed and followed me around the development, then I'd follow her, one this silly game of follow the leader was done, and she wanted to hit the street. I let her pull out on to the streets first, told her take your time, and go when you want to go, I will follow or will not be too far behind.We took the streets of Jacksonville going places and making turns at lights and such before we ever tried crossing streets, or making lefts, we did that until she was most comfortalbe then we went to left and well with in 4 weeks she called me one Saturday and said Tumbles I rode to work and the traffic here is really bad what should I do. I said ride home, she said I don't know, I asked her if she wanted me to come out and get her, she said NO! So we sat there on the phone and came up with a less traffic route to get home from Ponte Vedra. I think 2 months later we went to Charleston SC to visit a friend, then went to North Carolina for the moustache ride. She took off and flew. First, though she spent a lot of time getting to know her ride, before hitting the street, she was confident is coming to stops, fast and slow, sudden stops, turning shifting the whole nine yards before she went out and about. So the big secret is this.........
Read what you have learned in class, retake if need be, practice, practice, practice and just when ya thought you couldn't practice any more practice some more. Get comfortable with the bike and controlls before you even start it, be sure things are a good fit, I think some harley dealers have perfect fit things where the staff can help you out with reach and such. The desire to do it, and the gumshon to go out and do it, for no one can do it for you. If you want it you got to work it. There's more than a good chance your going to drop it, maybe more than once, there's a chance your going to run over a mailbox and take out a birdhouse, there's a chance you could get hit by a car, there's a chance that you can brake a bone, there's also a chance that one day you may not come home. So think deeply and be sure your ready for the comitment its going to take to cruise the streets calm, relaxed, and in control. You are the Captian of your own ship and now its time to act the part, first take the responsibility of practice, practice and more paractice oh and did I mention Practice, practice and more practice. have a great one "T"