Hardest riding skill to learn

[george formby]

That's my choice of the lot. As a girlie I don't really have the desire to show off or do tricky stunting (besides not being able to afford all the bike and body repairs while going through the process of learning them); I also don't have any particular ego issues. However, puny wee arms and short leggies, combined with heavy bike - overbalancing at low speed turns is my biggest concern.

A few times I've been able to manhandle the bandit from not going past the tip point, and that's been largely through the old "keep your head and eyes up, don't look at the ground" technique. I've put it down a few times and each ends up with either a broken clutch lever knob or brake lever knob or mirror... too expensive to do too often! Off to the gym

It takes a huge amount of confidence (and practice) to maneuver a big bike at slow speed, relying on a positive throttle to keep the bike up while you do a u'y or some thing similar.
I have watched those gymkhana videos where the riders are almost scraping their footrests doing figure 8's at walking pace.
Much respect!!!

[MSTRS:Me]

It takes a huge amount of confidence (and practice) to maneuver a big bike at slow speed, relying on a positive throttle to keep the bike up while you do a u'y or some thing similar.
I have watched those gymkhana videos where the riders are almost scraping their footrests doing figure 8's at walking pace.
Much respect!!!

Strange as it sounds, I reckon a heavy bike is easier to manouevre at low speed. Something to do with being more stable? Or requiring greater rider weight shifts?
You too, can have such respect. Doing just that is part of a RRRS course.

[george formby]

Strange as it sounds, I reckon a heavy bike is easier to manouevre at low speed. Something to do with being more stable? Or requiring greater rider weight shifts?
You too, can have such respect. Doing just that is part of a RRRS course.

Que?

I'm always keen to upskill but even after learning to ride on a trials bike I still try to avoid putting myself in such a tight situation. PM if you want.

Sorry, BOT.

[MSTRS:Me]

Tight figure 8s are not a requirement in the real world of riding. But they are a useful exercise in showing you what you and your bike are capable of, particularly in terms of bike control. Many riders avoid doing U-turns because they find such a manouevre difficult. Full-lock circles and figure 8s are a brilliant way of making u-turns a doddle.
All it is, is confident bike control.

Recently, I attended a training day, where one of the exercises was weaving through a line of cones, using brake and throttle to keep the bike at walking speed. I couldn't do it on a little 125cc, but no problem on an old XJ900. Neither bike was mine, and I'd never ridden either of them before. Perhaps I am just more used to a heavy-ish bike? But I was convinced that the bigger bike was more stable, due to requiring much more rider input to upset it's balance.

[riffer]

I think overcoming the survival reaction is the hardest one to learn of all. Despite everything I've learned, and 32 years of riding, I still find when faced with a nasty situation, the instinct to flinch and tighten the arms on the bars is still there.

I've tried and tried to wean it out of me but the survival instinct in the brain is so strong. I can put the survival instinct at the forefront of blame for EVERY accident I've had, and it always comes down to the same thing - that flinching gets me in more trouble than not - a grab at the brakes, a push at the bars that's just not appropriate, and I've been on the deck.

I don't even know if it's a skill to learn but it's still, after all these years, my #1 thing to overcome. It's not a fear thing, it's just my body taking over from my brain even when I know what to do. Thank goodness it's very rarely I get into these situations.

[gsx83esd]

Hardest skill to learn would be getting the wife on side to get the bike in the first place , cheers , ps , i won !

[James Deuce]

Not riding with your balls.

[tigertim20]

So after a week of puttering around back roads with the occasional foray into a main road I have found the hardest skill to get the hang of is hill starting. I started wondering how common this is.
So what was the hardest part of riding that you had to learn?

Youre all wrong. the hardest skill is a stoppie-kiss.

no no wait, hardest skill is . . . riding in a manner worthy of Katman's compliments. - but nobody's ever done that.

[DrunkenMistake]

Youre all wrong. the hardest skill is a stoppie-kiss.

no no wait, hardest skill is . . . riding in a manner worthy of Katman's compliments. - but nobody's ever done that.

Seeming as Katman hasnt replied yet,
You should PM him and ask, Im sure he will explain to you, if you find any of the above challenging then you should not be on the road at all, its just plain silly!.








On a serious note, I found it hard doing hillstarts, not alot of hills around my way so I didnt get to practice, but once you get it once your all good, Filtering is easyy just make sure you have enough gap and just commit, if you hesitate then just stop and wait in the que.

[FJRider]

Youre all wrong. the hardest skill is a stoppie-kiss.

PM Skidmark ... I'm sure he'll be pleased to assist you with this ...

no wait, hardest skill is . . . riding in a manner worthy of Katman's compliments. - but nobody's ever done that.

OK ... PM Katman then ...

[Ratti]

how to crash in such a way to get yourself away from the bike. Seriously, trail riders do it as a matter of course, us road riders tho have to learn the hard way. And seldom get it right. Riffer touched on this topic.
Katman has a LOT to say about it

[GrayWolf]

do not post in the wrong thread, dumbass!!

[bogan]

how to crash in such a way to get yourself away from the bike. Seriously, trail riders do it as a matter of course, us road riders tho have to learn the hard way. And seldom get it right. Riffer touched on this topic.
Katman has a LOT to say about it

Like that if you need this skill, you haven't learn the others properly Trail riders also have the benefit of different riding position, lighter bikes, different terrain, and less bits to get caught up with on the bike. Personally I don't try to get away from it when I come off on dirt, but more often than not end up that way.

[fatzx10r]

no hander front flip is a hard one master

[cheshirecat]

Getting a full faired over laiden bike with a dog on the back over a footbridge and down round the tight corners the other side with a couple of steps thrown