**!?Tips - suggestions help -- Pylon, Cone, Serpentine Weave Test - On Canada

[cWj]

"snapping the throttle closed" and pulling the clutch all the way in is preferable to grabbing a handful of front brake while in the middle of a low speed turn. In fact, pulling the clutch all the way in is preferable if one "snaps" the throttle closed as there is coasting instead of stalling.

In my experience, the learner is first taught that the key to control at low speeds is clutch and throttle. I was having trouble in the figure 8 and was told to use the rear brake. It worked for me.

In my experience, the noob is taught to straighten the bars and pull in the clutch in the event of a panic stop.

Ideally, you don't want a noob to panic, but panic is what noobs do. Often in range maneuvers and often on small bikes.

The difference between bmf and the rest of us is likely in our perception of "cone course". In particular I'm thinking about having to make turns in first gear...in my experience this involved some clutch slipping.

The 250 GZ and Nighthawks I learned in seemed to require far less finesse with the clutch lever at low speeds than the GS5.

I don't recall ever seeing anyone drop a bike due to pulling a clutch in.

[bmf]

I've seen folks drop bikes going around slow turns many times while helping out at our rider training here, most from lost momentum (clutch),  some from (brake) . Wouldn't say it happens every day but at least every weekend. 
To get back to the advanced slow speed  training I did recently,  they had us riding around as slow as possible,  Idling,  and only using the back brake for about 30 minutes. Thought my Gs was going to overheat! But it is amazing how slow you can go and him witch control you have.  We were forbidden from covering (or using)  front brake or clutch during that time, or during subsequent slow speed manouvers.
As I said earlier the benefit was no thinking about two levers that can car you to fall,  rear brake squats the bike giving better control,  and if anything happens you use the only control you have,  the throttle, to pick you up and get out.
Worked for me.
Bmf

[Slack]

Trial's riders can go even slower like completely stopped by slipping the clutch 

But sounds like a fun drill I'll have to try.

[damo2211]

When i was doing my lessons had to do some low speed u-turns and it was basically bit of clutch and throttle and back brake and also keep your eyes were you want to go.Can go pretty slow by using the back brake, but you want just enough throttle and clutch not to lug the engine.
Try practice in a vacant car park, i did this.

[Redclayrider]

 While this is not the exact course you will ride on, this is one of our Gymkhana short timed courses. Watch his head as he goes around the cones. Notice how he LOOKS at the cone as he goes around then his head snaps to the other cone as he leaves the cone he is circling.

Remember, you go where you look. As you approach the cone let your eyes follow the entrance to the circle around the cone. Keep your eyes on the cone as you go around to keep an equal distance from the cone. As you approach the exit, let your eyes follow through the exit to the next cone. Repeat for the next cone.

Ideally you will not touch your brakes or the clutch when doing this maneuver.  If you feel you must, I would lightly apply the rear brake. It is better to lean the bike through the turn. Notice how much the rider is leaning his bike. Be relaxed and loose when you do your course. When you  are nervous your muscles will tighten up and you will be jerky on the control of your bike.

Here is another rider on a motorcycle he just bought. He picked it up that morning, we went for a short ride, then headed to Gymkhana practice.

     

Good luck on the test and have FUN. After all, you are riding your motorcycle.     

[Edward]

Hi All - had the test this afternoon.  Talk about nerves!  Funny thing - six of us were being tested in the afternoon session.  Not all passed - but ALL were great support to one another.  Seriously - it was a strange bond - all of us offering each other words of encouragement, answering each others questions, turning away when one of us messed up so not to have the pressure of staring.  What an experience of humanity that was.  If this is the way the biking community is - I'm sorry I didn't join earlier on in life.  Thank you for all of your feedback and help and suggestions.  Luckily - and I say that because it was windy, the serpentine cones are the hardest - I passed.  Glad I spent so much time in a parking lot learning how to drive slow and balance - AND found this forum - your tips and encouragement is what made it possible for me to learn what had to be done and then get out and try it over and over and over again! Thanks again!!!! 

[Redclayrider]

 Glad to hear you passed! 

[GSamIInsane]

Congrats Edward

[ShowBizWolf]

That's awesome Edward!!!  When I took my class and test, that's how my group was with each other too.  I am overjoyed to know you passed and had such a great experience 

[cWj]

 

The community can be like that. It can be some other ways as well...

I've been in my current residence for over decade. I'd never met most of the people that know me here now until I got the bike a couple years ago. They see me working on it and it starts conversations, at times having NOTHING to do with the bike, including people who just this forum - your tips and encouragement is what made it possible for me to learn what had to be done and then get out and try it over and over and over again! Thanks again!!!!  anted/needed to talk to (marriage, employment, sociology...).

If the more you ride, the more it will happen. The further you travel the better the stories will get. It will usually start with a bike they used to have...

When it's time: get out, see the world, enjoy the ride.

In the meantime: MORE PRACTICE.

have fun/ride safe.