Motorman's Tips & Tricks Dear Motorman, My husband and I are planning a trip to the North Carolina-Tennessee area this April in hopes of slaying the Dragon. I've only been riding a year and since I live here in Florida, I find it impossible to get any practice on serious winding roads. I'd like to get in some practice, but since there's no winding roads here, what can I do? The answer is simple. First, find a big, empty, parking lot. Next, set up the offset cone weave. Start with the offset cone weave at normal size, that is, 5 cones in a straight line set at 30 feet apart. From where you placed your first cone, measure 24 feet to the left and put a mark on the pavement. From that mark, measure down 15 feet and space another 5 cones set at 30 feet apart. If this sounds complicated, to see the actual exercise, go to my website, www.ridelikeapro.com and download the practice guide. In this exercise, you'll be performing quick left to right transitions and big S shaped turns. As you head towards the first cone, you're going to be making a left turn. Just prior to your front tire getting towards that first cone, snap your head and eyes as far to the left as you can. As soon as your bike starts heading away from your next cone to your right, quickly snap your head and eyes towards that cone. Again, once you're 10 feet from that cone, snap your head and eyes to the right as far as possible. Continue in this fashion through all 5 cones. Back and forth, left and right. You should be in 1st gear and remain in the friction zone, DON'T let the clutch out all the way. Keep a little pressure on the rear brake. This exercise will help you perfect the low speed turns on the Dragon and there are plenty of them on that road. To practice the higher speed switchbacks, just increase the width of the cones from 24 feet to 50 feet and then to 100 feet. The further apart the cones are, the higher the speed you'll be able to obtain. As your speed increases, you'll find that you need to be in 2nd gear and need little or no pressure on the rear brake. As you round the cones, you should still be able to use some friction zone to smooth out your progress. Once again, head and eyes is of the utmost importance. You'll find with the cones set at 50 feet apart, you'll have to counter steer, rather than handlebar steer as you were doing when the cones were 24 feet apart. Counter steering simply means, to go left, you push forward on the left grip, the bike will then lean to the left and go to the left. On the right hand turns, of course, push forward on the right grip, the bike will lean right and go right. The harder you push on the bars, the further the bike will lean. Once you get to those winding roads up in Tennessee, remember this rule also; turn your head and eyes and focus on the end of the turn. To do this easily, you must place your motorcycle for the best view around the curve. If the road curves to the left, you must place your bike in the extreme right hand portion on your lane. If the road curves to the right, start the curve in the extreme left hand portion of your lane. Remember to go into the curves slow and roll on the throttle through the turn. All your braking should be performed prior to entering the turn. Avoid braking with the bike leaned over and avoid opening and closing the throttle while in the turn with the bike leaned over. You may also want to take a look at my Ride Like a Pro on the Dragon DVD. It was filmed on the very road you're about to visit and it gives you a detailed view of the do's and dont's on this road. Till next month, keep the shiny side up, use your head and eyes. copyright 2008 Jerry Motorman Palladino The Ride Like a Pro Team
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