Hopefully you enjoyed this video and learned something along the way. MotoJitsu.com/gear for all the stuff I have including the gloves I always get asked about.
@2:11 You might not have known this but at 2 minutes and 11 seconds into this video you were in the location that a majority of the sons of anarchy "Charming" scenes riding were filmed. I know this because not only did I ride it I was on site.
Your gear list was very great to see for track vs street vs dirt, but I am wondering what are you using for your vlogging gear. What GoPro are you using and are you using an external mic as well , because all your videos are top notch quality. 🤓👌🏽
Congratulations on getting into the sport. Hey man we were all newbies at one point. When I started riding there was no RUclips or MotoJitsu. So you’re very fortunate to have these resources. Please keep using them and please keep learning and if you do, you’ll be riding for a lifetime!!!
For a new rider like myself, these kinds of videos are like a ray of sunlight slashing through all the fog and confusion/anxiety about what to do and how to do it when riding the twisties. Thank you, man! Keep up the awesome work. We really appreciate it!
Beginning motorcycle riding as a 62 yo female. Your videos are very, very helpful and really reinforce what I've learned in my MSF class, and the small amount that translates from driving a manual all these years (similar, but very different animals). I love manual transmissions, but have been surprised how exhausting it can be learning a brand new vehicle's system. Thank you and thanks for your service!
I’m 50+ years old and I just started learning how to ride. Motojitsu is a great help for us, older riders. Calm and precise in his explanations, preaching exercises on the parking lot….exactly what we need! The only thing that we don’t have to worry about is being a hothead or compete with buddies. Older age has some advantages:)
I am a couple of years older and learnt to drive manual bikes from the age of sixteen ., at least on the roads . My brother gave me my first car , a very secondhand Renault 5 , when I was 28 ! If I had to drive an automatic anything I hope its a boat , lol , as I would probably rear end crash someone on a road . Yes , I am in the UK ! When I read your word exhausting , I thought exhilarating .would be a better . Learning to use a new bike is fun I reckon , so long as it fits you and so long as it is not too intimidating and it is up to you not to frighten yourself silly ! Enjoy it lady Liz . .
I've ridden a long time but have learned things from your videos and also seen some things I was already doing well but from a different perspective. Nobody knows it all and no rider should ever stop learning/refreshing their knowledge and skills. Keep up the good work.
I had my second practice trip today on my first ever bike (I got a ninja 300 just 3 weeks ago). This video helps me a lot to understand how I can fix my common mistakes, thank u so much😁
Finding the apex of a turn is somehow i learned from nfs and gran turismo. In strolls/rides, it doesn't matter how fast/low can you do the corner, it's how well would you finish it. Like when you overshoot there's no turning back. Bike and bones are broken which equates to 3-6 months banned from riding and paying therapies and repair.
I don't have a motorbike license or a bike. I am planning to however and as a new subscriber, I'm so appreciative of your very helpful lessons. As an added bonus, your videos are no fuss. No rubbish intros with garbage talking. Thank you for keeping it effective and simple.
Thank you for showing these type of technical videos. I appreciate all the knowledge you give to the motorcycle community. Please keep up the great work! I'm still practicing nearly everyday and I'm always promoting your motojitsu system. It has already saved me out on the road and I always encourage my friends to practice and take courses. God bless you Greg, you're a great instructor!
There’s a crazy notion held some by riders where they believe that it’s a good thing not to show a brake light in the twisties, because they think it shows that they’re reading the road correctly. They are exactly as you have said.. changing down, to slow down. I’ve tried to point this out to some people but they think they know best. I’m so pleased that you’ve highlighted this issue 👍
That crazy notion is because of the first edition of "the pace". Do a search for "the pace 2.0" which was revised by Nick Ienatsch. The first version was basically a call to ride sensible speed on public roads, and that's fine. People interpreted it to mean not to use the brakes mid turn, and the revision clarifies that.
Ive been watching yr videos for over a yr now and i really need to stress out yr direct communication, simple sentences and explanations without too many unnecessary words. Bcs thats where i usually get lost, too many boring/less important used words and long stories. Brief, simple, direct, clean, in commands, and thats it! Way to go
I tend to always do the first mistake (turning too early) on twisties.. and your video clearly demonstrate how to manage twisties (not just this video, but on your other videos too) I really like seeing your contents specially these kinds of video demonstration and lesson. Now I have to apply your demonstration to my riding. You're such a blessing.
I catch myself doing the same thing more often than I care to admit, so much so sometimes I have to tell myself aloud as I enter a turn "stay up stay up!"
Real life experience just yesterday of the value of not turning early.... I was approaching the first tight bend of a nice twisty uphill road and good thing I always do the fundamentals (am still on my Aus P1 licence, so fresh on my mind) took the farther end of road, when two clowns riding their small hatch cars appear to be racing downhill and also approaching the bend from the opposite lane. The car at the back, a Subaru hatch, came down skidding with it's backside going over the middle line and could have been a disaster and fatal... Not my time I guess, but it pays to listen and learn these types of advices. It does saves lives. Cheers.
Fantastic information Greg! Don''t turn early, don't use engine braking alone, don't counter-lean, don't accelerate too soon and don't grab the brakes..
He specifically said downshift though, not engine braking. In my experience they are different beasts. Hear me out. I basically never use downshifting to slow down. It creates wear on the engine jumping to higher rpm suddenly as well as a risk of losing traction if that jump is too great. A drop from 5th to 1st suddenly is bad. If downshifting go through all gears sequentialy. I grew up driving on snowy/icy mountain passes and this is where "engine braking" is different than "down shifting". When descending these roads in icy conditions it is best to remain in a lower gear and stay off of the gas as the engine slows you down. 3rd gear is usually the best but sometimes 2nd cause it has more slowing power. Brake or sudden change to rpm will result in loss of traction. Coasting down hill with constant resistance applied by the engine is the way to go. Try coasting in gear the next time you encounter a long decent. 1st and 2nd will probably be too slow. You should be able to coast down a mountain pass in 3rd gear with a max speed of 45mph delivering power to the drive train the whole time. That is engine braking.
At 65 all of this seems like common sense, when I was 16, 17, 18, etc. I was a bad rider and paid for it. Never forget the first time I gave my buddy a ride and nearly went head on into a car on a 30 mph curve because I wasn't prepared for the extra weight. We were way over the line and the car had to jump a curb to avoid us. I knew nothing about safe riding, just wanted to impress my buddy. He was not impressed, never rode with me again.
Ryan Austin of Advanced Rider Training, who teach police and civilians to ride, advocates counter leaning when riding slow or fast on public roads. It is not the fastest style but he believes it is the safest and gives his reasons.
Yamaha champ school and California super bike, two of premium riding schools in the US, teach higher speed riding techniques which are practiced by many world class riders. Neither of the fore mentioned teach counter leaning for higher speeds. IMO counter leaning works very well for slower speed manoeuvres and Ryan’s training is an excellent program to learn this skill.
One more thing on panic down shifting to 1st gear… make sure your bike has a slipper clutch! Otherwise, surprise: locking the rear wheel to a speed that is not necessarily the speed the bike is going, which is a recipe for disaster if you don’t know how to react.
Hi im returning to bikes after over 30 years absence im in NewZealand (only ever had dirt bikes) I've just purchased a Triumph Trident 660. I found this video very helpful & I'm looking forward to putting it into practice once I get my bike it's about 3 days away. Please keep up the great work.
as someone from Germany. i have to say that we learn most of the stuff you say about new riders in driving school, but this for example is a really good video to break and overthink bad habits
A person who is always critiquing his/her own riding will encounter all these situations and will recognize what works well and what works poorly and learn from these encounters what to do and not to do next time. Although I didn't see anything I didn't know already, you did us riders a great service by actually demonstrating the best way to ride and why it's the best way. Evidently there are lots of riders who aren't paying much attention to their riding or don't question themselves and ask if they could have done that last turn better.
Great video! I could see myself making some of these mistakes as I am getting ready to start practicing in the twisties. Perfect timing to watch this before practicing!
That early curve entry makes a lot of sense. Much appreciated, that actually would make your curve twice as sharp. I think I'll have a lot of trouble using down shifting to slow down. I'm use to driving a manual vehicle. It's always been hold the clutch while breaking and letting my speed after breaking determine the gear I'm going to go into. My wife is horrible about breaking through an entire curve. I hate it. You should always, on no matter how many wheels, be able to accelerate coming out of that halfway point.
Whoa, the turning in too early example was right on the nose. I actually have this problem and you're totally right that it's a fear/defense mechanism. Great point about the target fixation too, I've found myself doing that on early turn ins. Will definitely work on this more now that I am consciously aware of it.
I often only use engine brake to slow down and I'm fine. I might add just a touch of front to get some weight on the front tire. My bike has a lot.of.enginr brake and I know I can take the corner with the speed I'm entering it at. Now if it's a road I don't know or I was really speeding down the straight then of course I use brake.
I wish i heard this during learning for my license. Even thou i am from EU and we have required 20 hours that barly teached me anything, need to watch more your videos for proper tips.
I've been riding for maybe 5 months and I have to say I've learned an enormous amount from your content and I greatly appreciate it man just wanted to say thanks!!
M.J.; There is a great piece of advice you have drilled into us dozens of times, that has another description you might occasionally add. You teach us to inscribe a flatter turn (with softened entry and exit) onto the tighter curve (smaller radius) that the road is built on. The riding method you teach us lets us ride faster and smother by making any constant radius curve into a curve with a longer radius (flatter degree of curvature). The way I just wrote that may turn the light on quicker for a small number people. Thanks for these videos. You have saved lives and skin.
And also down shifting in and out of corner's abruptly will shorten chain and sprockets life, let alone transmission parts,, unless you have drive shaft bike, bit still transmissions and drive line parts are more$$$ than brake pads.... Very good information . Keep up the good videos. :)
For people who are struggling with turning too soon/too late, i advise you to study the "apex turn". It's basically how to position yourself to turn correctly, especially when driving at higher speeds and leaning :)
i love to practice this because i drive everyday as deliveries on my cb500x and many scooters , so these exercises are really showing skill improvement after awhile keep it up G
Good advice as always, thanks for these videos. It's a bit different riding an old Brit bike like a Commando though, where engine braking is concerned. As you probably know, shut the throttle on one of these and it's like braking. Change down and shut the throttle and it can be like braking hard (in fact, if you don't know what you're doing you can lock the back wheel by changing down too soon). I rarely touch the brakes at all, but my technique would be different on a modern Jap multi cylinder bike.
Thanks for this . Up until watching this clip I wasn’t sure if my technique was correct . I’m doing everything the way you just explained 😅 Respect , and safe riding !
Great video MotoJitsu. If only they taught these principles when you get your basic lessons. They still teach "don't touch the brakes in a corner". In fact, they deduct points from your assessment in your test if you brake during a corner. You see riders trying to get their knee down on public roads all the time. So risky when just around the corner could be gravel, oil and many other things, including where I live beach sand (a light dusting of beach sand is slippery as hell).
5:13 dude you’re so correct and I used to fall into that bad habit of thinking oh no isn’t that hard on the clutch or isn’t that hard on the brakes but guess what people, those are wear items. They wear out and if you do something stupid and crash your bike because you’re not slipping your clutch when you’re supposed to or you’re not using your brakes when you’re supposed to well then what did you really save and you might even lose your life
As a beginner rider (started 1 year ago) these types of instructions and videos means a lot, and thank you for that sir. It would be great if you could show us also on other bike types, body positioning etc on sport bike, naked bike and others
Excellent video man, like everything you do for us newbies. Thank you very much. No better motormaster than the Motojitsu master. Just started of with an Volusia Intruder 800, at my 63 years of age, and on the mexican bad ass roads, after only two months of practice on a 250 Keeway. My new second-hand bike is thus way over my head, but your good teachings make me slowly break in the big torque too heavy beast. I couldn't resist it's beauty on offer, and bought it, silly ass. But i somehow don't regret it, as it makes for slow prudent learning. Can't explain why I didn't start biking earlier, why i did miss out on this for so many years? Many greetings from (a belgian living since 25 years in) Mexico. All the best to you.
Great video! You need to get an insta360 camera for these! I understood what you were doing counter leaning etc but I think a lot of new riders might not understand since they can’t see your body only your handlebars.
Thank you to this channel I early turn to corner and I get off the road I learn my mistake after that 2 mins ago we all ridding I come back stronger this channel help ppl a lot ❤
We have term here in the UK (used by police instructors) re braking - brake like a lemon! Think of the brake pressure profile being the shape of a lemon.. it’s exactly as you have described, but some instructors use that description just to help people remember it 👍
Wide entry thanks for this I've studied & searched this after i go wide in the middle of corner. Believing that i apex early is the right thing almost make me crash. Now i can go smooth on tight corners
As far as accelerating out of a corner: I personally find that I timed and dosed the throttle correctly when the bike picks up itselve straight up after leaning into a corner. There's also a thing called gradually rolling on the throttle. Don't whack it all the time after a corner. It is not an on/off switch
if you are that concerned about wearing out pieces of your bike, you should NOT ride a bike. Great video, agree the argument of wearing out break pads, clutch, etc is totally absurd. I'm using everything I need to use too ride safe, and have fun.. don't care what the cost is.
Regarding you mentioning new riders accelerating into the guard rail. I hope the MSF course has changed this, but when I took it the mantra was "accelerate through the turn." Works great for nervous new riders, probably going too slow around a very short curve. But I recall only an offhanded comment about "except on long curves." And nothing about "only once your bike is pointed correctly." It took a bit of experience and rational thought to break through that and come to the ideas you mention here. But had to break an unnecessary mental block drilled into me by the MSF. Lastly, dont get me wrong I will still tell every new rider to go take the course. Its net benefit is good, though just the beginning of someone's education.
I don't get your hate towards counter-leaning. It is way safer than leaning you body into the corner. On the road you can encounter multiple unexpected things through a corner. If you start to loose grip mid corner wile counter-leaning or while leaning there will be a big difference. In the first case the bike start to fall and you still have a little time to react, in the second one you are the first to fall your body will contract for the sudden lost of support and you will not have the time and the possibility to even try to react. Leaning into the corner should be for track purposes only. I read a lot of comments of people going wide because are scared of leaning the bike. Leaning the bike increase risk only if you don't know the bike or the tires or if you are trying to push the limits of your bike and yourself. You give a lot of good tips and advice but on this matter I think you have a too strong opinion to see the upside on counter-leaning. Fortnine video explain it very well. I don't know if you watched it but I would love to ear your opinion on it.
I really found your instruction in this video was excellent. Your dialog with all the examples was fantastic. Thank you. Best wishes from Ottawa Canada 🇨🇦
You should do a video on how to properly cross over cattle guards. These can obviously pose a problem when you encounter them in the middle of turns, and especially when wet! I almost always slow and straighten the bike up if they're in the middle of a turn to take away lean angle. They can definitely be pretty intimidating as a new rider. They still certainly put me on "guard." Haha!
Great stuff! Always learning the good techniques. My biggest fear is right hand curves where oncoming vehicles cross the centerline, so I try to stay to the inside of the turn to avoid a head-on collision.
Like the road you chose, sweet. I tell myself in turns, go right to go left and go left to go right smooths things out mentally. Just a thought. Great vid. too.
Great Vid! Though I often use counter leaning on (tighter) right hand turns that have a blocked view. Like this I can see obstacles on the road or oncoming traffic earlier.
The #1 reason I turn in too early is because I am NOT looking far enough down the road! I find myself fixating closer in through the turn, instead of pointing my eyes where I want to end up. Anxiety can be a factor, but it can also be simple forgetfulness. I was focusing on searching for road hazards, not where I want the bike to go.
12:12 The spot on the road was from a Honda RC 51 that burnt to molten aluminum, especially the wheels. If you didn't already know it was an RC 51, you would have a hard time guessing( years ago, small lookout / call box ). I had left Mother's kitchen about 10 seconds ahead of that group. Went back up The Tight Side and the bike was already fully engulfed., Ride was ok, wearing full dead cow.
Can't say I agree with you on counter leaning into a corner. When you counter steer to initiate a turn you also counter lean. For example, you push with your left hand to initiate a left turn. When you push with your left hand you counter lean to the right. The harder you push the more you counter lean. The counter lean has no effect on the bike lean angle. At speeds above a crawl the radius of the turn is determined by the geometry of the tire on the road. As a tire leans the tire acts like a cone instead of a cylinder and this determines the steering radius. The lean of the bike determines the cone geometry of the tires which is what controls the turn radius, not the lean per se. In order for the bike to not fall over, the centripetal (tire friction on road) and gravitational forces have to be in balance. If you counter balance so much that you change the lean angle, you change the geometry of the tire "cone" on the road surface and change the turn radius which would cause you to lose the line of your corner. This is why knee dragging is totally irrelevant to turn stability and is done only because of peer pressure (i. e., for show) .
As always enjoyed your video and your input on the turns are excellent. I know for me, I get caught up in the moment when I ride with traffic and have to force myself to slow down more. This again comes with more practice, which I truly try to get in each and everyday. ty
Curves = Start out wide , buffer the head on zone (apex of corner) and finish tight. Turn your head throughout the curve = the bike will go go where you look.
Not wishing to sound like an ass but if you have to think tooo much dont ride bikes Just stick to 4 wheels you will live longer.. At 13 I rode on the fields at 16 I rode on the roads at 21 I gave up biking at 25 I came back nothing has changed more cars yes but the natural instinct has never ever left me I am now 70 years old and still my legs are ok and my hands are ok I.E. I have survived not clever not a great rider just common sense and think every car/person wants to kill you Thats all you need to know Ride fast when you can and ride slow when you need to never ever go beyound what you think you can do SIMPLE Then you will have more fun than anything else you will ever do and if not return to 4 wheels because thats where you belong Thank You !
Down shifting is not engine braking. My 1992 nissan pathfinder owners manual says downshift if you need to accelerate. Example: cruising at highway speed in 5th and encounter vehicle that must be overtaken. Make sure clear to pass, change lane, drop to 4th, floor it and overtake. Let off the throttle and slow down in gear. The lower the gear the more slowing power. Coasting in gear aka engine braking.
This is great information! Thank you for all the time you take to share such important info! I have been riding for 18 years and always so guilty of downshifting, not down to second or first but it is a known fact a rider will downshift to the speed they are comfortable with! I will focus more on my brakes now!
I respect your "g"💯% when it comes to riding. As a dirtbike rider my front break is predominately used, is it the same on a big boy bike. Im thinking hard about getting a gsxr 1kr. Thanks champ 🏆.
Q&A Crew.. It’s a great informational video Gregg. Are use mostly counter steering in the type of twisties that we have here in Michigan. They’re mostly just minor curves. But great video. This video should be in the MSF book that they give you before you start the class. Thank you!
You amazes me with your every video. I honestly believe no other instructor or RUclipsr has explained the techniques this well. Closed parking garage riding vs real riding is awesome. You demonstrated well how many riders would react by applying counter steering when it is not necessary and the effect. Thanks again for this great video and thanks a lot.
How much brake are you giving in the turns. I know you’re not supposed to grab a handful of break but you can ad a little to adjust speed while turning without risk of losing traction ?
Thanks for the free Technical Tips Sir 💯💯💯 I'm a big fan since 2020 👍👍 Your stuff is helping a lot of newbie riders out there... Shoutout from the Philippines 🍻
Well, it’s really good to watch your videos. I just learned how to drive a bike. You can say a super beginner. Learned some of the technical stuff from your videos but I need to practice of course. Could you please upload a video or share if you already did on how to drive on hilly roads.
Hopefully you enjoyed this video and learned something along the way. MotoJitsu.com/gear for all the stuff I have including the gloves I always get asked about.
i know countersteering but whats counter balancing does it mean i lean opposite to direction bike is leaning?
@2:11 You might not have known this but at 2 minutes and 11 seconds into this video you were in the location that a majority of the sons of anarchy "Charming" scenes riding were filmed. I know this because not only did I ride it I was on site.
Your gear list was very great to see for track vs street vs dirt, but I am wondering what are you using for your vlogging gear. What GoPro are you using and are you using an external mic as well , because all your videos are top notch quality. 🤓👌🏽
Do you have a video on road positioning in the in mid cornering
Problem is on videos it looks like your out of a corner then you punch the gas. i know camera,slower pace etc. But god for begginers and commebacks .
As a newbie rider, I just want to say "thank you" for the quality content you continually put out. It's greatly appreciated.
Congratulations on getting into the sport. Hey man we were all newbies at one point. When I started riding there was no RUclips or MotoJitsu. So you’re very fortunate to have these resources. Please keep using them and please keep learning and if you do, you’ll be riding for a lifetime!!!
I second the sentiment of the original poster.
I've been riding since 1980, and I really appreciate what you do here. We never stop learning to ride, and we never know it all. Thank You.
For a new rider like myself, these kinds of videos are like a ray of sunlight slashing through all the fog and confusion/anxiety about what to do and how to do it when riding the twisties. Thank you, man! Keep up the awesome work. We really appreciate it!
Beginning motorcycle riding as a 62 yo female. Your videos are very, very helpful and really reinforce what I've learned in my MSF class, and the small amount that translates from driving a manual all these years (similar, but very different animals). I love manual transmissions, but have been surprised how exhausting it can be learning a brand new vehicle's system. Thank you and thanks for your service!
Good on you lady it's very cool that you're living and not fading 😉 enjoy your riding.
I’m 50+ years old and I just started learning how to ride. Motojitsu is a great help for us, older riders. Calm and precise in his explanations, preaching exercises on the parking lot….exactly what we need!
The only thing that we don’t have to worry about is being a hothead or compete with buddies. Older age has some advantages:)
I am a couple of years older and learnt to drive manual bikes from the age of sixteen ., at least on the roads . My brother gave me my first car , a very secondhand Renault 5 , when I was 28 ! If I had to drive an automatic anything I hope its a boat , lol , as I would probably rear end crash someone on a road . Yes , I am in the UK ! When I read your word exhausting , I thought exhilarating .would be a better . Learning to use a new bike is fun I reckon , so long as it fits you and so long as it is not too intimidating and it is up to you not to frighten yourself silly ! Enjoy it lady Liz . .
Don't make them like they used too 😅
Americans are weird. It's more common in the uk to drive a manual transmission than a automatic one.
That gun analogy was brilliant TBH
I've ridden a long time but have learned things from your videos and also seen some things I was already doing well but from a different perspective. Nobody knows it all and no rider should ever stop learning/refreshing their knowledge and skills. Keep up the good work.
I had my second practice trip today on my first ever bike (I got a ninja 300 just 3 weeks ago). This video helps me a lot to understand how I can fix my common mistakes, thank u so much😁
Early apexes get deadly serious as speed increases. The faster you ride, the more you have to avoid turning in early. Right on, coach.
Finding the apex of a turn is somehow i learned from nfs and gran turismo. In strolls/rides, it doesn't matter how fast/low can you do the corner, it's how well would you finish it. Like when you overshoot there's no turning back. Bike and bones are broken which equates to 3-6 months banned from riding and paying therapies and repair.
Fast Eddie: the hero no one asked, but everyone needed.
Thanks for this video ❤️
I made all 5 of those in the past. Not anymore. Instruction and practice changes everything. Q&A Crew💪👍
I don't have a motorbike license or a bike. I am planning to however and as a new subscriber, I'm so appreciative of your very helpful lessons. As an added bonus, your videos are no fuss. No rubbish intros with garbage talking. Thank you for keeping it effective and simple.
Thank you for showing these type of technical videos. I appreciate all the knowledge you give to the motorcycle community. Please keep up the great work! I'm still practicing nearly everyday and I'm always promoting your motojitsu system. It has already saved me out on the road and I always encourage my friends to practice and take courses. God bless you Greg, you're a great instructor!
There’s a crazy notion held some by riders where they believe that it’s a good thing not to show a brake light in the twisties, because they think it shows that they’re reading the road correctly. They are exactly as you have said.. changing down, to slow down. I’ve tried to point this out to some people but they think they know best. I’m so pleased that you’ve highlighted this issue 👍
That crazy notion is because of the first edition of "the pace". Do a search for "the pace 2.0" which was revised by Nick Ienatsch. The first version was basically a call to ride sensible speed on public roads, and that's fine. People interpreted it to mean not to use the brakes mid turn, and the revision clarifies that.
Ive been watching yr videos for over a yr now and i really need to stress out yr direct communication, simple sentences and explanations without too many unnecessary words. Bcs thats where i usually get lost, too many boring/less important used words and long stories. Brief, simple, direct, clean, in commands, and thats it! Way to go
Greg is known for getting to the point!
After first year of riding and running wide on corners you blew my mind by your first point 👍
I tend to always do the first mistake (turning too early) on twisties.. and your video clearly demonstrate how to manage twisties (not just this video, but on your other videos too) I really like seeing your contents specially these kinds of video demonstration and lesson. Now I have to apply your demonstration to my riding. You're such a blessing.
I catch myself doing the same thing more often than I care to admit, so much so sometimes I have to tell myself aloud as I enter a turn "stay up stay up!"
Real life experience just yesterday of the value of not turning early.... I was approaching the first tight bend of a nice twisty uphill road and good thing I always do the fundamentals (am still on my Aus P1 licence, so fresh on my mind) took the farther end of road, when two clowns riding their small hatch cars appear to be racing downhill and also approaching the bend from the opposite lane. The car at the back, a Subaru hatch, came down skidding with it's backside going over the middle line and could have been a disaster and fatal... Not my time I guess, but it pays to listen and learn these types of advices. It does saves lives. Cheers.
Fantastic information Greg! Don''t turn early, don't use engine braking alone, don't counter-lean, don't accelerate too soon and don't grab the brakes..
He specifically said downshift though, not engine braking. In my experience they are different beasts. Hear me out. I basically never use downshifting to slow down. It creates wear on the engine jumping to higher rpm suddenly as well as a risk of losing traction if that jump is too great. A drop from 5th to 1st suddenly is bad. If downshifting go through all gears sequentialy. I grew up driving on snowy/icy mountain passes and this is where "engine braking" is different than "down shifting". When descending these roads in icy conditions it is best to remain in a lower gear and stay off of the gas as the engine slows you down. 3rd gear is usually the best but sometimes 2nd cause it has more slowing power. Brake or sudden change to rpm will result in loss of traction. Coasting down hill with constant resistance applied by the engine is the way to go. Try coasting in gear the next time you encounter a long decent. 1st and 2nd will probably be too slow. You should be able to coast down a mountain pass in 3rd gear with a max speed of 45mph delivering power to the drive train the whole time. That is engine braking.
At 65 all of this seems like common sense, when I was 16, 17, 18, etc. I was a bad rider and paid for it. Never forget the first time I gave my buddy a ride and nearly went head on into a car on a 30 mph curve because I wasn't prepared for the extra weight. We were way over the line and the car had to jump a curb to avoid us. I knew nothing about safe riding, just wanted to impress my buddy. He was not impressed, never rode with me again.
Ryan Austin of Advanced Rider Training, who teach police and civilians to ride, advocates counter leaning when riding slow or fast on public roads. It is not the fastest style but he believes it is the safest and gives his reasons.
Yamaha champ school and California super bike, two of premium riding schools in the US, teach higher speed riding techniques which are practiced by many world class riders. Neither of the fore mentioned teach counter leaning for higher speeds. IMO counter leaning works very well for slower speed manoeuvres and Ryan’s training is an excellent program to learn this skill.
One more thing on panic down shifting to 1st gear… make sure your bike has a slipper clutch! Otherwise, surprise: locking the rear wheel to a speed that is not necessarily the speed the bike is going, which is a recipe for disaster if you don’t know how to react.
"Because I wasn't patient." Along with 'not paying attention' describes why so many people crash. Bikes or cars. Another great video.
Hi im returning to bikes after over 30 years absence im in NewZealand (only ever had dirt bikes) I've just purchased a Triumph Trident 660.
I found this video very helpful & I'm looking forward to putting it into practice once I get my bike it's about 3 days away.
Please keep up the great work.
as someone from Germany. i have to say that we learn most of the stuff you say about new riders in driving school, but this for example is a really good video to break and overthink bad habits
A person who is always critiquing his/her own riding will encounter all these situations and will recognize what works well and what works poorly and learn from these encounters what to do and not to do next time. Although I didn't see anything I didn't know already, you did us riders a great service by actually demonstrating the best way to ride and why it's the best way. Evidently there are lots of riders who aren't paying much attention to their riding or don't question themselves and ask if they could have done that last turn better.
Great video! I could see myself making some of these mistakes as I am getting ready to start practicing in the twisties. Perfect timing to watch this before practicing!
That early curve entry makes a lot of sense. Much appreciated, that actually would make your curve twice as sharp. I think I'll have a lot of trouble using down shifting to slow down. I'm use to driving a manual vehicle. It's always been hold the clutch while breaking and letting my speed after breaking determine the gear I'm going to go into. My wife is horrible about breaking through an entire curve. I hate it. You should always, on no matter how many wheels, be able to accelerate coming out of that halfway point.
As a new rider I really appreciate the content you share. It has helped me a ton
Whoa, the turning in too early example was right on the nose. I actually have this problem and you're totally right that it's a fear/defense mechanism.
Great point about the target fixation too, I've found myself doing that on early turn ins. Will definitely work on this more now that I am consciously aware of it.
It is a natural instic and it work against us, because (maybe) we are not build to go fast.
I often only use engine brake to slow down and I'm fine. I might add just a touch of front to get some weight on the front tire. My bike has a lot.of.enginr brake and I know I can take the corner with the speed I'm entering it at. Now if it's a road I don't know or I was really speeding down the straight then of course I use brake.
I wish i heard this during learning for my license. Even thou i am from EU and we have required 20 hours that barly teached me anything, need to watch more your videos for proper tips.
I've been riding for maybe 5 months and I have to say I've learned an enormous amount from your content and I greatly appreciate it man just wanted to say thanks!!
M.J.; There is a great piece of advice you have drilled into us dozens of times, that has another description you might occasionally add. You teach us to inscribe a flatter turn (with softened entry and exit) onto the tighter curve (smaller radius) that the road is built on. The riding method you teach us lets us ride faster and smother by making any constant radius curve into a curve with a longer radius (flatter degree of curvature). The way I just wrote that may turn the light on quicker for a small number people.
Thanks for these videos. You have saved lives and skin.
And also down shifting in and out of corner's abruptly will shorten chain and sprockets life, let alone transmission parts,, unless you have drive shaft bike, bit still transmissions and drive line parts are more$$$ than brake pads.... Very good information . Keep up the good videos. :)
For people who are struggling with turning too soon/too late, i advise you to study the "apex turn". It's basically how to position yourself to turn correctly, especially when driving at higher speeds and leaning :)
I just got my first motorcycle and this helps a ton! Thanks!
i love to practice this because i drive everyday as deliveries
on my cb500x and many scooters , so these exercises are
really showing skill improvement after awhile
keep it up G
If you have a CBX500 you better be taking notes , reading between the lines and have Jitsu as a pillion ! Kinell
I love how you have the preview of the 5 things in the beginning of the video -- thank you!
Good advice as always, thanks for these videos. It's a bit different riding an old Brit bike like a Commando though, where engine braking is concerned. As you probably know, shut the throttle on one of these and it's like braking. Change down and shut the throttle and it can be like braking hard (in fact, if you don't know what you're doing you can lock the back wheel by changing down too soon). I rarely touch the brakes at all, but my technique would be different on a modern Jap multi cylinder bike.
Thanks for this . Up until watching this clip I wasn’t sure if my technique was correct . I’m doing everything the way you just explained 😅 Respect , and safe riding !
Great video MotoJitsu. If only they taught these principles when you get your basic lessons. They still teach "don't touch the brakes in a corner". In fact, they deduct points from your assessment in your test if you brake during a corner.
You see riders trying to get their knee down on public roads all the time. So risky when just around the corner could be gravel, oil and many other things, including where I live beach sand (a light dusting of beach sand is slippery as hell).
5:13 dude you’re so correct and I used to fall into that bad habit of thinking oh no isn’t that hard on the clutch or isn’t that hard on the brakes but guess what people, those are wear items. They wear out and if you do something stupid and crash your bike because you’re not slipping your clutch when you’re supposed to or you’re not using your brakes when you’re supposed to well then what did you really save and you might even lose your life
As a beginner rider (started 1 year ago) these types of instructions and videos means a lot, and thank you for that sir.
It would be great if you could show us also on other bike types, body positioning etc on sport bike, naked bike and others
Excellent video man, like everything you do for us newbies. Thank you very much. No better motormaster than the Motojitsu master. Just started of with an Volusia Intruder 800, at my 63 years of age, and on the mexican bad ass roads, after only two months of practice on a 250 Keeway. My new second-hand bike is thus way over my head, but your good teachings make me slowly break in the big torque too heavy beast. I couldn't resist it's beauty on offer, and bought it, silly ass. But i somehow don't regret it, as it makes for slow prudent learning. Can't explain why I didn't start biking earlier, why i did miss out on this for so many years? Many greetings from (a belgian living since 25 years in) Mexico. All the best to you.
Great video! You need to get an insta360 camera for these! I understood what you were doing counter leaning etc but I think a lot of new riders might not understand since they can’t see your body only your handlebars.
Thank you to this channel I early turn to corner and I get off the road I learn my mistake after that 2 mins ago we all ridding I come back stronger this channel help ppl a lot ❤
We have term here in the UK (used by police instructors) re braking - brake like a lemon! Think of the brake pressure profile being the shape of a lemon.. it’s exactly as you have described, but some instructors use that description just to help people remember it 👍
Wide entry thanks for this I've studied & searched this after i go wide in the middle of corner. Believing that i apex early is the right thing almost make me crash. Now i can go smooth on tight corners
As far as accelerating out of a corner: I personally find that I timed and dosed the throttle correctly when the bike picks up itselve straight up after leaning into a corner. There's also a thing called gradually rolling on the throttle. Don't whack it all the time after a corner. It is not an on/off switch
Especially with faster bikes. It’s a great way to get thrown off. Lol
if you are that concerned about wearing out pieces of your bike, you should NOT ride a bike. Great video, agree the argument of wearing out break pads, clutch, etc is totally absurd. I'm using everything I need to use too ride safe, and have fun.. don't care what the cost is.
I’m getting a bike today after many years. This is really helpful, thank you , really informative. Simon in the uk
thanks for breaking down YCRS riding techniques..it becomes simpler to understand and assimilate..thank you sir Greg! 😀❤️
Excellent instruction on how too ride in the twisties, really appreciated your commentary it was right on point. Thank-you
Regarding you mentioning new riders accelerating into the guard rail.
I hope the MSF course has changed this, but when I took it the mantra was "accelerate through the turn." Works great for nervous new riders, probably going too slow around a very short curve. But I recall only an offhanded comment about "except on long curves." And nothing about "only once your bike is pointed correctly."
It took a bit of experience and rational thought to break through that and come to the ideas you mention here. But had to break an unnecessary mental block drilled into me by the MSF.
Lastly, dont get me wrong I will still tell every new rider to go take the course. Its net benefit is good, though just the beginning of someone's education.
I don't get your hate towards counter-leaning.
It is way safer than leaning you body into the corner. On the road you can encounter multiple unexpected things through a corner. If you start to loose grip mid corner wile counter-leaning or while leaning there will be a big difference. In the first case the bike start to fall and you still have a little time to react, in the second one you are the first to fall your body will contract for the sudden lost of support and you will not have the time and the possibility to even try to react.
Leaning into the corner should be for track purposes only.
I read a lot of comments of people going wide because are scared of leaning the bike. Leaning the bike increase risk only if you don't know the bike or the tires or if you are trying to push the limits of your bike and yourself.
You give a lot of good tips and advice but on this matter I think you have a too strong opinion to see the upside on counter-leaning. Fortnine video explain it very well. I don't know if you watched it but I would love to ear your opinion on it.
I've been riding over 6 years and i just realized i do this.... Thank you for the good advice!
I really found your instruction in this video was excellent. Your dialog with all the examples was fantastic. Thank you. Best wishes from Ottawa Canada 🇨🇦
Just getting ready to go to the French Alps with my 1st big bike.
This video is gold for me🙂
Thanks a lot!🏍❤️
This is hands down the best coaching!
You should do a video on how to properly cross over cattle guards. These can obviously pose a problem when you encounter them in the middle of turns, and especially when wet! I almost always slow and straighten the bike up if they're in the middle of a turn to take away lean angle. They can definitely be pretty intimidating as a new rider. They still certainly put me on "guard." Haha!
I don't remember ever seeing one on a turn, that is definitely intimidating to find unannounced.
Great stuff! Always learning the good techniques. My biggest fear is right hand curves where oncoming vehicles cross the centerline, so I try to stay to the inside of the turn to avoid a head-on collision.
Absolutely the most insightful and invaluable instruction on those twisty roads
Like the road you chose, sweet. I tell myself in turns, go right to go left and go left to go right smooths things out mentally. Just a thought. Great vid. too.
Great Vid! Though I often use counter leaning on (tighter) right hand turns that have a blocked view. Like this I can see obstacles on the road or oncoming traffic earlier.
The #1 reason I turn in too early is because I am NOT looking far enough down the road! I find myself fixating closer in through the turn, instead of pointing my eyes where I want to end up. Anxiety can be a factor, but it can also be simple forgetfulness. I was focusing on searching for road hazards, not where I want the bike to go.
Learn so much from this , thank you 🙏🏼
Superb info
12:12 The spot on the road was from a Honda RC 51 that burnt to molten aluminum, especially the wheels. If you didn't already know it was an RC 51, you would have a hard time guessing( years ago, small lookout / call box ). I had left Mother's kitchen about 10 seconds ahead of that group. Went back up The Tight Side and the bike was already fully engulfed., Ride was ok, wearing full dead cow.
Can't say I agree with you on counter leaning into a corner. When you counter steer to initiate a turn you also counter lean. For example, you push with your left hand to initiate a left turn. When you push with your left hand you counter lean to the right. The harder you push the more you counter lean. The counter lean has no effect on the bike lean angle. At speeds above a crawl the radius of the turn is determined by the geometry of the tire on the road. As a tire leans the tire acts like a cone instead of a cylinder and this determines the steering radius. The lean of the bike determines the cone geometry of the tires which is what controls the turn radius, not the lean per se. In order for the bike to not fall over, the centripetal (tire friction on road) and gravitational forces have to be in balance. If you counter balance so much that you change the lean angle, you change the geometry of the tire "cone" on the road surface and change the turn radius which would cause you to lose the line of your corner. This is why knee dragging is totally irrelevant to turn stability and is done only because of peer pressure (i. e., for show) .
This IS a good one! Thank you for attaching words to it, and demonstrating it.
Thank you, new rider on scooter, you’re amazing. Thank you.
9:51 I wish all videos described exactly what they were doing as in-depth as you do. Great Video.
Excellent concise explanations. The best advice for bikes on RUclips!
As always enjoyed your video and your input on the turns are excellent. I know for me, I get caught up in the moment when I ride with traffic and have to force myself to slow down more. This again comes with more practice, which I truly try to get in each and everyday. ty
This is a very good demo of what was explained in the ChampU course. Thanks!
Curves = Start out wide , buffer the head on zone (apex of corner) and finish tight. Turn your head throughout the curve = the bike will go go where you look.
This video packs lots of fundamental life-saving knowledge for new riders
Not wishing to sound like an ass but if you have to think tooo much dont ride bikes Just stick to 4 wheels you will live longer..
At 13 I rode on the fields at 16 I rode on the roads at 21 I gave up biking at 25 I came back nothing has changed more cars yes
but the natural instinct has never ever left me I am now 70 years old and still my legs are ok and my hands are ok I.E. I have
survived not clever not a great rider just common sense and think every car/person wants to kill you Thats all you need to know
Ride fast when you can and ride slow when you need to never ever go beyound what you think you can do SIMPLE Then you
will have more fun than anything else you will ever do and if not return to 4 wheels because thats where you belong Thank You !
You just made a very informative fantastic video. You demonstrated all of that perfectly. What a great video!! That is really gonna help new riders.
I watched a ton of his and videos a like before I took the msf and bought my bike. It definitely helped a lot.
Down shifting is not engine braking. My 1992 nissan pathfinder owners manual says downshift if you need to accelerate. Example: cruising at highway speed in 5th and encounter vehicle that must be overtaken. Make sure clear to pass, change lane, drop to 4th, floor it and overtake.
Let off the throttle and slow down in gear. The lower the gear the more slowing power. Coasting in gear aka engine braking.
Great visual demonstration thank you
This is great information! Thank you for all the time you take to share such important info!
I have been riding for 18 years and always so guilty of downshifting, not down to second or first but it is a known fact a rider will downshift to the speed they are comfortable with!
I will focus more on my brakes now!
Glad to hear it :)
My bike is geared so low it’s almost impossible not to downshift
I tryed this about 3 days ago in some roads near me it was really fun I kept my gears in 3rd and 4th and the cornering made me better at it
👍🏼
I respect your "g"💯% when it comes to riding. As a dirtbike rider my front break is predominately used, is it the same on a big boy bike. Im thinking hard about getting a gsxr 1kr. Thanks champ 🏆.
Another good video. Thanks! I purchased your app and used it yesterday and today. Will use it much more for daily practice. Cheers!
Q&A Crew.. It’s a great informational video Gregg. Are use mostly counter steering in the type of twisties that we have here in Michigan. They’re mostly just minor curves. But great video. This video should be in the MSF book that they give you before you start the class. Thank you!
If you're not counter steering, you will be going straight, it's the only way to get a bike to turn!! (Above walking/very slow pace)
I needed this video, it's like you followed me and identified every mistake I was making. Thanks!
You amazes me with your every video. I honestly believe no other instructor or RUclipsr has explained the techniques this well. Closed parking garage riding vs real riding is awesome. You demonstrated well how many riders would react by applying counter steering when it is not necessary and the effect. Thanks again for this great video and thanks a lot.
Best video on all of these points.
Thanks Greg. These reminders and excellent demonstrations of the do’s and don’ts are invaluable.
How much brake are you giving in the turns. I know you’re not supposed to grab a handful of break but you can ad a little to adjust speed while turning without risk of losing traction ?
Q&A CREW! Good tips! Love the commentary on the slow slow slow accelerate when facing the right direction. You are the best!! This is so helpful!
Dude, you are awesome in demonstrating the techniques. Keep it on
Thanks for the free Technical Tips Sir 💯💯💯 I'm a big fan since 2020 👍👍 Your stuff is helping a lot of newbie riders out there... Shoutout from the Philippines 🍻
Beautiful roads. Just a dream for any rider.
Well, it’s really good to watch your videos. I just learned how to drive a bike. You can say a super beginner. Learned some of the technical stuff from your videos but I need to practice of course.
Could you please upload a video or share if you already did on how to drive on hilly roads.
I agree with Motojitsu. His videos help me alot as a biginner rider.😊
Great refresher, thank you. This is always helpful to continue to hear and practice!