Riding a motorcycle is not like driving a car. The physicis involved with motorcycling are
so complex and the risks so much higher that I compare riding more to flying a plane. And that
comparison has been held up by some riders I know who are also pilots. Because of this, I feel
it is important to acquire, practice, and perfect as many skills as possible. But besides increasing
my safety, I get a deep satisfaction from executing these
skills competently and confidently. To nail a corner just right, or find the perfect rhythm
on a twisty backroad, gives me a feeling that's hard to beat. Below are some of the technical,
mechanical, and psychological skills I've found that help me to be a better motorcyclist.
The Pace
Perhaps the single most important thing I could tell a fellow motorcyclist of any experience level is to
understand what is known as
"The Pace".
It's a riding technique that emphasizes control, visibility, and positioning to maximize safety and smootheness.
Many of the best riders I know have developed it in some form on their own over years and years of riding, but
it's also been put into words by Nick Ienatsch in an article for Motorcyclist magazine.
Awareness
Braking
Cornering
Group Riding
Gear
Physics & Mechanics
Environment
