Introduction to Advanced Motorcycle Riding Strategies
Riding a motorcycle safely requires both physical and mental skills. You need physical skills to operate the bike smoothly and to perform evasive maneuvers like swerving and stopping. You need mental skills to safely interact with other traffic and to avoid hazards. But which is more important? How much of riding is physical, and how much is mental?
While the amounts vary depending on the bike, the rider, and the situation, experts believe that riding a motorcycle on the street is 90% mental and 10% physical. Beginning riders probably focus as much on the physical side as the mental side, maybe 50/50, while experienced riders probably focus almost entirely on the mental side: maybe 95/5!
Photo courtesy killboy.com
Once you’ve mastered the basic physical skills, you can afford to pay more attention to your surroundings. Your hands and feet know what to do, which frees your mind up for its most important job: detecting and avoiding hazards.
This Advanced Riding Strategies section of the MMSC Web page contains 44 pages of information meant to help you develop your own riding strategy, or to enhance and hone your current riding strategy. We hope that, after viewing this material, you will:
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Understand the importance of using a riding strategy.
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Understand the three parts of a riding strategy.
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Successfully use the riding strategy to increase your safety.
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Be particularly skilled at dealing with intersections, freeway traffic, and mountain riding.
The information given by the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center, its instructors, and volunteers, and is offered as a benefit for those with an interest in riding motorcycles. Our intention is to further discussion and enhance individual safety and skills. Although the MMSC will continue to research, field test, and publish viewpoints on the subject of motorcycle safety, it disclaims any liability for the views expressed. Every motorcyclist is responsible for his or her own safety and that of their passengers. We do not accept any duty or responsibility toward any individuals. We urge all those using the information and views presented on this site to use their own critical judgment. When you may have any doubt about a safety or skill issue, we urge you to seek clarification and information from sources you trust, and to proceed with caution to ensure your safety.
It is most advisable, though not necessary, that you view the pages in order of the table of contents seen below.
Advanced Riding Strategies Table of Contents
Part I Riding Strategy: What Is It, and Why Use It?
Part II Components of a Riding Strategy
Part III Practical Application (Scenarios)
Part IV Special Situations: Intersections, Freeways, and Mountains
(Advanced Riding Strategies Page Map)
Last Updated 4/3/2007
