Hey alancorcoran, Look here

[mrlmd1]

Good post to you too, Easy, my friend. And you are right, it works both ways.
And to Alan, if you can't pass the test on the Big Bike, you probably shouldn't be riding it. And if you DO drop it, whose fault is that? Not the test's.
Maybe a rider should have to pass a test for each bike he considers buying, or if you move up into a higher, different displacement range, to demonstrate some sort of proficiency with it, before getting it registered.
That would be a little extreme but maybe safer for the bike.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by mrlmd1

That would be a little extreme but maybe safer for the bike.

And any real rider knows that is the important part!! :shocked: :lol: :crackup

[alanmcorcoran]

To be honest, no one was more surprised than me when I passed the "box" test with the GZ. I seriously wouldn't want to have to repeat that one with the smaller bike either. Not sure if it's just my bugaboo, but that was the only thing in the entire three day class that presented any challenge whatsoever, and having effed it up 2 or 3 of the 4 times I practiced it, I was pretty sure I was going to blow it come test time. A harbinger of eff-ups to come.

[mrlmd1]

Then practice it more, and when you "get it", are comfortable on the GZ, then practice it with the Strat 'till you feel the same way. Right? If you know that is your bugaboo, then get out the cones or go to the parking lot when no one else is there, if there is such a place near you. Or a quiet street, maybe a dead end or cul-de-sac somewhere where you can make u-turns. Practice, practice, and then do it again.

[alantf]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

Laws tend to be written for the lowest common denominator

There's an old saying :-

Rules are for the obedience of fools & the guidance of wise men.

[adrianinflorida]

Originally Posted by mrlmd1

Then practice it more, and when you "get it", are comfortable on the GZ, then practice it with the Strat 'till you feel the same way. Right? If you know that is your bugaboo, then get out the cones or go to the parking lot when no one else is there, if there is such a place near you. Or a quiet street, maybe a dead end or cul-de-sac somewhere where you can make u-turns. Practice, practice, and then do it again.

He's right. You may never become truly comfortable doing the box excercise, but at least, with practice, you won't dread a tight u-turn, and it, like the rest of the maneuvers, will become second nature.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by adrianinflorida

and it, like the rest of the maneuvers, will become second nature.

I think that pretty well summarizes the whole situation.

And, although some people will never understand it, for his own protection, a rider needs to practice situations and moves that he will, hopefully, never encounter in every day riding.

Kind of like Alan's low-speed whoop-shit but worse. If you never practice panic stops or abrupt slow-downs while leaned over in a curve, the first time you encounter that situation may be your LAST (for anything). :skull:

And finally, how does this figure into the "beast" bike consideration?

Some of that stuff is difficult and (more) dangerous to practice on a BIG bike......like when and when NOT to put your feet down in a slide. The answer to that on a big bike is NEVER; nasty compound fractures can result. :skull:

I think everyone who is really serious about riding a bike should get something light (even lighter than the GZ if possible) and then go out into an open pasture and wring it out good; lock the back, lock the front, lock BOTH, slide around a bit. It is FUN and instructional.

It is just NOT practical to do that on a "beast" so, IMHO, if the beast is the only bike you ever have, you miss some critical elements of really good training.

Whew. That's all folks. I quit on that subject.
Do practice some Alan, please?
We would miss you if you were gone. :cool:

[Water Warrior 2]

For sure, a light bike and an open field to play in. Ask anyone who started out dirt riding if it was an advantage to have the experience before street riding. The answer will be a resounding YES.