How to Ride a Motorcycle/ Logs

In teaching my motorcycle riding classes, I have learned myself of how intimidated some students are of logs. In my
motorcycle lessons I try and teach the proper fundamentals of all types of off-road riding that all ages and skill
levels can benefit from. As I wrote about in an earlier blogg about wheelies, you will learn that the proper clutch control
will help in negotiating logs.

Lets start out with a smaller log and lets approach it standing and let the front wheel kiss the log and then rebound so
you can wheelie the motorcycle. Meaning try and carry the front wheel in the air at least one bike length. Practice this
sitting and standing slowly. How do you do this? Well approach log standing slowly, as soon as the front wheel kisses the
log pull in the clutch a bit and then as the forks rebound back at you let the clutch out putting the front wheel into control
wheelie, and lean a bit back and hold pressure pulling back on the handlebars. Keep your fingers on the clutch in case you get into trouble.
Once right before the rear wheel makes contact with the log let off the throttle a bit and pull the rear wheel over with your legs,
by gripping the motorcycle with your knees.

Now that you understand the easy way over a log, lets talk about hitting a log with speed. Have you ever hit a log so hard that
once the rear wheel made contact with the log it kicked you really hard? Yes! Okay.Well try this,(you will have to practice this slowly first)
Approach the log standing , because it is easier to absorb the impact of the log with your knees. While approaching the log
pick a spot about a foot before the log where you can pick up your front wheel from. You want to to pick up the front tire like
you were going to wheelie before the log and then use the clutch you are going to set the front wheel back down on top of the log. This will
lesson the kick you get with the rear wheel. So do not let the front wheel touch the front side of the log, wheelie before it and
let it kiss the top of the log. Then let off just a little bit and pull the rear wheel over with your legs. Some key things to
remember are to not lock your knees, let them absorb the log. Also be sure not to fixate on the log itself. When some people do
this they miss time when they should wheelie before the log and have trouble with the log. Always keep a finger on the clutch in case
their is a problem and you can bring the front wheel back down by pulling it in, especially if there is a tree following the
log. Be smoothe and practice this slowly.

I f you would like to learn to ride a motorcycle I am sure my motorcycle driving school would be very beneficial to how to ride a motorcycle. I am sure no matter what your skill level I can help you enjoy your dirt bike riding that much more,
check us out at www.rlafferty.com. We also have motorcycle safety course available.

How to Ride a Motorcycle/ Wheelie 2

Earlier we discussed a stationary drill to help you understand clutch control and get you on your way to doing a
wheelie. While teaching this in motorcycle riding classes. I have noticed that people have issues with timing. When to apply
throttle and when to use the clutch. You have to everything at the proper time to get the front wheel off the ground.
In no time after applying these drills to your dirt bike riding, you will be wheeling with no problems.

Now I want you to find an open area and ride around in first gear pull in the clutch not all the way to the grip but
just to where the bike stops moving. Do not hit the brakes. With the clutch in rev the bike a bit and now release the clutch and give
it throttle at the same time just like you did in the stationary position. The object is to try and get the front wheel off the
ground at least 4-6 inches and progress from there. Also a key tip for the fingers on the clutch, use only 1-2 fingers either just your
middle or pointer or both. this will allow you to still hold on to the motorcycle and still operate the clutch at the same time.

Take your time and be sure to practice this sitting and standing so you can wheelie your bike in both positions. For more
information on motorcycle lessons, motorcycle safety, or a motorcycle safety course please go to
www.rlafferty.com I really enjoy teaching people how to ride a motorcycle, and everyone that comes to me enjoys learn to ride a motorcycle. My motorcycle driving school is a great start to becoming a better rider no matter what your skill level is.

How to Ride a Motorcycle/Wheelie 1

In teaching my motorcycle riding classes most people want to learn how to do a wheelie. Because it looks cool and they
want to impress their friends. I have found that in my own dirt bike riding that a wheelie comes in very handy in lofting
the front wheel up and over obstacles such as a log or a ditch.

In order to learn how to do a wheelie, you must first learn clutch control. So in a stationary position with the bike
running in first gear, with the clutch pulled in apply a bit of throttle just bring it off idle and let out the clutch until
the bike just starts to move. Once you have learned where the clutch needs to be to make the clutch move you have now learned
where the engagement point is. The engagement point is where you work from. Meaning you dont have to pull the clutch all the way
into the grip. Most people have an issue when they pull the clutch all the way in because it disrupts their timing. So as
said rev the bike just a bit with both feet on the ground in first gear with the clutch pulled in just before the engagement point.
Now let the clutch out smoothly, but DONT let your fingers come off the lever because you are going to want to pull it back in.
Just as you release the clutch give it more gas. This is just to understand what the bike will do and how to get the front wheel
off the ground. Try and get the front wheel at least 4-6 inches off the ground. Then quickly pull back in clutch and let off the
gas. This will take time but this is a small thing for you to do that will help you on your way to understanding where the
engagament point is and how to get the front wheel off the ground.

Practice this the next few times you go practicing. Soon we will discuss the next step in learning to do a wheelie.
For more information on motorcycle lessons, motorcycle safety course, or please go to www.rlafferty.com.
A motorcycle driving school be all that is between you and better dirt bike riding. I enjoy teaching people how to ride a motorcycle, and I am
sure you will enjoy learn how to ride a motorcycle.Give us a shout at www.rlafferty.com

How to Ride a Motorcycle/Nose wheelie

I would like to give some more information on corner speed and front brake control. While giving
motorcycle lessons and even in my own dirt bike riding, I have found that learning to do nose wheelie properly is
very useful to learning better front brake control. Most of the time while teaching a
motorcycle safety course or
how to ride a motorcycle to young
kids, they want to learn two things how to do a wheelie and how to do a nose wheelie. These are very useful to learn better
bike control.

For those of you who do not know, a nose wheelie is done by applying the front brake and lifting the rear wheel
off the ground. Easier said then done for most, but it can be learned by anyone at any skill level. First I would find a
flat open surface. Accelerate in first gear, let off the throttle and apply the front brake smoothly the once the front wheel
becomes to slow , now lock up the front brake and pull up with your legs while grabbing against the sides of the motorcycle
and pulling up with your legs. The same as you bunny hop a bicycle. Be patient this will take some time. To add some more
lift to the rear wheel you will need some added momentum. To add momentum, you will need to add more throttle. So try this,
accelerate smoothly and give an added blip of the throttle right before you pull in the front brake. Then pull up with your
legs with your knees locked against the bike, and push up in a rolling forward motion against the handlebars.

This as said before is a great way for you to learn better front brake control, while it is also cool to amuse your
buddies. Remember to apply front brake with either your middle finger or pointer finger or both. I prefer the use of one
finger to be sure that I still maintain better control of the motorcycle. For more on my
motorcycle riding classes,
and motorcycle driving school go to www.rlafferty.com . My classes are guaged towards the experienced rider ans even
someone who wants to learn to ride a motorcycle.I enjoy what I do and I will help you enjoy riding your dirt bike even more,
www.rlafferty.com

How to Ride a Motorcycle/Brake pedal height

The more I teach motorcycle riding classes the more I learn myself. I have learned a lot about how every little thing,
can add up to seconds lost or gained. In taking a motorcycle lessons myself when I was a kid I learned how corner speed
has a lot of different elements. As far as braking properly, brake pedal height is crucial. I find it is easier to adjust
your brake pedal so it is slightly higher than your foot peg than adjust it so that the brake pedal engages level with the
foot peg. This makes braking much easier in the way I explained earlier. Hold your foot up above the brake pedal
and keep it tight to the bike and opperate the brake pedal while keeping it tight to the bike. This is makes it easier
to have better braking control. Better braking control is slowing the wheel down, rather than just locking up
the rear wheel.It is easier to do this with you foot up off the foot peg rather than down on the foot peg, because
your using your hold leg to moderate the pressure to the brake pedal rather than just flexing your ankle
and also having to lean forward to find the brake pedal.

So now go out and adjust that brake pedal and work at those cornering drills we discussed earlier. Remember that
perfect practice makes perfect. So practice at a slow speed than work into the speed once you have the braking process
down. Dirt bike riding practice may take a lot of time, but it is well worth it. For more on motorcycle safety course, or
how to ride a motorcycle go to http://www.rlafferty.com/. If you would like to learn to ride a motorcycle, or attend a
motorcycle driving school online then come check us out. I am sure I can help you enjoy
dirt bike riding even more.Youtube wheelie clip. How to ride a motorcycle
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How to Ride a Motorcycle/Corner speed 3

One of the many things I discuss and cant stress enough in my motorcycle riding classes is the importance of is Corner
Speed. While giving motorcycle lessons I have said many times that corner speed is where the race is won or lost. Anyone
can hold it wide open in the straight away but its how mush of that momentum you can carry threw the turn that is
crucial. In teaching a motorcycle safety course or even in my own dirt bike riding, I have found that if you are losing a quarter
second in every turn, and there are say 20 turns for every mile of trail, that adds up to be quite a bit. This can average out
to be 2-4 seconds a mile. If you have a 6 mile course, that could end up being 12-24 seconds. So that is why I say it is crucial
work on your corner speed. For most this is where the time you are losing to your competitors is.

So the best way to work on corners is to set up a couple turn tracks or drills. Doing this in an open area is best.
I would set up a figure eight with a turn you can lay the bike over in (mx turn) and a upright turn with a PVC pipe on the
inside to act as a tree. You can also set up something a little longer as having a variety of practice drills for
turns I believe is best. The key to corner speed is perfect practice, not practice makes perfect. While practicing these
drills it is crucial to remember that you need to slow down and properly learn to do it properly at slow rate
of speed. Because you cannot try and learn anything especially when it is new to you by just going fast and trying to
implement it. So slow down and practice it slowly. Read on to some of my further articles on the proper corner technique,
and you also can go to http://www.rlafferty.com/, for more on my motorcycle driving school and or
how to ride a motorcycle.I really
enjoy helping people learn to ride a motorcycle, and go faster in a safer manner. Come on out and have some fun. Youtube wheelie clip. How to ride a motorcycle
More articles.

How to Ride a Motorcycle/Corner speed 2

I am a motorcycle riding school instructor, I have been teaching motorcycle lessons for 8 years. If you are interested in
how to ride a motorcycle, motorcycle safety course, or just dirt bike riding, than I am sure that I can definatley help you between
my blog which you have found here or by my online riding school instruction at http://www.rlafferty.com/.I really enjoy helping people
learn to ride a motorcycle, through my motorcycle riding classes.
Earlier we discussed
some things as far as corner speed. We discussed proper braking and why not pulling in the clutch is important and
how momentum is key to building corner speed.
Lets talk about use of the front brake. A lot of people have issues in being confident in using the front brake. It
is that most people are scared of going over the bars or of the front wheel skidding out from under them. So lets address
these concerns. The front brake is used entering a turn, not in a turn. If you were to use the front brake while
in a turn the front wheel can skid out from under you. As far as brake control, simply you need to practice and find
the proper feel. Start at a slow speed and while entering a turn let off the throttle and as you do reach for the
front brake lever and apply pressure. Pressure is the key here, your not locking it up. You are applying pressure
to the front brake which slows the front wheel down. This is why proper front brake control is crucial to building
corner speed. The front brake is great to slow down the motorcycle but still maintain a proper sense of momentum. Rather
than just locking up the rear wheel and losing all momentum.So if front brake control is a issue for you, than we need to
set up some practice drills to combat this issue and give you better front brake control. Just simply set up a figure eight
in a field with a pole in each end to simulate the apex of the turn and to act as a tree. PVC pipe is best because it
will move if you hit it. A figure eight is best because your doing a left turn and a right turn back to back. So to start off
put the bike in second gear and accelerate smoothly. When entering the turn apply pressure to the front brake using
one or two fingers. Do not pull in the clutch or use the rear brake at all. Just practice the use of the front brake.
Work at it individually like this first then add use of the rear brake. Be sure to use the rear brake as we discussed before,
hold your leg tight to the bike and apply pressure to the rear brake pedal rather than just jabbing on it.
It is also important to remember to use one or two fingers on the front brake. I am most comfortable using just my middle
finger, because I have better control over the motorcycle by holding on with my other fingers and applying the front brake
with just one finger. This may take time for some of you to properly do without having to think about it. But once you work at
it you will have better brake control and improved corner speed.

So as a recap, you should set up a figure eight track with PVC poles at each end and practice cornering while using only
the front brake. Remember to practice this at a slow rate of speed until you become comfortable with this and can properly apply
front brake and still carry good corner speed. For more on motorcycle training you can go to www.rlafferty.com. Come on and check
out my motorcycle driving school. Youtube wheelie clip. How to ride a motorcycle
More articles.