Rider Training for half blind old dudes

[Bullfrog]

OK, here goes. I'm 53 and anly have one eye (rt) that is usable. I have riden on and off for 30 years. Had a few spills mostly being dumb and a long time ago. I've taken the basic MSF coursed several times but do need a refresher and will be taking one after knee surgery has healed. I ride a 2004 RT, which is certainly a much more capable bike than I am rider.
When I ride with other folks, I find the HD folks goe way too slow for me but the BMW folks seem to go much to fast for me. Tough to go to rallys when I'm either stuck by myself or holding folks up.
Is there anyone out there who knows of a school or program that has patience with someone like me with all these ald habits ingrained?

Does anyone else find that they sometimes over-brake entering sharp curves with this power assisted and intgral brake system? :confused:

[tommy]

OK, here goes. I'm 53 and anly have one eye (rt) that is usable. I have riden on and off for 30 years. Had a few spills mostly being dumb and a long time ago. I've taken the basic MSF coursed several times but do need a refresher and will be taking one after knee surgery has healed. I ride a 2004 RT, which is certainly a much more capable bike than I am rider.
When I ride with other folks, I find the HD folks goe way too slow for me but the BMW folks seem to go much to fast for me. Tough to go to rallys when I'm either stuck by myself or holding folks up.
Is there anyone out there who knows of a school or program that has patience with someone like me with all these ald habits ingrained?

Does anyone else find that they sometimes over-brake entering sharp curves with this power assisted and intgral brake system? :confused:
I like this guy - i can understand every word he spelled -
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I've taken the basic MSF coursed several times
----LMAO----- never give up my friend :p
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I'm either stuck by myself or holding folks up
____ if you find yourself by yourself all the time - maybe it's your pit's :p
instead of holding up your friends try holding up a 7/11
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school or program that has patience with someone like me with all these ald habits ingrained?
_____ matter of fact i'm putting together a web page right now - it goes directly to the heart of your problem - 99.99 a month
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and will be taking one after knee surgery has healed
----- maybe you should spent the dollars on eye surgery
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great post - you fit right in around here

[Bullfrog]

Tommy,
Thanks. I enjoyed your response. I had a good laugh. I noticed that for some odd reason, my "o's" and "a's" swapped.
99.99 a month, huh?
Dave

[BradfordBenn]

Actually 99.99% humor each month :stick :thumb

[tommy]

Tommy,
Thanks. I enjoyed your response. I had a good laugh. I noticed that for some odd reason, my "o's" and "a's" swapped.
99.99 a month, huh?
Dave
ok Bull - don't tell those guys up north but this was sent directly from the president of CNN today

[kbasa]

OK, here goes. I'm 53 and anly have one eye (rt) that is usable. I have riden on and off for 30 years. Had a few spills mostly being dumb and a long time ago. I've taken the basic MSF coursed several times but do need a refresher and will be taking one after knee surgery has healed. I ride a 2004 RT, which is certainly a much more capable bike than I am rider.
When I ride with other folks, I find the HD folks goe way too slow for me but the BMW folks seem to go much to fast for me. Tough to go to rallys when I'm either stuck by myself or holding folks up.
Is there anyone out there who knows of a school or program that has patience with someone like me with all these ald habits ingrained?

Does anyone else find that they sometimes over-brake entering sharp curves with this power assisted and intgral brake system? :confused:

Track school is what you need. While the MSF stuff will teach you about riding around parking lots, a track school will help you make turning a motorcycle into a repeatable, understood process. You'll also be more prepared for the things that happen when a car is in your lane, there's sand in the road or you need to really haul that RT to a stop on a dime.

CLASS is a good one and they have a website at www.classrides.com. It's not a racing school, but an instruction method based on riding around at real speeds you'll encounter.

I've taken it a few times and it's done wonders for me.

dave

[Bullfrog]

Kbasa,
Great site you sent me to. I've already started whining to the frau that it would be a great anniversary present. (for both of us) She really needs to learn how to ride.
My only concern is trying to stay up with the others as I have no depth perception. Close quarters at speed an I don't really get along. But, of course, going fast safely is definitely a goodthing! :thumb

[BradfordBenn]

Also there is a track day at the Rally this year, courtesy of Lorazapam

[Montana]

Visian turned me on to the Atlanta Motorcycle Schools (click for link) (http://www.jkminc.com) folks, they look like exactly what you want, they can work one-on-one and give you exactly what you want.

[jgr451]

Hey Tomy the engraver,spellchecker checker:

Hahahahaha!!!!You're killing me!!!

;)

Pal of mine is an actual Peckerchecker.I call him Nurse Nicely.He looks after drunks;men who experience erectile dysfunction and stuff like that;and when he has any spare time,beautiful but lonely women who desire him.He is very professional,in his own way.

What a job ,eh?

[screamin eagle]

Also there is a track day at the Rally this year, courtesy of Lorazapam
BradfordBenn,
What rally are you referring to

[Grey Matter]

Great info all. I really want to do a track day. I think the GS will be a great track bike.

[lorazepam]

BradfordBenn,
What rally are you referring to

The national rally. On thursday there is a BMW only track day at Mid Ohio race car course, one of the most beautiful tracks in the country.

[BradfordBenn]

Great info all. I really want to do a track day. I think the GS will be a great track bike.

Any bike is a great track bike as long as it doesn't leak oil. I took my wife's GSL and had a blast. Another rider had a GS and he was having a blast. :clap

[RTRandy]

Here's the answer at the back of the book: After all the courses, all the track days and all the books and advise . . . ride to your own ability. I know I'd have one heck of a time with depth perception trying to ride with one eye so hats off to you, bullrog.

There is the "Advanced MSF" course where you bring your own bike and work on basic handling skills for a day in a parking lot. That may help with the "stupid" spills at slow speeds and maneuvering in parking situations not to mention good overall knowledge. It's good to take every couple of years regardless of skill.


Track days are definately a big help for turning at speed. There are two good loactions here in Texas though I've only ridden one: The Motorsport Ranch located south west of Forth Wort in Cresson. The other is Texas World Speedway in College Station . I've done two Track Days at Cresson with my RT and have decided not to bring it going forward. It's just too expensive to possibly low side one day and scrape off all the tupperware and vital parts plus it's no match for the smaller 600cc bikes on the track. (At least in my hands). I recently bought a Suzuki SV650S which makes for a good beginner track bike and a big bang for the buck so this is what I plan to bring. Over time, I'll trade it for something more upright and stay on the roads.

There's a couple of good schools who use both tracks: Ride Smart RideSmart (http://www.ridesmart.info/) and Lone Star Lone Star (http://www.lonestartrackdays.com) . A track day is around a $100 and when you include the school for the day, it's about $150.
One thing for sure, you'll leave a better rider at the end of the day.


Lastly, I think Dave Hough's books are an absolute must: Profecient Motorcycling and More proficient Motorcycling. Besides helping with great information you won't be worrying keeping up since it teaches leaving the ego at home. David also has great articles in the ON magizine.

[Rich]

My only concern is trying to stay up with the others as I have no depth perception. Close quarters at speed an I don't really get along.

If it were me, I would quit worrying about keeping up with the others. Just ride your own ride, and stay alive. If you are travelling with someone else, explain the situation, I bet they will take it to heart and ride more your pace. Or let you take the lead. If not, solo is always an option. Having only one usable eyeball is a limitation, and you need to adjust accordingly. I'm glad to hear it hasn't kept you from riding! Stay safe.

[BradfordBenn]

Give yourself some credit. I have one bad eye, not as bad as yours but still 20/450 is pretty bad. So I have trouble with depth perception as well. However the human body is pretty incredible at the way it can react.

You will learn to look for other cues, the same as when you are driving a car. Also the key to riding your ride is important. There are some people I flat out will not ride with because they ride too aggressively (fast) for me. However most riders will fall into a pace that works for the whole group.

[Bullfrog]

Brad and Rich,
Thanks for the encouraging words. You know, my wife says the same things! I don't mind riding solo, at all, but some times it is nice to ride with folks. As to finding folks to ride with and explaining the situation, You're right! Tried it and they didn't have a problem at all running a bit slower.
But...ya know just being on the bike no matter the company is worth every moment. This motorcycle riding thing has even brought my blood pressure down!!!

Dave :twirl

[Visian]

Give yourself some credit. I have one bad eye, not as bad as yours but still 20/450 is pretty bad. So I have trouble with depth perception as well. However the human body is pretty incredible at the way it can react.

You will learn to look for other cues, the same as when you are driving a car. Also the key to riding your ride is important. There are some people I flat out will not ride with because they ride too aggressively (fast) for me. However most riders will fall into a pace that works for the whole group.

I was waiting for a response like that. Not so sure that track school is for this gentleman... riding with one eye is a true handicap.

Now I know why Brad is a "Slowpoke and proud of it."

A couple years ago, a good friend of mine lost his sight in one eye... a nail gun accident. Ouch! He said that he had to hang up his helmet. I was trying to tell him not to do that... until I went out on a twisty road and tried riding wtih one eye closed.

Could *not* do it.

I don't think that track school is the thing to do for this fella... heck it would be dangerous to the other people in the class.

Instead, I second the recommendation made by Montana. Ken and Joanna Murray's school is probably your best bet my friend... they will custom-develop a course for your needs and it will be worth every penny.

After you do that, and find that you can be comfortable on a motorcycle at any speed, then you might consider a track day.

Just my opinion... based on trying to ride using only one eye.

YMMV.

Ian

[BradfordBenn]

Now I know why Brad is a "Slowpoke and proud of it."

Ian

Wanna guess why I usually ride in the right hand side of the lane. I just figure ride so that I am comfortable and safe.

[Bullfrog]

I don't think that track school is the thing to do for this fella... heck it would be dangerous to the other people in the class.

Instead, I second the recommendation made by Montana. Ken and Joanna Murray's school is probably your best bet my friend... they will custom-develop a course for your needs and it will be worth every penny.
Ian[/QUOTE]


I agree!! As much as I'd like to scream around a track, dragging knees and metal bits of under pinnings, if anyone else was out there, I'd fear for their lives as well as mine.

Don't get me wrong though, I have NO problem keeping the speed limit safely and wven a touch over. My concern is that reading posts on the forum, going to a rally and listening to the bench racers, it seems that most BMW riders perfer triple digits and peg scrapping to the more sedate speed limit. I really just wondered if there was some where to improve my skills so that I wouldn't be an anchor. Ken and Joanna Murray's school is the ideal I think I'm looking for. The only hitch is getting the time from work and getting out to GA. Of course, these obstacles can and will be overcome within a year.

Thanks to all who've provided their thoughts and great leads for schools.

Dave :clap :clap :clap

[lorazepam]

As far as the track day goes, there will be two groups. the first group will have 35 riders, separated into probably 5 sub groups, ranging from the "peg scraping, screaming hair on fire, fast guys, to relatively fast guys in the last of the 5 sub groups.


The second group will be folks who want to improve their road skills, and the instructors will go at the pace they need.

[Hodag]

Just ride at a pace that makes YOU happy, I don't like group rides for that basic fact. Sometimes I like going slow and easy enjoying some John Denver in nature and other times its Ozzie on a crazy train.
by the way didn't the turtle win the race?