At our last skills practice session, we practiced riding as slow as you can in a straight line without putting your feet down.  This was to get you to gain a better feel of the friction zone on your motorcycle.  Using the friction zone is a core skill every rider needs to master.  Using the friction zone is the foundation for all slow speed maneuvering on a motorcycle such as u-turns, stop and go traffic and controlling the motorcycle in tight confined areas.  Here is one exercise from MCrider to practice gaining control of the friction zone.

Exercise Layout:

Directions:

Start at position, 1 ride as slowly as you can to position 2 without putting your feet down. Work on going as slow as you can and keep the bike in a relatively straight path of travel.

Coaching Tips:

• Good riding posture: elbows in and relaxed, knees squeezing the tank, head and eyes up at all times looking on the horizon
• Keep the clutch in the friction zone.
• Apply steady pressure to the rear brake while riding slowly
• Do not use the front brake
• Use a little bit of steady throttle
• After 5 minutes of practice ride the motorcycle in 2nd gear around the parking lot for a few laps, no clutch or brakes to give the components a chance to cool down

Problem Correction:

• Trouble with balance. This could be a few things, trying to ride too slow, not using steady pressure on the rear brake or looking down.
• Motorcycle lurches forward. Keep the clutch in the friction zone with partial power to the rear wheel.
• When using the brakes the motorcycle leans hard to one side / want to fall over. Do not use the front brake, at slow speeds use the rear brake only.

Video Example: