One of great things about being an experienced rider is the acknowledgment that you’ve been riding successfully for some time.
You are to be commended for making it this far on the riding journey.
However, experience can breed complacency, complacency breeds bad habits, and bad habits can cause accidents.
In this part of your experience there a number of things to assist you in staying on top of your game:
1. Do some self-assessment
Ask yourself these questions:
- How many close calls have I had lately?
- How many times have I walked away from a ride saying, “that was close” or I should have done that, to avoid a situation?
- How many rides do you walk away from saying, “I didn’t like that”, or “I wasn’t really comfortable with that ride.”
If you respond to these questions and agree with some of them, this may be an indicator that you’re losing your edge. It may be time to sharpen the knife on following the next points.
2. Enroll in an advanced rider training course every couple of years
We can’t stress enough the importance of training, as you’ll notice if you’ve read the previous couple of pages on other stages of the ride.
Advanced rider training course will give you skills such as:
- Revisiting techniques
- What to do if… situations when they occur
- Improved braking techniques
- Improving your cornering skills
- Reviewing your current style of riding
- Observing your riding style and offering commentary and suggestions
3. Hook up with other riders
Go riding with other people who ride motorcycles; it is important to be networking as rider. Share in the experience of riding. It will keep you on your toes. Motorcycle clubs are a great way of doing this.
4. Help someone who is learning to ride
You should be an advertisement for good riding.
Do you know someone who is learning? People who are new to riding need to be able to speak to more experienced riders.
Allow them the opportunity to go for a ride with you.
If they have a small cc bike, then you may have to go a little slower so they can follow you. Remember, you’re the expert, you should be able to control your motorcycle at all speeds!
Besides the knowledge you impart, they will be so thankful that you took the opportunity to share in their riding experience.
Guess what, as they become more experienced they see the value of doing the same to new riders they meet. It becomes a kind of sustainable thing.
Helping someone learn to rider can be a very gratifying experience.
5. Keep up to date with the market place
It’s easy to lose track of what’s happening in motorcycling. We strongly advocate reading motorcycle magazines and researching the Internet. It keeps you fresh in what’s happening in the motorcycle world.
6. Keep varying the type of riding you’re doing
If you’re a road motorcyclist, then get out on the dirt, if you’re a dirt rider, get out on to the tarmac. Break up your style of riding and where you ride, and build on your experience.
Don’t get stuck in the one style of riding, mix it up with some different types of riding to enhance your experience
7. Go on a riding adventure
Get the cob-webs out of your mind and go on a riding adventure. It may be you need a Wild Hogs or possibly a Long Way Round experience, such as Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman undertook.
The world is a mighty big place and there are lots of people selling motorcycling adventures and tours in different countries all waiting to show their little bit of motorcycling paradise and offering to accept your hard earned cash.
Beside the enjoyment and experience of riding in another country, you’ll have stories that stay with you for the rest of your days to share with others.
So there you have it. Keep on enjoying the ride.
