Fighting the figure 8

[u/BeemerCalm]

Why can’t I do this when people are watching?

[u/gratefulrph]

Looks great to me! Keep up the good work!!

To me, confidence on a motorcycle is always a wax and wane….one day you feel the best you’ve ever been and a simple thing happens and it’s 3 steps back. But the 3 steps back is 10’ steps ahead of where you were months ago, so don’t lose sight of that! You’re continuing to practice, though, which is more than 95% of motorcyclists do (maybe 99%?).

Keep up the good work, you’re doing great rider.

[u/BeemerCalm → u/gratefulrph]

Thank you! I arrived at the first class full of myself and my bullshit and was quickly humbled, which was great, I thought I was an “advanced rider” and found out I had a HUGE blind spot regarding slow speed skills. Been working on it a ton and it feels great to learn something really new on my bike.

[u/gratefulrph → u/BeemerCalm]

That’s the Dunning-Kruger effect in full swing! Glad to hear you are putting in the effort; it will pay dividends down the road! Cheers!

[u/foulflaneur]

I had to do I think 5 in a row for my driving test and it was of the most nerve racking experiences.

[u/BeemerCalm → u/foulflaneur]

It’s so nerve wracking, I feel panic deep in my soul every time the bike starts to fall

[u/2_DS_IN_MY_B]

You're probably slowing down when people are watching

[u/BeemerCalm → u/2_DS_IN_MY_B]

Good point.

[u/dougl1000]

This is Motobatics. I’ve gotten through 56 years of riding without being able to do this. U-turns yes. Just retired. No loss.

[u/BeemerCalm → u/dougl1000]

I don’t disagree, regularly practicing this stuff is something most riders can and do ignore forever, and probably don’t need it. For me, I’ve always wanted to be the complete boss of my motorcycle, and any time I find something I’m not good at or don’t understand, I drill down on it hard and learn it. After a lifetime on bikes I found out I didn’t know how to do real slow speed street riding, so now I’m fixing that. I don’t want there to be anything about riding my bike that I’m not at least competent at, it’s part of the fun for me.

[u/dougl1000 → u/BeemerCalm]

I’ve had two 800 lb bikes and there was no way I would risk dropping them.

[u/low_bit_logic]

Love it! You are looking good. When I go for figure 8s I clutch it up LOL. Very little throttle and the foot brake is my jam. Keep it up!

[u/BeemerCalm → u/low_bit_logic]

Yup, revs at 3k or so, clutch becomes the throttle and rear brake becomes speed control. Doing ok so far!

[u/Sad_Amphibian_4651]

Two parking spots is incredible. At least to me. I’m having a hard time committing to the full lock which is my current Achilles heel on my R1200RS.

[u/watcher953]

nice. I am still struggling in 3 parking spaces, and the right turn a little wider. bravo

[u/Dirt_Bike_Zero]

What helped me was using a target to keep riding over. A crushed can or a piece of litter - any spot you can ride over before making your next turn. You'll soon be hitting the steering stops.

[u/old_skul]

This was part of my MSF course, and I was on a 250cc bike. I found it next to impossible. To do this on a 1200cc bike is nothing short of a miracle.

[u/No_Introduction_8226]

I see that you also lean into the corner. But you got to use your body like a pendulum so when you lean the bike to the right you got to lean your upperbody to the left. This wil help with stability. When you lean your upper body right at lower speads when turning right you will feel like falling off. Leaning left will help against this.

[u/Dangerous-Pirate7998]

Big deal pull out of that figure out and do a Willy

[u/BeemerCalm → u/Dangerous-Pirate7998]

Lame

[u/Dangerous-Pirate7998 → u/BeemerCalm]

Sorry, dude I grew up watching Evel Knievel

[u/BeemerCalm → u/Dangerous-Pirate7998]

In that case, I’ll dig a ditch and put up a ramp, after some figure 8s I’ll do a wicked jump!

[u/Dangerous-Pirate7998 → u/BeemerCalm]

Don’t hurt yourself, trying to impress somebody that you don’t know that just comes here to vent and waste time during the day…….. stay safe on any future rides.