Thanks again for a memorable weekend. First class accommodations, delicious meals ,and good conversation. I feel I am a better rider after attending, but more importantly you gave me the theories and techniques to become a really good rider. On my ride home,after having some time to digest what you taught us, I understand how keeping the mind and the body focused on the ride will lead to the precision needed to really ride well. I understand that these skills are not acquired easily, but with constant practice and execution, can be raised to a level that makes the ride more than I realized possible. You have raised the bar and I am now on a mission that will last as long as I am able to ride. I feel that I will be back to your workshop for more instruction.    Thanks again, Sam Mead Princeton, IL

B

“Thank you Jim, for a what I must refer to as a “life-changing” weekend. I have been around and on bikes for most of my life so when you can have a noticeable impact on my bike handling skills and cornering confidence – in just 2 days and about 600 miles – you get my sincere gratitude!  

You have enriched my life with an adventurous perspective on riding back roads and enhanced my riding skills in a way that is dramatic. What a pleasure to ride with you and the others! I really enjoyed getting to know you. Seeing your smooth cornering and seamless bike handling skills made me want to learn what you had to offer.” Brand Convis, Director of Marketing for Coleman Powersports Falls Church, Virginia

Tom Callahan with 100,000+ experience from Alexandria, Virginia

Dear Jim,

I can’t thank you enough for the Rider’s Workshop last weekend.  I hope you don’t mind if I go on a bit here with a few specifics that you can share with others who are thinking about taking the course.  Please also feel free to pass along my name and number to anyone who would like a “live” testimonial.

I am an experienced rider of 30-plus years and well over 100,000 miles.  This is just some of what I learned or improved in your two-day workshop:

• Choosing gears more effectively for better control, confidence, and smoothness in curves
• Reading a road better, looking to the “vanishing point,” and taking in the full picture of the environment
• Using my GPS to anticipate curves beyond visual sight
• Using a trailing rear brake in a curve to enhance stability, particularly in descending terrain
• How to get a tactile feel, while riding at speed, for the traction of the road surface under varying weather and surface conditions
• How to up- and down-shift more smoothly
• How to ride with more precision, attention, and awareness
• How to identify and seek out the countless lightly trafficked “invisible roads” that are outstanding for motorcycle riding

But the whole of the workshop was much greater than the sum of these parts.  The experience reinvigorated me and my love for riding.  By taking your approach toward riding as an art with a focus on precision and smoothness, every road and curve, no matter how familiar, becomes new and fresh to me.

Ten years ago, I paid about $700 for an Aerostich riding suit (they are $847 today).  The suit was a good investment, because it makes riding safer and more enjoyable in varying weather conditions.  For about the same money, your workshop is an even better investment in riding safety and enjoyment.  I know that it will pay me dividends for many years to come.

I look forward to riding with you again soon.

With best regards,

Tom Callahan
Alexandria, VA

Wow! My second workshop was even better than the first, and I had thought that one tons o’ fun and tremendously beneficial (and make no mistake, it was indeed).  However, what I know after my second workshop—2 years and 20+K miles of twisties after my first—is I had quite a bit more to learn.

Though I went this time ready to challenge myself, I was shocked by how much improved I was and how effortless the change seemed. Jim quickly recognized what skills I needed, and simply showed me a better, more efficient way of riding the mountain twisties as well as invisible roads. He showed me what true mastery is of a motorcycle and that there is yet far more for me to learn.  For now, there are skills I need to continue practice to make my own.

That said, my riding has changed already.  Gone is the mental fatigue I was experiencing due to allowing myself to become somewhat lazy about my visual habits and posture.  Gone are the “Oops” moments I had actually grown accustom to by over-riding my skill set by over-focusing on speed (the habit of grabbing handfuls of throttle for a “cheap thrill”).  Gone are former worries and concerns about gravel and poor traction.  I can now say without question that I have grown significantly as a rider.  I have re-embraced the efficiency, power, and thrill of riding smooth, which is already increasing the joy my riding experience.

For me, Riding Smooth is about riding with grace; maintaining a heightened awareness, striving for precision of action, and seamlessly responding to conditions of every moment of every ride.  I’m grateful for Jim’s course and am certain I will attend again next year (if only one of the one day courses).

The learning experience aside, it was spectacularly enjoyable weekend. Although I know and have before ridden many of the roads we traveled on during this workshop (as I live in the area), the experience was completely different; at once less intense on the body and mind, and more intense to the memory and pleasing to the soul.  In a word … Zen.

Craig
Southern, MD

L to R: Chris from New York with roughly 75,000 experience riding a Honda VTX 1300
Craig from Maryland with roughly 90,000 experience riding a BMW R1150RT

This Workshop was Craig’s second. He rode with me in 2008. He told me during this Tour that he wasn’t sure just what he’d learn, if anything. He characterized his first Tour as one of being introductory. His second Tour he characterized as one where he recognized bad riding habits and corrected himself and where he began to internalize several of the skills. He felt the second Tour’s lessons where lessons he absolutely needed to hear and benefits greatly from it.

This was Chris’ first Tour. He was looking to increase his confidence since he was never exactly sure where to place his bike while going through a curve. By learning to continuously place his motorcycle on the pavement for safety, his confidence grew by orders of magnitude.

Craig said the Tour exceeded his expectations. Chris said several times how great the experience was and intends to ride the Invisible Roads again.

Riding a motorcycle is kind of like flying an airplane. While the machines themselves are obviously different, the mindset to operate them, surprisingly isn’t.  In the late eighties, I determined to earn a pilot’s license. I remember climbing into the cockpit of a Cessna Sky Hawk for the first time. I sat there rolling the yoke from side to side, pushing it in and out. I thought back to those grainy black and white WWII films I had seen as a kid—Heinkels and Messerschmitts versus Spitfires and Hurricanes dog -fighting over those White Cliffs of Dover. I was sort of hoping that flying Cessnas could be like that. It didn’t take long for my green stomach to tell me otherwise. There never was and there never is an occasion to manhandle flight controls when flying an airplane. Instead, my flight instructor shared the concept of “pressuring the controls.” I’ve been operating motorcycles and airplanes this way ever since.

Just before any takeoff, there is a pre-flight inspection to complete. I walk around the airplane checking the elevators and ailerons, tire pressure, landing and navigation lights. I open the cowling to check the quality and amount of oil.

The same is true with the motorcycle. It’s rare that I don’t walk around the bike again checking tire pressure and lights, making sure the luggage is firmly attached and mirror stalks are tight.

Once the pre-flight inspection is complete, I climb aboard the plane, don a headset and buckle myself in. There are further checks to be made. Verifying the flight controls is one of them. I carefully roll the yoke from side to side, push it forward and pull it back. I press on the rudder pedals. I want to get a feel for these primary controls before rapid acceleration brings the airplane to life and lifts off from those “surly bonds of earth.” Then, as airspeed builds, gaining altitude all the while, these controls become extremely sensitive to movement — any movement.  Now, the word “pressure” replaces “movement” as the operative word, and feeling smooth—being smooth—largely determines how well I am flying.

This is when the motorcycling and flying mindset become one.

The primary controls of the motorcycle are the handlebars, the throttle, the brake, the clutch and the shifter. When riding try thinking in terms of pressuring these controls. For example, instead of rolling on, cracking, whacking or twisting the throttle, think of pressuring the throttle open or closed. Then pay attention and feel the performance as you apply different amounts of pressure. Be smooth.

Once I have established the airplane at my assigned altitude, the idea is to precisely maintain that altitude. When Air TrafficControl says 11,000 feet, they don’t mean 11,180 feet.  This is precision flying or  “flying the needles” since my tolerance in smooth air is the width of the altitude indicator needle itself. It’s delicate stuff at 130 knots, requiring concentration and the subtlest of pressure on the controls.

Likewise, as you motorcycle along the Interstate, try “riding the needle” by concentrating on keeping your speedometer pegged at a given speed. As necessary, make subtle throttle corrections. Pick a challenging needle tolerance and “ride the needle.” Have fun with it and soon you’ll have exacting speed control.

Throttle control is everything.  Here’s another exercise: Eliminate the jerk. Often, when rolling on or off the throttle, no matter how slight, you will feel a slight jerk of acceleration or deceleration. Now imagine that your throttle cable is a singular, slender, silken, thread. Anything other than gentle pressures snaps the thread! Eliminate the throttle jerk. The goal is to pressure the “thread” back and forth and to feel – nothing.

Whenever braking, don’t apply, slam, jam, or even squeeze the brake – pressure the brake. As you apply pressure on the calipers, pay attention and feel the brake pads as they grip the rotors. For a certain pressure on the brake, there is a certain amount of stopping power.  I usually ride with my index and middle finger covering the brake especially in curves. This way, I have instant stopping power with nary a second wasted in having to grab the brake.

Here’s another exercise: when you’re rolling to a complete stop, ensure there is absolutely no jerk arriving at zero mph. It takes a delicate touch. Again, your intention is to feel nothing.

When shifting gears, be smooth. Try “pressuring the shifter.” Whenever you shift gears, apply slight pressure to the shifter first. Then shift gears. The entire shift happens simultaneously. Gently release the clutch.  Pay attention to how it all feels. The goal, once again, is to feel nothing. If there is any jerk, make subtle throttle adjustments. You’ll start earning smiles of self-satisfaction as your shifting becomes seamlessly smooth.

Pressure implies a studied application and is the essence of smoothness. A studied application is also fundamental to expertise.

Fly your motorcycle more by the seat of your pants. Pressuring the controls is the key.

Miles of smiles will multiply. Guaranteed!

See you in third gear.

Jim Ford

There were six of us recently riding to Wellsboro, Pennsylvania including a husband and wife couple. Dennis rode a R1200GS and Becky was on her F650CS. Everybody knows what a great bike the 12GS is. To my mind though the sleeper is the F650CS. What makes the bike so great is its low seat height and easy handling. With a small radius front wheel coupled with tubeless street tires, it’s my choice of second-generation F series motorcycles if what you like doing is riding paved curvy roads. We had two F650CSs on this Workshop that were ridden by women. Becky rode hers well. Liz improved her CS riding once she embraced a particular skill I’d like to explain.

Over the course of a Workshop, I like to ride behind each rider. I become their “wingman.” This way I can add easy, relaxed suggestions as we ride along that will give riders immediate awareness of what they are doing. (I use a powerful transceiver; each rider is furnished with Etymotic ER-6 radio ear buds.)   I am communicating in real time. That’s what makes the instruction so useful. Riders get immediate feedback on the quality of their riding. I give riders ideas on what they can improve and what they are already doing well while they’re riding. I speak easy like. No badgering. I understand that it’s not easy trying on new skills so everything I say is low key and relaxed.

So we’re riding along and I’m being Liz’s wingman. As we take curve after mountain curve, I notice that Liz’s line is subtly weaving in and out of the curve. Her line is neither confident, nor flowing nor smooth. An unsteady line is often the result of poor situational awareness and tension. What happens is that the rider looks only ten or twenty feet directly in from of them as he/she travels through a curve.  This is a problem because as they move through the curve, they have to quickly move their eyes through each individual segment of the curve.  With each segment, they make a small turning correction hence the zigzag line.  Plus the “speed” of each segment comes fast!  It rushes the rider and creates tension.

I suggest turning your head in the direction you want your motorcycle to go when taking a curve. That’s right! When you are taking any curve but especially tight curves like a mountain switchback, literally swivel your head as far as it will go in the direction of the curve. Now your head is pointing where you want your motorcycle to go. With you head turned, a person naturally, almost intuitively summons the various skills necessary to accomplish the turn. Because you’re turning your head, you are looking more toward the Vanishing Point giving yourself maximum distance and especially time. The extra time will dramatically reduce any tension you’re feeling. And because you’re better seeing the entire curve (instead of each segment) you’re carving the entire curve instead of each segment of curve. The execution of the curve just happens. It happens in one fell swoop and it happens smoothly!

I made this suggestion to Liz. Over the course of many, many curves, she slowly begins to turn her head.  (I’m reminded of the Tin Man slowing moving his funnel-topped head, side to side.)  The skill doesn’t come naturally. But through her experience she determines that my suggestion works. I literally see Liz’s helmet turn easier and faster into each curve. She points her helmet toward where she wants her motorcycle to go. Very soon, her line is smoother and I can sense a big boost in confidence.

With a big grin, she confirms it.

So I am motorcycling up into Pennsylvania to an orchard I know on a mission of acquisition – a goodly size stash of tree-ripened apples. It’s a lengthy, straight-line run, roughly 180 miles port to port, but routine.  I make the trek during harvest season taking advantage of this orchard’s produce. Peters Orchard has won Best in Show at the Pennsylvania State Fair several times which tells me a lot of how well they grow things out of the ground.

Often when I am riding I plug into an iPod and today is no different. A song comes on that rips me up. The tune is “John’s Other” by a group calling themselves Hot Tuna. Folks who came up in the late sixties/early seventies may remember Hot Tuna as a spin off from early Jefferson Airplane. Two of that band’s early players, guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady formed Hot Tuna when the Airplane flew off in a different direction. The Tuna is still hot, playing locally this past summer. Anyway the tune bowled me over for its’ locked in, rhythmic groove, so precise is their musicianship.

“What’s this got to do with soft hands, much less motorcycling?” You ask.

First, I say it takes soft hands to play music well. I say Jorma and Jack have got the touch (their decades of success proves it,) as do other artists and craftspeople that have mastered their skill. The irony, of course, is that having soft hands has nothing to do with literally having soft hands. Often, it’s quite the opposite: hard, sinewy hands honed by years of practice. Soft hands are the result of study and handling anything requiring manual dexterity. It results in a certain light touch. The touch allows you to communicate through whatever medium you’re working with and it’s not just with musicians either. Think of a sculptor with clay, or a painter with canvas. Think of Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception or a certain boxer who stung like a bee. Mastery is communicated in the finished result by someone with soft hands.

Riding a motorcycle well is no different. It takes soft hands. Nothing replaces the time and many miles it takes to develop soft motorcycling hands – brother, you’ve just got to ride! But let me suggest several ways to facilitate those hands.

It begins with a certain attitude. Conjure in your mind a “lightness of being” as you straddle your ride.  It doesn’t matter how much you literally weigh. Instead, make believe! Conceive it, believe it, and achieve it. I’m here to tell you it works. Pretend you’re feather-light as you ride down the road. By believing this, you will guide your motorcycle more into doing your bidding rather than more forceful means of control.  Instead of ever dumping the clutch, or cracking, twisting, or getting on the throttle, instead of (God forbid) “hammering” the brake, think in terms of pressuring these controls. Your motorcycle will respond immediately, almost willingly, when coaxed with subtle pressure inputs.

So as you make believe and conjure a feather-light touch, take a deep breath and relax.  Sit on your bike. Rest your hands lightly on the handlebar grips. (Hand rests are not hand grips!) Develop good posture. (My grandmother always said that good posture and good manners would get you through!) I suggest sitting slightly forward off your spine with slight tension in your stomach muscles, your thighs gripping the tank. As momentum and centrifugal force pushes you back and forth, and side to side, use those stomach and thigh muscles to maintain posture and ensure continuously that your arms are loose and your hands are light on the controls.  Also, ride with the balls of your feet on the foot pegs.  Often I see riders with their boot heels hung off the pegs with their feet pointing down at the pavement. To my eye this doesn’t look put together. By riding with the balls of your feet back on the pegs, good things happen. Not only does it look better, you engage your legs resulting in better comfort and control.  Your legs become real shock absorbers keeping you light in the saddle while soaking up road bumps as you motor along.

Maintaining this light touch isn’t particularly easy, however. Tense riding circumstances often arise which cause you to clench the hand rests and, like clenching your teeth unawares, keep them clenched in the aftermath. This tension radiates from your hands through the rest of your body. Your forearms and elbows lock up. Your shoulder muscles get tight. Your neck hurts, your back hurts, your butt groans, and riding just isn’t as much fun anymore.

It is no cinch to continuously stay feather-light and relaxed on the controls – discipline is the key. When there is cause to tense up, determine right then stay focused. Discipline yourself to maintain a state of continuously calm, lightness of being.

Over the course of a ride, I often shake out my wrists and elbows. As Reg Pridmore would say. “Stay loose as a goose.”  Flapping your wrists and elbows helps you stay this way as long as you ride.

I imagine Jorma and Jack use a guitar pick now and then. One tool I use to help me keep light and relaxed in my throttle hand and much less apt to clench is a Throttle Rocker. This less-than-ten dollar devise helps me open my right hand using only my palm pushing down on the throttle to accelerate.  To back off, I simply lift up and the throttle spring rolls back the throttle automatically.

Like most kids, I wanted to play like recorded rock ‘n rollers. I couldn’t then, and I still can’t now. I’ve resigned myself to listening on my iPod. Now, as an accompanist, seriously into make believe, my motorcycle morphs a Stratocaster, and when I’m really humming, feeling light, loose, and smooth on the controls, I too can rock on – locked in a rhythmic groove.  With a little practice you’ll be rocking along too.

See you in 3^rd gear,

Jim Ford

www.ridersworkshop.com

866-767-6900