Pop quizz, NO TALKING

[BajaRon]

I got 9 out of ten.

I was taught in the MST school to never use your front brake in the rain. I rode my two wheelie that way and never had a problem.

Their answer is use less front brake.

You certainly can use your front brake in the rain. But you have to be very careful about it. Some teach never to use it in the rain but I think this is the simple answer and not the best answer. It depends on how much experience you have with the front brake. Going straight ahead is not so bad. But using it in a turn definitely takes more skill than most riders probably possess. It's definitely a judgement call.

 

[Yazz]

You certainly can use your front brake in the rain. But you have to be very careful about it. Some teach never to use it in the rain but I think this is the simple answer and not the best answer. It depends on how much experience you have with the front brake. Going straight ahead is not so bad. But using it in a turn definitely takes more skill than most riders probably possess. It's definitely a judgement call.

True, but this was a beginner course. It was taken after my first biff.
You have a few more years of riding two-wheelies under your belt than I have... :doorag:

 

[BajaRon]

I got 9 out of 10. I disagree with this one. I picked the third choice.


Their answer is the second choice, which does make sense until...... Every crosswind I've ever ridden in is gusty, i.e., not steady. Whenever it lets up for a moment you tend to move into the direction the wind is coming from, especially if you are fighting hard to stay straight. If the wind is coming from the right they recommend you ride near the right. But if the wind lets up for a moment you have a tendency to make a sudden slight right turn. If you're close to the right side of the lane when that happens you don't have much room for wandering and could go off the edge. I think the safest place is near the middle of the lane. Then you have margin on both sides for sudden unplanned swerves caused by gusts.

CaptJAM, what do you say? You're a motorcycle safety instructor.

Text book on 2 wheels is to never ride in the middle of the lane. That is where all the debris ends up settling. From sand to anything that has fallen off a car or truck. Just not a good place to be. They divide the road into 3 sections. Left of center, Right of center and center. I agree that in gusty situations it can be difficult. But you're usually going to be moved further by the gust than by the random and relative calm. So of the 3 choices of 1) running head on into oncoming traffic, 2) running in the debris patch where traction and obstacles are most likely, and 3) dealing with moving farther to the left than to the right. They are giving you the book answer of staying in the right 3rd of the road. But as always. You have to apply skill, experience and common sense to these guidelines.

Most of this information needs to be modified when applied to the Spyder.

 

[BajaRon]

True, but this was a beginner course. It was taken after my first biff.
You have a few more years of riding two-wheelies under your belt than I have... :doorag:

I agree. Everyone needs to ride within their skill level And there is no such thing a perfect rider. I guess I just disagree with people who are dogmatic about these kinds of things (not speaking of you). But some will tell you never do this and always do that. When always and never are not necessarily the best way to go. It depends on a number of factors, as you point out.