Houston, Ride Like a Pro

[Owen]

I own and practice Ride Like A Pro CD. However I have always wanted to take this course and I am registering for the Oct. 23rd class. It is in Surgarland, Tx. Any one care to join me? Here is the link...

[Dave77459]

The class is held about 10 minutes from my house. If you want to eat, we can meet beforehand and you can go (I took it last year). I'll come for the practice time... grads can return for free.

 

There is a nice diner about 5 minutes from the site: Avalon Diner on US59.

 

Dave

[Owen]

The class is held about 10 minutes from my house. If you want to eat, we can meet beforehand and you can go (I took it last year). I'll come for the practice time... grads can return for free.

 

There is a nice diner about 5 minutes from the site: Avalon Diner on US59.

 

Dave

 

So critique the class. Did you enjoy it. Was it worth it? Did you drop Roxie?

[Dave77459]

So critique the class. Did you enjoy it. Was it worth it? Did you drop Roxie?

I went with Perry (Pktexas) and another friend. (Link to article) I very much enjoyed it. The instructors were very good at explaining the theory and drills. They were very encouraging and excelled at identifying our errors and correcting them. Read the link for more.

 

As far as dropping Roxie, of course I did. Many times! I bought the plastic protectors, so there was no damage. I can let you borrow them if you want.

 

Dave

[Squidley]

Sounds interesting, I wouldn't mind doing that one...we'll have to see how it all plays out.

[dynodon]

Questions: Does the course offer the plastic protectors or did you find them elsewhere? Edit, I looked again at the ride like a pro site and found the pro-guards page and found their web site. Looks like they are made for Electra Glides, wonder if they would work on a GoldWing or other bikes?

 

Also, I would think it would be good to remove pegs from crash bars for this class, did you do this if you had the extra pegs/footboards?

Edited September 27, 2010 by dynodon

[jburrell]

I'm in. I think I will just need some crash protection too. I'll check into it. Be a good time to get together for eats and then go.

 

thanks Owen

[Dave77459]

Questions: Does the course offer the plastic protectors or did you find them elsewhere? Edit, I looked again at the ride like a pro site and found the pro-guards page and found their web site. Looks like they are made for Electra Glides, wonder if they would work on a GoldWing or other bikes?

 

Also, I would think it would be good to remove pegs from crash bars for this class, did you do this if you had the extra pegs/footboards?

I got my guards at the class. Honestly, you can go to Home Depot and buy appropriate diameter black plastic tubing (sprinkler systems? Drainage?). Cut it to length then split it lengthwise to go over your crash bars.

 

Edit: I think they also mentioned people using old garden hose.

 

Dave

Edited September 27, 2010 by Dave77459
remembered the garden hose. Sheesh, that sounds weird.

[Owen]

Completed my registration today for the class. I'm really looking forward to it!

 

Who's gonna join me?

[kj4v]

The one who were worried about dropping their bikes at some of our training used 1'' foam insulation for pipe and tie wraps

[Owen]

This class is tomorrow morning... who is gonna' join me??????

[Dave77459]

This class is tomorrow morning... who is gonna' join me??????

Did you want to have breakfast down here before class? Class starts at 8....

 

Dave

[Owen]

The class is held about 10 minutes from my house. If you want to eat, we can meet beforehand and you can go (I took it last year). I'll come for the practice time... grads can return for free.

 

There is a nice diner about 5 minutes from the site: Avalon Diner on US59.

 

Dave

 

Let's have a quick breakfast. 7am? Where is this diner?

[Dave77459]

Let's have a quick breakfast. 7am? Where is this diner?

Avalon Diner is in The Fountains, at the far SW end. You can get off 59 at the US90 exit and move right quickly, the diner is right there.

 

 

Avalon Diner

12810 Southwest Fwy

Stafford, TX 77477-3807

(281) 240-0213

MAP

 

See ya around 7.

 

Dave

[Owen]

Avalon Diner is in The Fountains, at the far SW end. You can get off 59 at the US90 exit and move right quickly, the diner is right there.

 

 

Avalon Diner

12810 Southwest Fwy

Stafford, TX 77477-3807

(281) 240-0213

MAP

 

See ya around 7.

 

Dave

 

I'll be there! :happy34:

[Owen]

Update:

Met Dave77459 for an early breakfast then followed him to the class location. Dave was kind enough to lend me his set of crash bar guards. They are made for a Harley but fit well enough to stay in place and do their job. They got a pretty good work out... I stopped counting after about 4-5 drops. I would also like to give a thumbs up to Carbon One for his crash guard supports. They stood up to the abuse nicely and after having a close look at the crash guards when I got home, they had not moved at all. There was zero damage to the bike from my numerous slow speed drops which consisted of nothing more than laying the bike over onto the crash bars. I did remove my lower vents and highway pegs before going to the class. The only bike that received some moderate scrapes was one of the harleys which laid completely over.

Dave stuck around for moral support, or so he said, I think it had more to do with his photography skills, possible for nefarious purposes ... I'm sure we will see the results of his efforts!

There were 7 bikes/riders in the class. Three harleys, two victorys, a yamaha and a suzuki. Four guys and 3 gals. Two from San Antonio, One from Austin and the rest were locals.

The class covered the same three basics as the DVD, however, watching the video and practicing on your own comes up short compared to having someone watching you who can critique and point out what you are doing wrong. One of the instructors took my venture for a spin. He had never ridden one. He like it and how it felt except for the location of the clutch lever friction zone which he felt was too far out. He suggested that it might be a little bit of my problem. But he sure made it look easy on the venture and thereby showed me the bike was fine... ok must be me...

The course heated up the bikes pretty good. Temps were only in the upper 70's but I noted the cooling fan come on several times.

It was a great experience and I highly recommend it.

 

Here are a couple photos:

 

http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_1329.jpg

 

http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_1330.jpg

 

http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_1343.jpg

 

http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_1344.jpg

 

http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_1331.jpg

 

http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_1332.jpg

 

http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_1333.jpg

 

http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_1334.jpg

 

http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_1335.jpg

 

http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/IMG_1340.jpg

[Dave77459]

It was great to see Owen, and I planned to lead him over and leave to do Saturday errands. But the instructors said their photographer was absent, and asked me to stick around with my camera. So after I voted, I came back and took 1438 photos plus 18 videos. Then I was able to practice. Luckily no one got photos of me!

 

First of all, here is the motorman on the Victory Vision. Notice Owen in the background, comparatively creeping around the course while the big Vision catches up. Impressive!

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX0QhfqvNvY]YouTube - RLAPH 10/23/2010 - 18[/ame]

 

 

Here's Owen doing the slow speed weave, their first drill:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1428/5114763577_d0aaef04b6.jpg

 

 

And here's the instructor on Owen's bike doing the offset weave.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1240/5115364386_efb551d9b0.jpg

 

 

And here's what I saw way too much of. Most of my photos will remain safely secreted away for future use. BTW, after her fifth drop, the instructor suggested her bike might be too big.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1331/5114143615_9b1947fd4a.jpg

[Owen]

That Vision is a long bike! He handled it well. The lady with her feet up in the air had the most dramatic crash. Mine were pretty tame in comparison. I'm not bashful. Here is one of mine...

 

http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/5108293519_d0aa030d7f_b.jpg

 

http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w337/Owen064/5108294005_2924c6460c_b.jpg

[Dave77459]

I guess "dramatic" is in the eye of the beholder!

 

This lady had wandered off to practice while she waited her turn. She crashed and her bike laid completely on it's side. Oil poured out even more than is usual for a Harley, and the one instructor had to mop it up with towels.

 

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1327/5114145219_8cdab4f76f.jpg

 

But you are right, the lady with the frequent dropping points did hers pretty noisily. This video illustrates her most common fault: pulling on the clutch lever instead of the handlebar.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZl40q_Tjtc]YouTube - RLAPH 10/23/2010 - 16[/ame]

[pktexas]

Good going Owen. I really liked the coarse when I Dave & I took it over a year ago. I had some of the same issues with the Venture, the instructor rode mine also to see how to handle it better. He mentioned my pull back risers and the clutch zone also. They make it look easy on all types of bikes. Practice, Practice, Practice. Dave great job on the pics, they should hire you for every class.

[OutlawRider]

Good photos looks just like my bike. Owen what windsheild do you have? And how high. It looks lower than my stock. It looks great.

 

Richard

[Owen]

Good photos looks just like my bike. Owen what windsheild do you have? And how high. It looks lower than my stock. It looks great.

 

Richard

 

It's a clearvue that I chopped down. It is 12.5 inches from chrome to top... In my normal 'slouch' I am still looking through it about 2 inches down. If I sit up properly I'm looking just over the top. This makes it much safer in the hard rain.

[kj4v]

So who is boss you are the hoss? I did a very similar training and really built up some good confidence. Then I was going out of a friends steep drive way and a trailer was parked in front of it and I cut short, ran into his mail box and rolled momma and me down his yard. I did 3 total flips down his yard. Soft landing, very little damage to the bike, but out right busted my bubble of having my bike whooped. Those who have and those who will!