Hey all - my wife started riding last spring - did her M1 exit training at Centennial and has been riding since. Her first season she rode about 7000KM and this season she's approaching 6000KM, but that'll probably be about it.
For someone who had never sat on a motorcycle before I'm very proud of her - she's rode a lot of places, down some pretty challenging roads (a 30KM stretch of gravel in Quebec this summer comes to mind, LOL), and through some challenging weather including torrential rain..and has taken it all in stride with a smile. I've watched her confidence and skills build slowly but surely, and this summer I noticed that she's getting low-speed maneuvering nailed, avoiding the stereotypical duck-walk you often see amongst low experienced riders in parking lots, etc.
But, at speed, she's still a bit timid in corners, even big long sweepers.
I think some of this may be my own fault as I did tell her from the very beginning that one of the biggest causes for single vehicle motorcycle wrecks is "Failure to negotiate corner", and I'm sure any experienced rider here will have at least one story to tell of coming in too hot and having a pucker moment. She's very safety conscious so I suspect this is still in the back of her head.
Regardless, especially when group riding it is a problem - sometimes big gaps open up in the formation which presents additional risk for the group if a car tried to pas and jam its way in there. Even just following me solo sometimes she falls back in corners.
I've been very cautious to say much about it aside for some gentle prodding as I do NOT want her to over-ride her abilities and get in trouble as a result. I recognize I have several decades of riding experience vs her so I have to be conscious of the fact that she's still somewhat green. It's been a very fine line....although honestly, corners that she might take at 70K (in an 80K zone) are often rideable at 100+ even on a cruiser with appropriate lean and application/removal of power.
Anyhow, my point - is there any confidence builder courses out there that could help her overcome these fears and build the skills necessary to manage corners more confidently next season? Track (in it's pure/racing form at least) is NOT an option - she would most certainly not be into that for a variety of reasons. Ideally I'd like something along the lines of an advanced rider course akin to the M2 college training setup, but more aimed at intermediate riders looking to hone skills and build confidence.
For someone who had never sat on a motorcycle before I'm very proud of her - she's rode a lot of places, down some pretty challenging roads (a 30KM stretch of gravel in Quebec this summer comes to mind, LOL), and through some challenging weather including torrential rain..and has taken it all in stride with a smile. I've watched her confidence and skills build slowly but surely, and this summer I noticed that she's getting low-speed maneuvering nailed, avoiding the stereotypical duck-walk you often see amongst low experienced riders in parking lots, etc.
But, at speed, she's still a bit timid in corners, even big long sweepers.
I think some of this may be my own fault as I did tell her from the very beginning that one of the biggest causes for single vehicle motorcycle wrecks is "Failure to negotiate corner", and I'm sure any experienced rider here will have at least one story to tell of coming in too hot and having a pucker moment. She's very safety conscious so I suspect this is still in the back of her head.
Regardless, especially when group riding it is a problem - sometimes big gaps open up in the formation which presents additional risk for the group if a car tried to pas and jam its way in there. Even just following me solo sometimes she falls back in corners.
I've been very cautious to say much about it aside for some gentle prodding as I do NOT want her to over-ride her abilities and get in trouble as a result. I recognize I have several decades of riding experience vs her so I have to be conscious of the fact that she's still somewhat green. It's been a very fine line....although honestly, corners that she might take at 70K (in an 80K zone) are often rideable at 100+ even on a cruiser with appropriate lean and application/removal of power.
Anyhow, my point - is there any confidence builder courses out there that could help her overcome these fears and build the skills necessary to manage corners more confidently next season? Track (in it's pure/racing form at least) is NOT an option - she would most certainly not be into that for a variety of reasons. Ideally I'd like something along the lines of an advanced rider course akin to the M2 college training setup, but more aimed at intermediate riders looking to hone skills and build confidence.