Most challenging part of riding???

[misti]

What do you find is the most challenging part of riding.  I'm talking riding technique here, what do you struggle with, what do you find hard, what is the most difficult aspect of riding?

Misti

[Fresh Pants]

Woo, there's quite a bit. But what comes to mind is mental focus when cornering.

Let's say the first ride of the season, after being off the bike for a while. Coming into the first few tight turns in the local canyons (one side is on-coming traffic, the other side is the side of a mountain, or better yet, a big drop off the mountain. It takes me a few turns to get re-acquainted with cornering again.

I noticed it yesterday too, when I was getting cold, hands getting numb, it was getting dark, and I was getting tired. A brief mental lapse and I noticed that I reverted to old bad habits when I came up on a corner I wasn't familiar with, i.e. touching the brakes when I shouldn't be. Then I just took it easy until my mind could catch up with environmental changes (light, etc.).

[CannedIce]

Well, I haven't really begun to do long rides yet, but on the daily commute I find U-Turns to still be a challenge. I have been riding for about 2 years and still get a little nervous when I have to do one. Each intersection is different too so it is always something new lol especially because I don't need to do it very often. I guess I just haven't mastered that technique yet...anyone else have this problem?

[superjohn]

Concentration and focus. I can usually tell when I'm having a good riding day because I'm scanning ahead, and looking through corners and not thinking much about the bike. Speed comes easy and everything feels like an extension of myself. On less than perfect days my attention slips and I just don't fell as comfortable, so I'm sure to slow down and be a little more cautious.

[Fresh Pants]

Well, I haven't really begun to do long rides yet, but on the daily commute I find U-Turns to still be a challenge. I have been riding for about 2 years and still get a little nervous when I have to do one. Each intersection is different too so it is always something new lol especially because I don't need to do it very often. I guess I just haven't mastered that technique yet...anyone else have this problem?

I'm roughly in the same experience level (2.5 years riding), and have gotten better at U-turns but haven't gotten super clean with it on the monster. I'm pretty good at U-turns on my KTM but for some reason the monster has been a bit trickier. I also had trouble doing a U-turn on a hill, going downhill on the KTM though, I put a foot down, on the downhill side, and I can barely touch both toes on level ground with that bike. 

I find counterbalancing and really turning my head around help U-turns a lot.

[somegirl]

Since I'm short, for me it's probably stopping on a slippery (or gravelly) cambered slope.

[sbrguy]

downill turns in somwhat limited vision at highway speeds.. ie, when you are going down a highway coming down a hill in fog and you can't go less than 60mph bc the cars behind you are going that speed and you have to make the curve.

[CDawg]

Most challenging?  Having the presence of mind to lean more and open the throttle when in a panic...(gotta hate Keith Code (SR1 and SR2) for being so right )

[tbird245]

Ditto for U-turns. I've taken both MSF courses, have been riding 16 years, and still tense up when doing it.

[misti]

Ditto for U-turns. I've taken both MSF courses, have been riding 16 years, and still tense up when doing it.

Hahaha, U- turns are difficult but tensing up is going to make them much harder   I find that feathering the clutch a lot and twisting your head around to look where you want to go help a lot.  Feathering the clutch is huge, it helps you go slow and maintain control.  Also, if you relax your arms and let your body go with the bike it helps a bit too.

A few also mentioned that maintaining concentration was a hard part of riding.  So, how do you make sure that you don't lose your focus when out riding?  what are some things that you guys have done that helps you stay mentally sharp and alert while riding?

Misti

[CDawg]

On staying sharp and focused...I've been known to sing to myself while riding.

[the_Journeyman]

Steep downhill turns ~

JM

[Duck-Stew]

Adding sugar to my latte while splitting lanes is probably top of my list...

Ok, j/k.  For me, it's the mental focus thing (15 yrs riding).  I *KNOW* I have a tendency towards target-fixation and therefore I need to be aware of it's presence in my mind.  I find that if I'm riding above 7/10ths it tends to rear its head.  7/10ths and below though, I'm good. 

I got caught out riding my HD the other day at 8/10ths (which is like 6/10ths on a Monster BTW) and went into a tight (for an HD) 'S' curve.  Well, I didn't see the gravel in my path until nearly the last moment and the HD doesn't like (AT ALL) any changes in line amid corner so I had to wrestle the bike pretty good to stay upright.  Ended up getting a TF moment and came close the gaurd rail.  No damage, just shaken up is all...

[FatguyRacer]

Slipping a dry clutch on a 500+ lb bike at a stop sign/light on a steep hill.

[Cotton]

Dodging soccer moms.