Expert rider training company, motoDNA, has devised a special cruiser course being held at Lakeside training centre in Queensland on June 14.
In this second article from motoDNA rider training guru, Mark McVeigh, looks at the special demands for riding a cruiser.
Cruiser riding techniques.
Riding motorcycles on the road can throw up some challenges. Gravel, oil, potholes, animals, texting drivers, the list goes on.
Making small corrections to your line or speed mid corner is generally not a big deal on most bikes and the majority of riders do this automatically without even realizing it.
Cruisers, however, are a little different.
Compared to the majority of bikes, cruisers are generally heavier, including an increased rearward weight distribution. Other traits include low ground clearance and reduced maneuverability due to steering geometry.
Thus changing line or braking mid turn on a cruiser can have more consequences compared to a sports bike.
This unforgiving nature of cruisers means these riders need to be doing it better than the masses.
Efficient use of the corner through good line selection should be maximized to give the cruiser rider more flexibility and options if road conditions change unexpectedly.
Body position too, can allow you to keep the motorcycle more vertical for a given corner and speed.
Also, compared to a cruiser, a sports motorcycle pitches significantly more under brakes. This is important as weight transfer is a major contributor to braking performance. The vertical load on the front tire increases and this in turn pushes the rubber into the tarmac placing the main braking power with the front brake on most bikes.
On a cruiser however the pitching effect is reduced due to low and long nature of the bike rendering the front brake less efficient, placing more importance on including the rear brake.
Training, practice and experience are key to doing anything well. motoDNA have introduced a cruiser specific training course which teaches you how to get the most out of your machine and most importantly show you the techniques to safely negotiate your cruiser around any hazards that appear on the road. To improve your riding skill book your training course online with motoDNA at www.motodna.com.au
Author profile: Mark is a Moto Journalist and Director of coaching at the motoDNA Motorcycle Academy. Visit: http://motodna.com.au
