Want to race? There is a new game in town
Maverick - Jan 6, 2010

Motorcyclists and non-motorcyclists alike associate motorcycling with speed. In fact, many motorcycle accidents are the result of loss of control due to excessive speed, or too much speed for existing conditions, to which motorcyclists should be attending to be safe and in control. 

Here are just a few excerpts from recent accident reports: motorcyclist hit the back of a vehicle, motorcyclist hit a curb, motorcyclist ran off the road on a curve, two motorcyclists collide, Honda ST1300 motorcycle rider failed to yield to mini-van, bike hits tree when operator lost control while travelling at high speed, etc.  Local news outlets carry stories like these from around the US and around the world. 

All of these cannot be traced to excessive speed, however, all can be traced to lack of sufficient control.

Speed will always be a factor in motorcycling, because motorcycle owners have to “check it out.” There is nothing wrong with that, if you know what you are doing!

For some, times are changing. Perhaps this is due to National and regional initiatives and campaigns to train motorcyclists how to ride safe. Perhaps it is due to aging riders, who in fact, become wiser as they age, or perhaps due to the mass and timely distribution of data showing that motorcycle fatalities have and continue to increase over the last 15 years. Today, motorcyclists are acutely aware of the likelihood of serious injury if they are involved in an accident. The reality is: sudden and unplanned stops while riding a motorcycle will hurt!

More and more motorcyclists are learning the value of developing motorcycling skills and riding “in control” as factors impacting the preservation of life and operating a motorcycle accident free. 

In recent years it is not uncommon to see and participate in motorcycling events where motorcycle officers are demonstrating and coaching motorcyclists in the finer points managing a motorcycle. 

There’s a new game in town! Motorcycle games and skill practice sessions are popping up in different parts of the US, and the world, with renewed interest.

If you come upon a motorcycle rally involving Honda, BMW, Harley-Davidson, and/or other touring and cruiser motorcycles, chances are there will be a contest called the Slow Ride. 

You see, there are slow riders; e.g., Todd Thompson, who can stop his bike and remain upright for fractions for a second. More about Todd later.

Most slow ride contests are set up as a figure eight (a timed event), or in side by side parallel lanes anywhere between 30 feet and 60 feet long where motorcyclists line up and are signaled to begin by the start judge. Event organizers make up slow ride rules, but generally riders compete against time or other riders. Their feet cannot touch down, and they have to stay within specified boundaries. In some instances, event organizers will stipulate that riders cannot stop their motorcycle during the contest, or the bike must keep moving. 

Bike games and slow ride contests have been around for many years, but more and more riders are taking notice during the last four to five years. Slow riding is not as easy as some may think. Truth be told, nearly every rider who has piloted a big bike has dropped it at least once while moving a 5 mph or less. 

We spent time with Todd Thompson, a biker who started riding with his dad and siblings at age 6. Todd, one of seven children, was the daredevil in the family.   He tells of his dad, sisters, and brother spending a lot of time; “chasing jackrabbits in the desert outside of Victorville, California.” At that time in his life, it was all about how fast you could go, trying to control the bike, but taking chances. “We had some pretty wild wrecks,” Thompson remarked.

Today for Todd, motorcycling is all about being in control while riding and riding safe. “Every ride is learning to discipline yourself to ride within your limits” says Thompson. He takes an experienced rider training course each year. He also spends a lot of time practicing.   Every time he approaches a stoplight, Todd practices the slow ride. The challenge is: “Can I balance 700+ lbs on two wheels long enough for the light to turn green?” For Todd, the answer most of the time is yes!

Todd has developed a certain amount of proficiency as a slow rider. Beginning in 2002, he began taking rider skills more seriously, and since that time, he has won first place in the slow ride event, at least once, in Calgary, Canada; New Mexico, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, and Florida.

What does it take to excel as a slow rider? “You have got to know your bike and practice. You have to learn your bike’s capabilities: how short will it turn, how does center of gravity impact the bike’s handling, how does weight of the motorcycle impact handling characteristics, low end power and clutch management are also key considerations,” according to Thompson. 

To the question: what is the best motorcycle on which to do the slow ride, Thompson replied; “do your best on the bike you ride, that’s the one you need to understand how to ride on the highway and in traffic.”

Todd recommends all motorcyclists take advantage of these opportunities and learn control. Learn to know and understand your motorcycle. Understand the dos and don’ts of riding, especially how to apply your brakes to keep your bike upright. Learn where to look and develop your capacity to focus on the road ahead while attending to everything moving into and out of the space around you.