Machine Control in York
Over two days I was learning new skills, that is a motorcycle or machine control if you like, with the Motorcycle Academy in York.
Background
Such courses usually are design for those who already has an A licence and wishes to upgrade or improve their riding skills. At the time when I booked this course and attended it, I still had L plates and was riding CB125F. It was the smallest (CC-wise) bike with me being the only person having a CBT.
Yes, I did my CBT in February 2020 and felt left alone without any riding skills, just supper basic. I never rode anything above a bicycle and the last time I did that was around 25 years ago.
Slowly but consistently I was improving my riding. This included watching videos and reading Motorcycle Roadcraft. Also riding around town and spending every early morning on weekends practicing slow speed motorcycle manoeuvres on a car park. I booked BikeSafe and the Machine Control courses. Then the lockdown struck and so all my pre-booked trainings were postponed to unforeseeable future.
It was bad and good. Bed because I felt frustrated for not having extra and very needed training. Good, because it gave me time to get better, train on my own building confidence and prepare for long journey.
Around 2 months later things started coming back to life. My motorcycle control training had been re-instated with new dates in late June. So I booked B&B in York Racecourse Stableside for three nights. Few days later I packed up my panniers and top bag and off I went to York. Here is the route I took.
Training – Machine Control Day 1
It was very nice, sunny day. I rode mainly on B and some ‘smaller’ A roads via numerous villages and towns. It took me almost 7 hours with stops but I made it safely. I was tired but had wonderful time.
After good night sleep and self-made breakfast I was on my way to the airfield, where the training took place.
There were 11 of us ready to upgrade their skills. The day was rather on the hot side and very dry but I had my summer airy gear on, including boots.
First, we were introduced to the mechanics and physics of a motorcycle to build our confidence and trust to the machine. Tom, our trainer, used a spinning wheel and a tire to show us how the forces works and why bike itself is very stable for as long as it is moving.
The spin of the wheels keeps it in an up upright position, moving it in a straight line. This is down to the gyroscopic forces of the spinning wheels. They always return to their original position if pushed out of balance.
Then Tom demonstrated how the front and rear wheels determine the bike behaviour in a turn. Also, he explained the forces and the why behind the counter-steering and how position on the bike can change its direction. All interesting but … now get on your bikes to experience and practice it.
We did slalom with hands off the handlebar, circles at slow speed with hands on our laps. Also, we learnt holding a bike with knees, so the handlebar is not affected when accelerating or breaking. This results in the steering being easy and light. To top it up, we have learnt how to use body position to improve the control of the machine when braking hard or accelerating fast.
Machine Control Day 2
On Day 2 we built on the previous day training. There was more breaking but at the higher speeds, cornering and breaking and swerving at speed.
On this day, the weather was a bit different with some rain showers. This added an element of what most thought and feared, the less grip on wet surface. But Tom explained and demonstrated that even on the wet surface there can be a lot of grip.
The skill of using especially the front break is the key to safe stopping in most cases. Of course, some surfaces will be more slippery then the other, such as a road covered with leaves or mud or loose gravel. The skill remains an important one.
So we practiced the gentle touch to shift the weight and then slow but firm squeeze on the break leaver. When this is combine with good control of the rear break, the stopping distance shrinks enormously.
Conclusion
I returned from this training feeling a lot more confident but still knowing there is more to practice. It actually takes very long time to master every single manoeuvre and become better rider. To my understanding the training never stops and we must constantly and consistently spend some time on improving and keeping our skills. This is perishable thing.
Also, it is beneficial to get on professional training to further the skills even more. If you are interested, here is a link to the i2i Motorcycle Academy I attended in York.
