Ride Like a Pro DVD Vol. 5 - Jerry "Motorman" Palladino

This is a really great DVD. I am new to motorcycling, and have read as many books as I could find, plus have scoured the internet for knowledge as well. I had taken the MSF basic course years ago, but never bought a bike, and recently took an extra practice course, and bought a bike the next week after. I had a lot of confidence because I had done real well in the extra practice course. The bike I bought though was much more powerful and heavier than the bike I rode in class. All the confidence I gained I lost on my first day out with this new big bike. I tried to remember and focus on all the lessons I had read and done, but it didnt help. 3 days out and this bike was still more in control of me than I was of it. So I found this DVD, got it, watched it all the way through, Cut some tennis balls in half like he reccomends, went out with the practice guide, practiced, rode, practiced some more, went home and said dang I suck, but tried it again the next day. The second day was a lot easier, and the third much better still. I still havent gotten through a lot of the exercises, and I imagine it will take me quite awhile to get through them all. But my confidence has increased dramaticly. I now feel totally in control of my bike, and can't wait each weekend to go out and practice some more. He lays out the DVD instruction in a very logical and confidence building way. His advice is very practical and common sense based. I am now glad I bought a bike that rocked my confidence so greatly. Had I bought a starter bike I may have never come across this DVD. He says when you are done with all the exercises, you will be in the top 2% of all motorcyclists, and I believe him. If you are interested in improving your skills, are willing to set up courses as layed out in the practice guide, and are able to put in the time to practice, then this DVD is a must buy in my opinion.

Even an experienced rider occasionally gets that "Oops- I'm in over my head" feeling. This video goes a long way to teach and show ways to drastically improve control of your bike. It is not a substitute for anything else you may do to keep growing your skill set, but I find it hard to believe there isn't something extremely valuable here for just about every rider out there. Even if you have ridden for several decades.The exercises are instructional even if you do not have a great practice bike with crash bars and 100% protection against dropping your prized motorcycle. A few of the practice set ups will have to wait until I personally can figure out how to put crash bars on my current raked out chopper. But by just studying how they are done I have found a couple of practice roads that are slow enough to use as improvement training roads...Some things like counter steering seemed unnatural for me personally until I modified my bike to get a perfect fit and feel... You know the litany of bars, seat and pegs...right? Now I can feel exactly how counter steering moves the bike over in the lane and makes taking corners a total blast. If you don't fit and balance perfectly a lot of things don't work out right on a motorcycle. Apparently most guys only give a little thought to getting the bike set up right but for me it is critical as a bad feeling bike drives me nuts...This video doesn't go into that very much but the instructor at least mentions that some set ups don't fit and even hints that some bikes just don't match certain rider shapes and sizes. Anyway enough about fit. The video kicks ass in teaching how to handle basic maneuvers that bring grief to a lot of riders. And by getting good at cornering and looking out, heads up and pre-planning where the bike is to go you will un learn bad dangerous habits and replace them with good safe and fun new habits.Good riding, and stay safe!

The people that produce this film clearly know what they are doing. They things they do with a big touring Harley are incredible. I've riden since 1974 an like most people, I thought I knew how to ride. No so.This film takes you back to the basics and gives you some ideas to try to make you a better rider. I try all the ideas every time I ride. I don't practice in a lot, I just try to ride better eash time out. For me, letting the bike do it's job is the hardest. The look where your going to go really takes a lot of work to get down into a habit.I practice the friction aspect pretty hard including coming to a complete stop with the "friction method" and trying not to put my feet down. I am sometimes rewarded with scraping turns which tells me that I am getting the basics down.This film is just to get the average riders more experiened rider's perspectives and a place to aim for in their techniques. The film give a pretty good idea what things to do and not do. I however believe that it must be supplemented by the actual advanced course with live instructors to yell at you.Finally I recommend it to all the riders I know. Naw, I don't need that, I've been riding 30 years. Ya, OK buddy. Me, I want to be a technically perfect rider. You can't get that by doing the same thing for 30 years. Riding is about progression. It's about telling your bike what to do. You just have to learn the subtle inputs that give the bike an idea about what you are trying to accomplish.I liked this video enough to link it on my webpage/blog. They deserve it.

The one thing I learned from this is how to turn a Harley Davidson around without dumping it on the ground...my luck would be in front of mass onlookers. Cops are about the best trained at riding motorcycles around town. They do have teachable methods to learn by. Only reason for not rating w/5 stars? I think a chapter on Spitting Lanes (for in California) would benefit everyone...I learned from behind two Cops on I-10. Best damn experience I've had...now I do not even hesitate to split lanes...its not unsafe, just don't go Hells Angel's crazy...(no disrespect, just saying...that is nuts:)