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[Rooster]

Good to see we have another member that teaches the class.

[Trapperdog]

It's a good class that gives you stuff to practice on but it's very basic. I took it a few years ago with Jerry and liked it.

All the practice is at 24' so you have a lot of room in your u-turns and s-turns.

It is a fun class

Although seemingly basic in nature, it's important to note that the RLAP exercises are fundamental building blocks for maneuvering and transitioning skills. Though initially started in the 30' range, they are decreased down to 24', which even the above average rider will not become proficient at in a partial day class. One of the benefits of the RLAP classes is that they can be re taken within one year free of charge. They also offer a police prep class that with the addition of new exercises, everything is tightened up to a smaller radius and in my case, taken to a steep hill and performed there for half the course. Not something you want to try on a $40K bike for the first time.
Through my experience, those who have rented bikes for the initial course have learned much quicker and out performed those who used their own. With out the fear of dropping your own bike, it's much easier to have faith in yourself and to commit to the exercise at hand.
I've gone on to run my bikes through police competition courses which at full speed and only a little over 2 minutes, is quite exhausting. I've even been offered the unique opportunity to compete at a few motor officer competitions against the big boys. Realizing I'd be the small fish in a big pond again I have so far declined. Even after over 35 years of riding street and dirt, without my initial RLAP class several years ago from our good friend Mark Paz (ironhorse) I would never have gained the proficiency that I now have.
And yes, it's lots of fun. 

[FLHTCUSE7]

I agree with most of this but not that a better than average rider should have a hard time turning in 24'. If they actually have an issue with a 24' U-turn they are less than average and really should consider practicing much more before they take of in traffic. (I have a 18' figure 8 outside my house and have no problem riding my Ultra Limited around in it all day. Of-course the motor cycle makes a difference, it was much easier to do on my KZP 1000 before I sold it this summer.)

I don't mean to offend anyone but lets not set the bar to low on what is proficient / average.

Personally I think practicing and getting better is fun so I invest some time in to it, then I have friends that rather just ride and hope for the best. (I do not ride with them)

Although seemingly basic in nature, it's important to note that the RLAP exercises are fundamental building blocks for maneuvering and transitioning skills. Though initially started in the 30' range, they are decreased down to 24', which even the above average rider will not become proficient at in a partial day class. One of the benefits of the RLAP classes is that they can be re taken within one year free of charge. They also offer a police prep class that with the addition of new exercises, everything is tightened up to a smaller radius and in my case, taken to a steep hill and performed there for half the course. Not something you want to try on a $40K bike for the first time.
Through my experience, those who have rented bikes for the initial course have learned much quicker and out performed those who used their own. With out the fear of dropping your own bike, it's much easier to have faith in yourself and to commit to the exercise at hand.
I've gone on to run my bikes through police competition courses which at full speed and only a little over 2 minutes, is quite exhausting. I've even been offered the unique opportunity to compete at a few motor officer competitions against the big boys. Realizing I'd be the small fish in a big pond again I have so far declined. Even after over 35 years of riding street and dirt, without my initial RLAP class several years ago from our good friend Mark Paz (ironhorse) I would never have gained the proficiency that I now have.
And yes, it's lots of fun. 

[Trapperdog]

I agree with most of this but not that a better than average rider should have a hard time turning in 24'. If they actually have an issue with a 24' U-turn they are less than average and really should consider practicing much more before they take of in traffic. (I have a 18' figure 8 outside my house and have no problem riding my Ultra Limited around in it all day. Of-course the motor cycle makes a difference, it was much easier to do on my KZP 1000 before I sold it this summer.)
I don't mean to offend anyone but lets not set the bar to low on what is proficient / average.
Personally I think practicing and getting better is fun so I invest some time in to it, then I have friends that rather just ride and hope for the best. (I do not ride with them)

I think perhaps you and I have differing opinions on proficient.  I agree that an above average rider should certainly be able to make a 24' circle without training. However to be proficient at it, one needs to be able to do it at speed, with well executed entrances and exits and be consistant. More so in my mind is being able to execute an iron cross or figure 8 with the above requirements.
You are obviously one of the few that continues to practice which is fantastic. But I think you might be supprised if you took some of your above average cruiser riding friends with no previous cone training out, and throw them in a 24' iron cross or figure 8. Even more so having them try to execute a full lock, full lean U turn from a dead stop. I think the above average rider should equate to the sum of all "his" parts. Being proficient at riding fast and safely or having years of experience is just a couple of those parts.
Most above average riders can ride fast well, but find difficulty riding fast/slow within a confined environment without training. I'm not saying that RLAP is the best training facility out there, as there are many, but all cone training is beneficial. And yes, with training and practice most anyone can be proficient at it, however I have yet to see anyone without training be so.
It's nice to see someone else here that enjoys running cones as much as I do though!

[Grizzly]

Not sure if it would help you keep your eyes off those Edmonton Sun Sunshine Girls you keep sharing with us. LOL 

Yeah, I agree... The last Harley riding babe he shared with us was so nice that she was also featured in last Sunday's Toronto Sun as well... Chalk one up for the west!

[FLHTCUSE7]

I agree 100% with you, and believe me most of my riding friends are not very proficient. Most riders have never practiced riding with full lock so that will be a challenge to start with.

Cones are great fun and a good way to practice.  

I think perhaps you and I have differing opinions on proficient.  I agree that an above average rider should certainly be able to make a 24' circle without training. However to be proficient at it, one needs to be able to do it at speed, with well executed entrances and exits and be consistant. More so in my mind is being able to execute an iron cross or figure 8 with the above requirements.
You are obviously one of the few that continues to practice which is fantastic. But I think you might be supprised if you took some of your above average cruiser riding friends with no previous cone training out, and throw them in a 24' iron cross or figure 8. Even more so having them try to execute a full lock, full lean U turn from a dead stop. I think the above average rider should equate to the sum of all "his" parts. Being proficient at riding fast and safely or having years of experience is just a couple of those parts.
Most above average riders can ride fast well, but find difficulty riding fast/slow within a confined environment without training. I'm not saying that RLAP is the best training facility out there, as there are many, but all cone training is beneficial. And yes, with training and practice most anyone can be proficient at it, however I have yet to see anyone without training be so.
It's nice to see someone else here that enjoys running cones as much as I do though!

[Ironhorse]

Trapperdog,

You didn't mention pulling straight up to a lamp post, placing the front wheel against the post, locking the bars, leaning the bike, and riding away.
That's a FUN one!

Mark

[Trapperdog]

Trapperdog,
You didn't mention pulling straight up to a lamp post, placing the front wheel against the post, locking the bars, leaning the bike, and riding away.
That's a FUN one!
Mark

Ha, a crowd pleaser for sure! I remember seeing you do that at my first class and thinking " Holy crap, I want to have the sills and nerve to do that some day".
It took a while but now seems easy.
Can't wait until you're back from Afghanistan to run some cones again! 

[Panhead_Jimmy]

Ha, a crowd pleaser for sure! I remember seeing you do that at my first class and thinking " Holy crap, I want to have the sills and nerve to do that some day".
It took a while but now seems easy.
Can't wait until you're back from Afghanistan to run some cones again! 

I was fortunate to be in the audience the day Trapperdog and Ironhorse performed the pictured maneuver in the previous post and it was a magnificent; nose to tail and at a high rate of speed.  Grinning from ear to ear.  They were grinning and those of us in the audience were, too.  "Impressive" doesn't even come close to describing their skills. 

[FLSTFI Dave]

I did use my bike, everyone that was in the class did. We had 18 people, 3 bikes hit the asphalt, but not mine. I did get a little cocky on my last run through "the intersection", tried to go a little faster than my skill level and did stumble at one point but I was able to correct and finish the circuit without incident.
 

A small group from my HOG chapter gets together on Thursday nights to practice. The prep definitely helped me get through the course without looking like an idiot. I definitely wasn't the best rider in the class but I was in the top half. I was happy with my performance but I will be practicing a lot to hone what I learned.

The biggest thing I took from the course was confidence. It's cool to know I can make a right or left u-turn in less than 20 feet. No more waiting for intersections or parking lots, or fields, or.....just saying "the hell with it" and keep going in the wrong direction. 

I took the Atlanta Based RLAP class in East TN.  It was a great class.  There were 11 bikes, 2 were 12 CVO Kings, a CVO Ultra and all but one touring bikes.

I was shocked at the number that had extreme difficulty with the 24" circle or cross roads with the 4 u turns.

I was a bit nervous about dropping my bike, so I took the bags off and put protectors on the engine guards.  Never dropped it.

We did have two bikes dropped.  By the end of the class I was able to ride the circle a couple times with the bars at full lock.  I can consistently do the circle in either direction in side 22 feet.  My goal is to get to 18 by next summer.

I am just glad my wife can do a 22 foot wide U-turn on her street glide.     However she sometimes gets pissed when I do it when leading a ride, as none of her friends can and most my friends can't either.

I think everyone should take the class.

I have marked 24, 22, 20 diameter spots in my cul-de-sac.  I am ordering the little cones so my wife and I can practice.  I will also re take the course a few times.

[Tru-Blu]

I have the RLAP 5 DVD, and got it pretty much right after taking/passing the MSF course when I decided I wanted to get a bike in 2007.  My confidence from the MSF carried over when I started riding my first bike (VTX1800) and I started practicing the U-Turns and circles right away.  I should have stopped after about 30 minutes, but I tried to tighten up the lean and must have looked down for a second because the bike went down (the only time I've ever dropped one).

Confession is good for the soul, and I have to say that I'm petrified of trying to get better in these areas with my new bike.  The biggest reason is how expensive this baby is and how much it would hurt the pocketbook if something happened.  I think I'm going to have to go back to square one with putting the 2x4 under the front tire and making sure it doesn't budge with the new bike as the throttle and clutch responsiveness are extremely different than my old bike.  I think I'll have to spend much more time on each exercise to help build the confidence.  I also know that I need to spend some more time with just a bicycle to make sure I get the confidence up to lean more than what I have been so far.  I do lean a fair amount when making turns, but scraping the boards is more a rarity than it is the norm for me.  I also think it would be good to find some local riders for CVOHarley or HOG that can help me with some of that as well.  I'm not an aggressive rider, but I want to be a safe and confident rider.

[FLHTCUSE7]

I suggest taking a class like Ride like a Pro considering most people don't know how to ride themselves. Spend a half day with one of the RLAP guys and you will be on your way to practice on your own.  You can build with classes after that but its a better start than MSF in my opinion.

I have the RLAP 5 DVD, and got it pretty much right after taking/passing the MSF course when I decided I wanted to get a bike in 2007.  My confidence from the MSF carried over when I started riding my first bike (VTX1800) and I started practicing the U-Turns and circles right away.  I should have stopped after about 30 minutes, but I tried to tighten up the lean and must have looked down for a second because the bike went down (the only time I've ever dropped one).

Confession is good for the soul, and I have to say that I'm petrified of trying to get better in these areas with my new bike.  The biggest reason is how expensive this baby is and how much it would hurt the pocketbook if something happened.  I think I'm going to have to go back to square one with putting the 2x4 under the front tire and making sure it doesn't budge with the new bike as the throttle and clutch responsiveness are extremely different than my old bike.  I think I'll have to spend much more time on each exercise to help build the confidence.  I also know that I need to spend some more time with just a bicycle to make sure I get the confidence up to lean more than what I have been so far.  I do lean a fair amount when making turns, but scraping the boards is more a rarity than it is the norm for me.  I also think it would be good to find some local riders for CVOHarley or HOG that can help me with some of that as well.  I'm not an aggressive rider, but I want to be a safe and confident rider.