Most important skill for a rider?
 

So what skill does everyone think is most important? The skill that's needed to ride safely and well? And why?

Oh and Judgement isn't listed because I think eventually we all have to do something against our better judgement. Like when you have to put your faith into your tires sticking thru a turn. Faith defies judgement IMO at times

pretty sure i've said these before, but:
#1: be proficient with a manual transmission. learning to ride a motorcycle is no time to also be learning to drive a stick shift. being able to sub-consciously coordinate throttle, clutch & gears allows you to devote your focus to the other aspects of riding.
#2: learn to stop quickly, under control. getting going is just the fun part of the ride -- but learning to stop will save your life.

those are not only on my list of most important motorcycling skills, i think they are also the most under-emphasized.

there are a number of other generic driving skills, like watchfully predicting other driver behavior, but those are not exclusively motorcycle related.

none of those.


awareness. that's what will keep you alive on a motorcycle.


maybe that goes with your judgement. but that's everything. being able to foresee that car coming into your lane or pulling out in front of you. it's knowing to slow down for a blind corner because there could be something there that you can't see. it's knowing what's going on with your motorcycle. your tires, your brakes, your carbs, etc. it's understanding what the road conditions are. it's knowing what part of the lane you should be in for what situation youre in.



i'd say that awareness/judgement is way more important than any skill that's ever taught at a track day.

Problem is awareness and judgement are very difficult to teach or practice.

What he said. Situational awareness is key. If you don't know of a hazard, you cannot avoid it, no matter how well you brake, swerve, and accelerate.

Better skills will help rider avoid self caused accidents such as low/high side....

Better anticipation/awareness will help you avoid accident cause by stupid driver, road hazards...things that could have been avoided if only you were to be more careful on your approach...

One thing is for sure, that no matter how good your skill is or how much awareness you have....or how many road experiences under your belt, plain bad luck CANNOT be avoid. Therefore you ride with a sense of worst case scenario. This is how your awareness will always been 110%....

If we only talking about streets...I believe patience & anticipation is important than skills...but with better skills and better throttle control, you'll have so much more fun, while your awareness is there...

Great topic...keep it coming....

OK then how to you teach or train situational awareness?

You really can't. We all have varying amounts of natural situational awareness. And then we experience "oh chit!" moments that fine tune that awareness.

Guess what I'm aiming for is a skill people can focus on.

Good point...every streets is different....every area location people drive differently. Guess we should share what we believe is important to know when riding streets....skills is developed with time & practices....but street hazards, road conditions will need those experience riders input....

+1million.
It's the one you DON'T see or you can't predict that will hurt you.
Paranoia is a good start - yes they ARE all out to kill you........
well, many of them anyway.....WHY ?

BECAUSE THEY AREN'T BIKE AWARE.