The first time I did this was many years ago when attending Lee Sparks original Total Control training. I was wearing synthetic gear and he was nice enough to loan me a pair of strap on knee pucks to drag knees while doing figure eights. It's not a maneuver and skill we need in parking lots or the street, but it will improve our balance, control, and confidence. Most riders don't perform stunts like wheelies, stoppies, standing on the tank/bars, riding sitting backwards, but for those who do, the skill developed will also improve their balance, control, and confidence, all of which improves their skills during normal riding. Like dirt bikes and trials bike, some skills are the same some additional skills are required all of which improve our balance, control, and confidence for street riding. It's not for everyone, but I don't know anyone who has tried these skills who didn't enjoy them and they gained a lot of skills that they would never had developed otherwise.
Slow speed drills and figure 8's for training!
I had the pleasure of riding some mini bikes this weekend to practice slow speed drills, figure 8's and tight circles. We use a small TTR at the California Superbike School sometimes as well to teach similar exercises. Besides body position, what other things do these kind of drills help you improve? How many of you incorporate this kind of training with your own racing/riding program? (screen shot from a video)
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