Some weeks ago, motorcycle vlogger, Zach Lucero of Makina, shared a video about “Tae Content,” and how it can be dangerous to the motorcycle community in general. You can check out the video HERE.
In summary, Zach explains tae content (shit content) as videos that don’t contribute or impart any useful messages or ideals to the riding community, or worse even cause divisiveness and make riders choose sides. Some of the best examples of such are videos that show riders riding recklessly on the highway, often breaking the speed limit. What’s worse is, this is the topic of ALL their videos.
These videos are problematic because they encourage riders to do the same — ride recklessly and break the speed limit — and in some cases even inspiring followers to post similar videos of their own. This only encourages kamote behavior on the road, and the number of followers aren’t helping. It’s becoming a matter of the blind leading the blind.
Rather than link to these bad examples, we’d like to present a few videos you can actually learn something from and hopefully improve your riding as a result. If you’re going to use up your data or internet plan, it might as well be on something that will make you a safer, more skilled rider.
Bear in mind that while many of these videos feature big bikes, the tips are still applicable to bikes like underbones and scooters as the core principles are still the same regardless of the kind of bike.
Canyon Chasers
Canyon Chasers is a very handy Youtube channel and website that teaches useful techniques and tips for riding. Despite what the name suggests, the site actually puts riding safety in top priority. The team behind it isn’t a bunch of hacks either. Some are motorcycle safety instructors with Utah Motorcycle Education.
Canyon Chasers’ Youtube channel — particularly their riding techniques playlist — is very handy because it imparts useful knowledge on how to handle a motorcycle. Best of all, these aren’t beginner techniques you’ve heard before. Many are more advanced techniques (like trail braking or finding the late apex) designed to give seasoned riders some new insights into how to improve their riding. These tips aren’t to help you ride faster, but actually to improve your reactions, reflexes and smoothen your riding. The increase in speed is simply a byproduct.
A Twist of the Wrist
You’ve probably heard about this book / instructional video series several times before. A Twist of the Wrist is a series of instructional videos made by Keith Code, a former professional motorcycle racer who started doing one-on-one coaching sessions with amateur racers in 1976 and some of them quickly became national champions.
These lessons soon evolved into California Superbike School, Keith Code's official riding school, which used to be held annually at Clark International Speedway. The classes themselves are expensive, but having taken them ourselves, we can tell you that they’re well worth it.
We list Twist of the Wrist (instructional videos and books, “A Twist of the Wrist” [Volumes I and II] and “The Soft Science of Road Racing Motorcycles”) here because these videos are still the basis of many of the lessons and levels of California Superbike School. Many of the concepts taught in these videos are the same ones taught at the school.
Of course, they’re easier to learn when you have an instructor physically showing you the right body position and where exactly to cut the apex on a track. Still, the videos serve as a great foundation and can help you figure out what skills you need to start practicing on.
You may think this is just for racing and useless for street riding, but in reality, many of the lessons focus on driving the bike more smoothly, turning more efficiently, braking later, and even avoiding obstacles sooner. They’re valuable skills to have especially when it comes to our unpredictable roads. They will make you a better defensive rider.
We recommend you acquire copies of these books and videos the legal way. Give them a quick search on the internet or you can visit their site HERE.
Sylvain Guintoli
The videos of Sylvain Guintoli provide some unique insight into the world of WSBK and MotoGP. After all, he was the 2014 FIM Superbike World Champion and is currently Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP’s test rider. Guintoli can speak French, Italian, and English, and conveniently, his videos are also uploaded in three languages (just pick GB).
We recommend watching Guintoli’s videos because he frequently explains some tricks and techniques of motorcycle racers and explains why they’re done. Best of all, he also explains whether it’s useful for street riding or not. Granted, his accent can be a bit hard to understand at times, but his videos are worth watching because he tells you frankly why the leg dangle and other racing tricks won't help you on the street.
MDPPA Talks
The MDPPA is the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association. It’s made up of Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki Philippines. The Japanese big four frequently work together to promote road safety and good riding habits.
More recently, they’ve begun holding MDPPA talks on their Facebook page. These regular episodes discuss pressing road safety issues in the Philippines and are very handy if you want to learn a few things or hear about the developments in the industry.
We recommend following their page because they frequently offer free rider training and seminars you’ll want to take advantage of.
