Retracing my steps…
(Almost) every day’s a school day for Alison on the Yamaha Tracer 9GT
There’s something about bikes that brings people together and friendships can form over a mutual appreciation of all things two wheeled. I first met Nigel, a former traffic cop turned advanced trainer, in 2006 when I was a relative newbie to riding and he took me out for a session on my Kawasaki ER-6n. His method of training was new, at the time, he had his bike rigged with cameras and videoed my ride. Fast forward 15 years and here we are at the same McDonalds in Melton Mowbray for a morning to brush up my skills on the Tracer 9GT.
I’ve already ridden over 2500 miles on the Yamaha and feel at home but know that there’s always areas that need work. We strike out on an undulating route that takes us towards Market Harborough. I adore this kind of road, with fast sweepers and plenty of visibility, I soon forget that Nigel is hot on my heels. One thing I love about the Tracer is the upright riding position and with every mile it is more comfortable, I’ve fitted Yamaha’s aftermarket comfort seat and it’s taken a few miles to break it in, but I’m finally getting there. Half an hour into our ride, Nigel pulls me over, he’s noticed there’s one area I need to work on. It’s always the same and I should know by now – I never pick my head up enough and get too focused on the road directly in front, rather than looking further ahead. I think I look far enough into the distance but as Nigel, in his every patient and calm tones, chats with me, I realise I could see so much more. He classes it as dipped beam and main beam for your eyes, use the main beam out on open roads to see as far ahead as you can, learning as much about the road as possible. Then in the towns, use dipped beam and keep your vision more focused on hazards that are closer to you.
We strike out on the next leg of the ride and I adopt this approach, it’s stuff I already know, just taught in a slightly different manner. With my head up and eyes looking further ahead, it does make the ride seem less rushed and I’m more prepared for every bend. Over lunch we review what I’ve learnt, and I promise – until the next time – to keep my eyes firmly on the road ahead and not the road directly in front of me!