Pre-flight mantra / affirmation?

[crank_bear]

Okay, your turn.

My ritual is simply getting dressed. The process of putting on back protectors, leathers, gloves and a helmet is a sort of "preparation for battle" that centres my head on what I've got to do.

 

[Toecutter]

My ritual is simply getting dressed. The process of putting on back protectors, leathers, gloves and a helmet is a sort of "preparation for battle" that centres my head on what I've got to do.

I also like to get a song in my head while dressing (for the crash).

Movie: Heavy Metal

Artist: Don Felder

Song: Heavy Metal (Takin' A Ride)

Drive it on up, lets cruise awhile

Leave your cares far behind

You can hedge your bet on a clean corvette

To get you there right on time

Now if you're ready to dive into overdrive

Baby the green lights are on

It's like you're running away on some high octane

Everytime she reaches for the goal

Won't you take that ride -ride -ride -ride on heavy metal

It's the only way that you can travel down that road

Satisfied -fied -fied -fied -fied on heavy metal

Baby won't you ride, ride it until it explodes...

Heavy Metal

My, oh my, how this lady can fly

When she starts rolling beneath you

You just can't lose, the way she moves

You wait for her to finally release you

It's not a big surprise to feel your temperature rise

You've got a touch of redline fever

'Cuz there is just one cure, that they know for sure

You just become a heavy metal believer

Won't you take that ride -ride -ride -ride on heavy metal

It's the only way that you can travel down that road

Satisfied -fied -fied -fied -fied on heavy metal

Baby won't you ride, ride it until it is through

Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal

Me know no, me no tell, me press button, go like hell :yahoo:

Good one!

 

[GunMD]

My mantra before, and especially during the ride, is "Ride The Bike".

I think I first read it here on the forum someplace in a thread about how to react / not react in certain situations.

Go in too hot? Ride the bike.

Find some oil in your turn? Ride the bike.

Granny pulls out in front of you? Ride the bike.

Playboy bunny suddenly starts giving you a back rub? Ride the...uh...wait. Never mind. 'dot, what should we do in this situation?

"Ride The Bike"

Heck, even the title on my website is "Ride The Bike".

 

[Checkswrecks]

I'm a 2-hour/day commuter and I look at tires and a few other integrity "pre-flight" items while it's warming and I'm putting on my helmet, jacket, etc. I generally stay on the center stand & don't put it in gear till the throttle advancer comes down.

But once I roll, I'm looking for for two things; my attitude and the bike's response as I make a few weaves. If either isn't right, I figure out what's out of place before I leave the block. Your attitude reflects how you're interpreting your life and situation and I need to be "in" the ride mode. I check tire pressures at every other fill, but can tell from a few weaves if one's gone soft (just had this, too, from a nail). Other than that, it's all constant scan & plan.

Bob

 

[Cdogman]

My mantra before, and especially during the ride, is "Ride The Bike".
I think I first read it here on the forum someplace in a thread about how to react / not react in certain situations.

Go in too hot? Ride the bike.

Find some oil in your turn? Ride the bike.

Granny pulls out in front of you? Ride the bike.

Playboy bunny suddenly starts giving you a back rub? Ride the...uh...wait. Never mind. 'dot, what should we do in this situation?

"Ride The Bike"

Heck, even the title on my website is "Ride The Bike".

If she does a reach around, "Park the Bike" No longer safe to ride. :yahoo:

 

[chickey191]

Great thread - caused me to think about the ride to work this morning.

typically I would do the following - Pack the bike for work or for a trip.

take a quick look at the bike when doing so - I check the tires a couple of times a week.

Put on Stich pants and Darien Jacket - Start up the bike and roll out of garage - walk out and decide if I need to change riding gear.

Start the bike and then put in ear plugs and put on helmet - usually listen to the bike till it comes off of high idle.

I check the brake light and turn signals (typically and I don't know why - but I usually only check the rear signals)

Usually congratulate myself on the decision to ride instead of drive to work.

If on a trip I will usually stop a block away from the house and recheck whatever I've packed on the bike - check gps, etc.

Prior to rolling out I will mak a quick mental note of where I'm going (silly, but coming out of my house - to go one direction in town requires that you go the opposite direction from what would be considered "normal", because of a short cut that isn't natural)

Check guages and roll - thinking about which idiot move will be the first one I see today. I try to avoid stop lights on the way to work and will ride out of my way to avoid them. Too many stop light runners in the morning.

I think about warming my tires before I hit the hills (only a couple of miles away) and focus on everyone else. Scan and predict - scan and predict. I will often talk to myself early in a ride - verbally predicting or talking about what I'm looking for - which seems to get me focused on riding - but since I ride more than I drive, this is pretty natural to me (and the way I've taught my kids to drive).

the old MG (British sportscar for those that don't remember) was my first car (MG- B) and I must have read that operator's manual a dozen times. I don't remember much about it, but I remember something that was in the manual several times

SAFETY FAST

the other thing I remember is from Boating Power Squadron training.

"There is Right and their is DEAD RIGHT" - you don't ever want to be DEAD RIGHT.

 

[sleddoc]

I never get to say anything to myself, the voices in my head don't ever let me get a word in. :blink:

 

[FJRChick]

I AM INVISIBLE!!

 

[chornbe]

I gear up, take a long hard look at the bike, tell her she's one beautiful, dangerous bitch, then we ride.

I like that. :thumbsup:

 

[DocDanDC]

I use the 7P's. (Persistent Prayer & Precheck prevents piss poor performance)

+1 on "JUST RIDE THE BIKE", no matter what happens, "JUST RIDE THE BIKE".

 

[unclekunkle]

Observe and predict. Observe and predict. #1=Avoid. #2=Brake. #3=Alert. physically rehearse "mock swerving," front+rear braking, and moving my left thumb quickly to the horn button.)

Plucked my mantra right out-a yours...I always tell people, riding the FJR is like piloting a helicopter...anything less than 100% concentration is looking for trouble.

 

[FJRottie]

I gear up, take a long hard look at the bike, tell her she's one beautiful, dangerous bitch, then we ride.

I like that. :thumbsup:

Me too.

And, since I live in the country, I also have 8 KMs to warm-up before the green flag.

 

[dcarver]

1. ****. Why did I leave my keys in the jean pocket and not the Joe Rocket pants pocket?

2. Damn. Why didn't I change the CD so I can have different tunes this ride?

3. Double damnit. Why didn't I remember to plug in the electric vest?

4. My eye glasses are where??

5. The gate is about to drop. Clear the mind, focus the eyes, ears and grey matter.

6. Grin like hell because I'm still healthy enough to ride motorcycles and the trip starts NOW.