Often times newer riders are overconfident about their riding skills, and think they can ride better than they really can. By the same token, some riders are just the opposite, under-rating their riding skills. In both cases, this can be a great danger to both the rider, and often to those around them. It may not always be easy, but all riders must be realistic about their riding skills. Being confident in yourself and your bike are key to being a good, safe rider. Being over or under confident can be a serious problem.
Often times, riders will ride fast, thinking they are showing their skill. This is rarely the case. Riding at very low speeds takes much more skill than riding at higher speeds. This is largely due to the physics of motorcycles and the gyration created by engine and wheels as they rotate.
Rotation of the engine and tires provide most of the balance which keeps a bike upright. If you’ve ever seen a motorcycle racer fall off his bike and the bike keep rolling until it hits something, that’s because of the gyration created by the engine and tires. That’s also why it’s much easier to ride a bike fast than it is to ride it slow. (By easier, I mean easier to keep upright, not necessarily easier to control and handle in less than ideal conditions.)
Riding at low speeds (~10mph) is much more difficult than riding at higher speeds. It takes more balance, skill as well as lots and lots of practice. Steering and throttle/brake inputs are much more sensitive when riding at lower speeds than at higher speeds. There are a few tricks you can use, besides practice, to help you maintain balance while riding at low speeds.
These include the proper and combined use of the clutch, throttle, body posture and the use of the rear brake. You can use the clutch to maintain a very slow speed, (although this can cause excessive wear on the clutch), by slipping it instead of letting it out all the way.
Keeping a relaxed and steady body posture, along with keeping your knees tucked tightly into the bike, will also help you keep your balance at slower speeds. Finally, you can use the rear brake along with the throttle to create a faux gyration effect that will help you keep the bike upright when traveling at very low speeds, especially while turning.
The most important thing you can do is to practice. Like anything else, practice makes perfect. Practice can make you or break you in literally every aspect of riding a motorcycle, and should be done until it’s second nature.
