Re: Best Statement on this list so far...

["Steve Makohin" <wateredg@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: "Bruno Valeri" <bvaleri@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

[snip]
>... Skill is attained through practice. Some understanding to...
[snip]

It depends on how you define "skills". If your statement applies to the 
skill of applying brakes on a motorcycle well enough to stop in most cases 
without dumping it, then I agree with you. But if you refer to developing 
braking skills to a "Brake God" degree, I am not aware of any proof that 
supports your belief stated above. The statement above is a panacea, similar 
to the phrase "change is good" (the truth is that *good* change is good; 
change, in and of itself, is not necessarily good).

Bad habits do not typically lead to highly-developed braking skills, no 
matter how much those bad habits are repeated through practice. This applies 
even if the rider has "some understanding" too. On the other hand, having "a 
LOT" of understanding, and also having excellent feedback to identify errors 
and suboptimal planning/execution, and then practicing *that* until it 
becomes a reflex action, is quite a different story.

It appears the best we can do is agree to disagree. I'm okay with that.

- -Steve Makohin
 '01 R1100S/ABS
 Oakville, Ontario, Canada 

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