Ride Like a Pro
Gary Lewandowski
Hi, my name is Gary Lewandowski, and I share a very similar story with Jerry Palladino, the founder of “Ride Like A Pro”. For many years I considered myself a fairly decent rider until I took police motor officer training and was taught exactly what a top professional rider and the machine was really capable of doing. I was indeed changed and I have never looked at motorcycle riding the same since that day. On a very dark day back in 2000, I witnessed a very close friend die in a motorcycle crash, and that memory still haunts me to this day. It was soon after the shock wore off that I made my mind up to become a Motorcycle Safety Instructor so that I could help people interested in riding to learn correctly, and further, to help those who have experience become even better.
I became a certified MSF Instructor as well as an Instructor with Harley Davidson’s Rider’s Edge program. I also serve as the Motorcycle Safety / Training Officer for the Macomb County Sheriff’s Motor Division and am part of the City of Hazel Park Michigan's Police Auxiliary Motor Units training officer. I recall back in 2003, how I came across Jerry “Motorman” Palladino’s “Ride Like A Pro” web site. I was impressed so contacted Jerry to discuss his program.
That same year at Bike Week in Daytona I had the opportunity to finally meet Jerry and Donna. I told Jerry that I had come 1,250 miles to shake his hand, and we shared a good laugh over that one, but more importantly a friendship was born.
In May of 2008, I was invited to work with Jerry & Donna on an actual "Ride Like A Pro" class. I found they are genuine, honest people who are totally dedicated to everyone who has ever swung a leg over a motorcycle. We share that same philosophy and the desire to bring a higher level of riding skills to all motorcycle riders, and with that, Ride Like A Pro – Great Lakes was born.
Today, it is my honor and privilege to be part of Jerry Palladino’s Ride Like A Pro Team, and to be able to bring the “Ride Like A Pro” classes to Michigan and the Great Lakes area. The classes are challenging as well as fun and relaxed...and most importantly, you have my personal promise that you will come away a better, more informed and confident rider.
There is no graduation from the college of motorcycle riding!. Always strive to improve yourself, and never, ever compromise your safety or the safety of others for the sake of image.
Looking forward to seeing you in the classes and out on the roads!
Contact me at: gary@ridelikeapro-gl.com
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Cliff Crabtree
Hello, my name is Cliff Crabtree and I am honored you are reading my bio.
By reading this I am assuming you share the same passion and goal as I; to be a skilled, safe motorcyclist. Like the other RLAP instructors, I have ridden for many years and assumed I was an above average rider. It wasn’t until I took a motorcycle class in 2002 did I realize how little I really knew about riding a motorcycle. Since then, I have taken many motorcycle classes to improve my skills.
Additionally, I became a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Instructor and a Riders Edge Instructor. After all of this training, I thought my skills were pretty darn good. I was then invited to participate in a motorcycle class using police skills and dimensions. What an eye-opener that was; and quite humbling! This stimulated me to seek further training and many hours of practice. The big motorcycle was not going to be my nemesis!
It was during MSF Instructor training in 2004 that Gary and I met. We became good friends and developed a healthy respect for our diverse skill sets as MSF and RE instructors. As we taught many MSF and RE classes, I watched Gary develop his RLAP-GL franchise. As the franchise grew, Gary and I began to realize by bringing together our separate skills and experiences, we could potentially take RLAP-GL to a new plateau. We joined forces in the spring of 2012 and have not looked back. It is so rewarding to see a motorcyclist progress through the RLAP exercises and be able to perform a 24 foot U-turn for the first time on their motorcycle.
The success of the students is what brings me back weekend after weekend to the range. Don’t let the motorcycle tell you what to do; you take control of the motorcycle and let it work for you. Come see us at Ride Like A Pro – Great Lakes.
Thank you for your interest in Ride Like A Pro-Great Lakes. I hope to see you on the range in the near future.
Contact me at: cliff@ridelikeapro-gl.com
Marshall Doe
Take a look at what we do
We promote advanced learning in a challenging yet safe environment
Photos
Advanced Rider Training
"The Ride Like a Pro Class is focused on teaching the average rider the three Motor Officer techniques motor-cops have been trained in for more than 60 years."
Course Description
Course Skills
■ RLAP-GL Classes for groups of up to 10 participants and run from 9a.m – 1p.m.
■ Our home base location is the Kensington Church, 25000 Hall Road (M-59) in Clinton Township, Michigan. A map is located in the contact us section.
■ These are ADVANCED classes for riders who want to enhance their riding skills through a training program that includes the same riding and braking techniques taught to police motor officers around the world.
■ Attending this 4 hour class will increase your confidence, riding skills and safety immensely!
■ The class cost is $150.00 per person.
■ Returning students will be offered a discounted rate of $125.00 per class!
■ In honor of all LE (Law Enforcement), Fire & EMT personnel as well ALL active and veteran US military, we will also offer a discounted rate of $125.00 per class!
■ Note - only one $25.00 discount will apply if returning student is also LE, Fire, EMT or military...additional discount will not apply if a student is part of a special group rate.
■ A Non-Refundable $50.00 deposit, per student, is required at the time of registration to reserve your place in the class.
■ Each class will consist of a maximum of 10 riders and will be booked on a “first come” basis.
■ Special "Group Rates" will also be extended to any group booking 6 or more riders.
■ Threshold braking
■ The slow ride
■ 12 foot slow cone weave
■ Off-set cone weave
■ 24' U-turn exercise
■ Intersection
■ 45 foot "BIG O" (figure 8)
■ Demonstrations of each exercise by the instructor
Course Requirements
■ Sturdy, over the ankle boots
■ Valid driver license with MC endorsement
■ Motorcycle in good working condition
■ Motorcycle registration AND proof of valid
insurance
■ At least 1000 miles riding experience
■ Eye protection
■ DOT approved helmet
■ Full fingered gloves are recommended but not required.
■ Sturdy long pants or jeans (no sweat pants or shorts)
Click below link to view class schedule
Good Morning Gary,
My ride home was cold to say the least. It was a real mix of weather; snow, drizzle, rain and wind; all delivered at approximately 2 degrees Celsius (36 F).
The course....what can I say! That was a most challenging and rewarding course. You guys do it right! The cold ride down and cold ride home was well worth it because I believe I learned more about motorcycle handling, balance, and control in those four hours than I have in 30+ years of riding on my own. I am definitely going to chase all the guys and gals that I ride with to take this training - and I am convinced I will return to take it again with them.
Thank-you Gary and Cliff for the expert instruction and fabulous course!
S.B. (Blair) Smith
Warrant Officer | Adjudant
SE 3-6
1 Cdn Air Div HQ | 1re Division Aerienne du Canada
Gary,
On behalf of the Crossroads HOG Chapter, I would like to thank you guys for the great class on Saturday. I spoke with a couple of the attendee’s yesterday and all were very pleased, I personally got a lot from the class. This will be a learning process.
Thanks again and hopefully we can do another class in 2014.
Clive Frances
Gary,
I attended your 4-23-11 RLAP class in Southfield, Michigan. As I mentioned to you before, I had previously bought the Ride Like a Pro V video and watched it a couple of times prior to attending your class. I very much enjoyed your class! Good explanations, good demonstrations and enough very knowledgeable assistants pointing out student's mistakes while actually riding through the exercises. The techniques RLAP teaches began to click for me during the class. For me the key for the day was twofold: my dawning realization that it really is possible to ride any weight bike easily at low speed, and also my realization that the bike is balanced by application of power to the rear wheel rather that by turning the handlebars when at very low speed.
I have discussed the RLAP training with other members of my American Legion Riders group at Post 141 in Howell, Michigan and, while to a man they are very impressed with the result shown in your videos, their main reluctance in taking the class themselves is fear of damaging their bikes. A slightly lesser fear is of looking stupid if they drop their bikes, and a slightly lesser fear is of injury. I am 65 years old, and I was pretty sore after the class, but by Monday morning I was feeling good again.
Thanks for the great training!
Denny Robson
Hi Gary,
The bike and I both are fed, cleaned and resting!
Your class was one of the best I've ever taken. The source material is great and obviously well researched and proven. We both know it's the instructors that make a class. I was a firearms and driving instructor and an FTO so I feel qualified to commend you and Cliff for some very fine work. Both of you presented the material in an easy to understand way, you're enthusiastic about it and the tips, hints and corrections I got were exactly what I needed. I got a lot out of it and will likely take it again next year. It's that valuable for me. 1st motorcycle training I ever had.
I felt kinda bad for the big guy on the loud bike, but even he was better after than before. Thanks again.
Still trainable after all these years.
Regards,
Alan Bond
Hello Gary,
I wanted to thank you for the class on Friday! Your class was the single most important thing I have done since I decided to ride about 40 years ago. The class was a ball and I hated to see it end. It certainly points out who should not be on the road with a bike. Now I will watch for cars and other bikers, and in the meantime I’m practicing, practicing, practicing!
Wishing you the best always………
Darryl S. Hammock
Hi Gary,
Once again I would like to thank you and Cliff for a great day of learning to be very humble!! Seriously it was one of the most informative and motivating motorcycle training sessions I've been to, you guys did a great job!
Peter Langford
Gary,
Donna and I are home safe and sound in Germantown. I just wanted to take a minute and tell you what a great job you and Cliff did. I've been riding motorcycles since I was 11, that's just over 42 years. I am self-taught and today was the first training class I've ever attended. I never even had to do a skills proficiency test in January of 1976 to get my full endorsement. The OSP trooper looked at me like I was insane when I rode in on my 1976 Suzuki GT250 in the snow and ice. He asked where I'd come from (Germantown was some distance away) and then said "You made it here, you'll do alright." So that's what I've been doing ever since.
From Key West to the Arctic Circle, from Maine to Old Mexico and in Italy, France, Spain, Kenya and everywhere else I can find by hook or crook. I enjoyed your instruction thoroughly, Cliff as well.
The thing I was most impressed with was that when a student finally had success (or even some measure of it) you guys were genuinely happy for them. That's the mark of a teacher. This kind of riding is the first I've done but it interests me a great deal. Were you ever to find yourself in need of a cone or range man to help out I'd make the trip up to help for nothing more than a little more skill.
Donna is more confident and I thank you for that as well. Very, very nice job. You should be proud.
Allan Howard
Germantown, OH
Gary,
I didn't realize I had so many muscles that could be so sore from riding a bike. We were very humbled at this learning experience, and honored that you took the time to really teach us skills we never imagined.
Thank you so much, and I will highly recommend this class to the rest of our Brothers and Sisters.
Hope you enjoy the picture.
Sniper
Michigan Assistant State Captain
Patriot Guard Rider
Thank you Gary…I loved the class. I wish more were willing to take it. I've heard so many say, “I've been riding my whole life.” They just don't get it. I will start sooner next year and do more promoting!
Ride safe,
Jac Rottiers
Michigan Patriot Guard Riders
I took the opportunity to participate in RLAP training yesterday in Southfield, Michigan with Gary Lewandowski. It was just what I hoped it would be since I first saw your DVD a couple of years ago.
This training fills in a big gap in my skillset for operating a motorcycle. The MSF RSS course grazes the surface of slow-speed handling, but RLAP nails it on the head and gives us the specifics and practice necessary to make it a very practical skill.
Gary was (is) a very capable instructor and his presentation and attitude were very effective at getting the course curriculum across.
Everyone can benefit from this training and I will be telling all I meet about it!
Darold
Gary,
I wanted to drop you a note to let you know how much fun I had last weekend at the RLAP class. Your class was not only fun but I learned so much. Much more than I thought I would after riding for over 40 years. If you recall I have always been an off-road rider. Having recently ventured onto the street Cliff Crabtree advised me to sign up for your class. Needless to say I had much “un-learning” and “re-learning” to do. I believe your class has made me a much better and safer rider overall. I could not believe it is so hard to go SLOW!
I really appreciated your attention to detail and your enthusiastic approach to teaching. Eric was also very helpful and a lot of fun. I will certainly recommend your course to anyone who is interested in learning to ride the “right way”.
Warmest Regards,
Daniel Corbett
Hello Gary,
Just thought I'd drop you a quick note and let you know I made it home safe and sound. I also wanted to compliment you and Cliff on the awesome coarse you two put on.
I just did a quick tally and my cost for the coarse worked out to $900.00 and 2025 miles and in my opinion it was worth every penny and mile.
If you ever need a spokesman or references for your coarse I'm your man.
Thanks again I had a blast and learned a pile
Dave Procyshyn
Hi Gary,
I just wanted to take the time to thank you & Cliff so very much for putting on the class. I'm so glad I was able to partake in it. I had handed my camera to a nice gentleman who kindly took random photos of Carrie & I as we did each task. We are so glad we have those now since we have sat looking at them & dissecting everything we are doing- whether right or what we can improve on. You guys are great instructors. So glad I was fortunate enough to meet you both and be instructed by you. I really feel like you have "upped my game"! Carrie & I have both said we would love to do this again!
Thanks & keep up the fantastic training!!
Holly Fawley
