: How did you learn to ride fast?
Chris66GT 02-24-2003, 10:37 PM Hopefully I can post this without getting flamed. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/plthumbsdown.gif Just looking to learn.
Anyways, I would like to learn how to ride fast. I have logged about 700 street miles, done my msf, and feel pretty comfortable on the bike(gix 6). My buddy has slowed down to help me through the twisties but I still feel a little uncomfortable judging entrance speed and cornering ability. High speed sweepers are fine but its those tight corners that have me shaky. I know the bike can handle alot more than what I am willing to do right now. So how can I learn how hard I can push the bike without going too far!? I would like to take a begginer track day but they are so expensive and I am not sure I want to go onto the track. Is it just time and experience? Any better ways to soak it up? I have been reading twist of the wrist II. Techniques are nice but it seems to all go out the window the first time I make a small mistake... then I can't get my mind back on the road. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
cuebert 02-24-2003, 10:53 PM In this situation, experience is your best friend. The more miles you log riding, the better you'll be for it.
It all comes in time. But on the flipside, you could pick an area with some twisties and ride them hard for a while until it comes to you better, and you can feel comfortable getting into them, then branch out to other areas with different twisties.
You'll only ride hard in the area's you know... never go into a corner blind, know you're roads!
yeah, I think that is your best bet, just go to some turns you like and are in low traffic area and practice them. just take your time and turn up a small notch each time when you are ready. just make sure you DONT let yourself get sucked into trying to keep up with some hot-shots, it will take a lot of self control not to try and hang with them.
natas 02-24-2003, 10:59 PM Track time is useful, but i probably logged over 20,000 miles before I ever hit the track. It just takes time and experience, you never stop learning. You could hit the same ten corners every day and there would be something different each time, there are just too many variables to fit into the equation. It seems that you know what your limits are, don't push them they will increase w/experience. Good Luck
Once you do save up some money and ride the track you probably won't want to ride on the street anymore, or near as much. Trust me on this, the track is alot safer than the road.
nudiepix 02-25-2003, 10:54 PM 700 miles isn't an aweful lot of miles, so there's a good chance that your mind is still adjusting to the feel/sensations you get from riding.
My first bit of advice is get a set of earplugs. They calm down wind noiise dramatically and make it easier to concentrate on riding, IMO. As above, find a local road to lap on and just take it easy through the corner and work on feeling relaxed and comfortable trhough it. If anything feels sketchy, stop and think about what actually felt strange (were you on the brakes, were you stiff-arming the bars, did you just coast through the corner, were you constantly feeding countersteer, etc...)
Learning to go fast starts at learning to be comfortable in whatever corners.. I also tend to mentally feel more comfortable at the track just because I know that there isn't any (much) crap on the road, there is no traffic, and I can get knee down easily to judge my distance to the ground. Plus, you don't have to stop and go back when you're done with the twisties, so you can work on the same corneres without having to mentally restart.
If you can't afford a track day, then remember that you probably cannot afford to crash, so don't push your limits too quickly. Don't ride with fast guys because then you'll just push yourself too hard and fall on your ass.
Morfias 02-26-2003, 10:49 AM log about 2000 more miles bud
nudiepix 02-26-2003, 06:55 PM Morfias said:
log about 2000 more miles bud
2000?
Try 10000.
Hammer 4 02-26-2003, 08:57 PM nudiepix said:
700 miles isn't an aweful lot of miles, so there's a good chance that your mind is still adjusting to the feel/sensations you get from riding.
My first bit of advice is get a set of earplugs. They calm down wind noiise dramatically and make it easier to concentrate on riding, IMO. As above, find a local road to lap on and just take it easy through the corner and work on feeling relaxed and comfortable trhough it. If anything feels sketchy, stop and think about what actually felt strange (were you on the brakes, were you stiff-arming the bars, did you just coast through the corner, were you constantly feeding countersteer, etc...)
Learning to go fast starts at learning to be comfortable in whatever corners.. I also tend to mentally feel more comfortable at the track just because I know that there isn't any (much) crap on the road, there is no traffic, and I can get knee down easily to judge my distance to the ground. Plus, you don't have to stop and go back when you're done with the twisties, so you can work on the same corneres without having to mentally restart.
If you can't afford a track day, then remember that you probably cannot afford to crash, so don't push your limits too quickly. Don't ride with fast guys because then you'll just push yourself too hard and fall on your ass.
Nudie said exactly what I would have said...
Just to add 1 more thing to his excellent advice....is some cases riders can go faster sooner than others, so it depends on your comfort zone...when you feel totally relaxed on your bike, then it's time to get to the track..and if funds allow, go to a riding school, like www.classrides.com (http://www.classrides.com) either way...don't try to push it to satisfy someone else...it will cost ya in the long run..
PTjunkE 02-28-2003, 01:20 AM Just keep riding and riding and riding and riding and riding...push just a little more each time you get comfortable...then just ride some more...ride safe http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
tri13 03-02-2003, 11:37 PM Morfias said:
log about 2000 more miles bud
2000 more nah im at 5000 on my current gix 600 wich happends to be my first superbike !
ive also done a trackday at laguna seca ! and i still feel the way he feels even today i went out with two of my buds they were flying and i went at my own pace the best advice i think is RIDE UR LIMITS dont get pushed into keeping up with the hot shots it will come to u !
http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
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