Ive been riding since jan. 04 so not quite a year. ive tried to ride for hours at a time, i went to a track day (i got in one real session and the follow the leader session) and it got rained out. And every time i go into a corner i freeze, a million ???'s go through my mind. Will the tire stick, am i going to fast, is there gravel on the road, is there a car around the bend, is the suspension working right, can i brake now, maybe let off the throttle, maybe get on the trottle, oh shit the wheels coming up (a wheely) is it to fast, i feel like im leaning. I have all these ???'s and im getting worried that maybe i shouldnt be riding. Is this normal, after alot of attempts i finally got my "chicken strip" gone on the right side (hard to find lefts around here) so i can get the bike over, but are all these ???'s normal. My boss (i work at a bike shop) says i need to relax more, feel the bike loosen up. I know im going to go down one day, but i really dont want to (not that anyone does) Some friends say i need to stop riding, but i dont see how thats going to get over this fear most friends just laugh and rag me for a little but im talkin about my life im not ready to end it to get an adrinaline rush for some corners that some people say are fine to hit at 90 mph and im doing them at 60. any advice for me Thanks Thomas
Sounds like your too paranoid! You really should relax and enjoy this sport. If your worried about your bike, I would go through it just to make sure everything is nce and tight.
You want to be as graceful as possible! Smoothness, stay cool and everything will click in and it will be just like riding motorcycles the very first time.. Make sure you get a good nights sleep right before the track and if the track is far get a hotel or motel room near by.
Make sure you have new tires, and sticky tires. Its a track so atleast run Diablo Corsas or something softer. Dont go to the track on street tires that have been flat spotted, sqaure tires suck at the track.
Have one of the quicker guys show you some lines, and entry and exit points. Have that nicer line will make you A LOT faster and smoother. Dont be afraid to GO INTO A TURN! If you feel youve come into a turn to hot or to fast TAKE ITTTTT... DO NOT SLAM THE BRAKES! It will stand up on you and you will run off. Its better to take the and lean into it then wrecking.
the bikes been looked at and set up for the track, safety wired and stuff, the tires are pilot sports and are pretty new maybe 700 miles on them or so. i did some corners today and a freind told me to sing to myself (thats what he does) and it seemed to help i was thinking of words to the song instead of the tires and stuff like that
98srad6 said:
the bikes been looked at and set up for the track, safety wired and stuff, the tires are pilot sports and are pretty new maybe 700 miles on them or so. i did some corners today and a freind told me to sing to myself (thats what he does) and it seemed to help i was thinking of words to the song instead of the tires and stuff like that
Hmmm, sing to yourself..? I recomened that to riders a long time ago...it works..
There's a lot to work on to be able to ride consitantly fast, but staying relaxed is a big part of it...then there's the technical stuff. if it's possible, try and hook up with a good rider / racer school...you can learn alot...
actually I sing to myself here and there too, and it does work quite well. I am a squid (riding for 4months) and haven't got my knee down yet but it's winter here in colorado so i have to wait for the some track time nxt spring/summer. Wish me luck
AlphaOne said:
actually I sing to myself here and there too, and it does work quite well. I am a squid (riding for 4months) and haven't got my knee down yet but it's winter here in colorado so i have to wait for the some track time nxt spring/summer. Wish me luck
Keep in mind that getting your knee down is a result of something, not a action that results in something....
stay focused on what you're doin' .. always look far away even in corners .. it helps to keep the bike straight (thanging) into the corners .. to be fast into corners takes practice and you must make one with your bike .. good luck with your next season
Man, I know how you feel. I can feel so comfortable on a dirt bike, but I am always so unsure when entering corners on my street bike. I've had days when I felt pretty good and things felt reasonably smooth and natural. But then the next day, the lack of confidence is back. It is really frustrating!
I'm sure it would help if I could get more regular practice on some nice curvy roads, but unfortunately, my location and schedule don't allow for it. A track day would probably help a lot, but so far I haven't had the guts for that either.
AustinLeo said:
Man, I know how you feel. I can feel so comfortable on a dirt bike, but I am always so unsure when entering corners on my street bike. I've had days when I felt pretty good and things felt reasonably smooth and natural. But then the next day, the lack of confidence is back. It is really frustrating!
I'm sure it would help if I could get more regular practice on some nice curvy roads, but unfortunately, my location and schedule don't allow for it. A track day would probably help a lot, but so far I haven't had the guts for that either.
Guts for a track day? Your safer on a track day then you are on street, you dont have SUV's at the track that will kill you. Best bet is to buy all your gear, sign up for a track day as a novice/beginner believe me all your fears will dissapear. Youll actually enjoy riding! Once you do a track day you wouldnt want to ride the street, youll end up being a track junkie
AustinLeo said:
Man, I know how you feel. I can feel so comfortable on a dirt bike, but I am always so unsure when entering corners on my street bike. I've had days when I felt pretty good and things felt reasonably smooth and natural. But then the next day, the lack of confidence is back. It is really frustrating!
I'm sure it would help if I could get more regular practice on some nice curvy roads, but unfortunately, my location and schedule don't allow for it. A track day would probably help a lot, but so far I haven't had the guts for that either.
Guts for a track day? Your safer on a track day then you are on street, you dont have SUV's at the track that will kill you. Best bet is to buy all your gear, sign up for a track day as a novice/beginner believe me all your fears will dissapear. Youll actually enjoy riding! Once you do a track day you wouldnt want to ride the street, youll end up being a track junkie
YUp..YUP... You might check into some riding schools to help with any problems your having...
AustinLeo said:
Man, I know how you feel. I can feel so comfortable on a dirt bike, but I am always so unsure when entering corners on my street bike. I've had days when I felt pretty good and things felt reasonably smooth and natural. But then the next day, the lack of confidence is back. It is really frustrating!
I'm sure it would help if I could get more regular practice on some nice curvy roads, but unfortunately, my location and schedule don't allow for it. A track day would probably help a lot, but so far I haven't had the guts for that either.
Guts for a track day? Your safer on a track day then you are on street, you dont have SUV's at the track that will kill you. Best bet is to buy all your gear, sign up for a track day as a novice/beginner believe me all your fears will dissapear. Youll actually enjoy riding! Once you do a track day you wouldnt want to ride the street, youll end up being a track junkie
i grind my teeth when i ride, i dunno why but i have to chew gum.......i noticed my teeth are always gnashed together......maybe cus its a little chilly lately...
i grind my teeth when i ride, i dunno why but i have to chew gum.......i noticed my teeth are always gnashed together......maybe cus its a little chilly lately...
Chewing gum ..? what happens if someone were chewing gum, and they get seriously hurt, that gum could cause them to choke....lose the gum,and find away to RELAX...grinding your toofs is a sign of TENSION.....I do that alot in my sleep...at least that's what mrs. hammer keeps tellin me...
Seriously, sing,talk to yourself...whatever works..
Sing to yourself, or even out loud! Seriously. It doesn't hurt anything. Neither does chewing gum. Those are great techniques for relaxing on the bike.
i think youre just way to afraid of going down. ya it hurts but its really not that bad if you can think ubder pressure. everyone goes down at some point or another. i actually took out a street sign with my chest at 60 mph and didnt get a scratch(pure dumb luck or the grace of god) after a month i was fiending to ride again.
Some days I feel it, others I don't(the road that is) When I am not feeling it, I just back off a little and enjoy the ride instead of riding balls out. Either way I am ALWAYS having fun. Sounds like you are letting peer pressure get to you. Ride YOUR ride, and don't let anything or anyone get to you. This is supposed to be FUN
I recomened that to riders a long time ago...it works.. 
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