Don't rush, let it happen when it happens.

[User Name]

I don't often post in the new rider forum, but I had an experience last week that I thought would be good to share. I started riding several years ago, and as most do, immediately fell in love with the performance and handling of these sport bikes.

Learning came in stages - slow and shaky at first, gained comfort and confidence after a little while, then I started cautiously pushing the envelope. At one point, I was set on the goal of scraping my pegs. On a few local curves, I kept pushing it - little by little, increasing speed, increasing lean to the very edge of what I felt comfortable doing. Eventually, I did manage to start scraping my pegs, but not without a few close calls - my front tire started to wash out once or twice, touched a drainage ditch another time, completely screwing up my concentration, etc.

I was pushing it and it was only a matter of time before I would have paid the price. Luckily, I realized this, and slowed WAY down. For about a year and a half, I just enjoyed riding. Not necessarily slowly or apprehensively, but just focused on being smooth and comfortable. No goals, I wasn't trying to do anything in particular.

Last week, I happened to be coming around a nice curve, I didn't even think I was going all that fast or leaning all that much, I was completely comfortable with everything when all of the sudden I hear ssssssssssscrape. It instantly reminded me of how uncomfortable I was the last time I heard that noise. It's not always intuitive that a skill can improve when you're not actively and continually testing it and pushing it, but it certainly does.

Moral of the story? While the ability to lean a bike way over can be evidence of skill, it can just as easily be evidence that a rider is foolishly at the ragged edge of their abilities, as was the case when I first did it. Getting rid of your chicken strips, scraping peg, dragging knee - these are all byproducts of good form and control, and good form and control should be the goal, not their byproducts. Don't get the cart before the horse, it'll happen when your ready. Just enjoy the ride.

[SeqArtMark]

Since everyone else is long asleep let me be the first to say it:

GREAT POST!

I don't have a bike yet but one of the big reasons I'm going with the GS500 is so that I can learn to push the bike to the limit before I move up (if that's what i choose to do). In the past I was impressed with people who started on 600cc (or higher) SS bikes but not so much anymore. In the short time that I've been researching bikes (thanks in large part to this board) I've started to understand that just because you don't crash a bike doesn't mean you're a good rider.

Someone from work I was talking to who started on an R6 (which he still owns) has never laid his bike down but he also said he drove super-cautiously the first year he owned the bike. Now, that may sound like an endorsement for getting a bigger bike but it's just the opposite. Why have a bike if you're gonna pussy-foot around on it for a year and never really have fun unless you're going in a straight line? Maybe that's all some people are looking for but it seems like a waste if you ask me.

Mind you, I live in Chicagoland so it's not like there are many twisties to master (that I know of) but that's all the more reason to start small IMHO. Admittedly, I feel the appeal of starting on a bigger bike (they're reeeeeally cool). Then again, there was a time that it seemed like a good idea to join the Marine Corps...what was I thinking? (j/k).

[WhoUtink]

Good stuff.

[User Name]

Originally Posted by SeqArtMark

I don't have a bike yet but one of the big reasons I'm going with the GS500 is so that I can learn to push the bike to the limit before I move up

The GS500 is a great (and great looking) bike, I'm sure you'll enjoy it, I recommended one to a friend who learned to ride last year. You'll spank my ass with what you'll pay for insurance on it!

The power of "bigger" bikes (not necessarily physically) will easily get you into trouble when it comes to speed, but you can get into trouble on any bike when you're pushing other limits. My point is to say don't set out with the goal of pushing the limit, always keep the goal remaining smooth and comfortable. Your skill will continue to improve and your limits will continue to increase even if you never explore them. It's a far greater feeling of accomplishment when you reach an indication of a limit (scraping a peg, for example), when it happens when you're completely at ease as opposed to shitting your pants! Trust me, I've done both!

Originally Posted by SeqArtMark

Then again, there was a time that it seemed like a good idea to join the Marine Corps...what was I thinking? (j/k).

Ha! Yea, that's a mistake I never made, then again, I've always known I'm simply not military material...

[Little Joe]

Excellent post. This needs to be a sticky.

-Joe-

[tunastick]

Originally Posted by User Name

I don't often post in the new rider forum, but I had an experience last week that I thought would be good to share. I started riding several years ago, and as most do, immediately fell in love with the performance and handling of these sport bikes.

Learning came in stages - slow and shaky at first, gained comfort and confidence after a little while, then I started cautiously pushing the envelope. At one point, I was set on the goal of scraping my pegs. On a few local curves, I kept pushing it - little by little, increasing speed, increasing lean to the very edge of what I felt comfortable doing. Eventually, I did manage to start scraping my pegs, but not without a few close calls - my front tire started to wash out once or twice, touched a drainage ditch another time, completely screwing up my concentration, etc.

I was pushing it and it was only a matter of time before I would have paid the price. Luckily, I realized this, and slowed WAY down. For about a year and a half, I just enjoyed riding. Not necessarily slowly or apprehensively, but just focused on being smooth and comfortable. No goals, I wasn't trying to do anything in particular.

Last week, I happened to be coming around a nice curve, I didn't even think I was going all that fast or leaning all that much, I was completely comfortable with everything when all of the sudden I hear ssssssssssscrape. It instantly reminded me of how uncomfortable I was the last time I heard that noise. It's not always intuitive that a skill can improve when you're not actively and continually testing it and pushing it, but it certainly does.

Moral of the story? While the ability to lean a bike way over can be evidence of skill, it can just as easily be evidence that a rider is foolishly at the ragged edge of their abilities, as was the case when I first did it. Getting rid of your chicken strips, scraping peg, dragging knee - these are all byproducts of good form and control, and good form and control should be the goal, not their byproducts. Don't get the cart before the horse, it'll happen when your ready. Just enjoy the ride.

Thanks, I needed that Thump to the head.

[mssdrider]

Originally Posted by SeqArtMark

Then again, there was a time that it seemed like a good idea to join the Marine Corps...what was I thinking? (j/k).

must have been the commercials?? i'm just kidding!!!! I admire everyone who put themselves out there to serve and defend our country. Much respect to you guys.

[Jeckyll]

I would add that if you find the urge to "push it" take an advanced riding course and do some track days.

Learning to "push it" on the street may have consequences that your family and friends are not thrilled with (i.e. you no longer being around).

If you really want to get rid of your chicken strips to look cool, find an empty parking lot. Start doing figure 8's. Small tight ones. I can scrub a tire to the very edge (front & rear) and never exceed 25 mph. It's not hard

Good post. Maybe it will keep someone out of the ditch.

[SeqArtMark]

Originally Posted by mssdrider

must have been the commercials?? i'm just kidding!!!! I admire everyone who put themselves out there to serve and defend our country. Much respect to you guys.

Yeah, I thought we were gonna climb a mountain and fight a lava monster at some point. Never happened (well, the mountains didn't).

Jeckyll and User Name, I totally agree with what you two said and am (for the record) NOT buying a smaller bike just to push it to the limit. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast...or at least that's what I was told.

[MAD_CAT]

good post. Exp riders control themselves and don't put risk to themselves or other people on the road.

[L8 Braker]

Why don't you invest in some aftermarket rear sets?

[User Name]

Higher ones that won't scrape? Hell, with how far I have to lean to get the stock ones to scrape, I really don't need to be any farther over on the street. Truth be told, I shouldn't even be over that far. What stood out was just the difference between doing it naturally and pushing my luck to do it before I was comfortable.

Originally Posted by L8 Braker

Why don't you invest in some aftermarket rear sets?

[TheInfamous]

i think comfort isn't the mian thing, experience is. once you get comfortable you make mistakes.

[User Name]

I make a distinction between comfort and complacence. You want to be able to lean the bike over and be comfortable, as in relaxed and not unnerved. But yea, complacence is never good.

[Corwin]

Great post.