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New Rider ForumsJust joining the motorcyclist hobbie? Looking to get some information about a first bike? Or have some newbie questions. Are you new to the website?
(Some of you might have read my post last week about my streetbike experience... First Ride : What a BLAST!! I'll keep this shorter)
It was an incredibly nice day up here in Minneapolis today so it was time for Ride # 3 (I snuck out for an hour or so on Tuesday ). I left around 1pm and quit riding about 6:30 this evening. Logged over 200 miles and ended up filling the tank up twice. Got in a good mix of twisties, city/roadway driving, highways and interstates.
First and foremost, I can tell that I'm becoming very comfortable on the bike. While the bike can and will continue to surprise me, I'm definitely getting a better understanding of it and how it responds to my every move (braking, accelerating, turning, etc).
Other odds and ends from today:
1. I discovered the powerband! I know in my other thread I said the bike felt pretty tame. Well, I took her close to the redzone today and I was pleasantly surprised. Did a few pulls taking it over 10krpms and the bike opened up big time! Fun Fun Fun!
2. There are a TON of motorcyclist out there! Perhaps I just never noticed but I saw no less than 100 bikes today. Perhaps it was because it was the first really nice day this year. Anyway, my arm about fell off waving at people. I waved at anyone on 2 wheels. Most of the sportbikers waved back while about 40% of the people on other bikes returned the favor.
3. I hate the horn! Its too close to the turn signal and I kept honking at people.
4. People are pretty mesmerized by bikes aren't they? I felt like I was rolling in my GTS the way people were constantly staring. haha
Thats about it. Tried to keep it short but I'll end with this: Riding is a lot funner than I ever imagined it would be.
I've got a few things to say: as much to myself as to you. Probably stating the obvious, but they don't call me Captain Obvious for nothing!
Yes, people are mesmerized by bikes... but don't be mesmerized by their mesmerization. Keep your eyes ahead and the rubber down.
I don't know why cruisers don't return the wave: I've noticed this as well. I don't care--I'll wave anyway! Even to scooters/vespas. The way I figure, we're all out there on two wheels, enjoying the ride, sharing the common risks; and the wave is a good way to acknowledge that.
I read your last thread, where you and the wifey had taken the MSF, and I highly recommend keeping up the parking lot drills. There's nothing quite like setting up tricky scenarios in controlled conditions to improve your skills. The empty parking lot is my best friend.
Careful of that powerband that you love! Sportbikes are touchy/sensitive to inputs. It's all too easy to grab too much brake, or twist the throttle a little too much; especially in an emergency situation. This is where drilling down the skills in a parking lot is a good thing. Don't forget that sportbikes are top-heavy: they turn before you even think about turning, and they go exactly where you look.
2h2o speaks the truth.
I do the parking lot drills and I have some empty duldesacs I use for figure 8's, circles, u-turn practice etc. I prefer the culdesac because there is no PAINT lines to worry about.
To me those are the fundamentals and it is hard to work on the fundamentals too much.
It's like playing football... but you don't practice blocking or tackling.
__________________ FZ6, 06. Red.
Puig screen, dark smoke. Frame sliders. FAZR6 FE. Pilot Powers. 15/47 sprockets. Racetech 1.0 front springs. Airbox mod. Gutted Cat. PCIII. Clear Alternative LED brake light. 04 R1 Front flush LED turn signals. 06 FZ1 drag bars.
what do you guys use as markers for drills? Im thinking a bunch of soda cans ought to do the trick nicely.
I've experimented with a few things. I don't like big cones. I don't like soda cans, either--they're slick when they get flattened! And they will get flattened. I've heard of people filling up gatorade bottles with water and red dye, but that just seems like a bad idea to me. Last thing I'd want is to hit one with the front, spill it all over, and have a suddenly slippery patch for my rear to hit mid-swerve . Although that's a good skill to have, I suppose...
The best so far were the mini-cones that they had at the MSF course (6cm tall and made of flexible vinyl) but I haven't been able to find them for purchase--they've gotta be somewhere. I haven't scoured the 'net too intensely, though.
I've taken to using kiddie sidewalk chalk. Visible enough, doesn't get slippery, non-permanent, easy to carry, and who cares if you run over it. Then again, you also don't know if you hit it mid-turn. Unless you're looking down at it, but you really shouldn't do that.
+1 to metalrat about the paint lines, and I'll add the pavement snakes (tar crack filler) that they like to use. Those suck. See if you can find a parking lot absent of both (I know...)
Posts: 153
Casino Cash: $3604
Sportbike: 2001 EX250 (Restoring to running status), 1996 gs500, daily driver, who needs a cage ;p
tennis balls, cut in half. visible, and flexible + light and easy to carry.
__________________
"Did you know that with just a simple voltage mod, you can overclock a toaster?" -- Me, after a few too many lagers
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It should be noted: I only post after drinking. The result is long-windedness, digression, occasional leaps in logic, and grammatical errors.
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5 Hours & 2 Tanks Later...
). I left around 1pm and quit riding about 6:30 this evening. Logged over 200 miles and ended up filling the tank up twice. Got in a good mix of twisties, city/roadway driving, highways and interstates.
I know in my other thread I said the bike felt pretty tame. Well, I took her close to the redzone today and I was pleasantly surprised. Did a few pulls taking it over 10krpms and the bike opened up big time! Fun Fun Fun! 
FZ6, 06. Red.
go make me a sandwich
since 09/08/07
. Although that's a good skill to have, I suppose...
