[OskyATL]

Alright guys, so I began riding in the middle of the summer some may recognize me but here's the update so far.

In the past months I've logged over 6k miles, gaining that bike intuition and have had more than a few of instances where I was able to predict a car doing something stupid before they had the opportunity to infringe on my space. Getting closer and closer to really being cautious in traffic and being really aware of what's "really" going on.

Weather conditions havn't really stopped me from riding, I have now been in the rain several occasions from my last drop and havn't even had a near incident. not really afraid of the weather conditions except the possibility of Ice coming soon.

I wear boots, gloves, jacket, and helmet 24/7. the only things I don't wear ALL the time are my shin/knee guards and kevlar pants.(wear the shin/knee and pants when we hit the twisties).

Low speed maneuvers I'm getting pretty good at, I'm almost to the point where I don't really think about them too much(like really tight turns kinda like figure 8 stuff).

I've really wore into my bike. Taking twisties- getting closer to having some phenomenal control and confidence. I'm not sure but I think I dragged the break peg(not the foot peg-strange enough the brake peg dragged first along with my foot) there arn't any sissy marks on the tire at all. BUT long winding turns I'm not too great at. Since I've been getting lower on the bike I've started maneuvering myself a little off the seat a bit for some turns.(The Dragon Conquered - 6 times, Suchess - 3 times, Local mountain road- ??)

on a different note my riding buddy let me hop on his cbr1000rr for a spin and the real difference that I felt between the touring bike and that particular sport bike was how in low speeds it felt like it was turning itself other than that the throttle didn't surprise me at all and didn't seem too much of a big deal.(I even did a wheelie at 50mph :biggrinag - I know I know I shouldn't be doing wheelies, I just couldn't resist )but definitely a shocker with the way the bike handles differently from mine.

anyway, I'm open to criticism and always wanting to hear what people have to say. Lemme know where I can improve on my riding skills, like classes and such, cause I still want to get some track time in next year and upgrade to a r6.

 

[Stick N Move]

Cool and nice to hear from you again!

But what do you mean exactly when you say you dragged your foot?

I would recommend taking the ERC whenever you get a chance. It will really give you better insight on what you've been doing right and what you've been doing wrong all along.

 

[OskyATL]

Cool and nice to hear from you again!

But what do you mean exactly when you say you dragged your foot?

I would recommend taking the ERC whenever you get a chance. It will really give you better insight on what you've been doing right and what you've been doing wrong all along.

the boots I wear are really wide, even when my feet are tucked the boot sits out farther than the peg, so while it was sitting on the peg through a turn my foot was dragging the pavement...I have rubber missing from the sole..

and noted, I'll try taking ERC once it warms up again...I don't think we'll be doing any more heavy riding since the temp here are already dropping into the lower 40's and it's raining quite a bit

 

[NattyDrez]

Be careful with your boots dragging on pavement, they can sometimes catch and you will go down hard.

 

[Stick N Move]

Your feet shouldnt be dragging, remember to place the balls of your feet on the pegs. Just like in many sports, its like a ready position.

 

[Justice06RR]

Seems like you're on the right track. Keep practicing and try different foot positioning so you can remedy that toe/boot dragging.

its good that you were comfortable on the liter bike. pretty soon we'll be seeing you in a Supersport :cheers

 

[sqchram]

put your balls on the pegs

 

[OskyATL]

ya I was looking at some video's. I didn't notice that people moved their feet forward to shift and kept their feet that far back. I just always assumed you keep them ready at all time to shift or brake. so I guess that's part of my problem. Just keep them ready to move forward then shift/brake. Even in MSF I didn't understand why they said to keep the balls on the pegs cause it kept them back from the shifter and brake lol...:banana

But ya, I'll go ahead and try to get use to that.

 

[Stick N Move]

now get yourself a go pro and start makin videos

 

[OskyATL]

Yo, been changing the position on the foot pegs and has changed my ride dramatically. I feel like I can get a lot lower than I have, I just have to get accustomed to it before I can really utilize it as well. But, we rode up the local mountain road and felt a lot more control and being able to really shift all my weight to to bottom peg during a turn and feeling more control in low turns. But, should I be concerned between the power available in the 500 when accelerating through a turn if I can get enough out of it? or am I pushing it by getting lower and not having enough power at that low a turn?

at any rate, thanks for the advice has helped me a lot just in the little bit I've done it. has also helped out my overall positioning and able to really lean in with the bike.

 

[LovemyKawiZX6R]

Yo, been changing the position on the foot pegs and has changed my ride dramatically. I feel like I can get a lot lower than I have, I just have to get accustomed to it before I can really utilize it as well. But, we rode up the local mountain road and felt a lot more control and being able to really shift all my weight to to bottom peg during a turn and feeling more control in low turns. But, should I be concerned between the power available in the 500 when accelerating through a turn if I can get enough out of it? or am I pushing it by getting lower and not having enough power at that low a turn?

at any rate, thanks for the advice has helped me a lot just in the little bit I've done it. has also helped out my overall positioning and able to really lean in with the bike.

I read that when u lean into a corner, all the weight should be at the center of the bike and on your thigh and balls of your foot. Should also be pushing at the footpeg to lean it. This some how lowers the center of gravity. little or almost no resistance should be at the handle bar. The turning of the bike should be controlled by your body not handle bars. (obviiously this only applies for hard spirited riding and this doesnt apply for normal riding)

You should feel a lot of pain in your thighs after hard riding.

i applied this and yes, it helps u turn the bike in to corners a lot easier without leaning the bike to far and helps u stay more upright to get out of the corners faster.

And my thighs were hurting too so that was also a good thing i hear. I need get my ass to the track. I am craving for more knowledge!

 

[OskyATL]

I read that when u lean into a corner, all the weight should be at the center of the bike and on your thigh and balls of your foot. Should also be pushing at the footpeg to lean it. This some how lowers the center of gravity. little or almost no resistance should be at the handle bar. The turning of the bike should be controlled by your body not handle bars. (obviiously this only applies for hard spirited riding and this doesnt apply for normal riding)

You should feel a lot of pain in your thighs after hard riding.

i applied this and yes, it helps u turn the bike in to corners a lot easier without leaning the bike to far and helps u stay more upright to get out of the corners faster.

And my thighs were hurting too so that was also a good thing i hear. I need get my ass to the track. I am craving for more knowledge!

Cool. Got it. Tomorrow I'm gonna be practicing again.

 

[OskyATL]

Okay guys, went out on the local mountain today and dragged the right peg through a turn...guess I'm getting a little better on the tour bike lol...

anyway here's a couple of pics..

Left Peg

Right Peg...see the difference?

 

[FatHawk]

Your back brake should not be used when leaned over. Do not worry about shifting in a turn at this point. Get the toes tucked at lean and concentrate on that.

If your dragging pegs, get off the bike more. Only do this if your comfortable with it.

 

[boner]

your chain's not looking so good.

 

[OskyATL]

Ya, all noted...it's raining today but tomorrow I'll be doing all the check ups on the bike...

other than that I think after talking and reading I've learned that the bike doesn't have the power to accelerate through the twisties enough for it to be pushing the bike back up through the turn...I'm usually wrestling the handle bars in both directions to keep it on track. Figured out it was that the bike isn't accelerating fast enough through the turn(just doesn't have the power as far as I can figure) for the force to be pushing the bike back up.

- I've been reading that you're only suppose to be using one hand(the one on the lower side) to be controlling through the turn but that seemed really hard if the bike wasn't pushing back up and the hand and weight pushing it back down.

anyone verify?

 

[usernamedoug]

you are doing so many things wrong. A number of the things you are describing sounds like you're going to find the limits of your tire very soon, and dont take that to mean youre fast, because you're not. I guarantee you could carry much higher speeds through those corners and not even be close to a peg touching down.

Talking about trying to stand the bike up by twisting into the throttle? youre going to die.

but i'm just a newb too, far from me to tell you how to ride.... (can someone please help this guy?!!!)

 

[OskyATL]

you are doing so many things wrong. A number of the things you are describing sounds like you're going to find the limits of your tire very soon, and dont take that to mean youre fast, because you're not. I guarantee you could carry much higher speeds through those corners and not even be close to a peg touching down.

Talking about trying to stand the bike up by twisting into the throttle? youre going to die.

but i'm just a newb too, far from me to tell you how to ride.... (can someone please help this guy?!!!)

no I'm not saying I'm trying to stand the bike up with the throttle...I'm saying that you should be accelerating fast enough through the turn to provide resistance in your lean. making it possible to be controlling the bike with the lower arm/hand instead of using both hands through the turn. That's what I've been reading/hearing is how it's suppose to happen.

What I'm saying is that my bike doesn't have the accelerating power to do that with some of the turns and I have to use both hands through the turn.

maybe I'm misunderstanding something about this?

Also, my basic understanding is this. I ride and feel through, If I feel as though I don't have much traction or the bike is unstable I start to lift it back up and slow down. As far as knowing how to do everything correctly or explain what I'm doing is limited by my knowledge of bikes in general...I follow the best advice I can get and go with it. When I dragged the peg the bike felt very stiff and in control through the turn and it felt like a really good tight turn.

what I'm saying is that It's difficult for me to use one hand to control the bike through a turn because I feel as thought the resistance isn't there helping me...maybe I'm wrong and it's just I have bad form..I don't know, I'm asking...

 

[usernamedoug]

ohh thats not so bad, it has nothing to do with a lack of power. The whole idea is that if the bike is turning in too fast you can carry more speed through the corner. You should never have to wrestle the bike tho, remember how countersteering works, if the bike is starting to turn in too fast lightly apply pressure to the outside handle bar and it will make the bike want to stand up.

You've gotta work on being smooth with the speed you have, and then getting faster follows

as for this comment

Taking twisties- getting closer to having some phenomenal control and confidence. I'm not sure but I think I dragged the break peg(not the foot peg-strange enough the brake peg dragged first along with my foot) there arn't any sissy marks on the tire at all. BUT long winding turns I'm not too great at. Since I've been getting lower on the bike I've started maneuvering myself a little off the seat a bit for some turns.(The Dragon Conquered - 6 times, Suchess - 3 times, Local mountain road- ??)

you've got to be kidding me right? phenomenal break control? you need to get to a track day so you can find out that you're terrible. You are a brand new rider, and not even close to phenomenal at anything. Trust me i felt like i was the most pro new rider on the planet, took a school at a local track day and found out not only how horrible my riding style was, but that i was right on the edge of crashing and not even going that fast (not to mention i didnt even know i was on the edge of crashing).

When i first started riding i was so proud of getting my chicken strips off, now that i have a little bit of a clue i'm twice as fast and still have a bit of a strip on both sides of the new tire i had to put on.

You absolutely should not be dragging pegs, your bike isnt that much of a touring bike. once you learn proper body positioning you'll find yourself carrying much higher speeds and not being all the way over on your tire. Not to mention if youre sitting with your weight over the bike at full lean, you're putting way more load on the back tire then you would be with proper riding position, and that back tire is closer to letting go then you could possibly imagine.

Go to a track day, take a school run by a local club racer, and be humbled, sounds like you need it.

EDIT: couple more points, what feels good, probably isnt. My riding felt great until i was recorded on video at the track, i looked like a freaking contortoinist (sp?).

Also you should be able to take your inside hand right off the handle bar going around a corner. You keep the bike from turning in too fast by pulling gently with the outside hand (think about it, pushing on the left bar to turn left, is the same as pulling on the right bar to turn left). Generally you push steer to lean the bike into a corner, then you use the outside hand to either pull to keep resistance on the bar and keep you online, or push on the outside (gently) if you need to stand it back up.

 

[OskyATL]

ohh thats not so bad, it has nothing to do with a lack of power. The whole idea is that if the bike is turning in too fast you can carry more speed through the corner. You should never have to wrestle the bike tho, remember how countersteering works, if the bike is starting to turn in too fast lightly apply pressure to the outside handle bar and it will make the bike want to stand up.

You've gotta work on being smooth with the speed you have, and then getting faster follows

as for this comment



you've got to be kidding me right? phenomenal break control? you need to get to a track day so you can find out that you're terrible. You are a brand new rider, and not even close to phenomenal at anything. Trust me i felt like i was the most pro new rider on the planet, took a school at a local track day and found out not only how horrible my riding style was, but that i was right on the edge of crashing and not even going that fast (not to mention i didnt even know i was on the edge of crashing).

When i first started riding i was so proud of getting my chicken strips off, now that i have a little bit of a clue i'm twice as fast and still have a bit of a strip on both sides of the new tire i had to put on.

You absolutely should not be dragging pegs, your bike isnt that much of a touring bike. once you learn proper body positioning you'll find yourself carrying much higher speeds and not being all the way over on your tire. Not to mention if youre sitting with your weight over the bike at full lean, you're putting way more load on the back tire then you would be with proper riding position, and that back tire is closer to letting go then you could possibly imagine.

Go to a track day, take a school run by a local club racer, and be humbled, sounds like you need it.

EDIT: couple more points, what feels good, probably isnt. My riding felt great until i was recorded on video at the track, i looked like a freaking contortoinist (sp?).

Also you should be able to take your inside hand right off the handle bar going around a corner. You keep the bike from turning in too fast by pulling gently with the outside hand (think about it, pushing on the left bar to turn left, is the same as pulling on the right bar to turn left). Generally you push steer to lean the bike into a corner, then you use the outside hand to either pull to keep resistance on the bar and keep you online, or push on the outside (gently) if you need to stand it back up.

dude, you need to calm down. I never said I was better than anyone so if your saying your better than me...sure, w/e -I don't give a fuck. don't come on here smarting off when I'm asking for help you fucking idiot. Ya I said "GETTING CLOSER TO some phenomenal control," because that's what I felt...after changing the position on the pegs I even said WOW that helped a lot, and went even further to say I still have to learn a lot to get use to that...wtf are you doing trolling me. I asked for simple advice not for you to come on here showing how big your dick is dude...if you didn't notice I posted this IN the new rider forum so I wasn't saying I was good you fucking idiot. and I never said I was braking through the turn's you fucking moron.

jesus some of you people must be pathetic in life to come in on someone asking for help and start talking about how much better you are than them...apparently you need some psychological help.