No worries mate!!! I type fast!!! LOL!! First thing I'd do is check your tyre pressures. No less than 33 psi in the front for road riding... All depends on preference. When I first started riding, my front tyre was deflated severely... I was fighting the bike, it was hard work this riding thing, I thought... Pumped up the tyre and it was like a whole new bike!!! So easy to steer, not weaving on white lines or grooves in teh road... It is a MUST!!! Check them pressures!!!!
Matrixxx, you may actually be "the one". cracking explanation mate. I'd still like there to be some kind of simulator to try this kind of stuff out step by step without having to eat the bad kind of hedge. I'm a bit anal about things like tyre pressures and I swear I can be out by a pound or two on just one wheel in the car and feel it, but I keep to the book pressures religiously. There's been a lot of talk on here in the past about the "best" running pressure for road. Is it really worth straying too far from the handbook?
Bloody hell, is that what we do. Never really thought about before, it just kinda happens......well done Matrix, outstanding explanation mate but.....my head hurts now.
No, on the road you should not stray TOO far, BUT the recommended pressures are for a fully loaded bike, or 2-up riding. 36F/42R. That is rock hard to me, and I prefer something like 33 - 34 F, and 36-38 R. It is definitely personal preference, just a few psi from each... I like my tyre to at least deform a little when weight goes on it. Handbook pressures are just a bit too hard for my liking... A little bit softer allows the tyre to deform a little more, giving a little more contact patch with the road... But lower than 32 front starts to get twitchy on uneven surfaces... and I like to know that when I lean over or put the throttle down that the rear can push into the road a bit more... hard to explain, sorry... But I just feel like 36/42 is really hard and the bike feels too stiff and uncomfortable. But you are right, certainly NOT TOO FAR from the handbook. Having said that, using the 36/42, the bike holds it's line when leaned over really predictably!!! You know what? I am gonna put 36/42 tonight when I get home and play with that for a week and report back. Also proper pressures gives maximum tyre life... Softer pressure tyres wear quicker, and mostly unevenly...
On a related note, I have a problem with right-hand bends, coz the orientation my right arm ends up in means I have no confidence at maintaining fine throttle control, whilst still being able to apply more counter-steer. So I obviously need to sort my body position out... if someone could stick a full-size motorcycle on one of them kiddies playground things from kpone's post, that would be a perfect tool for perfecting body position during cornering...... think I've just spotted a gap in the market!!!
When you get your head around it, Freedom, and start to CONSCIOUSLY apply it, you will feel EVEN MORE in control of that amazing bike you have!!! Remember that knowledge is nothing without experience, and experience comes from practice and very importantly, experimentation. If you do the same thing all the time, you never know what else can happen if you don't try something else... Just be safe while doing so... And you will figure out the best ways FOR YOU!!!
Try getting on a paddock stand in front a mirror... Wierd but I am sure it would help to iron out the difference between your lefts and rights... set up for a left... then try to mirror that on your right. As for the throttle, even a CSS instructor, Bullet said he had problems because 1. - He always had his middle finger on the brake lever... No good for getting low on the right side. 2. - His right hand on a right hander was set up straight because of the finger on the brake lever. The fix is holding the throttle like a screwdriver, or like a tennis racket and screwing off the throttle... this helps you to get your elbow low and your shoulder leading the corner. (PS I am rubbish on rights as well!!!) Also remember that usually your steering input, your countersteering, should be finished before you start to apply the throttle, so you should not REALLY have to work on throttle control AND countersteering at the same time, apart from tiny line changes. What helps me personally, is pulling with the left... But it is not really pulling, but making sure no tension in my left arm is fighting the push by my right arm... ALWAYS REMEMBER that adding throttle and adding lean angle at the same time is a recipe for disaster. You will take a trip on the highside, and get a free ride in an ambulance. Maybe people get away with it on the street, but it is a bad habit to get into and when going faster you WILL crash because of that. Increase your lean angle by steering, THEN increase throttle. Both at the same time causes the back to lose traction VERY QUICKLY.
Stu - I agree with all the fantastic advice on technique but if I were you go to a trusted motorcycle training school and do the ERS (enhanced rider scheme) training. You should do it in a couple of days and it's a real life saver. You will be shown how to fast steer the bike through corners and bends with someone watching out for you plus loads of other practical advice on positioning and safe overtaking. Another plus point is you also get some reduction in your bike insurance premium once passed successfully. Good luck - Steve
Thanks Ken, I am not in the slightest bit frightened of dying, what worries me is not knowing what you buggers are up to, still no doubt Blaggers would be along before long and could bring me up to speed.
Oh I have to add when I talk abou my tyre pressures I am a really light medium sized guy, I weigh about 165 pounds... I am small, really...
Thanks Ken for the reminder. Did a search and found this GEM of a thread!!! 1000rr.co.uk/lounge/5476.htm And the movie... http://1000rr.co.uk/pictures-videos/6338.htm
If i take my hands off the bars in a "cranked over" bend my Blade would instantly tuck and i would find myself following it into the armco. I have to push hard on the inside bar to keep it from tucking the front, and cant get it anywhere near as much lean angle as my old SRAD 750. I've tried to deny (to myself) the fact that the ride height adjuster on the Maxton rear shock is to blame, what with the back end being two inches higher than a standard one. I think i need a track day to try to sort it out.
It's like Judo/Ju-Jitsu .... Strong hands - loose shoulders and use your legs more for stability and grip on the bike. Everything else will fall into place one you grip with your lowr body and let your upper body stay loose
