Guys Only been riding nearly 2 years had the blade for a year done about 3000 Miles Struggling with it really especially corners / speed & lines Is there anything you expierenced guys recommend Training Practice Or worse case sell and get something smaller Not really enjoying it as I'd hoped I'm ready for all comments good or bad Thanks
Get yourself on a trackday, get a instructor and you will improve greatly the blade, any model or age can handle corners better than most. also look at Superbike School :: Discover the art of cornering BUT I know people who have done it and would have rather spent the money on track days with tuition last thing you need to do is sell the thing
Let's start with foundation riding techniques... First Question - when you lean the bike into a corner, what do you do with the throttle?? Let's start there, and we will work out what you're struggling with. As for Superbike School, I think at least level 1 is a great way to get huge improvement, and loads of confidence for just one day.
Short shift a bit more until you get your confidence... The blade is like a 600 with more power...it's very easy to ride. Don't be afraid of it. Are you stiff on the bike, gritted teeth etc? Relax a bit more if you are, it does wonders. Try a trackday to build confidence, and just ride it more. If you still can't get in with it, then sell up and get something slower. But to be honest, the blade is easier to ride than my old 600... Just get out more and relax! Fwiw, I'm abominable on hairpins, I'm afraid to drop the bike, but fast corners I'm a lot more comfortable...
do you have any mates that are good riders? Nothing better than following someone that knows what they are doing.
Have you had the suspension setup, it sounds like a bike that usually works for you, is working against you ! The more comfortable you feel on the bike the better, relax go at your own pace, it probably sounds stupid and I apologise if I sound condescending as its the last thing I want to do ! There are some good track schools which could improve your confidence in the bike, others have had first hand experience and I am sure will let you know more. Motovudu DVD is excellent for explaining lines, throttle control, lean angles etc etc Don't sell
Gray, good questions but I am not in a good place to give you my view just now. Maybe next week fella.
Thing is mate, we can all give you advice, and most, if not all, is good advice. But, you can only learn yourself by either getting out more and maybe getting training? The blade is like any other bike, it's only as fast as the giggle switch controlled by your right hand. Also, the bie is a mean cornering machine to learn on...it's a bug softie too. I have twist of the wrist 2 here, and if anyone can help me to upload it so you can download it, then you're very welcome to have it. It does give you pointers on cornering and body position and throttle control.
The blade is the easiest bike to ride fast as just so smooth. now im not that experienced but i learned to ride on a restricted cbr 600 (33bhp) so quite quickly i learned braking and corner speed. The less power you have the less you have to worry. as suggested short shift and practice ridding in a gear or 2 higher than you should be as this will tame the bike even more. "slow is smooth - smooth is fast" this is how i learned and gradually got faster with time
There is to much really but tbh! Breath! Relax! Slow down! Dont have it reving its tits off! Get on the balls of your feet push down on inside peg! Drop inside elbow! Look for the exit of corner IE where you wanna go! Practise Practise Practise!! Google/youtube/ron haslam school and TIME!!!!
Not sure downsizing is a solution as the Blade is easier to ride than sports 600's, imo. If you're finding the Blade a bit too mental then I don't think you can overcome that without professional training, preferably track-based where you're safe to get to grips with the bike. As Remal noted above, CSS Level 1 sounds like the best option as they really take you through the techniques of bike control, cornering and body positioning, and at a venue where you're free to go as fast or as slow as you're comfortable - although you'll get faster as you go through it. Yes it's (relatively) expensive, but you'd get much more out of that than 2-3 track days, I'll guarantee that.
Everything above. Relax, breathe, keep hydrated. Look through the corner, watch your vanishing point. Always get cogged down and brake BEFORE the corner, keep a neutral throttle mid bend ( ie. motor spinning, not slowing or speeding up) accelerate out when the vanishing point opens up. Drop your inside shoulder, push the inside bar, and when you are reet over, knee down, push down on the outside peg to really dig the.rubber in.
I would say go get it set up for your weight and a general suspension set up IMO this is the best mod you can do to any bike, i would agree with whats been said above the blade is an easy 1000cc bike to ride but disagree saying its like a 600cc, a 600 is so much easier to throw about and will stop so much easier and not that mad power that all the 1000cc bikes have. I had a conversation with a good mate of mine he was saying i dont look as comfortable or as fast on my blade as i did on my last bike which was a gsxr 750 LO, his words where i didnt stand a chance keeping with you on the gsxr but you cant get away from me on the blade, weird really i no but hey ho. The blade wins for me because of looks and how easy it is to ride fast or slow if you want to be lazy it has lots of torque unlike a gsxr 750 or a 600.
Levels 1, 2 and 3 California Superbike School was the best thing I ever did. Confidence on road and track shot through the roof afterwards! But yeah, your first trackday in the novice group with an instructor will help you immensely. If there was just one thing I'd pick as THE most important thing in riding for me personally, it would be my VISION! Looking right through the corner beyond the apex, either road or track. Then when you improve, get the suspension set up for your weight and style of riding i.e 'fast road/track' setup.
Interesting thread......what bike did you have before? The blade can be anything, a docile gentle bike, or a raging psycho, you decide and thats the beauty of it. Ride more, ride as smoothly as you can and build your confidence. Its not the bike i'm afraid, its you and you WILL love it in time. A trackday would give a massive boost to your confidence other than that just ride as much as you can at a pace your happy with!
What exactly are you struggling with. You say corners/speed and lines. Give us some examples of the problems your having with corners/speed and lines?
I can only really chuck my two-penneth worth in as I feel like my riding's come on leaps and bounds this year. As someone said, a suspension setup has transformed the bike but one of the biggest things that I've changed this year is loosening my grip on the bars. I'm no longer riding around with my arms locked straight and when I approach corners I've got my body position right. Balls of the feet on the pegs and the leg that's away from the bend is wedged against the tank to the point where I could actually let go of the bars if the bike was stationery and I wouldn't fall off. That allows the arms to be bent and more able to actually finesse the countersteering through the corner.
my old rr7 was 1 of the sweetest handling confidence inspiring bikes i,ve had. as mentioned it depends what your struggling more with and could just be as simple as wrong tyres and/or pressures and a bit of tweeking with suspension set up. i would personally stick with it and get out on it more and more but don,t drive outside of your comfort zone. i,ve been on bikes for 20 odd years but last few years can go months without getting out and it takes me a few miles to gel with it again. also as said following other bikers/mates can give you some pointers and trackdays are brilliant to learn on. i drive fairly quick on roads but never seem to use all the tyres but 1 trackday on my old zx9 and right to the edges almost staright away. i would do a lot more trackdays if we werent, so far away. theres 3 or 4 of us cornish folk on here so i,m sure we could always go out for a ride sometime if you wanted. you,ll get there!!
Considered doing you advance test? It's around £140 and you will do at least 6-8 assessed rides with an experienced Iam instructor. Worth considering.
