thats the best advice you will get as far as road riding goes. superbike school etc is all very well+good,but is aimed at track riding,yes i know some of the skills used are the same,and confidence you can gain in the bike through this is a good thing,but nothing like rear road experience by some of the smoothest riders out there.road awareness+position is key to smooth,confident road riding.
I know I am just saying what has been said before, but I would try a track day in the novice class (you can always move to the intermediates through the day if you feel happy). From my experience, No Limits seem to be the most professional. Speak to the guys there about suspension set up and tyre pressures on the day. Also get an instructor to assist you, as they are a great bunch and are there to help. Having ridden many other bikes, a Blade (no matter what age) is a very forgiving bike and shouldn't really be a hard ride. Good luck and keep us posted.
Where abouts in Cornwall are you? If you need people to ride with there's a few of us in Devon that often come to bude - tag along and you'll soon build your confidence. Are you riding alone at the moment?
If you have not had the bike from new it may be poorly set up. Get someone else to ride it, check with local dealer take it back to standard settings.
For road riding, the best way to increase confidence is to first SLOW DOWN... that will give you much more time to pick your lines and positions. For the road, you should be riding around the outside of every bend, not attempting to "cut to the apex" like you would on a race track... basically riding in the outside car tyre track (left-hand car tyre for a right-hand bend, right-hand car tyre for a left-hand bend)....... that is a simplified version at least.... there are caveats and nuances to this. SLOW DOWN, so that you can pick your path through the corner, get the right gear and body position, before you get to the corner... as this becomes second nature, you will find yourself more relaxed and able to start picking up the pace.
First of all thanks your a great bunch was ready for a barrage of " bloody idiot too much bike too soon " Had a good mate long time rider ......R1 rider was going to help and guide me but new job and wife took him away just before i passed let me explain more i kinda get nervous when i approach corners and just get round them but not how i think i should or see others do it ( not even sure if nervous is the right word ) i think im getting too worried about what others think of my riding and should just ride for myself. but keep thinking im on a blade i should be faster thought i need futher training or showing by someone expierenced as i feel i've got as far as i can by myself but don't want to slow anybody up and make a fool of myself Anyway thanks again i don't feel like a total losser after your words of encouragment
All i would say is that just because you are on a Blade, don't think that people judge you or your riding style. You are out on a superb bike and you should ride it how you want and at a speed at which you feel comfortable. Anybody who says otherwise is not worth a toss. as long as you are out there enjoying it, then that is all that matters. I would echo other people's thoughts in having your bike taken back to factory settings (although you may find them a bit hard on an RR4/5). Check your tyre pressures and get some good rubber on there too. track days are a good way of building up confidence, but similarly riding with others on the road will help too. Basically, don't give up. Stick at it and do it for yourself and not others.
You sound like you'd be the ideal candidate for CSS Level 1. What you described is exactly what the first level is designed to address.
Gray,i admire your honesty......but once you have your cornering sussed you'll realise just how fantastic a Fire Blade is.You may try breaking your cornering in to small bits.Road position,speed,throttle,looking threw the corner.Keep it simple don't over think it.Get out on your own and practise.Not all of us were born to be a MotoGP god,most of us had to work at it.15 years later and im still learning.
How come since the lady on the bike in the video was on, no one has mentioned her at all !!!!! That is the best bike related video clip i have ever seen.... and very educational into the bargain. Excellent post... oh, and good luck with your riding
As you approach a corner, get the speed down before you drop it in and pick your line. Go deep into the corner and turn later. Applying pressure to the inside grip I.e push the bar as if turning out of the bend to lean the bike into bend. Sounds crazy but I'm sure you do it already without thinking about it. Remember you want to exit with more speed than you entered so apply smooth acceleration through the exit. You would not believe just how much grip a decent tire gives you when leant over. Trust your tires! But seriously come out with me sometime - be happy to help
Have you tried riding your Blade in 6 inch stilettos,well i can tell ya its not easy.But Ive got to say those shoes are so wrong for that bike,they don't match.Bloody Americans have no fashion sense.
