Riding 'fast' on the open road?

[TheDemonLord]

So this weekend, I rode down to Whangamata - particularly over the road from Thames to Whangamata - which I must say is absolutely glorious, however whilst riding it, I didn't think my riding was either fast or particularly good.

Now before you all jump on the 'riding fast is unsafe' and 'speeding is evil' - I am not talking about speeding. I rode keeping it rubber side down, without any 'Oh Shit!' moments, without speeding and with a big grin on my face from the road.

What I am talking about however is that during that ride, I didn't think my riding was very smooth, I felt that I wasn't transitioning between corners well, that my lines were a little uncertain etc.

What I am looking for in this thread is tips on how to smoothen out my riding so that I can ride 'fast' on the open road

[Hitcher]

Ride wearing only a helmet, so you're not breaking any laws. That will add some extra considerations to your highway riding experience, including the speed you travel at, your following distances, and where you stop for fuel.

[Drew]

So this weekend, I rode down to Whangamata - particularly over the road from Thames to Whangamata - which I must say is absolutely glorious, however whilst riding it, I didn't think my riding was either fast or particularly good.

Now before you all jump on the 'riding fast is unsafe' and 'speeding is evil' - I am not talking about speeding. I rode keeping it rubber side down, without any 'Oh Shit!' moments, without speeding and with a big grin on my face from the road.

What I am talking about however is that during that ride, I didn't think my riding was very smooth, I felt that I wasn't transitioning between corners well, that my lines were a little uncertain etc.

What I am looking for in this thread is tips on how to smoothen out my riding so that I can ride 'fast' on the open roadHappens to everyone, for no apparent reason ya just can't get it together.

To fix it, I'll often slow down and do some wheelies between turns to stop thinking about it so much. Not for the faint hearted though, and usually only a good idea on a road you know well. Prolly work fine to just slow down a bit and let the smooth come.

[Maha]

Positioning is the key, leave the 'tip in' point as late as possible, making your view through the corner wider, thus enabling you to keep a better corner speed...don't over think things.

[Madness]

Go back & do the same road again. Twice at least with a break in-between.

[tigertim20]

happens to everyone from time to time, you just dont feel as in touch as other days.

I see you only joined this year, have you been riding long? - training courses etc are always a good thing.

[unstuck]

It's all that hair dragging you down into the corners and putting your line off. Get a haircut. And stop listening to GAYE music.:headbang::headbang:

[nzspokes]

Try to get to Nass or Sass. Nass I think spends more time on carpark and Sass is more open road.

Could be wrong though on Nass.

[Damantis]

I had a crash a few months back and have only had the new bike for a month or so but hadn't gotten out on it till today. Rode a familiar road out to Raglan and back and to be honest, I felt pretty rough on it. Second guessing myself and struggling to find smooth lines. Probably a bit of a knock to the confidence has made me a little gun-shy or something. After chatting with the friend I rode out with, the ride back was more enjoyable. Sometimes you just have to get off and relax. It doesn't matter how "fast" you go, just ride to the conditions and enjoy yourself. I'm doing some rider training over the winter via ACC "Ride Forever" courses. Hopefully I can take some positives out of it.

[gjm]

Practice.

Sometimes the smooth lines just come. Some roads let them... Some roads need a lot more work.

And some days even though you feel fine, for some reason you don't just ride as well as others. Don't worry about it. By all means reflect and learn what you can, though.

Training can help - if you don't do it already, it'll help with reading the road and making sure you maintain as much visibility as possible. The further you can see, the is easier it is to ride smoothly.

[kevfromcoro]

Know what you mean
Rode a bema 8hundy from Thames to Whitianga
Just couldn't get it together..
Stopped at Coroglen and had a coffee, helped a bit.
Not long after that I dropped my TDM . broke 3 bones in my foot.
sort of never been the same since.
Want to keep riding.... mayebe go back to smaller ADV bike.

[R650R]

I think you mean tidy rather than fast. There are days like this when you don't feel with it, maybe distracted etc. Better off to pull the pin and go home to ride another day.
Was talking with another rider about this recently also and agreed.

[Gremlin]

Consider doing a course or two, or find a mentor. You don't know what you don't know...

Are you also riding regularly? Even just riding regularly can help, otherwise you can get rusty.

Since I'm involved, I would also suggest IAM, see if it suits you: http://www.nz-iam.org.nz/

[Akzle]

you all jump on the 'riding fast is unsafe' and 'speeding is evil'

i dont think anyone 'round here would carry on like that.

'slow is smooth, smooth is fast'
-look where youre going
-dont brake around corners.
-pick tidy lines.

[caseye]

i dont think anyone 'round here would carry on like that.

'slow is smooth, smooth is fast'
-look where youre going
-dont brake around corners.
-pick tidy lines.

Helppppppp.
Can someone identify the above poster?
It says Akzle but HELL I don't believe that.
Great advice and oh so true.
Will pm ya nex time we go norf.

[Drew]

Consider doing a course or two, or find a mentor. You don't know what you don't know...

Are you also riding regularly? Even just riding regularly can help, otherwise you can get rusty.

Since I'm involved, I would also suggest IAM, see if it suits you: http://www.nz-iam.org.nz/

An unco day on the bike, does not in the slightest way reflect the need for training.

[slofox]

Go back & do the same road again. Twice at least with a break in-between.

Wot 'e said.

I have a couple of roads I ride regularly and have ridden some hundreds of times. These can teach basic principles, if I take notice - I have the time to repeat, assess and repeat again, every corner on the road and work out how to do 'em comfortably and how it all works. Apply to other corners.

Course every corner you don't know could possibly have, just around it, something serious to think about...

[hayd3n]

what condition are the tyres in? i find worn out tyres or flat tyres mess with the handling, along with poor suspension
slower is smoother ,
consistency is fast

[caspernz]

Define fast on the open road for starters? How fast does a 250 Honda from last century go...

If you're still relatively new to biking, as in only a year or three, a bit of proper rider training won't do any harm. Riding year round helps, and if I can pass on any advice is to just ride within your own comfort zone. Hardly new stuff...

[Drew]

Define fast on the open road for starters? How fast does a 250 Honda from last century go...

If you're still relatively new to biking, as in only a year or three, a bit of proper rider training won't do any harm. Riding year round helps, and if I can pass on any advice is to just ride within your own comfort zone. Hardly new stuff...

Hornet250 will get along just fine.

[Robbo]

Our resident expert "CASSINA" should be along shortly to endow you with his wisdom in regards to "fast" riding and "fast" cornering.

Just be patient.....waiting...waiting...waiting...:whistle ::whistle:

[caspernz]

Hornet250 will get along just fine.

Mildly more spritely than a GN250 for sure...but hardly fast :eek:

And where is CASSINA tonight? We're all holding out for a lecture or two...

[Drew]

Mildly more spritely than a GN250 for sure...but hardly fast :eek:

Guess it depends who's on it. But that's not the bike's fault. It'll do near enough to 180 clicks, and handle pretty good.

[Akzle]

Guess it depends who's on it. But that's not the bike's fault. It'll do near enough to 180 clicks, and handle pretty good.

a stock gn?
You been at the woodies again boy?

[Drew]

a stock gn?
You been at the woodies again boy?

Heineken, but we're talking Hornet 250.

[GrayWolf]

So this weekend, I rode down to Whangamata - particularly over the road from Thames to Whangamata - which I must say is absolutely glorious, however whilst riding it, I didn't think my riding was either fast or particularly good.

Now before you all jump on the 'riding fast is unsafe' and 'speeding is evil' - I am not talking about speeding. I rode keeping it rubber side down, without any 'Oh Shit!' moments, without speeding and with a big grin on my face from the road.

What I am talking about however is that during that ride, I didn't think my riding was very smooth, I felt that I wasn't transitioning between corners well, that my lines were a little uncertain etc.

What I am looking for in this thread is tips on how to smoothen out my riding so that I can ride 'fast' on the open road

its an easy fix,,,,, you have too much 'Gayness' in your life, you ride a small Nonda, AND listen to ManOwimp.... take off your faux furskin loincloth, go back to roots and listen to Black Sabbath's first 4 albums, Deep Purple in rock, Led Zep 1/2/3/4,
THAT will introduce enough 'Manliness' to offset the Nonda ownership..... Smooth riding will simply 'flow' from thereon
:bleh::bleh::bleh:

As you were

[caspernz]

its an easy fix,,,,, you have too much 'Gayness' in your life, you ride a small Nonda, AND listen to ManOwimp.... take off your faux furskin loincloth, go back to roots and listen to Black Sabbath's first 4 albums, Deep Purple in rock, Led Zep 1/2/3/4,
THAT will introduce enough 'Manliness' to offset the Nonda ownership..... Smooth riding will simply 'flow' from thereon
:bleh::bleh::bleh:

As you were

There's also a "Life begins at 100mph" T-shirt to go with the above education program :eek::laugh:

[Urano]

What I am looking for in this thread is tips on how to smoothen out my riding so that I can ride 'fast' on the open road

i suggest you to go to a track in a weekday, when it's fairly empty, and try to ride without using the brakes. (you can do it in a wide parking too, but it's much better in a track...)
you start slow then get as faster as you can go without braking.
repeat at least once a month.




Happens to everyone, for no apparent reason ya just can't get it together.


true. sometimes you just wake up with crippled bike attitude... :(



Define fast on the open road for starters? How fast does a 250 Honda from last century go...

everything bigger than a lawnmower has the capacity to give you hard times if not properly handled.
the misunderstanding of energies involved in he usage of cars and motorbikes is the main reason of many problems...
example: this image shows how a car looks like 25m away. stopping distance at 50kmh. make the math.

[Akzle]

Heineken, but we're talking Hornet 250.

oh yeah. They tickle.

On fuken stella tonight. Green bottles are all much the same.

[haydes55]

If you have an off day, riding over cautiously and making slow progress, maybe that's a good thing? Maybe you aren't 100% and it might be ok to just cruise for the day. Don't sweat it, stay within your limits, if your limits are less today than yesterday, don't sweet it, relax, every day shiny side up is a good day.

You can't go wrong with a rider training course, or even a track day to learn that the limits of your skill/bike are further than you expect.

[neels]

Some people don't know the art of riding a small bike, it seems.

Anyway, sometimes you have an off day and it doesn't seem to work. Ride it home safe, park it up and have another go later, different headspace can make a huge difference to your riding.

[98tls]

:lol:Jesus h this internet motorcyclings a lovely pastime indeed,caring n sharing.Imagine going for a ride and not being at peace with the elements/had a bad day so headed home/took the wrong line:killingmenot to mention worrying about it:brick::killingme.Get a mentor:banana:Ride the fucking thing and learn when you fuck up and it hurts if not let nature take its course.If theres anything left on this planet that shouldnt be fucked with its motorcycling in its purest and most basic.Nanas and do-gooders butt out and let the guy have some fun as it was intended to be.

[98tls]

Some people don't know the art of riding a small bike, it seems.

Anyway, sometimes you have an off day and it doesn't seem to work. Ride it home safe, park it up and have another go later, different headspace can make a huge difference to your riding.

Bullshit.We are taking about riding a motorcycle not climbing Everest.Soft cunts.:sleep:

[scumdog]

oh yeah. They tickle.

On fuken stella tonight. Green bottles are all much the same.

Talisker here.

I don't fuck about with that watery shit called 'beer'.

Maybe I should have saved this for the Friday Night thread...

[Akzle]

Talisker here.

I don't fuck about with that watery shit called 'beer'.

Maybe I should have saved this for the Friday Night thread...

yes. But noone cares, because you have a harley.

[SMOKEU]

SWIM says to sniff a couple of lines of meth (not too much!), then relax and go for a gentle ride. You'll focus way better.

You're welcome.

[Akzle]

you ever get that feeling you married a crack-whore?

[unstuck]

you ever get that feeling you married a crack-whore?

No, do you?

[insomnia01]

I had a crash a few months back and have only had the new bike for a month or so but hadn't gotten out on it till today. Rode a familiar road out to Raglan and back and to be honest, I felt pretty rough on it. .

one thing to remember when riding larger bikes like yours is make sure the tyre pressures are correct otherwise :spanking: i've been playing with 38fr/42Rr where as normally I would ride with 42 at both ends but going as low as 38 seems to be ok ( currently on Bridgestone BT 30 & the psi is recommended by Jay Lawrence) I have recently brought a 2nd BB which has Michelin pilots on it which feel very differant to ride on ( predominately use Avon Storms ) & could take some getting the hang of.

[400sm]

So this weekend, I rode down to Whangamata - particularly over the road from Thames to Whangamata - which I must say is absolutely glorious, however whilst riding it, I didn't think my riding was either fast or particularly good.

Now before you all jump on the 'riding fast is unsafe' and 'speeding is evil' - I am not talking about speeding. I rode keeping it rubber side down, without any 'Oh Shit!' moments, without speeding and with a big grin on my face from the road.

What I am talking about however is that during that ride, I didn't think my riding was very smooth, I felt that I wasn't transitioning between corners well, that my lines were a little uncertain etc.

What I am looking for in this thread is tips on how to smoothen out my riding so that I can ride 'fast' on the open road

Just look a bit further ahead, especially through the corners.

[nodrog]

Get into a Police chase, that will quicken you up a bit.

[george formby]

Meh. I had to take the lardy one out for a ride yesterday to charge the battery & get some mince. It was rubbish. I have a head cold with little hammers banging in my skull & I could not get warm. Distracting.
The ride felt unco and so did I but I know from experience that I was travelling the road pretty much the same as I always do. It's all in the head. I would wager that next time you ride that road you ace it and get home feeling like a star.

Oh, a "bad" ride just makes you appreciate the good ones more.

[sugilite]

What I am looking for in this thread is tips on how to smoothen out my riding so that I can ride 'fast' on the open road

Heyya, I did a bit of a write up on this subject a while ago, here it is below....
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/117616-Ride-smoother-and-safer-%28and-get-paid-to-do-it!%29

[Maha]

Get into a Police chase, that will quicken you up a bit.

... at night is even better..... right? ;)

[awa355]

Some rides are good, the others are brilliant. I've been out and a trouser leg feels like its halfway up my shin, a shirt sleeve feels twisted inside the jacket. Those rides dont come right untill I've stopped and straightened my clothes. Same with getting that ' flowing ' feel to the bike. Back off and start again.

[nodrog]

... at night is even better..... right? ;)

Only if you have a bike with a light switch.

[TheDemonLord]

Heyya, I did a bit of a write up on this subject a while ago, here it is below....
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/117616-Ride-smoother-and-safer-%28and-get-paid-to-do-it!%29

This is what I am talking about for tips - will try some of the advice there.

FYI on the ride, I was mainly down changing and using a bit of back brake to set the bike up into the corner, it was more the flow between the corners that I wasn't feeling

[pritch]

There's some sure 'nuff strange stuff here in response to a simple question.

Even the riding gods who get paid millions complain that sometimes they just can't get a good rhythm. In his autobiography Guy Martin says that when he catches another rider in the TT he has to get past quickly. If he follows the rider too long he can lose his own rhythm and it may be difficult or impossible to get it back.

At our much more modest level it's still possible to have an off day, an unco day as Drew called it IIRC? Just be extra careful until it comes back.