Is crashing the only way to become a better racer?

[scracha]

Ok, this poll is for EXPERIENCED racers. You know, the types who do reasonably well at the Nationals, North West 200, WSB, Motogp (you never know!) and that sort of thing.

[White trash]

I'm not terribly experienced at racing as such, however, I've done a shitload of tracdays and consider myself slightly quicker than average.

I've never crashed on a track.

[idleidolidyll]

Ok, this poll is for EXPERIENCED racers. You know, the types who do reasonably well at the Nationals, North West 200, WSB, Motogp (you never know!) and that sort of thing.

I don't reckon it's mandatory but it does seem to go with the territory. Unless you are pushing to the limit you will never be really competitive and sometimes you will go over that limit trying.

The sad thing is that the ignorant will call you a crasher.......

[Torque]

All i know is, i have done all 5 rounds of the Nationals this year and have crashed 3 times. one time in practice and 2 DNFs. I learnt quite a bit from all 3 crashes so if you crash and learn from it you become faster and a better rider. I finished 10th in F3. I am really hoping i stay on the bike next time i am on the track, it hurts to fall off! Cheers Rob

[twinshock750]

What an old wives tale!

I've always found that you win races by finishing them. Crashing just ruins that and your cheque book and Chicks don't dig scars.

There's more than one way to go fast than just blindly trying harder until you fall off.

Some guys win world championships with hardly falling off in testing, practice, racing and they do thousands of kms a year - far mor ethan we do at speed.

A couple of things I can see that will make you go fast properly are:
1) Read. Read everything you can by guys like Keith Code
2) Go to school: Race School. get coaching from guys like Brian Bernard, Vince etc or even go to Aussie for a weekend to one of the race schools they run at places like Phillip Island or Eastern Creek. You can hire bikes and take your own gear. The price to do it is not any different to fixing your bike from one accident....
3) learn how to set your bike up properly. I mean really properly so it doesn't overwork tyres, rides over bumps, doesn't have any nasty tendencies, tursn in has good grip.. That's got to help a lot too...

Plus crashing just makes you hurt, wastes money, can make you gun shy and despite protestations to the opposite, it's not just the ignorant that will call you a crasher, because you are a crasher if you fall off a lot. If you fall off a lot you are obviously doing something wrong somewhere because the aim is to stay on the bloody thing so you can win races.

[Sketchy_Racer]

crashing is good, but do it where it doesnt hurt or cost money.

In my bucket racing carrer, i've had sooo many more crashes than i can remember. But thats what i was using it for. It didnt hurt (much) when i crashed, because it was slow speed, and the bikes were shitty, so didnt cost much. What it did teach me, was what a bike starts to do when your breaking to hard. What feeling does it give, some of the feelings were false, and you can acctualy brake a lot harden that the bikes letting you know, but you don't know that untill you go past that, and find a new limit.
How much gas can you apply at full lean?? I learned you can make just about any bike power slide when at full lean, yes even a FXR150 (really really good ones too!!) But once again, you don't know how far you can gas it up, untill its too far, so you gotta try it. After two seasons and lots of crashes on a bucket i went to streetstock 150

This is where it has changed. The bikes are more expesive, and the speed is higher. But the training i had got from buckets was easily passed onto these bikes, as they are really just a FXR on sterioids.

I did 1 vic season where i got second place, only to be beaten by a 250, with alot more HP , and then the ruapuna national round which only has 150s, where i won it. No crashes in that time. Some people call them 'moments' but they really arent when you learn what they are. a 'moment' is just the bikes way of letting you know, that your on the limit, but you can't get confused with a false moment, because it could be you holding back

Now 125GP,

Whole different ball game, i've learned really quickly that when these bikes give a twitch or a flick, thats thier way of letting me know that im pushing the boundary, and thats the only warning i get before it gets ugly.

I've had only 1 crash since leaving buckets, and i might add that the crash was aided by a siezing engine....
Yet, i have improved leaps and bounds, and know i can still improve leaps and bounds...

So, no i don't believe crashing expensive bikes, at high speed is nessecary, but i know from my experience from buckets, that crashing is a really quick way of learning bike handling skills. and on buckets, its great fun, as you get to laugh about it with all the other racing buddys.

I believe that if you push the limits ( a national race meet) for long enough, and all it takes is to mis-read what the bikes telling you, and its crash time.
A lot easier to do than most think, but its more amazing how hard we can ride, and NOT fall off.

-Glen

[cowpoos]

I reckon its just a part of learning....how many other skills do we learn and make mistakes whilst doing like driving a car or baking,etc...while learning we usually make mistakes...some people make more than others and the consquences vary...riding bikes fast on a track can end up on your arse when you make a mistake or just maybe go for a wee sightseeing tour on the infield...mistake are inevitable really...a less agressive rider may just bugger up a line and run wide and shit themselves...the more agressive rider may run wide and end up cartwheeling themselves and bike though the kitty litter...
its not a have too do to get somewhere or improve...it just happens...

mistakes aye...lol

[Motu]

I'm not a racer in your sense of the word,but in the early '90's I raced on our local dirt track,flattrack I suppose.I had to ride the bike at 110%,past the point where the tyres lost traction and started to slide....this is where I had to ride the bike and stay in control.We raced every two weeks,and had a practice night - our races were 8 laps long,but I stayed out on practice nights until I couldn't hold my left leg and steel shoe out any more.If I didn't crash several times a practice session I didn't think I was pushing hard enough.But on race day I never crashed,unless another bike took me out.

I mention this because that's how the American racers of the '70's and '80's learnt how to ride - Kenny Roberts,Lawson,Spencer etc.

[kiwicam]

crashing is good, but do it where it doesnt hurt or cost money.

In my bucket racing carrer, i've had sooo many more crashes than i can remember. But thats what i was using it for. It didnt hurt (much) when i crashed, because it was slow speed, and the bikes were shitty, so didnt cost much. What it did teach me, was what a bike starts to do when your breaking to hard. What feeling does it give, some of the feelings were false, and you can acctualy brake a lot harden that the bikes letting you know, but you don't know that untill you go past that, and find a new limit.
How much gas can you apply at full lean?? I learned you can make just about any bike power slide when at full lean, yes even a FXR150 (really really good ones too!!) But once again, you don't know how far you can gas it up, untill its too far, so you gotta try it. After two seasons and lots of crashes on a bucket i went to streetstock 150

This is where it has changed. The bikes are more expesive, and the speed is higher. But the training i had got from buckets was easily passed onto these bikes, as they are really just a FXR on sterioids.

I did 1 vic season where i got second place, only to be beaten by a 250, with alot more HP , and then the ruapuna national round which only has 150s, where i won it. No crashes in that time. Some people call them 'moments' but they really arent when you learn what they are. a 'moment' is just the bikes way of letting you know, that your on the limit, but you can't get confused with a false moment, because it could be you holding back

Now 125GP,

Whole different ball game, i've learned really quickly that when these bikes give a twitch or a flick, thats thier way of letting me know that im pushing the boundary, and thats the only warning i get before it gets ugly.

I've had only 1 crash since leaving buckets, and i might add that the crash was aided by a siezing engine....
Yet, i have improved leaps and bounds, and know i can still improve leaps and bounds...

So, no i don't believe crashing expensive bikes, at high speed is nessecary, but i know from my experience from buckets, that crashing is a really quick way of learning bike handling skills. and on buckets, its great fun, as you get to laugh about it with all the other racing buddys.

I believe that if you push the limits ( a national race meet) for long enough, and all it takes is to mis-read what the bikes telling you, and its crash time.
A lot easier to do than most think, but its more amazing how hard we can ride, and NOT fall off.

-Glen

well said grasshopper

[kickingzebra]

I have learnt more about speed by thinking about what the bike is doing, what I am doing, fine tuning the movements, throttle application etc, than I have from crashing.
The valuable lesson crashing teaches you? Don't crash.
Can learn more in time on the bike than time off it, and though the odd crash may be inevidable, time on the bike will see the incidence of such diminish enourmously.

[scracha]

I'm honestly surprised at the variance in the answers so far.

[Denniso]

The most common thing I've learned from track crashes is that I fucked up,didn't check bike properly, rode like a twat, or just ignored physics.

[DEATH_INC.]

Where's the option for I crash a lot and would do well in the nationals if I had a competitive bike, money, lost 40 kg, 15 years etc?????
I think you crash as part of the learning curve.....unless you're WT....how do you know the limits if you don't overstep them?

[kiwicam]

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crashing sucks .. it breaks all the levers and sometimes the frame and smetimes ya limbs....so ride it like ya stole it..

however if it all comes unstuck doing a bit of bucket racing will at least scuff up your leathers so you dont look a total neewbie when you go to superbike school.

at least two former nz road race champions in that bucket video and probably at least two future champions, but you will have to spot those

[Sketchy_Racer]

cool vid Kiwicam, Have you got any other NZ racing ones tucked away??

[Ivan]

Yip Im agreeing with you here Glen my friend,

Crashing happens in the learning stages and will happen but not all the time,


I learnt the twitches and skips the 125makes and you get used to it my thing is get a fast dirt bike go hard crash it while practicing slides etc and then come back to the seal get the slides and twitches and do what you need to to keep there half the time on a 125 is slam your knee hard onto the ground and settle the bike again.

I have crashed twice from leaving buckets my first 150 qualifying and my last ever 150 race I high sided,

I have blown my engine at Manfield and been locked up all the way through turn one but you need to use your mind and not panic


Heres some good advice


USE YOUR MIND RACING IS IN THE MIND YOU NEED TO CONSTANTLY BE THINKING WHAT YOUR DOING AND DOING NEXT,


Cheers for listening if you did

[JayRacer37]

Yea, it can vary for everyone. For me was really different....My first road racing was like Glen (RG100) on buckets, but a few years earlier than him.
I was SLOW...really slow. And I fell down lots. Then the speed came...and after a year or two I went 150's then 125's. And I didn't crash them much, the bucket knowledge transfered across well. Then two years ago now I started racing a 600 full time...and now I have myself a reputation as a 'crasher', something I resent as I have had no more falls, actually less, than many people overseas and even here. BUT all of my falls have taught me something invaluable...and to try and go out and learn myself how to deal with the 600 after a 125, quickly, yea i pushed it and fell down. I went to and past the limits, to learn them, and to understand them. Now I don't crash so much, I don't have to to know where the limit is...its all in the learning stage.

[flame]

...its all in the learning stage.

So.....I'm gonna have to crash before I can get faster!:crybaby:

[JayRacer37]

So.....I'm gonna have to crash before I can get faster!:crybaby:

Nah nah nah, thats not what i meant. When I stepped up to a 600, I was rushed, by myself mostly, to be fast on the thing. I didn't understand the bike, so I crashed a few times finding out. I learnt from every one, but they did happen. If i'd taken the time, i'm sure i'd have gone as fast not falling off...but maybe it would have taken longer. It probably would have happened anyway. I was pushing the limits, and it happend. Big deal. I'll fall off again too. Its just one of those things when you are racing.

[JayRacer37]

In the words of Valentino Rossi: "If you are fast but fall, is possible you improve. If you are slow, you are fucked."

[Shaun]

Yea, it can vary for everyone. For me was really different....My first road racing was like Glen (RG100) on buckets, but a few years earlier than him.
I was SLOW...really slow. And I fell down lots. Then the speed came...and after a year or two I went 150's then 125's. And I didn't crash them much, the bucket knowledge transfered across well. Then two years ago now I started racing a 600 full time...and now I have myself a reputation as a 'crasher', something I resent as I have had no more falls, actually less, than many people overseas and even here. BUT all of my falls have taught me something invaluable...and to try and go out and learn myself how to deal with the 600 after a 125, quickly, yea i pushed it and fell down. I went to and past the limits, to learn them, and to understand them. Now I don't crash so much, I don't have to to know where the limit is...its all in the learning stage.


Back the Truck up Jay, the only people that say you are a big time crasher, are people that either do not like you for what ever reason, or people that that do not know what they are really talking about.

I say keep doing what you are doing mate, you are going places

[roogazza]

I always thought I came back faster after every biff ?

But 43 years on and a highside 4 weeks ago , I just think FUCK, this still hurts !!! Gaz. :yes:

[JayRacer37]

Back the Truck up Jay, the only people that say you are a big time crasher, are people that either do not like you for what ever reason, or people that that do not know what they are really talking about.

I say keep doing what you are doing mate, you are going places


Haha, Cheers Shaun.

[Ivan]

started racing a 600 full time...and now I have myself a reputation as a 'crasher', .



The Question I have is are they Testing for a massive Europeon Tire company at the age of 18?


Thats all sorry man your a legend your going places like Shaun said and keep at it man youll hit the World level with your attitude Determanation and understanding of what the bike and tires is doing

[oyster]

No, no, no. Crashing is not part of the learning process for Road Racers.
In this sport, injury is the main reason to avoid crashing. As we teach our youngsters, "you crash 9 times and it doesn't hurt, then on the 10th.... it really, really hurts". So the answer is, stay on the bike and improve your odds of having to wait a long time before the "big one" And all this idea that Miniature Road Race is OK to crash at? No, when I started on Buckets 20 years ago, I saw the most horrific injuries. Repeat, it's a game of numbers, nothing else. Every time your crash, you roll those dice, and eventually the double six will come up.
Please respectfully consider at this time there were 5 teenage fatalities in motorsport last month, 2 serious ones just this weekend. All very different they say, but the common thread? Crashing.
Is Rossi a serial crasher? No. To be a top rider, get good tuition and take you time to incrementally climb the ladder. Riding 110% doesn't work.

[Sketchy_Racer]

I agree with you about not crashing, at the end of the day, we don't go out there to crash, we go out to ride hard, push our limits.

Now, for myself, im never going to learn how a bike reacts to a certain situation, without putting the bike into that situation. How is it possible to understand what the machine you are riding is/isnt capable of if you don't try and see?

Obvisouly there are clear signs as to what it can't do, and it'll let you know, but sometime, you just don't know, and you never will unless you try. And sometimes when you do try, it comes unstuck. When it does, you can try save it, give up stand it up and run off, or if it happens to violently, then unfortunatly, you pulled the short straw and your on your arse.

I might add, that the buckets we have up our way are faaaaar slower than the likes of ruapuna, where the corner speed is just the same as the bigger bikes.

Is rossi a serial crasher? No but he does crash. Even the Best of the best make mistakes, and crash. Then they go and learn from it. (pedrosa????)

[oyster]

RG 100. Just explaining, the injuries I witnessed in Buckets were at Dunedin and Invercargill Kart Track's. Punctured lung, smashed wrist, unconsciousness,
broken leg, ankle and heaps more. All probably under 30km/hr, but all preceded by 9 no pain incidents....
And finding the boundaries? There are other ways safer than crashing.

[Sketchy_Racer]

RG 100. Just explaining, the injuries I witnessed in Buckets were at Dunedin and Invercargill Kart Track's. Punctured lung, smashed wrist, unconsciousness,
broken leg, ankle and heaps more. All probably under 30km/hr, but all preceded by 9 no pain incidents....

Not saying crashing at buckets doesnt hurt, im saying its a damn sight safer crashing at 30kph, than say 130....

And wow, you guys do good (or is that bad??) crashes. In my short 2 years of being related to the bucket scene, i have seen countless crashes, and yet, i think a cracked rib was the worst... followed by a sprained ankle



And finding the boundaries? There are other ways safer than crashing.

Would you care to elaborate?

[Ivan]

Oyster I cant agree more,

My dad has a stell plate holding his ankle together because of Buckets His tendon snapped in two


Yes I believe also there are more ways than crashing,

I ride try harder go back check laps write notes try new stuff

Feel the bike over twitch and skid and no thats the limit or dont feel athing and know to go harder.


Valentino hardly crashes on faster he crys because it had been so long,


Crashing happens tho its bound to, its there but its not nessacery

[oyster]

Lots of track time and small, methodical increments. Ivan has it sorted.
The official (long) version is in Keith Code's book(s). I've seen the evidence in several young riders recently achieving outstanding riding success, with crash rates around one per 10 meetings. I can be done. I have also seen riders who, for maybe as long as a year, seem to show no promising form. Then, after a few years of plugging away become very, very good. I hope this helps.
I look forward to seeing Rg 100 down south for about 10 club meetings thru the year. Expensive, but the only safe way. Time in the saddle

[Keystone19]

I have crashed three times on the track - twice while racing - both of those while pushing the limits, and as a result, going over those limits.

I would prefer not to crash and don't believe that if you race you have to crash.

However, I have always learnt something from each crash. Among other things - don't crash! Also, to find out why I crashed and don't do it again!

So, if something good can be said about crashing, then it is that if you learn from it (as the others above have said) then there will be some benefit from it.

[FROSTY]

It looks to me theres two ways of getting to go fast on the track--two extremes. The slow n steady way -every meeting improving by seconds and fractions of a second -or the rossi style --pushing the limits early on --crashing a lot but usually getting to go really darn fast just BEFORE they crash then going slow for awhile after the crash.
Personally I prefer method 1---mainly because i know how much it bloody hurts to crash--both body and wallet

[Squeak the Rat]

I don't race bikes, so please forgive my observation however obtuse it may seem. I use to applied the "if you dont crash your not learning" theory to mountain biking. I have had to sell my bike because I've had too many head injuries.

[Sketchy_Racer]

Lots of track time and small, methodical increments. Ivan has it sorted.
The official (long) version is in Keith Code's book(s). I've seen the evidence in several young riders recently achieving outstanding riding success, with crash rates around one per 10 meetings. It can be done. I have also seen riders who, for maybe as long as a year, seem to show no promising form. Then, after a few years of plugging away become very, very good. I hope this helps.
I look forward to seeing Rg 100 down south for about 10 club meetings thru the year. Expensive, but the only safe way. Time in the saddle

Now, This i agree with 100%

I wouldnt accept a crash a meeting as 'learning' a crash a meeting means you are out riding yourself.

even a crash every 5 meetings.

(for the record ;))since mooving from buckets, i have had only 1 crash out of the 12 meetings i have raced at. and the crash was aided by a siezing engine mid turn.

Thanks for the insight Pete.

Oh, and i dunno about me coming down south 10 times... I can only afford to come down once....

-Glen

[Ivan]

Yip I have had a good succes rate on the 125,


Nationals I ran off 3 times all were trying but no dropping,
its about not panicing when you can have bike upright brake hard then release the brakes before you hit the grass or you will lock your front wheel and crash

I am known to be like that tho I dont learn the hard way all I learn is that it hurts and then loose confidence for a while.


I am known for trying myself learning my own limits then asking experienced riders there advice and combine it with myne to get faster,


I like to ride a bike so that I am constantly in control not holding onto it with all my body to keep the thing upright but I am known for dragging my knee alot

Its my riding style if I change it I will go slower,


I am struggling at the mommnt with suspension and it feels like I am riding a bucking bull when I am trying to crank throttle hard to pass the guy in front

[kiwicam]

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just to show that crashing is always there no matter how far up the motorcycle racing tree you climb...and sad as it may be they are fun to watch sometimes

[JayRacer37]

crashing a lot but usually getting to go really darn fast just BEFORE they crash then going slow for awhile after the crash.


No, after a crash you don't slow down. Why would you? You have had a fall, and if you can explain, understand, and analyse WHY it happened, WHAT you did to influnce it, and what YOU will change to avoid it again, you SHOULD go faster, cause now you don;t have the 'what will happen here and now' feeling.
Case in point: PR1 Puke, PB 59.4, crash
PR2 puke, PB 59.2, consistanly, moments ion the same place that I was ready for, and a faster speed.

[oyster]

Jay, Squeak the Rat has given you the answer. Please consider how excited so many riders are about the emergence of new young talent, and you are certainly amongst this group. We are all looking forward to seeing your bright career unfold. Jay, eventually a run of low or no injury / bike damage crashes will run out. Then it will bite, and hard. That's when you really slow down. Please do us all a favour and take crashing out of the "required to learn" equation.

Sincerely, I've seen it this before, Oyster

[Ivan]

Its that full noise high side and end up being shocked, THebodyis not designed for hard impacts the risk is there the hard crash may come, It wont be like no other low side


I know of at least 3 riders who retired from racing because they were involved in that crash at Manfield.
There mind is not there with it they have slowed down the body is shocked when the mind is not there you shouldnt be on track.

Now I know alot of other guys are back out there again and fast and I take my hat off to them good on you guys.


But one of my friends he ended up not being able to work all day his headwas injured so bad

I dont think crashing is the way to become a fast rider I thinkriding and learning is the correct way,


No I am not as fast as you Jay and I will admit to that but I have crashed and seen nasty crashes and learnt nothing from them except it hurts

[JayRacer37]

take crashing out of the "required to learn" equation.

Sincerely, I've seen it this before, Oyster

I have never said "crashing is needed to learn". Pushing the limits is needed to understand them, and advance them. Occasionally, when doing this, falls will happen. I'm not talking jumping of once a session, once a day, once a series even. And it's deifnitly NOT a case of, "if you don't crash, your not going fast enough". I'm not advocating crashing on a regular basis at all, just that when you do crash, cause occasinally you will, that is all but inevitable, LEARN something from it. take something away from it, ponder it, and IMPROVE.

[jade]

Wow Jay, that is the best profile pic ive seen here..
your rep preceeds you

[BigG]

Every body falls off sometime, when you push the limits of the bike and yourself, you get better the more you practice and race, you cant come to to much grief on the track, allthough my boy had a massif head injury and was in Hospital for 18 months, mind you that was doing MotorX. Keep riding hard you dont make it unless you got the guts and determination.:rockon: :apumpin:

[FROSTY]

Jay I think you're missing my point-- from what Ive seen --ie what I have personally observed over the years there seem to be two types of learning curves
one is a slow steady improvement the other is a jerky series of steps upwards --as the limit is passed and they crash and loose a bit of confidence then regain confidence and start going faster again
Some people seem to be able to pick themselves up from a crash and carry on just as fast --but from what Ive seen they are rare

[Shaun]

No, after a crash you don't slow down. Why would you? You have had a fall, and if you can explain, understand, and analyse WHY it happened, WHAT you did to influnce it, and what YOU will change to avoid it again, you SHOULD go faster, cause now you don;t have the 'what will happen here and now' feeling.
Case in point: PR1 Puke, PB 59.4, crash
PR2 puke, PB 59.2, consistanly, moments ion the same place that I was ready for, and a faster speed.


This is the attitude of a rider who will become a world class rider.

Crashing, though not needed, is a part of the game if you want to be fast.

Us oldies, and riders that are not going to be very very fast will slow down after crashes

[White trash]

Wow Jay, that is the best profile pic ive seen here..
your rep preceeds you
WTF?? That's gay! He's gonna get his leathers soaked! What a clown......

[JayRacer37]

Wow Jay, that is the best profile pic ive seen here..
your rep preceeds you

Thanks mate :D
It's one of my favorites too
Thanks to Lynda Blair for standing out in the driving rain to snap it for me :niceone:

[Ivan]

Yip definatly a cranker

Like that Mick Doohan shot

[Steve_R6R]

Thankfully crashing is not the ONLY way to become a better racer, practice, coaching, fitness etc are much better value for money. But if you want too push your bondaries and try and run with the big boys crashing comes with the teritory. Coaching god Keith Code has abit about it on this video, he says to help practice for a crash, clear an area around you with softsh flooring (ie on carpet not concrete). Stand in the centre close your eyes and relax your body from the ankle up, colapsing to the floor. If you do it right and totaly relax, it won't hurt at all, if you try to resist, or break you fall well.... you have to just practice it. Do it a few times, it is kind of fun when perfected, (I still do it a little) and people think your nuts. The idea is when you have lost control of your bike and are sliding down the track relaxing you body will spread the load on the leathers, and you will be flexible to take any impact.
Another way to practice for crashing (this is my favourite) is get a cheap shitty bike you don't like too much, and crash it, old leathers, and a bit of gravel road or metal pit or where ever is safe and won't attrack too much attention, start with little lowsides and work into it see how many crashes you can get in before you or the bike get over it.

[Ivan]

Yeah I could agree with that,


I have practiced falling over a few times Bmx is fun especially In a big rugby field with that wet dewy fround with bald tires which are like slicks pedal hard out and try and turn you lose the front end and slide relax and you get used to it.


Im currently getting used to holding onto a push bike at full noise sideways down the gravel I do it speedway style as well no brakes RG100!! has seen it pedal get some speed go in gravel glide foot over gravel and turn handel bars left so that the front loses grip then use foot to keep it stable really works

I can tell you I had a few crashes at the start I have even high sided a BMX and smashed my collar bone to pieces


I can tell you one thing

Even if you dont race were godgear IE leathers helmet boots etcwhen you crash this is whats saving you from your skin being a permernant mark on the trakc

[Flyno]

Ivan speedyway styles, IS COMPLETELY diff to wot road is, road is ten times faster and alot more speed involved!

[CM2005]

i'm not a good rider, but i fall off. hopefully this will make me good?

[JayRacer37]

i'm not a good rider, but i fall off. hopefully this will make me good?

Is worth a shot.......:shutup: :rockon:

[Tim 39]

practising crashing sounds strange, personally id rather practice staying on the bike, but I never realy thought of the fact that I have more chance at being a decent crasher than a decent rider!

[CM2005]

i put some bloody holes in the knee of my lovely zebra leathers.. shite! i got to practice hanging off...

[R1madness]

Experiance tells me that a race track crash is going to happen at some time but there are ways to learn with out crashing your brains out.
Learn to feel a slide in the front by finding an empty car park and do 1st gear figure 8s with your knee down.
Then try them with a little more throttle and a little less lean to get the feel of the rear.
Yes you may crash doing this but it will be so slow it will not hurt (much) and the damage will be minimal.

[R1madness]

SteveR6R you idea of crash practice is a good one. I have a good crash technique that has saved me several broken bones over the years (no i didn't crash much just BIG). The relax thing is important but if you keep your arms tucked in to your chest with your hands holding your head and your feet slightly off the ground your bits will not flail around ( its the flailing and twisting that brakes bones on impact).
Oh yea also buy the best gear you can afford. I can personally recommend Sidi Race boots and HJC helmets as life and limb savers.

[roogazza]

I know two brothers , Dave and Nev Hiscock who came from two extremes , Dave , super fast and smooth and rarely crashed, a real thinker. Nev, all guts and on his day just as fast. Nev's first thought was pull in the clutch and keep the motor running, I saw this many times. His nick name was 'near miss Nev' ! He finally ran out of luck at Kyalami poor bugger, we all thought he was bullet proof ? Great guy.... Gaz.

[DEATH_INC.]

I have never said "crashing is needed to learn". Pushing the limits is needed to understand them, and advance them. Occasionally, when doing this, falls will happen. I'm not talking jumping of once a session, once a day, once a series even. And it's deifnitly NOT a case of, "if you don't crash, your not going fast enough". I'm not advocating crashing on a regular basis at all, just that when you do crash, cause occasinally you will, that is all but inevitable, LEARN something from it. take something away from it, ponder it, and IMPROVE.
You really 18 :Pokey:
This is one of the most intellegent posts I've ever seen on KB.

[Drew]

You really 18 :Pokey:
This is one of the most intellegent posts I've ever seen on KB.

It's a cunt aye, little fucker has talent, and brains.

I'M BOT LENDING YOU BIKES ANYMORE, I DEVELOPE A COMPLEX WHENEVER YOU'RE AROUND:baby:

[JayRacer37]

You really 18 :Pokey:
This is one of the most intellegent posts I've ever seen on KB.

Yea, really really....
Cheers mate :D

[Sketchy_Racer]

woulda thought that would have been common sense really?

:Pokey: