Idiot Mechanic
That'd be awesomeOriginally Posted by BMWST?
At the moment I'm not really confident enough to be riding for miles to get somewhere though, I figure on spending the weekend working on emergency breaking, hill starts and actively coutersteering (rather than leaning) but once I'm more comfortable with that lot I may well take you up on the offer, and fire you a
of course ...
Just a Dog
The miles that gentleman does on his BM would prolly find him riding past your place on a regular basis ! Fire him a Pm earlier rather than later ! An offer like that from an instructor should not be left till later mate ! Bad habits are hard to reverse ! Enjoy and wellcome to the world of adrenylin !That'd be awesome
A girlfriend once asked " Why is it you seem to prefer to race, than spend time with me ?"
The answer was simple ! "I'll prolly get bored with racing too, once i've nailed it !"
Bowls can wait !
Doesn't play well with others
It's like having a second DangerousBastard on the forum. What heinous sins did we commit to deserve this?
Hardcore Biker
All? Do you think that learning not to be afraid of your bike is insignificant?
"Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death" - Hunter S. Thompson
The instructions are simple...
MM - listen to the dreaded one, and take up BMWST's generous offer (or any mentor). It is certainly easier to learn (everything) right, first time round.
Do you realise how many holes there could be if people would just take the time to take the dirt out of them?
The instructions are simple...
Of course not, you pillock. But it won't teach you respect for it. Or it's limits.
Do you realise how many holes there could be if people would just take the time to take the dirt out of them?
Forum whore
There have been some posts on here lately showing video of Gymkhanas, the best swerving I have ever seen. It's sooooo hard to describe the subtletys of turning a bike.
Physically look where you want go, the weight of your head & shoulders moving away from centre will begin to tip the bike. You must have a steady throttle, leave the clutch alone until you have good balance & feel, same for the front brake.
The only time you actually control a bike (cars too) is under power. Neutral throttle & the vehicles inertia & dynamics take over, on the brakes it's all about friction (grip) & dynamics. If you have no power, the bike topples over.
A little body language, using your weight & pushing on the inside footrest can help & keeps the bike stable. The slower your going the more input you need from the bars, the more you turn them. Try feet up tightening radius turns until you can do a u turn on full lock comfortably. Good attitude, have fun.
The instructions are simple...
Fixed that for ya, but good post.
Do you realise how many holes there could be if people would just take the time to take the dirt out of them?
Cyborg Biker
Every Situtation different... although learning how to stop quickly is up there...Ok, so I'm getting a bit ahead of myself here as I still need to get emergency braking sorted out properly but I'm working on that, honest!
The idea has hit me that after I've put in a few more hours practice and I'm comfortable with emergency stops I should probably find my way to a car park and practice swerves before getting out on the road properly (I know, I know, I'm being an anally retentive noob). The problem is that although there is a bit of information on t'interwebs about when to swerve, there is precious little information about how to actually do it. I'm told that it involves 2 sharp counter-steered turns but that's about as much as I can glean on the subject, could anyone shed some light on the actual 'how' of swerving?
Some situtations it is better to power out of and away from, some its better to server and avoid, others to avoid and try not to put yourself into the situation (and that is not always possible) and other situations it is bets to emergancy stop... Depends on the situation you are in at which is the best to do and it is a snap decission
Sudden servering can put you into another situation you didn't see or want to be in, oncoming traffic, more stuff on the road from the first situation, loss of control ditch the gap wasn't as big as you thought... but it depends all on the orginal reason you are serving to miss... it the kid running after his ball in a suburan at 50kph, or a 20 cage pile up on the motorway and 100kph
Example kid runs out, you serve to miss but hit mum who you didn't see who was chasing to catch kid... 20 cage pile up on motorway is 20 or just 2 their is that much wreckage its hard to tell can you see a safe path through the shripnel and wrekage
Emergancy breaking while we should know how to do it can be just as bad in traffic if the cage behind is to close, or not watching the road talking or texting on cell phone, changing the radio or CD, yelling at the kids to STFU, spilt coffee on his shirt, eating an icecream, or he was get a BJ and does really care... or any one of thousand reasons the driver wasn't consentrating on the road ahead...
Hardcore Biker
It'll teach you carpark respect and carpark limits, which is the best starting point. It's a foundation, not a fundamental. I never said swerving can be learnt by doing 8's in a carpark, I said it was a first step, and that ultimately, practise, not theory will make the rider. If you start at low speeds and work up, you'll develop a comprehensive understanding of the scaling up of effects per speed or per braking effort etc..., that scaling up becomes a subconscious effort, and a critical skill in dealing with all situations under all speeds. Without a scale to work off (ie. slowest extreme is in a carpark, fastest extreme is on the track) how is the brain supposed to develop that subconscious ability to determine in an instant the right degree of reaction to suit the speed?
"Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death" - Hunter S. Thompson
Forum whore
I'm no guru but I would put counter steering at the bottom of your list. This is not gospel but my own experience, I only feel I am counter steering in two situations. 1st to instigate a turn by using centrifugal force. Your wheels act like gyros & by gently using your weight or a touch on the bars in the direction opposite to your turn, the gyros try to pull the bike upright, at this point you use the momentum to lean the bike in the direction you want to go. This only really takes effect at speed & is intuitive not a conscious action for me.That'd be awesome
2nd reason, When cornering hard at a significant lean I weight my outside peg & weight the bars against the turn to keep the front wheel from tucking under. It's an 18' & can feel quite vague when pushed. Again this intuitive & has taken me decades to reach this point. Concentrate on balance, throttle & clutch control.
The instructions are simple...
Oh really?I never said swerving can be learnt by doing 8's in a carparkWhy don't you go learn how to figure-8 your bike in a carpark until she's scraping and see if that improves your abilbity to swerve. You might surprise yourself.
Do you realise how many holes there could be if people would just take the time to take the dirt out of them?
Hardcore Biker
Yeah really. Read that again with a little less anger and you'll notice I was clearly implying that it'll improve your ability, and that I did not at any point say that it will teach you everything you need to know. You've really got it in for me haven't you? You went off your nut at me suggesting something to practise, but another member posted the same thing and you called it a good post. Get down off your ME pedistal for a moment and read the thread... it reads like EVERY other thread where a beginner asks advice... fraught with a myriad of contradicting statements from experienced riders and ME's. Ironically, the beginners just get to the point where they're so confused that they think "Fuck this, I'll just teach myself"... which is why I suggested doing exactly that in the first place.
"Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death" - Hunter S. Thompson
Forum whore
Cheers, I should have mentioned inside peg to start, outside to keep balance. Your on to it.
Idiot Mechanic
Well, frankly guys, this is the internet! People are going to diagree and that's all good. As it is, I've got some really good pointers and heard some different points of view so I'm as happy as a monkey with an acorn
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