Crashed!

[FJRider]

Getting off track here but I feel compelled to comment because you really are a child.

I also just noticed that you went as far as to leave negative rep on some of my other posts, few as they are, purely out of spite.... I think everyone would agree, that makes you a grade A

please dont cry ...you might make me feel bad ...

[FJRider]

I also just noticed that you went as far as to leave negative rep on some of my other posts, few as they are, purely out of spite.... I think everyone would agree, that makes you a grade A

and what makes you think that (red) rep was mine ... 17 posts to your name does not give you the power to see WHO it was ... another 200 posts to go ... to see that ...

[Smifffy]

Sucks that you crashed dude. Keep on riding, and keep the shiny side up.

At least you are thinking about it and learning, and haven't seriously injured yourself.

A few thoughts:
I'm glad that you didn't blame the guy in the ute, or the corners/roads but rather looked at what you were doing

Take it slow, find a quiet back road somewhere and go up and down it a lot. Try to find one with a few different corners and start off slow, pull over if there's the odd bit of traffic and let it past, wait until you have a clear bit of road.

Work on being smooth, not on being fast.

Another benefit of this approach is that you can find some good stretches of road that will become favourites for life, and a good testing/proving ground for any bike you ever get.

As an aside, and not at anyone in particular, I think it a shame that because the max cc rating for 6L is 250cc, everyone seems to be encouraged to get a 250 bike.

When I got my L many moons ago, I had what was effectively a road legal 125cc 4 stroke farm bike. Even after I got my full, I then upgraded to a 2 stroke 125 commuter bike - and I thought I was made. Eventually my finances allowed me to get a 4 stroke 250 "sports" bike. This was about 5 years after I got my full.

To be honest, I'd still love to own each of those bikes today, and ocassionally search the models out on TardMe, but it's just a dream.

Edit: PS: When I say go up and down that quiet road a lot - I mean a lot!! - that isn't to say hoon down it.

[avgas]

I know about countersteering, looking where you want to go, position on road, effects of cold, etc. I just hadnt practiced enough for reflex to over-ride the brake reaction.

Sadly the only way you break this is buy having a bit of fun.
Soon as you start enjoying yourself it will all become naturally.
Doubt is a motherfucker, and literally removes all you skills in about 1/100th of a second. I know, I have got doubt mid-corner many years ago......this made me fail in the turn.

At the end of the day you need safe practice. Go to a car park and literally see if you can go faster and faster around it. Eventually you will be kicking out the rear trying to get it sideways (all at about 30kph) - and doubt will be no where near your mind.

Its like a baby trying to walk. It take 2 things - time and attempts. You need your baby steps perfect before you can run.

[R-Soul]

On the track, the thing that really stood out for me was that, when I stopped trying to go "faster", and started trying to just use good technique, without worrying about speed, then it all just happned so naturally, and ended up in me being able to do what I was doing at speeds far in excess of what I could do before.

Speed is LITERALLY all about good technique (not that I claim to be a speed king or anything- but its all relative). When you are using good technique, stuff that seemed unstable and hairy before, now feels settled and solid, and safe, and encourages a bit more exploration of the limits.

PS I am talking about the track here when talking about limits of any kind. But: that same technique when used at slower speeds then gives you a much better sense of control & stability and allows for awareness of other important things, such as Mary Pajero and her 7 kids pulling out of the side road. The same technique also allows for much quicker swerves in emergency situations.