How fast is too fast!

**munster** · 8th March 2013, 22:03

Originally Posted by bosslady

I did a pro rider course today and do feel much better, but still, all of a sudden going around a roundabout makes me nervous, it never used to. I was gonna come to sass this week but had to work, next week I hope!

I been riding 28 years and I still hate going round roundabouts! Never can seem to get them smooth.

Oh well, always room for improvement.

**Mushu** · 9th March 2013, 03:25

Originally Posted by munster

I been riding 28 years and I still hate going round roundabouts! Never can seem to get them smooth.

Oh well, always room for improvement.

Approach from the right wheel track and use the slight left kink to get a good line then it's just a corner like any other right hander also I find if you drag your rear brake just a little coming in and let it off just as you find your lean angle to the right it improves confidence

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**nzspokes** · 9th March 2013, 06:57

Originally Posted by bosslady

all of a sudden going around a roundabout makes me nervous, it never used to.

Lift your eyes, look where you want to go not in front of you.

**Maha** · 9th March 2013, 06:58

Originally Posted by Mushu

if you drag your rear brake just a little coming in and let it off just as you find your lean angle to the right it improves confidence

Makes for a smooth roundabout encounter, gear selection as you enter, rear brake covered, head looking slightly to the right, job done. Its the slower speed that some have trouble with, the 'death grip' ensues and it then becomes an real task.

**DMNTD:Me** · 9th March 2013, 07:07

How fast is too fast? Errrrr...if you are starting to feel uncomfortable and having those oh shit moments...then you are going too fast
It is almost irrelevant what the speedo is saying, it is what you're mind is saying.
If you feel the need to keep up, then fuck off and get some counselling or simply change you riding group

**martybabe** · 9th March 2013, 09:09

Be as confident as you like but never be complacent, that's like never! Enjoy but concentrate all the time.

**flyingcarpet** · 9th March 2013, 09:33

If you ride in Auckland and your ass isnt biteing the seat , then you havent left your driveway...as far as time frame for learning goes , if your a natural its fast , if you shouldnt be on a bike , its SLOW and you should give the bike to me .

**Mushu** · 10th March 2013, 00:16

Originally Posted by MSTRS

.... before you can go fast, you must first go slow. Learn pace riding (set a reasonable speed and try to maintain it), be smooth with accelerating and gear changing, read the road conditions as far ahead as is practical/possible and adjust speed through throttle control and road position to setup corner lines. Brakes are for stopping/emergencies.
Get the above right and then you are in a better position to up the pace a little. A little. Do not try to keep up with better riders. Perhaps ask them to keep you in their mirror/s so they keep to your speed.

The above quote is from the thread 'keeping up on a small bike' in the survival section (can't be bothered doing a link cos I'm using my phone. This is the opposite to your thread but the advice is the same. Don't try to keep up with more experienced riders, it will often get you in trouble. And if you're getting scared (death grip, puckering, and etc) you are going too fast, once you pass the point where you are comfortable you won't even be able to ride as well as you can at the lower speeds because of the effect fear has on the body, you lose fine throttle control, with stiff arms bumps are transferred through the steering and at this point a new rider usually picks the most dangerous thing in front of him and concentrates on it so hard he runs into it.

The thread is worth a look, several opinions are put across and the arguing makes it real interesting also there is a ton of reference material suggested to the op, you should take the time to read at least some of it (the book I suggest twist of the wrist 2 has a dvd version to get you started, but the book is heaps better)

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**arcane12** · 11th March 2013, 09:07

I've never had an issue with roundabouts. It must be living in Hamilton that got me over them. Otherwise I might have given up riding! I even scraped my first peg on a roudabout!

A lawn mower? Hmm, maybe mine does have a non-standard pipe then... someone was telling me S40's are usually pretty quiet. I kinda like the low 'blub blub blub' of the single thumper ticking over.

**Stirts** · 11th March 2013, 09:42

Originally Posted by nerrrd

I find confidence is an elusive thing at best, it comes and goes, sometimes its too much, sometimes too little, one day I'm relaxed and everything feels automatic, the next I'm gripping the bars too tightly and clunking thru the gears...

Hang in there and you'll get your groove back, and you'll be a better rider for the experience

+1 over here. Elusive thing at best is right! Is it when the Earth comes in to perfect alignment between the sun, and the stars within the zodiac and constellations, or you hold your tongue just right. Who knows.

Originally Posted by DMNTD

It is almost irrelevant what the speedo is saying, it is what you're mind is saying.

True that. Sometimes I'll be riding and think "fark I am going to fast, best I slow down" look at the speedo and I am barely doing 100kms

**Monkfish** · 11th March 2013, 10:42

Originally Posted by Stirts

True that. Sometimes I'll be riding and think "fark I am going to fast, best I slow down" look at the speedo and I am barely doing 100kms

Un fortunatley I find quite the opposite Im happily bumbeling along and I glance down and see im doing 110 -115 and think fark I better slow down.

I hope I am not riding naively as I still am constantly thinking about who, what, when & where and all the other riding associated things... Its just I find that im comfortable and relaxed when the advice is saying I shouldnt be.

I do however plan do a pro rider course sometime in the near future.

**Glowerss** · 11th March 2013, 11:00

Originally Posted by Monkfish

Un fortunatley I find quite the opposite Im happily bumbeling along and I glance down and see im doing 110 -115 and think fark I better slow down.

I hope I am not riding naively as I still am constantly thinking about who, what, when & where and all the other riding associated things... Its just I find that im comfortable and relaxed when the advice is saying I shouldnt be.

I do however plan do a pro rider course sometime in the near future.

Context is key!

Are you happily doing 115 on the motorway or a largely straight bit of road?

Or are you blasting around corners at 115?

If it's the first one, not too surprised. It's easy to go quick in a straight line.

If it's the second one! You should A) slow down on the road and B) go get yourself a race bike license

**Stirts** · 11th March 2013, 11:05

Originally Posted by Monkfish

Un fortunatley I find quite the opposite Im happily bumbeling along and I glance down and see im doing 110 -115 and think fark I better slow down.

Oh yeah, I have had one of those days too. It can be costly

Originally Posted by Monkfish

I hope I am not riding naively as I still am constantly thinking about who, what, when & where and all the other riding associated things... Its just I find that im comfortable and relaxed when the advice is saying I shouldnt be.

I do however plan do a pro rider course sometime in the near future.

In my opinion, as a learner you need to constantly keep your confidence in check. Being confident in your abilities as they stand is great, but being over confident in your abilities is dangerous, and only you will know where that line sits.

And remember... just because you complete some rider training, doesn't necessarily equal to you being an awesome rider. More confidence? Maybe, better equiped/educated? Yes, gained skills? I would hope so. But there have been cases where some have done training and come out over confident and crashed.
What I am trying to say...and not that well for that matter, is just keep a check that your confidence levels match your abilities.