I am sooooo slow

[kerryg]

Thanks everyone for a lot of really good input.

[White trash]

A neat trick I use when riding unfarmiliar roads, and goes back to Gixxer's post.

Look for the vannishing point. If it's getting closer to you, the corner tightens. If it's getting further away, the corner opens.

Track days will not help with blind corners as you're covering the same ground repeatedly and bugger all turns on a track are blind to begin with.

Since using this aproach, I've never had a problem on an unfamiliar blind road.

Happy riding.

[750Y]

I could write for ever....

don't stop now man I was really enjoying that thread, Made a lot of sense to me.

[DEATH_INC.]

Just a little extra on the vanishing point thing,I try not to actually focus on anything,just look at the whole picture,like you're looking at the telly.And work on your lines,body position and smoothness,these are important,with these mastered speed will come on it's own

[Hoon]

Yep lots of good info. Heres a few things that haven't been mentioned or need reinforcing. I don't claim to be proficient at any of them. A lot of these are still works in progress for me too!

Prepare yourself mentally
Fear of the unknown is your biggest barrier so ask as many questions as you can to know more about these unknowns. Focus on things that encourage you while pushing your fears aside. Also try to overcome your fears with reason (i.e "he can do it and his bike is crap!") then get out there and do it.

Have confidence in your machinery
To overcome the fear of locking up the brakes or leaning over too far you need to find yourself a nice big clean car park. Do some emergency brake drills i.e. accelerate in a straight line then try lock up the front brakes until you've had enough.
Then do some tight circles in 2nd gear (large roundabout size) slowly increasing speed until you get your knee down. Assuming you have good tyres, once you reach the limit it'll start sliding a little but I doubt you'll get that far over yet.

You will find that you can brake and lean way further than you thought!!

Get all your braking done before the corner
When you approach a corner get all your braking done BEFORE you tip the bike in. If once you get into the corner you realise you've braked too much, give yourself a slapping for being a wuss and brake a little less next time. But if you kept the brake hand spastic under control give yourself a pat on the back instead!! As you build up confidence you will build up entry speed but don't rush it.

During the corner slowly accelerate through the turn
Like Keith says, the suspension works best when you are on the gas. This means try to avoid coasting through the turn with the throttle closed/hovering over the front brake as it makes the front heavy which tries to run wide and makes you think you are going too fast when actually you are not going fast enough.

Look as far through the turn as possible
During the turn, focus on the road as far ahead as you can see, not the spot just in front of you. The further ahead you look the less "overwhelmed by the speed" you will be and more likely you'll want to speed up to that distant point instead of backing off because the road in front of your tyre is approaching faster than you can process it.

Try to be smooth
By smooth I mean "upset the suspension as little as possible". Try to avoid sudden brake/throttle movements which make the front jump up or down. Roll off and on instead and try to overlap your brake/gas transitions to make them as smooth as possible. This is not too essential as its only the difference between say a 95% and 100% rider but since you are learning you might as well learn it now instead of having to undo bad habits later.

[Two Smoker]

i am gonna have to ride with you another day MR one day i am not wearing a backpack so you can help me with my riding

Sweet i get 3 gixxer tail lights too follow if you and Death come hehehe

[FROSTY:Me]

one point worth mentioning is that your mate might be a little bit more prepared to take risks that you are.
There might be nothing at all wrong with your riding. The survival instinct might just be stronger in you than in him.
and despite my own at times suicidal habits there aint nothing wrong with a survival instinct

[Cajun]

more like i be following an rg150 by the way i have heard it. but my gixxer has the sexyest tail tho dc:<

[Stinkwheeler]

Failing all of this you could just go for the old sugar in the fuel tank trick

[hondav2]

Everyone rides the way they want to so stick to what you enjoy, My VTR had shit tyres when I bought it and after getting good ones it was a different bike. Gave me confidance to power it thru corners with out the back end moving around. Next was to get the susp set up to suit my weight. get someone who knows what there doing and its like riding on rails. Wear the right gear. Leather pants give a lot better grip between your ars and the seat . I find cordura riding gear very slippery and dosent give confidance . Then practice ,Practice ,Practice especially on a stretch of road u ride a lot and it will all come together. Cheers Toddy