Going faster safely

**cowpoos** · 28th March 2007, 20:54

Originally Posted by Ixion

And I agree with Mr Hitcher's comments. The track is a very artificial world.

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Not yet. Find me a circuit with off-camber corners, pea gravel, road kill on your corner line, SUVs going the other way and corrugations in the braking zone. And some reason for using the brakes for purposes other than just scrubbing off speed -- maybe this ideal circuit could have random jay walkers or flocks of sheep that meandered across the start-finish straight.

If you find your self way to fast for the group you are in [like the lack of a race group at MOTT days] its like riding around on a track full of dumb sheep and SUV driving women off to get the kids....braking at strange times wobbling around corners....

**cowpoos** · 28th March 2007, 20:56

and as for my opinion....well....you'll come to your own conclusion your self I reckon...if I were you I would buy good safty gear and race as much as possible....your not slow!!! just need to learn restraint a bit at times...

much easier to teach a fast rider not to crash than teach a slow rider that don't crash to ride fast!

**cowpoos** · 28th March 2007, 20:58

and don't your bike already got a Ohlins shock?

**Horney1** · 28th March 2007, 21:07

I said "other" because it's a combination of everything.

I think a good CHEAP start is to buy the Keith Code books, read, learn, understand and practice them.

More safe on the roads: improve your reflexes, try catching a fly with chopsticks, anticipate, smell the air, note the road surfaces, understand how your bike works and maintain it well.

Learn to maximise what you've got already unless you actually want to beat someone immediately (and really the track is the place for that 10/10 stuff). Wear some armour! Lighten the bike etc etc. If you just want to get out and challenge others (& yourself) and have a good time do what Goblin's and others have done, get a cheap road bike and just get out there on the track and give it a go. You'll end up meeting people and learning a lot along the way. But, a good start is to clock up those kilometers in the weekend.

DON'T OUTRIDE YOUR OWN ABILITIES! Going fast is easy, emergency stopping and avoiding disaster and unforseen hazards, well, those are a different matters all together. It can all happen very very fast. (Hehe - even the low speed offs around corners with a little gravel on them for example!)

As some have mentioned they have track training here in Melbourne (quite a few days, in fact) but what's the point if you can do some schools in NZ. We Kiwis have had lots of world class riders over the years! Here's a link if you want to follow up on the Phillip Island school.

http://www.superbikeschool.com.au/

http://www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au/

**jtzzr** · 28th March 2007, 21:12

Mate you don`t have to go faster , you need to make everyone else slower , let down some tyre pressures , change the suspension settings , spit in the tank , I just saved you 2k and I need a loan . Hope this helps . What does it cost for a turbo for a blackbird?

**smoky** · 28th March 2007, 21:15

the best radar money can buy and a stelth suit

**Big Dave** · 28th March 2007, 21:15

Originally Posted by jtzzr

Mate you don`t have to go faster , you need to make everyone else slower , let down some tyre pressures , change the suspension settings , spit in the tank , I just saved you 2k and I need a loan . Hope this helps . What does it cost for a turbo for a blackbird?

There will be a position for you in the new order too.

**HDTboy** · 28th March 2007, 21:15

It's not about me, it's about what you would do.

I think I know what I need to do as my next step in going faster safely

**skelstar** · 28th March 2007, 21:17

Originally Posted by HDTboy

I think I know what I need to do as my next step in going faster safely

Apart from 'healing', is it to own F3 this year?

**HDTboy** · 28th March 2007, 21:22

The Collarbone's healed pretty well mate. I'll be doing the winter series in F1 and F2, but do need to learn how to ride my bike before then

**skelstar** · 28th March 2007, 21:24

Yeah I knew you did F1/2, just thought moving down a class was a possible strategy.

Guess I kinda had a similar conversation with someone else last night.

**HDTboy** · 28th March 2007, 21:29

It would be a strategy if I hadn't just gone and bought a 600.

Back to the topic at hand

**rwh** · 28th March 2007, 23:56

Originally Posted by Ixion

I don't believe track days contribute anything to road riding the conditions are too different.

I haven't done a track day yet, and I've only got 6 months experience on the road, but I'm guessing that this will depend a lot on how good you are already.

Firstly I'd like to practice on the track to get my riding much smoother under conditions where I don't have to worry about oncoming traffic, unknown surfaces etc. Then when I'm back on the road, I can concentrate on those things and the smooth riding will just happen.

Secondly if I'm happy going round corners much faster than I want to on the road, then if I do overcook it a bit I'll still be able to handle it.

If you're already happy with your experience in both those areas, then sure maybe the track won't help much any more.

Richard

**Arthur** · 29th March 2007, 07:50

I picked spending the money on another (dirt) bike. Only cos thats where I learnt how to ride. More to the point though, I would go out and buy a motocross bike, fairly recent model (within three years old), and then go to something like Daryll King's motocross school. There you learn how to get (and keep) a bike under control in some fairly knarley conditions... While going really fast...