Which type of bike will make you a better rider?

[skelstar]

Chasing you fast pricks made me a better (faster) rider.

Me too!!!


(run out of bling)...

[Sanx]

I'm hardly qualified to hand out advice (like that's stopped me before) but ...

Keystone, the one thing I've noticed about your riding is that you're very smooth. You're not jerky, you're not throwing the bike about or appearing to have to muscle it through corners. This might just be your natural style, or the fact that as you weigh less than most of your competitors, you can't rely on your bulk or brute strength so a smooth style is what works best.

Dirt bike riding gives you a whole different set of skills a lot of which do translate into track and road riding; in my case, having the back step out doesn't bother me that much. Provided the front's planted, the back will eventually follow it unless I'm really hamfisted on the gas.

But - I did watch you jump on a heavier, more powerful sportsbike, running stock suspension and tyres with the settings more suited to someone 30kgs heavier than you. And you still pulled a 1:08 round Pukekohe. No doubt you'd get faster with the suspension dialled into your weight and more time on the bike; but all things considering, it seemed a damn good time to me.

[Mrs Busa Pete]

But I also think a new bike that you have the confidance in to push past your limits will make you a better rider faster

what like a 1098

[Morcs]

Honda NC30.

Awesome old skool bike. In the 4 months that I owned one my riding improved in leaps and bounds.

A bike for this category has to be forgiving and confidence inspiring - you cant have one without the other.

[more_fasterer]

confidence inspiring

I think that's the key there. While a lot of this thread won't apply to you Jill (for the reasons Sanx named), for yer joe average road rider / budding racer a bike that you can have confidence in when pushing its limits will ultimately make you faster, smoother and more precise.

Example: An original Zed Thou isn't going to teach you much about advancing your skills when you're simply trying to steer clear of its limits as it bucks and weaves and generally tries to kill you. A modern bike, with its greater predictability and higher limits, should allow you to get more out of it and yourself.

[codgyoleracer]

Depends what you classify as "better" Jill ? , New bike will usually make you faster point to point as it can stop, go, & carve corners & keep its tyres on the ground at a much quicker speed & still be well within machine & tyre limitations. BUT is faster better ?
An older bike usually will let you know earlier on that things are getting a bit wobbly & its natural to back off.
However if you practiced on the old bike on a slick grassy paddock - then this would make you a better rider overal due to steeper learning curve on throttle control, brake control , smoothness & body position. But you would still be quicker/better on the new machine usuing the same skills