Regular weekend rides

[beyond]

Hiya folks, not saying I'll be there as I need a good sleep in after a hard week at work and Sat as well, but where you going and what route? May try and make it but if I'm late, where am I likely to catch ya's?

Cheers Paul

[p.dath]

Hiya folks, not saying I'll be there as I need a good sleep in after a hard week at work and Sat as well, but where you going and what route? May try and make it but if I'm late, where am I likely to catch ya's?

Cheers Paul

We wont know till we leave - but I always put in a vote for the Puhoi pub ...

[yachtie10]

not sure how many are coming as not many are posting (pretty normal)
normally go SH16 till at least woodcocks and we decide on the day after that

we dont usually leave spot on 10 so maybe see you there

[beyond]

Ok, sorry guys, didn't realise it was North of Orkland. Too many cops your way I find it way safer riding down here without the ginga on your tail Enjoy yourselves and give me a yell when you want to ride some decent roads this way eh?

[yachtie10]

weather is looking OK
Might get a shower

see you there

[p.dath]

To those people who don't come on the ride but have thought about it, just do it. I happily admit I am the slowest of the people who go on the ride. But I just do the "ride your own ride", and it doesn't matter if I can't keep up with the group (I know I am mortal). I know they'll wait for me somewhere up ahead.

But there is something about riding with people more experienced than yourself. It might be osmosis, but watching what others do does help. Today my riding had a break through, and its simply because of coming along and joining in.

I usually ride 3 or 4 days a week, but after my recent sump plug error, I've been off the road for 3 weeks. I don't know what it is, but having had a "holiday" from riding seems to have really improved things! I had an absolute blast today.

I think several little things have come together all at the same time, and my riding is suddenly on the verge of going to a new level. I wonder if perhaps by having a forced holiday, and not devoting attention to all the things I've been trying to work on I have somehow managed to encompass the bigger picture.

Typically on Woodcocks I only use 2nd and 3rd. Today I was using 1-3 extensively, and a little bit of fourth, and using a high higher portion of the rev range than normal.
For some reason I was clutchless shifting coming out of the corners. I didn't plan to do it. It just started happening. I didn't bother with pre-loading. I can't explain why, but for some reason it just felt "right".
I don't usually bother with clutchless shifting much because I figure it only saves me a tiny amount of time, but I think what it did was smooth out the power delivery while powering out of the corner. I don't know. Whatever it was, it feels much better.
Also blipping at higher revs (would normally be riding at lower revs) when downshifting seems to make the bike feel much more smoother.

I've started shifting my body weight more (the kiss the mirror thing) as well. I still haven't quite got something right though. I think I'm doing it ok for a single corner (well it feels much better than it did before), but when I thread corners I don't feel I'm shifting my body weight from one side of the bike to the other properly. My gut feeling is it has something to do with my use of the pegs. I don't know enough to figure out why or what I'm not doing wrong there. Might have to wait until I run into OutForADuck.

I'm thinking that my actual speed through the corners on woodcocks was not actually any faster (don't really know, wasn't really looking at the speedo, too busy looking at the next couple of corners coming up to plan my line), but rather than using maybe 80% of my ability level it felt more like 50% today. I think that the additional free attention span probably helped a lot as well.

And the other big thing is I felt tremendously more confident. And I don't think I was being over confident. I don't think I can suddenly push everything harder, it's just that the handling of the bike and the whole experience seem to be working "better".

I experienced mild head shake coming out of a couple of corners today as well. I'm thinking that I might not be leaning far enough forward, or perhaps I'm on the edge of the amount of throttle I should be using, or maybe it's ok and I don't need to change anything. It didn't feel out of control, and it did not concern me. It corrects itself very quickly.

What a day. Thanks for the great ride everyone!

[OutForADuck]

Hey P.dath.. sounds like you had a little revelation!!!

So was I right about your gears or was I right..... I Know its good for the soul to gloat

Don't worry about the head shake... get a steering damper.

Not being able to thread more than one or two corners together as smoothly as you'd like when first starting to move your weight around is all about practice and timing. You move your weight to gain stability but you are slow and not triming it right and so it takes practive to do it between corners and not introduce some instability.... itll come. (I think that is some sort of sorded street qoute, but Í'll avoid the obvious laugh to be had ).

Myself I was not with you guys because I buggered off to Taupo by every back road that I could find. GPS in my position and lightly loaded I covered some simply amazing roads, spent three tanks fulls of petrol and the spent a relaxing weekend with a hottub in my hotel room

Will be needing two new tyres now though.... barely (yes that was a pun on words) got back without the back delaminating. Nothing like a little sacrificial rubber

See you guys out during the week or on the Greath Northern Tour if you're going.

Cheers.

[BoristheBiter]

To those people who don't come on the ride but have thought about it, just do it. I happily admit I am the slowest of the people who go on the ride. But I just do the "ride your own ride", and it doesn't matter if I can't keep up with the group (I know I am mortal). I know they'll wait for me somewhere up ahead.

But there is something about riding with people more experienced than yourself. It might be osmosis, but watching what others do does help. Today my riding had a break through, and its simply because of coming along and joining in.

I usually ride 3 or 4 days a week, but after my recent sump plug error, I've been off the road for 3 weeks. I don't know what it is, but having had a "holiday" from riding seems to have really improved things! I had an absolute blast today.

I think several little things have come together all at the same time, and my riding is suddenly on the verge of going to a new level. I wonder if perhaps by having a forced holiday, and not devoting attention to all the things I've been trying to work on I have somehow managed to encompass the bigger picture.

Typically on Woodcocks I only use 2nd and 3rd. Today I was using 1-3 extensively, and a little bit of fourth, and using a high higher portion of the rev range than normal.
For some reason I was clutchless shifting coming out of the corners. I didn't plan to do it. It just started happening. I didn't bother with pre-loading. I can't explain why, but for some reason it just felt "right".
I don't usually bother with clutchless shifting much because I figure it only saves me a tiny amount of time, but I think what it did was smooth out the power delivery while powering out of the corner. I don't know. Whatever it was, it feels much better.
Also blipping at higher revs (would normally be riding at lower revs) when downshifting seems to make the bike feel much more smoother.

I've started shifting my body weight more (the kiss the mirror thing) as well. I still haven't quite got something right though. I think I'm doing it ok for a single corner (well it feels much better than it did before), but when I thread corners I don't feel I'm shifting my body weight from one side of the bike to the other properly. My gut feeling is it has something to do with my use of the pegs. I don't know enough to figure out why or what I'm not doing wrong there. Might have to wait until I run into OutForADuck.

I'm thinking that my actual speed through the corners on woodcocks was not actually any faster (don't really know, wasn't really looking at the speedo, too busy looking at the next couple of corners coming up to plan my line), but rather than using maybe 80% of my ability level it felt more like 50% today. I think that the additional free attention span probably helped a lot as well.

And the other big thing is I felt tremendously more confident. And I don't think I was being over confident. I don't think I can suddenly push everything harder, it's just that the handling of the bike and the whole experience seem to be working "better".

I experienced mild head shake coming out of a couple of corners today as well. I'm thinking that I might not be leaning far enough forward, or perhaps I'm on the edge of the amount of throttle I should be using, or maybe it's ok and I don't need to change anything. It didn't feel out of control, and it did not concern me. It corrects itself very quickly.

What a day. Thanks for the great ride everyone!

I have the same problems so thats why we're doing the superbike school in march. after the track day in manfield i had learnt so much more than the whole time i have been riding, i think it was not worrying about other cars coming towards me.
Like you i have started to use lower gearing in coners (never higher than 4th at manfield) and shifting my weight although it doesn't always work out, need more practice.
I one thing i have found is i have learnt is if i practice on a road i know well i can tell if something was better or worse straight away and adjust or if it goes "pear shaped" i know whats coming up.
How i just have to learn this leaning the bike right over thing (maybes a trip for some leathers is coming up)
As i told Mrs boris my big break though was when i stopped riding like i drive a car, something are the same corners aren't one of them.

Glad you had a great ride and hope to see you guys next week.

[p.dath]

So was I right about your gears or was I right..... I Know its good for the soul to gloat

Your always right.

Don't worry about the head shake... get a steering damper.

Not worth it for a bike of my value. I'll wait a few more years, and then buy a bike that comes with one.

Myself I was not with you guys because I buggered off to Taupo by every back road that I could find. GPS in my position and lightly loaded I covered some simply amazing roads, spent three tanks fulls of petrol and the spent a relaxing weekend with a hottub in my hotel room

You must have been exhausted. I get tired just doing the weekend ride.

[p.dath]

I have the same problems so thats why we're doing the superbike school in march.

That 's pretty expensive isn't? $5k?

I think for me attending anything with the name "superbike" in it would be suggesting a skill level far beyond what I have. I'll stick to the AMCC ART days for the moment.

[p.dath]

I have the same problems so thats why we're doing the superbike school in march.

That 's pretty expensive isn't? $5k?

I think for me attending anything with the name "superbike" in it would be suggesting a skill level far beyond what I have. I'll stick to the AMCC ART days for the moment.

[Cr1MiNaL]

That 's pretty expensive isn't? $5k?

I think for me attending anything with the name "superbike" in it would be suggesting a skill level far beyond what I have. I'll stick to the AMCC ART days for the moment.

No it's $800b for 2 days. Not attending it simply because it has the name 'superbike' in it is quite silly imo. All their track bikes are Gixxer 600's so super-sport not superbike. You can do it on whatever bike you have and trust me if you think you have a lot to learn, from what I have seen and heard you will be under the best instruction money can buy. Talk to Darren or Rachel, both top people.

[BoristheBiter]

That 's pretty expensive isn't? $5k?

I think for me attending anything with the name "superbike" in it would be suggesting a skill level far beyond what I have. I'll stick to the AMCC ART days for the moment.

It's only $504 including hire of full leathers.
Its for anyone who wants to corner better whether that is a racer or newbee.
see this months (Feb) Kiwirider, there is a write up in there.

[reemit]

To those people who don't come on the ride but have thought about it, just do it. I happily admit I am the slowest of the people who go on the ride. But I just do the "ride your own ride", and it doesn't matter if I can't keep up with the group (I know I am mortal). I know they'll wait for me somewhere up ahead.

But there is something about riding with people more experienced than yourself. It might be osmosis, but watching what others do does help. Today my riding had a break through, and its simply because of coming along and joining in.

I usually ride 3 or 4 days a week, but after my recent sump plug error, I've been off the road for 3 weeks. I don't know what it is, but having had a "holiday" from riding seems to have really improved things! I had an absolute blast today.

I think several little things have come together all at the same time, and my riding is suddenly on the verge of going to a new level. I wonder if perhaps by having a forced holiday, and not devoting attention to all the things I've been trying to work on I have somehow managed to encompass the bigger picture.

Typically on Woodcocks I only use 2nd and 3rd. Today I was using 1-3 extensively, and a little bit of fourth, and using a high higher portion of the rev range than normal.
For some reason I was clutchless shifting coming out of the corners. I didn't plan to do it. It just started happening. I didn't bother with pre-loading. I can't explain why, but for some reason it just felt "right".
I don't usually bother with clutchless shifting much because I figure it only saves me a tiny amount of time, but I think what it did was smooth out the power delivery while powering out of the corner. I don't know. Whatever it was, it feels much better.
Also blipping at higher revs (would normally be riding at lower revs) when downshifting seems to make the bike feel much more smoother.

I've started shifting my body weight more (the kiss the mirror thing) as well. I still haven't quite got something right though. I think I'm doing it ok for a single corner (well it feels much better than it did before), but when I thread corners I don't feel I'm shifting my body weight from one side of the bike to the other properly. My gut feeling is it has something to do with my use of the pegs. I don't know enough to figure out why or what I'm not doing wrong there. Might have to wait until I run into OutForADuck.

I'm thinking that my actual speed through the corners on woodcocks was not actually any faster (don't really know, wasn't really looking at the speedo, too busy looking at the next couple of corners coming up to plan my line), but rather than using maybe 80% of my ability level it felt more like 50% today. I think that the additional free attention span probably helped a lot as well.

And the other big thing is I felt tremendously more confident. And I don't think I was being over confident. I don't think I can suddenly push everything harder, it's just that the handling of the bike and the whole experience seem to be working "better".

I experienced mild head shake coming out of a couple of corners today as well. I'm thinking that I might not be leaning far enough forward, or perhaps I'm on the edge of the amount of throttle I should be using, or maybe it's ok and I don't need to change anything. It didn't feel out of control, and it did not concern me. It corrects itself very quickly.

What a day. Thanks for the great ride everyone!

Hey P.dath Glad you had a blast. I enjoyed it too, tagging along behind the Y man. He showed me some good lines through Woody. I was busy getting used to the new bike and oddly enough the new road having not done that one before. (Being from south of the bridge and that).
The odd thing with the Italian jobbie that I'm riding is the gearbox. Lots of cogs in that box all squashed together so I was busy like a dog with an itch through the twisties. I had no idea what gear I was in really just listening to the feedback from the motor and watching Yatchies lines. Sounds like you are starting to find it comning together eh, cool.
You are right you dont particularly need to go fast to have a blast, its all relative. My old ZRX1100, awesome bike, but it used to shake around a lot both front and back when pushed hard (one reason whay I got shut of it for a machine that handles). If you are a bit bothered by that head shake im sure one of the trackday regulars or ART guys can take it for a spin and tell you what tweaks it needs.

[yachtie10]

be careful saying you follow my lines
there a few on here think that wouldnt be a good idea

Might need a new back tyre before sunday
ill be haveing a look on saturday