The zone!

[bogan]

You mean you choose not to see the relevance because you would then start to understand what I've been saying throughout this thread.

no, I don't see the relevance cos drifting is illegal, and theres nothing illegal about being in the zone. If anything it's safer there, ultra aware, ultra in-tune with the bike, mega-ultra fun! least thats how my zone rolls

[Genie]

I have sand in my vagina

You have a vagina?

[aprilia_RS250]

no, I don't see the relevance cos drifting is illegal, and theres nothing illegal about being in the zone. If anything it's safer there, ultra aware, ultra in-tune with the bike, mega-ultra fun! least thats how my zone rolls

are these two in the zone then?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNzTh...eature=related

[bogan]

are these two in the zone then?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNzTh...eature=related

could be, they are certainly going hard anyway! (only watched bout half of it though, then i got too jealous )

[DMNTD:Me]

are these two in the zone then?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNzTh...eature=related

IMO...no. Can't even keep on their own side of the road, GSXR has more rear end chatter than Julian Clary when entering corners.

[scracha]

IMO...no. Can't even keep on their own side of the road, GSXR has more rear end chatter than Julian Clary when entering corners.

IMO...yes. They're using the full width of the road when appropriate (not illegal in their country) and the GSXR rider is having a bit of fun making an arse of backing it in.

[DMNTD:Me]

IMO...yes. They're using the full width of the road when appropriate (not illegal in their country) and the GSXR rider is having a bit of fun making an arse of backing it in.

Dude...I can't even understand you when you type!

[Owl]

I have sand in my vagina

Sounds like you're in a bad zone?

[Spearfish]

Well get over the homo eroticism of it - some of us are comfortable in our own skin - or are at least enthusuiastic enough about it to get past the fact that it may be ghey.. Call it the "concentration state" if you want something less ghey...

I appreciate what you are saying, thnking that you have it all under control when you may not be thinking about something. but when I refer to the concentration state, it si more about the state of extreme absorbtion in your concentration, rather than the specifics of what you are fociussing on. Clearly the more experienced that you are, the more you will know to focus on.

Kind of like a golfer,starts off not even knowing what isaffecting their swing, but if they can get their ficus working, they can do those well. Over time, they add awareness of more things to focus on, and manage to control focus on all simultaneously.

Out of interest, what sort of other stuff in the line of "multitude of other issues" would you be talking about? Thsi would be useful and good for safety. I try to be aware of everything from
- braking/transition technique
- surroundings,
- road surface awarenes (disrepair, elevation, camber and radius changes),
- other road users,
- lighting,
- body positioning,
- speed,
- weather,
- bike/tyre/grip awareness

got any others? then I can start trying to be aware of those too.

Old, old bike so to add to the list...
The clutch grab point has changed
The rear brake is weak, ah, no, there it is
Whats that new rattle, cam chain ?
I hope the filters can cope if I got over spray in the tank when it was painted?
I'm sure these bars are bent, even though every test known says they are ok.
Did I do those bolts up properly/ put the split pins back in?
Did I bring my AA card...
What happens If the one and only headlight bulb lets go...again.
Whats this Zone thing and can it be found on a 1976 xl 125 ?
Is the Zone simply getting the thing started without having to run and jump on...Hell yeah!

all that jammed into the other the head clatter you mention above.

[T.W.R]

It depends as what you define as the Zone isn't it? When you are so focussed on all aspects of riding - from good technique to great awareness - that can only be a good thing.

Too much focus blinds you to what's actually going on. Absorbing what's happening around you instead of assessing/calculating/reacting, it should be all automatic that's why it's currently called "In the Zone" it's a state of being.

What you are talking about sound like it is more in the nature of absent mindedness - the kind that you get when you are driving a car on a long straight road and you switch off and daydream. That is not what I am referring to at all.

Zoning out, lack of discipline, being mesmerisied, what ever label it gets it's the same principle as when single motorcycle accidents involve mostly speed, emergency braking, and failure to negotiate. Getting hooked concentrating one a single item will blind you what the whole picture is showing you.

No, I'm actually talking about inexperienced riders mistakenly thinking that they'll find The Zone by totally focusing on the road in front of them at the expense of giving due consideration to the multitude of other issues that need to be taken into account.

That's why

Sounds like you nicked that line right out of a Kung Fu movie

Nah. But The Zone is a lot like that state of mind I imagine the old Zen masters were describing.

Unfortunately we lack the discipline the majority of the time and in reality we only get fleeting glimpses on the road and why as an example:
When on the rare occassions a racer on the track finds his/her zone they look so impressive when they just leave the rest of field in their wake, everything just clicks into place; It isn't just the speed as they may not even be the fastest circulating, it's a whole host of things combined to make a complete package work properly for that rider (synergy). Others in the field may have all the same items working for them but they're trying whereas the rider who's scarpered off has got the balance right and is enjoying it.

[Spearfish]

Zones can be long or short then, focus of all things non essential left behind...
Take for instance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beEXfEdpDrk

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lftA...eature=channel

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SldSSPxWMfk

or this one?

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/Ne...e-in-a-Speedo/

then it goes back to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4LYi...eature=channel

Or simply leaving work at work while riding home

[R-Soul]

Too much focus blinds you to what's actually going on. Absorbing what's happening around you instead of assessing/calculating/reacting, it should be all automatic that's why it's currently called "In the Zone" it's a state of being.

Zoning out, lack of discipline, being mesmerisied, what ever label it gets it's the same principle as when single motorcycle accidents involve mostly speed, emergency braking, and failure to negotiate. Getting hooked concentrating one a single item will blind you what the whole picture is showing you.

Unfortunately we lack the discipline the majority of the time and in reality we only get fleeting glimpses on the road and why as an example:
When on the rare occassions a racer on the track finds his/her zone they look so impressive when they just leave the rest of field in their wake, everything just clicks into place; It isn't just the speed as they may not even be the fastest circulating, it's a whole host of things combined to make a complete package work properly for that rider (synergy). Others in the field may have all the same items working for them but they're trying whereas the rider who's scarpered off has got the balance right and is enjoying it.

Oh OK so you do agree there is a zone (since it does have an effect).

Perhaps what is lacking is an appropriate definition of it.

Like spearfish has said below, perhaps it is the ability to focus (but not overfocus) on those aspects that have priority, while being aware of the rest.

Or perhaps just the ability to focus on issues surrounding the performance of the bike on the road, and only them (to the exclusion of all of life's other worries).

Or perhaps just the state of mind of heavy concentration, and not necessarily related to the specific issues that are being concentrated on.

I suppose concentrating well on at least some issues are better than absent mindedness, or loose concentration on nothing much at all.

Everyone must start somewhere, and more things will be added over time with experience (sometimes rider start off not even having the ability to sense particular issues, like tyre grip, road camber, etc and their ability to read it gets better with experience).

I am not sure that strong concentration in itself should be discouraged - perhaps instead, the adding of more things to concentrate on should be encouraged (like golfers). I do believe that if you are not focussed on particular issues, and are merrily and absent mindedly winding your way along without a care or thought about issues of performance (or even testing particular techniques), you are probably not learning as much as you could be.

[buellbabe]

Wow! 17 pages long! Sorry but my lunchbreak just ain't long enough to read the entire thread so I am just gonna respond to the original post and say this:

'The Zone', yep been there done that except that I call it 'having a Zen Ride'. That feeling of being one with the bike and everything being effortless and darn near as close to perfection as us puny mortals can hope to get.

Hell yeah! It rocks.

Also I will add that 'The Zone' is not just about motorcycling. I aim to achieve it in everything I do!
For instance I went to work absolutely shattered yesterday but by mid-morning I was definately in 'the zone' and powered through a heap of work and then stayed and did 3 hours extra and all the mega retouching I did was passed through without a single correction. yay for me! LOL.

[T.W.R]

Oh OK so you do agree there is a zone (since it does have an effect).

Didn't say or suggest there wasn't, but it's not a series of disciplines it's the culmination of them reaching an equalibrium. Just happening like fluid

Perhaps what is lacking is an appropriate definition of it.

Like spearfish has said below, perhaps it is the ability to focus (but not overfocus) on those aspects that have priority, while being aware of the rest.

Or perhaps just the ability to focus on issues surrounding the performance of the bike on the road, and only them (to the exclusion of all of life's other worries).

Or perhaps just the state of mind of heavy concentration, and not necessarily related to the specific issues that are being concentrated on.

I suppose concentrating well on at least some issues are better than absent mindedness, or loose concentration on nothing much at all.

Everyone must start somewhere, and more things will be added over time with experience (sometimes rider start off not even having the ability to sense particular issues, like tyre grip, road camber, etc and their ability to read it gets better with experience).

Discipline is the vital ingredient and you're halfway there. You never stop learning on a bike, and anyone who says they know it all is a liar.

I am not sure that strong concentration in itself should be discouraged - perhaps instead, the adding of more things to concentrate on should be encouraged (like golfers). I do believe that if you are not focussed on particular issues, and are merrily and absent mindedly winding your way along without a care or thought about issues of performance (or even testing particular techniques), you are probably not learning as much as you could be.

concentration directed at what is the question, too much attention directed at particular things detracts from seeing more in balance. Golfers have a fraction of things to be concerned about by comparison. Be prepared for the unexpected, not busy calculating what is happening, just the same as look where you want to be not where you're going; it should be 2nd nature.

[crystalball]

I went for short ride from Auckland to Paeroa. Set off thinking what a lovely day to go to Tauranga and back. Well got in a nice zone at riding safely e.t.c now relised there was alot off black ice on the roads which was all good just looked out for it and rode carefully. Got to paeroa petrol station and had a coffee and got gas and warmed my hands on the coffee cup i was sipping. Decided i would head back to Papakura as did not like the idea off going on with the black ice and me not dressed warmly enougth. Anyway i was in a happy buzz nice and calm and enjoin the morning. On way back i had fun but got home feeling very dissapointed and feeling a little cross with myself, i won't go into detail. Since i have got myself a bigger cc bike i find alot off cage drivers exspecially on motorway or highway tend to want to go faster than me (108km) and will do anything to pass me. now alot off times i'm all good with that but then sometimes you get in that silly zone off f..k you and will do more..kmh to keep in front. Now i am a little confused as to what caused me to get in that zone..was it the speeding cages or was it me..i got a big cc bike how dare you over take me. or is it the up yours skello finger patch on my lower back,or whatever it is it runes my nice safe buzz.