New bike ZX10R

[discotex]

A lot think they should buy the stickiest tread available, and get raceattacks/whatever... If you don't ride fast enough to get the required heat into them, they will bite your arse faster than a sport compound that is at the correct temperature.

When I got new tyres for my ZXR I started off thinking I should PPs or something else mega sticky until I read that same advice.

My Road Riders are more than up to the power I have on tap and get up to temp nice and quick in >50km/h riding. They're good in the wet too.

[knee_scraper]

I have been watching that video over and over... It scares me because it sounds like such little power is being used on take off.

Apart from slowing down, what could he have done to prevent that? Hold on the throttle? I will be thinking twice next time I take off on my R1! It just seemed too simple.

[MidnightMike]

Sounded like it was that tiny blip off the throttle (hardly noticeable), and that small lean angle that did it.

That video just makes me cringe.

[kitsune]

Getting a bit of a feel for the bike now, still only done 100kph so far, went for a ride out the bottom end which is a very scary set of roads , i could carve them up on the 250 , just to give my self then and now points checking my lines etc. The advice to use the gas to keep u at speed rather then breaks/gas/breaks thing has been nice, had 2 twat cagers pull out but i saw em a mile off and was all ready backing off, by the time they had finished there idiotic maneuver it was of 0 concern for me. And the other thing was a guy tail gating me at 80k (yes in the 80k zone gremlin lolz) i just let him though , lets face it i "know" my bike could rape his shitter , but what would it prove if i did it? Nothing in my books. The power on tap is unreal,
I am however getting the feel for the bike u know the one where u feel like the bike needs you to be at your best, that your part of the machine.
My focus has never been sharper , my whole mind is on nothing but the bike the road and the best way to get them to work together, on the 250 i was often "playing", This bike my friends is not play its alot of fun but it feels like an art form - where if you work hard at it you will be rewarded.

[kitsune]

Not saying i am some expert or something but shouldn't that guy in the vid have practiced steady slow use of the gas? Better to stall the bike and look like a bit of a dick then do that and drop the bike and look like a total dick. Slow n steady may not win the race, but better to not win then to bin.

[boomer]

classic.. unscrubbed tyres, straight into a lean.. voila.

and that 10r aint ya mate.. it WILL try and KILL you...

[discotex]

classic.. unscrubbed tyres, straight into a lean.. voila.

Combined with chopping the gas.... You hear the gas go off just before it flicks back. Wonder if he'd have saved it had he ridden it out.

[jrandom]

Wonder if he'd have saved it had he ridden it out.

Of course he would have.

What did I say? Huh? What did I say?

Yeah, you know it.

Stay on the muthafuckin gas, stomp a boot down, it's all good.

[kitsune]

I didn't think of the New tires, was just thinking from my own experience, I mean why jump on a brand new bike and try n show off? a lot of you experienced bikers would be fine doing that i guess. couldn't help but think slow n steady wins the race
On a side note, is it normal to get tired fairly quick on the bigger bikes ? i just notice after i jump off n settle in for the night i feel wiped out.

[Gremlin]

Apart from slowing down, what could he have done to prevent that? Hold on the throttle? I will be thinking twice next time I take off on my R1! It just seemed too simple.

Hard to say... it depends (and most is instinct).

You could keep the gas on, and it will save some, but you only need that tyre to grip at the wrong time (by keeping the gas on, you're only delaying the tyre gripping - ie, until you're lined up, so you won't get flicked off) and you will still be flicked off.

If you cut the gas early enough (but you need to be able to detect the slide early) you can also be ok... Its a grey area, with different things you can do.

On a side note, is it normal to get tired fairly quick on the bigger bikes ? i just notice after i jump off n settle in for the night i feel wiped out.

You are probably quite tense on the bike, and not nearly as relaxed as you were on the gpx. You will be probably concentrating a lot more (as you would have to, on any big bike), and all this work by your brain is tiring you out. Be aware of it, coz as boomer said... the bike isn't exactly your friend. If you're tired, and make a mistake, its not the sort of bike to forgive you, and will more likely punish you.

[kitsune]

Yea i have to mentally tell my self to let go of the bars a bit , i know im gripping to hard , and coupled with that im still adjusting to the clutch breaks n stuff, and on watching each and every corner like a hawk, being the place it is where i ride a new pothole can be there over night so i gotta try n be ready for anything , hence the ride out the bottom end today - i know the bike can handle just about anything but im just not ready to push it , doubt i will for a very long time.

[jrandom]

Yea i have to mentally tell my self to let go of the bars a bit , i know im gripping to hard

Keep your weight mostly on the pegs. Use your core muscles to support your torso. If this is too hard, do situps and hanging leg raises every morning until it's not.

There should be very little, if any, weight supported through your wrists. Just lightly caress the grips. Speak softly to the bike through your body.

[kitsune]

Mentally i know that , both u and kiwifruit have suggested the same, its just myself thats got the wrong position, adjusting it as i ride to whats easiest, The ride to work this morning was alot smoother, the vidio of that gsxer was in the back of my mind so i made sure i did a nice slow steady move off, specially round the corners with the heavy gravle patches. as for situps , yup already started, gotta build up my endurance for longer rides, while its better balanced then my 250 , its alot more bike to move around.

[Unit:Me]

Keep your weight mostly on the pegs. Use your core muscles to support your torso. If this is too hard, do situps and hanging leg raises every morning until it's not.

There should be very little, if any, weight supported through your wrists. Just lightly caress the grips. Speak softly to the bike through your body.

What? Sit ups? pffff Just go ride the bloody thing (all good humour intended ) If this old 42yr female can push the ZX14 around for over 400kms at a stretch on the backbone of beer, good cheeses and lack of sleep, then you young buggars shouldnt have to do sit ups to ride ya bikes!!
And as with all this caressing and softly speaking stuff, DONT THINK SO MUCH, just ride

[jrandom]

What? Sit ups? pffff Just go ride the bloody thing (all good humour intended ) If this old 42yr female can push the ZX14 around for over 400kms at a stretch on the backbone of beer, good cheeses and lack of sleep, then you young buggars shouldnt have to do sit ups to ride ya bikes!!

400km? Barely a warmup, grandma.