Niall McKenzie explains

[idleidolidyll]

.....how to ride fast and safe on the roads rather than on the track.

Two Wheels Only Mag, issue August 08

No, not the story on how to get your mojo back, the one on riding fast on the road.

As I read it I was saying "yep, yep, yep" under my breath and I've seen examples to emphasize his thoughts.

Basically what he said is to enter a corner as wide as possible without endangering yourself with oncoming traffic or scooping up bits of glass in the gutters; that gives you the best and longest visibility around the corner.

so far so good but here's where it differs from the race track:

DON'T front brake hard into the corner, instead drop down a few gears and let out the clutch carefully to drag your speed down without compressing the front forks.

Adjust your line mid corner by careful use of the back brake and line up your exit before giving it heaps on the way out.

I've seen bikes lose it or very close to losinge it by thinking that they can forever ride like they might on a race track going in too fast and braking too hard on public roads. Those cars unseen may be coming or a nasty bit of seal lurks on your only line left because of the lack of control when your suspension is fully compressed or rebounding rapidly from your late braking.

Slow in, fast out was Niall's mantra and that's one I have to agree with.

Race lines on the road will work sometimes but in the end you are setting yourself up for a head on or a highside.

Ride smart not loose

[Katman]

Amen.

(10fc).

[Pussy]

Didn't think I'd ever agree with ANYTHING you said, Idle.... but that's some bloody brilliant advice! Good on you!

[McJim]

Niall McKenzie's a bit of a legend eh?

Niall McKenzie and Jamie Witham battling it out on the British Superbike circuit was what got me into bikes in the first place...went to the races to watch the 2 Cadbury Boost Yamahas dominate every race...then said "I want a Ducati" to which someone said "But they're in last place" I said "You can keep first place if I get to sound like that" :

[bikemike]

I thought the piece was a bit weak actually. He was not very lucid on the vanishing point, and by his own admission hadn't even heard the term until recently. I'd say again, the vanishing point is everywhere, not just on the corners. Also, I'd say the closer the point is, the slower the section of road, not necessarily tighter - even for corners.

I found it incongruous that he says (my emphasis); "Other techniques I use on the road to ease me safely into and around corners is (sic) engine-breaking and use of the rear brake. If I find I'm approaching a bend with too much speed, I'll click back an extra gear and feed the clutch in gently. This is safer than risking losing the front with too much front brake or having the back lock up using the rear brake."

So he's approaching his corner so fast that he's on the envelope of the bike's performance, he's afraid the front or the rear will lock up. He's likely taken his eye off the vanishing point and, is clearly bowling too fast. The situation he's talking about is getting his bike back under control, not 'easing safely into a corner'. The techniques he offers seem suboptimal for that scenario.

His boxed bullet points are great, but the narrative application is misleading.

[James Deuce]

"Vanishing point" is misunderstood and poorly used by those who loudly proclaim its benefits - IMO. It can (and does) draw people into using the entire road and setting up lines that work well on a race track but expose you, particularly on right hand corners, to dangling your body over the centre line. Worst of all it can diminish your capacity to observe your surroundings because too much of your budget is spent determining whether the the road is opening up or closing in.

Niall is a superb rider. I'm not. If slow in, "fast" out sans VP is good enough for him then it's definitely good enough for me.

[terbang]

Yup, cant complain about that. Too often I see a new rider post here asking for advice on how to ride well on the road and many reply with the one liner ¨go to the track¨. That sort of advice is mainly only good for learning to race or getting to know yourself and your bike better, especially your and its handling limitations. However I have never thought it was the only advice that should be given about being a good ¨road rider¨ and only forms part of your road survival toolbox.

[Pwalo]

Good advice. Keep things as simple as you can on the road.

Vanishing points are all well and good on a track where you have clear visibility, but are only an indicator on the road. There are simply too many distractions to rely on VP as your only guide.

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

I found it incongruous that he says (my emphasis); "Other techniques I use on the road to ease me safely into and around corners is (sic) engine-breaking and use of the rear brake. If I find I'm approaching a bend with too much speed, I'll click back an extra gear and feed the clutch in gently. This is safer than risking losing the front with too much front brake or having the back lock up using the rear brake."

So he's approaching his corner so fast that he's on the envelope of the bike's performance, he's afraid the front or the rear will lock up. He's likely taken his eye off the vanishing point and, is clearly bowling too fast. The situation he's talking about is getting his bike back under control, not 'easing safely into a corner'. The techniques he offers seem suboptimal for that scenario.

I see no problems with what he is saying here. His point is that of entering the turn with a balanced bike. This leaves the largest room for error to account for other factors such as shit on the road, objects on the road etc.

I dont understand why you think he is out of control at all?

My opinion is that this is very sound advice.

[Patar]

Slow in, Fast out.

Isn't it common knowledge? I mean seriously everyone should know that.

[SPman]

Read the article - sounds more or less the way I tend to ride.

Track riding is OK for the track, but it loses a lot, on application to most road conditions and is a good inducement for getting yourself, or someone else killed. Unfortunately, there seem to be too many riders who can't, or won't, appreciate the difference.....

Being on the Perth country "circuit", out our way, there are a lot of riders over here who also don't appreciate the difference....

[discotex]

Vanishing points are all well and good on a track where you have clear visibility, but are only an indicator on the road. There are simply too many distractions to rely on VP as your only guide.

Using the vanishing point on the road is extremely valuable.

If the vanishing point is getting closer then you know the corner is tightening on you. Once it starts moving away you can get on the gas.

Slow in, fast out actually combines very well when used with the vanishing point.

Track riding is OK for the track, but it loses a lot, on application to most road conditions and is a good inducement for getting yourself, or someone else killed.

I disagree. Much of what you learn on the track applies directly to road riding. Cornering, braking, lines, slow in fast out, etc all apply in one way or another - just not as extreme.

Only problem is it only teaches you the mechanics of riding within the performance envelope of the bike in a controlled environment.

What it doesn't teach is any concept of road-craft. You have to learn that separately. Things like road position, car body language, adjusting apex points to be later, etc.

Unfortunately, there seem to be too many riders who can't, or won't, appreciate the difference.....

Yep.. Just as many people dismiss the value of road-craft as those who dismiss trackdays. The reality is when both are combined you get the safest, most skilled rider who benefits from the best of both worlds.

[James Deuce]

Yep.. Just as many people dismiss the value of road-craft as those who dismiss trackdays. The reality is when both are combined you get the safest, most skilled rider who benefits from the best of both worlds.

No you don't. You get an over confident cock who thinks he's the king of the road. Regular trackday hounds are not fun to be around on the road. There's no training avaialble in NZ to link the two separate crafts and almost no motorcyclists I know have the discipline and mental agility necessary to combine the two without tuition. Including myself. If I inject myself into trackday culture again I will hurt myself or cost myself a lot of money. You're over-generalising and encouraging people to examine an aspect of riding that has no value on the road.

[discotex]

No you don't. You get an over confident cock who thinks he's the king of the road. Regular trackday hounds are not fun to be around on the road.

Interesting take. I call bullshit though.

All the stupid shit I've seen on the roads has been one of two catagories:

a) Cruisers who think they own the road and have something to prove because you're riding a sports bike.
b) "racer wannbies" who've never been near a track and therefore use the road as their track.

So far everyone I've met that has done a trackday or two has been a responsible rider who tames it down on the road knowing they can ride as fast as they want next trackday.

[Bass]

I did a riderskills course some time back.
The most educational thing he got me to do all day was to ride as fast as I dared down this nice twisty bit of road but I wasn't allowed to look at the speedo or use the brakes.
Seems to me, it has quite a bit in common with what III is saying.