If you could improve one thing�

If you could improve one aspect your riding, what do you think would make the biggest difference. Try to be specific, �if I could be smoother, faster etc�� is a real easy answer but it doesn�t really say much. What one thing would take your riding to the next level?

Freddy Spencer Racing School.
Knowledge or skill building is the most important thing IMO. beer.gif

If I could ride more often I think it would help improve my skills immensely. As of now though I am comfortable with the bike and feel I can control it well enough.

For me.....probably corner entry. My healthy fear of loosing the front keeps my entry speed down.

Being smmmmooooooooooooothhhherrrrr...

When I start to think about what I am doing - sometimes I start to get choppy. At the FAST school last year, they talked about choosing one corner and spending 10-20 minutes (one session) working on that single corner until you get better, i.e. smoother. Not perfect - that takes hours (years?), just better.

When I watch others and their developed level of smoothness, I can see how far there is to go. Effortless - snickless shifting, rolling on and off the throttle, application and release of the brakes, choosing a line and sticking to it (i.e not double apexing), when all of this is performed seamlessly defines "smooth" for me.

I agree with the Freddie Spencer school idea. Other than that, the thing that I want to work on more right now, is spending less time at full lean while in a corner. I tend to lean early coming in, and staying there for too long.
I can carry plenty of speed in, and really get on it on the way out, but I feel that I could get in harder on the lean, and out quicker if I wasn't leaned over for so long. It would really help if I had a set of tires worth a damn on my bike too. Dunlop 204's aren't very confidence inspiring.

Later,
Jeff

Blipping the throttle on downshifts.

johnmark101, Mar 22 2006, 11:42 AMFor me.....probably corner entry.  My healthy fear of loosing the front keeps my entry speed down.

I feel the same way, sometimes I feel that the thing is going to skate out from under me and I don't know why.
I feel much more comfortable just sticking to the highways most of the time.
There are some days I'm 'in the zone' and feel absolutely confident and lean it harder than ever before and there are no questions about it lowsiding on me.
I dunno, must just be a mental block.

The only other thing that still sometimes catches me at the PACE I ride is that I sometimes don't look as far forward as I should. This happens seldom, but is usually the cause of any rare "Oh Shit" moment.
For the people here who haven't mastered or focused on improving in this area, you will be amazed at how much it frees up your mind from the Panic "I'm too hot into this turn" problems.
Look at where you want to go, NOT what you trying to Avoid (like the edge of the road). Looking through a corner really helps you over come many stress issues of corner entry speed. fing02.gif

I have to assume that everyone knows what "Counter steering" is ? unsure.gif

Cornering and smooth throttle, still a long way to go.
I also have a problem with the inside of my right hand hurting, don't know why, maybe holding on to tight, trying to smooth the throttle?....

what does "Blipping the throttle" mean?

Improving my balance at speed - I find myself hanging on instead of "riding " sad.gif

�art West-VL., Mar 22 2006, 01:37 PMCornering and smooth throttle, still a long way to go.
I also have a problem with the inside of my right hand hurting, don't know why, maybe holding on to tight, trying to smooth the throttle?....

what does "Blipping the throttle" mean?

blipping the throttle is exactly that, in between gears blip the throttle to rev match while letting out on the clutch to keep the shift as smooth as possible

�art West-VL., Mar 22 2006, 12:37 PMwhat does "Blipping the throttle" mean?

Blipping is usually talking about a quick crack of the throttle prior to a Down shift.

Also try to relax on the bike, you need a light grip and relaxed muscles to feel what the bike is trying to tell you (feedback wise).
Most of the time it is our input to/on the bike that screws up what it's trying/wanting/needing to do.
Most street riding can be very easy with just learning Counter Steering and relaxing. beer.gif

cozye, Mar 22 2006, 07:45 PMblipping the throttle is exactly that, in between gears blip the throttle to rev match while letting out on the clutch to keep the shift as smooth as possible

Thanks for the quick reply, but I'm not that good in special words in English, I'm from Belgium.
Is there an other way to explain this, please?

I second the Freddie Spencer School.........

Oh wait.... I'll be there in May. Will let you know if I learnt anything....... goofy.gif

�art West-VL., Mar 22 2006, 12:48 PMThanks for the quick reply, but I'm not that good in special words in English, I'm from Belgium.
Is there an other way to explain this, please?

Have you ever heard of "double clutching" a car when down shifting to a lower gear. When down shifting any gear box (bike, car, truck, etc.) the engagement will be smoother if you can match the engine RPM's to what the next lower gear will be.

In both the types of riding I do, dirt and street, I find myself grabbing on the bars too tight. I am always telling myself "limp noodles". It slowes me down on the street but on the dirt I get horrendous arm pump. Let off the bars Luke!

This would only apply to the track I guess. Since I NEVER misbehave on the street.

Confidence in the corners, more specifically entry speed I guess.

Now I've got it! smile.gif I think blink.gif hehe
thanks!

I can't smoothly slow down with the front brake and blip downshifts at the same time.

Instead I quickly move back and forth between braking (4-fingers) and blipping. It works fine on the street but it definitely messes me up at the track.

I'm trying to get it but it's hard to find places to practice on the street, and it's not even necessary unless you need more then one downshift entering a corner.

Tejas, Mar 22 2006, 01:26 PMI feel the same way, sometimes I feel that the thing is going to skate out from under me and I don't know why.
I feel much more comfortable just sticking to the highways most of the time.
There are some days I'm 'in the zone' and feel absolutely confident and lean it harder than ever before and there are no questions about it lowsiding on me.
I dunno, must just be a mental block.

That's me.. Most of my riding is highway so I get little if ANY cornering practice. Not to mention there is gravel all over the place near my house (where the turns mostly are.) I can see myself sliding and lowsiding... Need more practice!!!

+1.gif

I know the bike can do it, for me its a mental block. The more I lean the more nervous I get... Rrrrrrrrrrrr

johnmark101, Mar 22 2006, 11:42 AMFor me.....probably corner entry.  My healthy fear of loosing the front keeps my entry speed down.

milf, Mar 22 2006, 12:55 PMThat's me..  Most of my riding is highway so I get little if ANY cornering practice.  Not to mention there is gravel all over the place near my house (where the turns mostly are.)  I can see myself sliding and lowsiding...  Need more practice!!!

North Carolina highway? I thought it would be twisty as all get out there??

These bikes can handle a lot more lean angle than the average rider is willing to throw at them.

benSV, Mar 22 2006, 02:10 PMI can't smoothly slow down with the front brake and blip downshifts at the same time.

Instead I quickly move back and forth between braking (4-fingers) and blipping.  It works fine on the street but it definitely messes me up at the track.

I'm trying to get it but it's hard to find places to practice on the street, and it's not even necessary unless you need more then one downshift entering a corner.

Try using your index and middle finger to brake while using your thumb/palm/ring finger/pinky finger to blip.

Just like the "Two in the pink one in the stink" technique just roll back you pinky beer.gif

For me it is the ability to carry more speed in truly low speed corners (marked at 25 mph or less).

I'm comfortable in mid to high speed stuff both on the track and on the street but I have a hard time developing deep lean angles on switchbacks and the like.

Some of this might be from riding an XX for a while (just picked up the viffer). Some of this might be from living in a state that has few twisties.

Maybe I just need to get this VFR to northern CA, CO, TN & the northeast...

HispanicSlammer, Mar 22 2006, 03:02 PMNorth Carolina highway?  I thought it would be twisty as all get out there?? 

These bikes can handle a lot more lean angle than the average rider is willing to throw at them.

Nah. It's pretty boring where I am drive-through Charlotte. My hometown highways are more fun though.. Closer to the mountains.

This is my second season with a real bike. Last one was a 250 and it was too slow to be safe much of anywhere. I am looking forward to gaining more skill!!

Consistency. I mostly ride well, but sometimes I'm a little untidy, or do dumb things.

Synaptic Misfire, Mar 22 2006, 03:08 PMTry using your index and middle finger to brake while using your thumb/palm/ring finger/pinky finger to blip.

Just like the "Two in the pink one in the stink" technique just roll back you pinky beer.gif

Yah, I know... just have trouble getting it to work.

And it makes no sense, as I have been 2-finger braking on my mountain bike forever.

It makes me wonder if I don't have the right gloves and/or levers, it's just real hard to switch back and forth between 2-fingers on throttle and 4-fingers on throttle.

enzed_viffer, Mar 22 2006, 02:23 PMConsistency. I mostly ride well, but sometimes I'm a little untidy, or do dumb things.

I have a focus issue when I slow off my normal PACE when other riders are with us. I tend not to pay as much attention as when I'm pushing it when I slow down, and that's not good. sad.gif

Ben I never keep 4 fingers on the throttle, my index and middle finger tips always rest on the lever. That way as I close the throttle my finger natural cover the lever. It is also good for unexpected stops.

Takes time to get used to then it is second nature. So much so that when I took my MSF to get my endorsement I was constantly getting yelled at for covering the brake.