Failure to commit

[LoserShoes]

Re: Driver Education

Originally posted by Wildkat
On the FJ, I have this nagging voice that keeps saying, "If you lay it down... that was a LOT of money you wasted on paint." But I'm learning to ignore it...

In RC Airplanes thats called "EDF", Emotional Debt Factor. The nicer the plane and the more time and money in it, the less likely it is that it will acutually be flown.

I never road dirt bikes... I wish that I had as I believe that would have built up my confidence on two wheels. A little late to start now, I think, as recovery period for broken bones just isn't what it used to be...

You can learn a great deal about control out the the woods on a muddy trail at about 10 - 20 Mph. Not all dirt riding is 120 Mph across the desert. The most proficent out in the dirt has got be the Trials riders, and they spent most for their time at less the 15 Mph.

Steve

[HobbyMan]

Where I fly RC aiplanes here in Texas, the rule is: The more money that you put into it, the more likely you are to crash it. I still haven't flown My TF P-47 kit. This is why I am going to get an experimental bike to play with. That way if I drop it, won't feel soo bad, or loose soo much money.

[MartyA]

One comment that I have to add here is ride your own ride. In a group you might think that if the bike in front makes a curve at a certain speed you can also. That is a sure way to go down. Not that you or the bike are not capable of matching the speed of the bike in front of you, or going faster, it is the fact that your timing can get all bunged up, and you will be breaking and gassing at the wrong times. High-sides and front washouts are bound to happen. Ride your own ride, watch your own line.

Practice counter-steering. Take a MSF course. Place some cones in a parking lot and practice figure 8's accelerating out of the turns smoothly, and iknow what you can do when starting and stopping quickly. You must know what the bike does, and what you can do to the bike.

There are lots of other things to practice, but the most important thing is to be comfortable, ride within YOUR abilities because it is supposed to be FUN!!!

[SanDiegoMike]

Do you have a lean preference?

I 've found that I have a lot more confidence when bending my bike around a tight left-hander than I do with a right. I have no idea why that is...maybe it goes way back to little league and learning how to slide into bases...always slid on my left leg. Any ideas?

[oseaghdha]

Re: Do you have a lean preference?

Originally posted by SanDiegoMike
I 've found that I have a lot more confidence when bending my bike around a tight left-hander than I do with a right. I have no idea why that is...maybe it goes way back to little league and learning how to slide into bases...always slid on my left leg. Any ideas?

I have the same problem, but it's because my right knee is trashed.
On the dirt, I can tear it up throwing rooster tails and sliding all over the place and never put my left foot down. Going right, I just can't get with it nearly as hard. I have found this has affected my street riding. I wont go quite as hard to the right, whereas I have gotten sideways a few times turning left.

[Wildkat]

Lean preference

Most of my trouble has been in left hand turns... so my preference had been right curves. Now, however... being more confident, neither bothers me so much... A HARD right tends to put my throttle hand (arm) in a bit of an awkward position... but nothing major.

One comment that I have to add here is ride your own ride. In a group you might think that if the bike in front makes a curve at a certain speed you can also.

REALLY good advice! For the longest time, my fear of curves caused me to fall back a bit... okay... a lot. John rides quite a bit more than I do (kids, you know... can't ride four up, so I have to take the cage). He's ridden longer and is more comfortable on his bike so he can take them faster. Sometimes he would get a little miffed that I would fall back so much... but I would rather be behind... than on the ground.

Watching him now and trying to judge my abilities based on how he takes a curve, isn't so much trying to figure out what I can do as it is knowing that the bike is able to do it and pushing myself a little harder with each curve to reach my optimum performance.

[TADracer]

Not committment, respect.

I cannot disagree with any of you that have posted because we are all different. Myself, riding agressively is not so much a committment but more a respect of my machine and my ability (which I admit is not in the high realm). I have managed to put my cajun butt on the ground several years ago and then realized that one must know and respect the limits of himself and his machine. The second you think you have a bike mastered (especially an XS1100) I can almost guarantee you will be showing off alittle bit of road rash.

So now when I ride agressively I try to ride up to the limit of my incompetance, ie. the level where I am no longer in control. Up to that point, riding is a pure rush....after that point, I will surely be on the ground!