Hit the streets yesterday

[voodoophantom]

So I finally took the bike out into the streets yesterday. Rode around for about an hour and had the best time of my life. I should have bought a street bike ten years ago! Jerry, I think you said it, and you were right. Street riding is way different than dirt riding.
Also, the R6 is just a little different than the bikes we rode at the MSF course.... just a little:rolleyes: . I was still shaking an hour after I got back home.
My biggest concern right now is tightening up those right hand turns. I took a few way too wide. Any suggestions?

[Johnny Cochran]

How fast are you taking the turns? Chances are you are running just a little slow and that's why you are turning wide...

[GixJello206]

lean and look harder! congrats! I remember when I first started riding!

[voodoophantom]

Now that I think about it, the ones that I ran wide were taken a little slow. More throttle you say? They drilled that into our ears in the course. "Maintain or increase throotle throughout the turns!" For some reason, it's easier to do that on left turns than on right. Right just feels more clausterphobic. Tighter turns, curb on one side.... I just gotta trust the bike, right?

[GixJello206]

ya hit a parking lot and practice I can't tell you how many times I went around my block when i got out the msf course!

[357Magnum]

just do what your comfortable with man. If you dont feel right taking the turns faster then don't. Because it's going to hurt that much more if you go down. Just take it easy and go at your own learning pace. The r6 is stable as hell in the turns. You just have to trust the bike and remember to always look out ahead of you where you want to go.

[Johnny Cochran]

As long as ur doing at least 15 when you enter the turn and slow roll the throttle as you are coming out of the apex, you can get down to the point that you could put ur knee out and touch the ground...I wouldn't try doing that though until you are more comfy with the bike lol.

[FastDemonr1]

Hey man, if you ever want to go out let me know, if I remember right your from Tucson right? Cause I am, and I am almost always down to ride.... Come to Mamas pizza on Speedway tomorrow night. Lots of bikes!

[Streaker1369]

^^^^^^ hes a good guy go out for rides with him you can learn alot from him. It also helps hes a really good rider

[FastDemonr1]

Thanks....I am down to try and teach anybody to love this life style as much as I currently do.

[Blue Devil]

right handers are harder because you are controlling the throttle and at the same time you are leaning into it. Just make sure not to hit the brakes in the turn or it will cause your bike to want to stand up and take the turn wide. To get good at turns its all about practice. Eventually you will find the apex of the turns and know exactly where to get into the throttle. If you need any help hit me up....

its not a good way to learn turns but i learned at Tortilla Flats haha. A buddy took me out there 3 days after getting the bike and basically said, you dont make the turn and your screwed. Lean into the throttle and lean if you get scared. I wouldnt suggest learning that way but it worked for me haha

[voodoophantom]

FastDemon:
I do live in Tucson, but I think I need some practice before I can commit to going out there tomorrow. Give it a week or two, and if I don't get it down by then, I'll just find a route between my house and there that requires no right turns :lol2: .

BTW: Thanks everyone for your tips and advice.

[Rodskii]

I would recommend learning the intricacy's of countersteering. Everyone does it unknowingy but if you focus on it you will be able to learn to turn much smoother. Basicaly the concept behind countersteering is if you want to make a right hand turn you actually slightly(and i mean slightly) turn the handle bars as if you are going to make a left hand turn. What this does is throw the gyroscopics of the wheels out of whack and actually forces the bike to lean to the right into the turn. Making the turn much smoother. Alot of times people will turn the bars in the direction of the turn and that actually makes the bike want to go the opposite way and makes turning much harder and will cause you to go wide. But only use this technique when going around 20 miles per hour or faster which is a decent speed for any right hander :)

If you think this is all crazy try this. While riding in a straight line about 30 miles per hour, slightly(and again i mean slightly) push forward on the right grip to force the front wheel to go left. Now natuarally you think the bike will go left but I guarantee you the bike will actually go right instead. It's quite amazing.

http://www.sportrider.com/ride/146_9912_motorcycle_counter_steering/

[Streaker1369]

well what ever you decide to do just get out there and have a good time doing it!

[06Gixxer King]

you might want to look into reading the books

Total control by Lee Parks
Twist of the wrist 1&2 by Keith Code

total control is good i have it and explains all the physics, mental issues, concepts and even has some exercises you can do to learn.

I got it just after i got my bike and it helped me. It is well explained and easy to understand. The guy who wrote it is a former AMA 250 champ and a racer.

Well worth the $25-30 bucks

[GixJello206]

oh and watch out for cats! Jared must have left that out of his post!:lol2:

[06Gixxer King]

oh and watch out for cats! Jared must have left that out of his post!:lol2:

Dude go put more glitter on your bike

[GixJello206]

can't already has the clear coat over it. be too expensive to add more.

[punchit]

when did you take the msf course i just did mine the 5th and 6th

[CENISTR]

just to say something i think left turns are harder for me....i can do a right turn no problem...fast or slow...if you look at my rear tire the tread on right side is way low then the center and then have a lot on my left side....the way i learned was just everyday that i drove my bike i would take the same route and every everyday take one specific turn just a little bit faster and leaned just a little more until i got good at them...take it easy though...just like everybody says...it'll save you and your bike

[Jimmy3]

Just take your time. Don't push yourself too fast. I recommend taking turns wide for now until you feel more comfortable at making them tighter.

[voodoophantom]

Thanks for the help on this one. I managed to tighten up those turns by holding on to the throttle.

[Eviloliv3]

I would recommend learning the intricacy's of countersteering. Everyone does it unknowingy but if you focus on it you will be able to learn to turn much smoother. Basicaly the concept behind countersteering is if you want to make a right hand turn you actually slightly(and i mean slightly) turn the handle bars as if you are going to make a left hand turn. What this does is throw the gyroscopics of the wheels out of whack and actually forces the bike to lean to the right into the turn. Making the turn much smoother. Alot of times people will turn the bars in the direction of the turn and that actually makes the bike want to go the opposite way and makes turning much harder and will cause you to go wide. But only use this technique when going around 20 miles per hour or faster which is a decent speed for any right hander :)

If you think this is all crazy try this. While riding in a straight line about 30 miles per hour, slightly(and again i mean slightly) push forward on the right grip to force the front wheel to go left. Now natuarally you think the bike will go left but I guarantee you the bike will actually go right instead. It's quite amazing.

http://www.sportrider.com/ride/146_9912_motorcycle_counter_steering/
they hit that pretty hard in the MSF course. they call it "push right, go right"

its basically like doing a pushup with one arm. i use it every day. thats what you are supposed to use if you need to make a swerve.