Lots of research - wrong result

Hi all,

I'm new to this newsgroup thing so I thought I'd introduce myself to you all
as I plan to be a regular contributor.

I've recently returned (2 months) from a 3 year motorcycling hiatus (I tried
to give up but it didn't take!) and after months of a 'internet searching,
magazine buying research frenzy' the results are one shiny new R1 parked in
the garage. Everything I read suggested this was the one to own.

Part of my reasoning was a desire to start doing track days and therefore
bikes such as the CT110 and Goldwing were eliminated relatively early on!

After 3 years of tin topping it around I'm amazed how little
skill/confidence I now have. Whether this is due to my new found maturity or
purely the time off who knows but I feel like I did 10 years ago wobbling
around on my pristine ZZR250. For those of you in Melbourne you'll recognise
me as the really slow guy on the R1 that you just past! Obviously the track
days are out of the question for the time being.

So in order to regain my former glory as a competent motorcyclist I'm
planning a series of training courses.
HART - Intermediate - supposedly for riders returning from a spell or
graduating to the bigger bikes (I suspect this will be a little basic but
what the hell)
HART - Advanced1
Australian Superbike School - Cornering Technique

Any comments on these courses or other alternatives would be much
appreciated.


Cheerio for now

NimbleAlmond

 

whats wrong with the goldwing as a track bike?
dont be so biased with your "bike of the moment" crap.

my grandpa is pulling 1:35s around the creek on his goldwing

yee haw.

 

Mate, 20 minutes a day keeps the wobbles away.

Have fun and approach your limits carefully - it will be a long time if ever
that you reach your bike's limits. Don't let it reach yours!

BTW, I'm told even a VTR250 is a great hoot around a track, especially if
you're just getting back into it. I took the ST2 (Ducati sports tourer - as
a friend calls it, the old man's family bike, but I disagree of course) to
Eastern Ck and although it would only hit 220 down the main straight and be
passed by Blackbirds/ZX12Rs etc. I would often catch them around the twisty
bits so they could then pass me again in a straight line. Phaaa!

Anyway enjoy yourself and welcome.

Cheers,
Dave ZZR600 => ST2 (stolen) => ???

 

After 3 years of tin topping it around I'm amazed how little skill/confidence I now have.

and you buy an R1?

 

In retrospect it does seem an odd decision but at the time I figured I'd
just jump on it and within a couple of hours I'd be right. The other thing
is reading lots and lots of reviews you can't help getting caught up in the
whole 'this ones 0.3% better than that one' mentality and before you know it
you've gone from a GSXR600 to GSXR1000!

Either that or I'm just a dope!

 

Well considering you have little confidence and skill on 2 wheels I'd say that
a course which is "a little bit basic" is *EXACTLY* what you need! (unless
you're a troll, in which case you can skip all that bullshit and go straight
for Superbike school level 3)
Buy a copy of Twist of the Wrist 2 and read it a couple of times. Plenty of
practice and consciously thinking about every skill you're practicing while
you're doing it will help you improve more quickly.

Nev..
'02 CBR1100XX #2

 

. The other thing is reading lots and lots of reviews you can't help getting caught up in the whole 'this ones 0.3% better than that one' mentality and before you know it you've gone from a GSXR600 to GSXR1000!
You cant? 10000's of other bike buyers dont.

Ummmmmmm........

 

But first you'll have to do Level 1 and 2 before you can do Level 3, no matter what experience you have.


I'd be goin' the Level 1 course to pump up the skills and confidence. But you may need to do a roadcraft course to refresh some
defensive riding skills.

 

And that's assuming a bike journo can tell the difference. Some good reviewers, some so-so. And most get caught up in track
comparisons instead of real world useability.


that one' mentality and before you know it you've gone from a GSXR600 to GSXR1000!

 

Plus there's the whole "take it around the block and you'll hate it,
take it around the country and you'll love it" thing.

-----sharks

 

you may need to do a roadcraft course to refresh some

Are there anyone teaching proper techniques for braking hard whilst
cornering? Or is that just too hard for them to do insurance wise...? The
real answer is of course that you shouldn't brake hard whilst cornering ...
but what if you do? Having practiced doing it and how it effects the bike
etc is better than none.

Did the government sponsored "SAFE" one, they had me emergency braking going
straight upright. Kindof interesting but their slow & high speed cone
navigation things was much better for me. My discs were almost smoking at
the end of those sessions, it did wonders for my slow/medium speed handling.

Superbikeschool otoh was great for higher speed bike control. I reckon the
two types complement each other and should both be done.

j

 

I'd rather spend the time practising cornering or straightline braking. There are jst too many variables to permit safe consistent
hard braking whilst cornering.

As you'll know from Superbike School, the desired response in an emergency within a corner is to keep that throttle on, push hard on
the opposite handlebar, keep it all relaxed and get on thru the corner.

And also to be setup correctly for the corner (position, speed and bike stability), before even getting to the corner having a plan
already mapped out, including seeing well thru the corner.

Braking hard whilst well leaned over is really a dice rolling exercise.

 

Instructors will teach you how to avoid getting into situations which require
hard braking mid corner rather than how to recover from such a situation.
They want to help you stop your bad habits, not to accommodate them.

Nev..
'02 CBR1100XX #2

 

I disagree with the bit about not doing a track day. That is probably the
best thing that you could do. Go out in the slow group and practice corner
technique. Provided you don't get too tempted to over-cook it into a corner
with all that R1 power, you should find it worthwhile.
S.

 

Yeah, well, Postman Pat can pull 1.30 around the Creek on his work CT110.

Ron

 

Yeah, well, Postman Pat can pull 1.30 around the Creek on his work CT110.

.... and sort the mail as he goes.

Dave ZZR600 => ST2 (stolen) => ???

 

I get startled by how much my skillset drops when I don't ride for a fortnight,
it takes a few minutes of consciously doing things correctly before it all
clicks into place - you really DO need to start at something exactly like the
HART intermediate course. I'd suggest the training course map you've plotted is
pretty good. Get lots of time in the saddle and be very conscious of riding
within your limits, you have a bike that while more capable than 99% of the
riders on the road, is also very capable of getting you in over your head, being
alive and overtaken beats the shit out of being the first one to the coffin....

Do the training, keep your head, and don't start thinking about using full
throttle for at least a few weeks Make "smooth" your watchword.

DEFINITELY follow this one while waiting for your course booking to come up. And
go practise what it says.

JL

 

And pinching the cards with money, eh Pat?!?

 

Or you could buy a low-mileage BMW R1150GS and automatically become a
superior motorcyclist!

 

Have fun with the instrument cluster trying to smack you in the face every
few minutes...



Aaron
ZX6R