bruders8146
2015-03-17 19:35:00 UTC
I passed my test only last June and brought myself a new kawasaki z800... nice bike! however so uncomfortable (had a constant pants in bottom scenario )
my SD 06 is only my 2nd bike.... and its a massive grin factor. (dont like town riding) but thats the only down fall.
ive done a Police BIKE SAFE, but now feeling like i need to up my skills further
slowly working on my chicken strips!!!
So basically what would you suggest i do next?
Superdan
2015-03-17 19:40:00 UTC
Or go out with the numerous advanced road riders in the UK who take you out and point out your road craft.
shadowman
2015-03-17 20:01:00 UTC
Reb
2015-03-17 20:06:00 UTC
Make sure your bike is set up suspension wise for you. The biggest hurdle in progressing your skills is learning to trust your bike. When you know the bike is right you can then start to explore your boundries with more confidence.
Its a learning process. Take it slowly. Good luck.
Colonel_Klinck
2015-03-17 20:24:00 UTC
SDNerd
2015-03-17 21:03:00 UTC
Which leads me to another resource I've found invaluable: Books. While gasoline and tyres (=miles) are always money best spent developing one's craftsmanship as a rider, books are a relatively cheap means to improve.
Some picks I find myself pointing folks to regularly:
- Mr. Ienatsch's own "Sport Riding Techniques: How To Develop Real World Skills for Speed, Safety, and Confidence on the Street and Track".
- Total Control: High Performance Street Riding Techniques (Lee Parks)
- Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well (David L. Hough)
- The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right (Motorcycle Safety Foundation).
- A Twist of the Wrist Vol. 2: The Basics of High-Performance Motorcycle Riding (Keith Code).
I recently finished (and should bash out a review ...) "Troy Bayliss: A Faster Way" (by Bayliss and long time Sport Rider editor Andrew Trevitt). While I wouldn't immediately recommend this to a novice-and-progressing street rider (any more than I would a well-experienced racer), there are certainly aspects from this volume that translate well to street application.
Like all here I can only encourage that you get out and ride as much as possible - with responsible people (OK - at least somewhat responsible); get your suspension sorted; go to an advanced/performance riding school; maybe do a trackday (or several); and read some.
Good luck, enjoy the ride, and welcome to the zoo.
bruders8146
2015-03-17 21:20:00 UTC
On the book side of things im currently half way through Keith code book (twist the throttle) and have been trying to apply as much as possible..
im defiantly noticing that my skills are coming along, more so with this bike, (after a short period of bike adjustment)
actually my only major issue that i keep getting is going from 1st gear into 2nd. I seem to hit neutral quite a bit, other than that im loving it..
Colonel_Klinck
2015-03-17 21:32:00 UTC
Stupid Luke
2015-03-17 21:33:00 UTC
East Kent IAM. meet at Ashford. Despite their IAM affiliation there are some pretty good riders amongst all the old giffers and road captains. Worth a wander along to one of their social evenings but 50/50 whether you will get someone that wants to have some fun in a ride. Ok, if your face fits and you get in with a decent crowd. I used to like going but I was tutt tutted as a bit of a tearaway. The IAM motto is ' anyone slower than me is inexperienced and needs my guidance and anyone faster than me is a dangerous idiot'. I used to like ruffling a few feathers
There is a ROSPA or Rospa smart group that meet on Sunday Mornings at Mickey's Diner on Bluebell Hill. They go for ride outs but personally I found them a bit too dull and worthy and far too slow. Nice crowd in the main, so I will probably end up riding with them again once I get a bit more decrepit and senile.
Stupid Luke
2015-03-17 21:38:00 UTC
Get some tracktime. Lydden Hill do / did Saturday trackdays for not much money and that is a good way of getting more confident quickly or getting quicker more confidently or something?
Best get that in, in case Ducati Pete is still lurking about on his ban.
Colonel_Klinck
2015-03-17 21:39:00 UTC
Post missing.
Stupid Luke
2015-03-17 21:49:00 UTC
Post missing.
bruders8146
2015-03-17 21:56:00 UTC
will definitely give Kent Better Bikers ago i have a friend thats just taken membership with east kent IAM (i think his finding it hard to fit in).
I want to go out and thrash it.. but i need to learn to walk before i can run. I like to think i'm half sensible
Colonel_Klinck
2015-03-17 22:10:00 UTC
Post missing.
Stupid Luke
2015-03-17 23:08:00 UTC
Post missing.
AGRO!
2015-03-18 00:46:00 UTC
This might sound like a dumb question but the younger you start riding the more confidence you will have.
I've noticed that when a older person decides they want to start riding they lack a hell of a lot of confidence and seem scared to lean the bike when their not even going that quick.
Yes get some lessons and do some track days
bruders8146
2015-03-18 00:58:00 UTC
bruders8146
2015-03-18 06:42:00 UTC
Post missing.
AGRO!
2015-03-18 06:45:00 UTC
Post missing.
Colonel_Klinck
2015-03-18 06:48:00 UTC
Post missing.
AGRO!
2015-03-18 07:15:00 UTC
Post missing.
jmann
2015-03-18 07:28:00 UTC
Good work young Klinck
bic_bicknell
2015-03-18 08:02:00 UTC
bruders8146
2015-03-18 08:06:00 UTC
My advice is a repeat of all the above.
Go out and ride as much as you can and get the hours and experience in. It's like a fighter pilot in WW1 - you got to survive to learn how to survive more.
You seem to be focussed on 'riding techniques' but you also got to learn to ride defensively because everyone is out to kill you.
Road craft comes with experience and time - strive to reach that point where you get a sixth sense for what other cars are going to do.
Unless you have really good mates who are experienced and yet empathetic to a newer rider it's not always best to ride in a group.
If you do get in the first three of the group because if you are further back you are at far more risk playing catch up all the time.
You can learn a lot riding on your own at your own pace, you might be surprised at how quick you actually are when you catch up other riders on popular roads!
It's much better to learn to be smooth and calm than fast and furious. You will be quicker and safer in the long run.
Go out riding in the wet as much as possible - this will make you smooth and calm!! And then when it's dry you will be really laughing.
Practice doing stoppies and wheelies when there is no other traffic and the road surface is good.
Not to learn to be a hooligan but because it teaches you how hard your bike can brake and accelerate and how good your tyres are.
When you think you are ready don't go and try and get your knee down on a roundabout, (like we all did). Go and book a track day instead where it's easy.
1st to 2nd is prone to false neutral but only when you are rushing! Smooooth and calm it never happens;)
Good luck
2014_SDR
2015-03-18 08:15:00 UTC
Aphex
2015-03-18 14:39:00 UTC
The more you get out there and experience things the more you'll feel comfortable doing it.
Just stay loose on the bars, and you'll be alright
Oh and look out for decreasing radius turns, those fookers are sneaky.
bruders8146
2015-03-18 14:56:00 UTC
Aphex
2015-03-18 16:00:00 UTC
Once you get a feel for it then you can worry about covering the rear brake. So work on throttle control first, then add in the other things where you have to spend your attention.
Then you can work on slipping the clutch in second gear and being even smoother.
This is a pretty good tutorial.
Stupid Luke
2015-03-18 21:42:00 UTC
Post missing.
bruders8146
2015-03-18 22:06:00 UTC
Post missing.