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shakabeemer

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Everything posted by shakabeemer

  1. I had a serious crash last year about this time and the fear was so strong that I thought about selling my bike. Then I talked it over with a close buddy who I ride with and he suggested I don't. It was so obvious to him that I had a serious love for riding. Then my wife, who is not fond of my riding, said I should stay with it for the same reason. That was a year ago and I although I have increased respect and for riding, I don't think about the crash in the same way. It was just a learning experience.
  2. I have the Arai RX-Q and at the bike show in the Big Apple they (Arai) directed me to THESERVICEPAVILIAN.COM table (bike shop that specializes in Arai) and not only did they fix a warranty vent issue but when I called them after seeing this post weeks later they knew exactly which crown piece I needed. Thanks for bringing this up because it's a serious issue that has plagued me for a long time which I had no idea was correctable. Cheek pads can also be switched if the crown alone doesn't do the trick.
  3. Hey Will, Thought you might enjoy hearing the noise turned out to be the front exhaust servo. Best of luck and hope our paths cross again. Nic
  4. It's a great topic and one I've been intensely interested in because it does seem one has to contend with a certain amount of pushing the front and getting sideways with the back end if you really want to be at the front of the group.
  5. Yup, one of my resolutions is to read from the Forums every morning and evening; Can't help but learn something that way. Happy and healthy New Year to all!
  6. Certainly I felt much more forward and my entire body raised up in the rear and moved forward in the sort of postion a jocky, downhill racer, or a bicycle racer (I was one) is in upon installation of rearsets. When I installed the Woodcrafts on my S1k I soon felt much more comfortable in terms of being in a racing position. Then I hurt my leg at work and started to get wicked pain in my right leg on the bike. I saw the Attacks on sale four months later and immediatley got them thinking they would solve my problem but then I realized firstly, the strength and quality of the Woodies seemed superior and I also hadn't really given them the full attention they needed to explore the limits of their adjustment for my particular body. Unlike and just the opposite of you Robert, and differently from what we had discussed earlier, I have a long upper body compared to my height at 5'11". I'm going to send the Attacks back for now since I'm in no rush to work this out and the money I save could go towards my racing license school at Penquin in 2015. I think Eric Wood will be able to help me work things out when I see him for my training. No disrepect to Attack. My opinions are based on a very brief examination upon reciept of them, and without removing my Woods. I must say the GP pattern shifing on the Woodcraft is excellent with rarely a false neutral and good, even sometimes with clutchless downshifting. Good rearsets rock even to someone as inexperinced as myself in working with them.
  7. In the best of all worlds more riders would get the chance to train with the best of bikes, tracks, coaches, etc until they themselves, say ok I'm not getting any better, I don't want to do this any more...that's how money limits the sport. As well, motorcycle racing is not as simple as lifting a world record amount or running world championship race even though preparation for these events is complex. Yet in events like these there is always a story of some freak of nature occurrence for example, when the guy on the wrestling mat is obviously the loser before the match even starts because his body fat content is way over what champions generally are, his record shows many losses below the Olympic gold medal level and he is facing a near lifetime undefeated wrestler who is built like an Olympic god. Yet he wins and this is a real life true story. Another example is a horse with a disproportionate build who becomes a great champion. You would know better than I of an example of a road racer who shouldn't win a big race but does or shouldn't have been competitive in world class racing but was or is. The mind. Neither of us mentioned the mind in our analysis. It is probably the biggest asset in an incredibly complex sport like ours. It's also not something that is necessarily measured by IQ. I think your initial comment regarding how the least talented having to work the hardest and vice versa is closest to what I believe. Add to that that things don't always go according to plan. There are so many aspects of racing and riders that have either gone unnoticed, been affected by a freak occurrence, or changed, long before Marquez dragged an elbow. That's why we race.
  8. Keith looks at the question (the question of nature vs nurture...He doesn't use that phrase) in Twist by considering that riders with aptitude in only a in a few areas can become very good and better than some with aptitude in all if they are motivated but that motivation alone will not make them winners at the highest level if they have no physical skills and are driven only by emotion. Granted this is my interpretation of Keith's assessment in one particular section of the book as well as his comment in a completely different section, and concludes with how I THINK he sees it overall. I'll go a little further myself and say that MONEY could play a tremendous factor in this equation by allowing someone with less ability to use anything, everything, and especially technology and time to overcome even serious deficits in ability. The most serious hindrance barring a complete physical deficit is time. TIME and AGE carry with them limitations that become insurmountable. Who knows how long a given individual may take to master a given skill, but they may be able to master what others thought impossible for that individual given enough time, money, and dedication. But an 80 year old will probably not heal so well after a big crash without some unknown medical miracle to use another example. Apologies for not having the correct references from Twist at my fingertips and for performing a bit of sleight of hand with Keith's thinking, but I think I'm in the right ball park with my response. Please correct or help me where necessary as several responses are similar with the exception of applying Keith's mind to the issue directly. I doubt Keith will be angry for my trying to make for safer riding.
  9. The new S1000RR with clutchless downshifting and alll the other goodies would be awesome.
  10. I designed my own seat and had New Image Seats make it from my old frame. The main issue for me was too much accelleration and nothing to stop me from sliding off the back. I made a bolster and taped it to the rear of my stock seat. It does the same job of the "hump" on a Busa but it's soft. The next model I make will have about a half of the bolster behind me so I can get into a tuck more easily. The new one will have a higher profile as I still tend to slide backwards because it's too low. My current design also positions me a little too far forward as I took Keith's personal preference about having a forward position and his instruction that it is always the same too literally. I'm crunched up against the tank too tight. The finish is comfortable and good looking with a carbon fiber style covering which gets a little slippery when polished. I like that feel so I can slide over from one side to the other more easily to hang off but not so slick that I fall off. It would be suitable for someone who wants a more upright casual riding position. The seat back of the new Ninja looks to be the design I was trying to achieve but was not able to see in my minds eye. I'm still happy wih my seat compared to the stock.
  11. Dear Laura, I'm so impressed that someone so personable with such humility to take on a hard headed guy as I as a project without giving clue as to just how successful you are (except that which I heard from others) is unusual at the least; I realize calling myself your project may be a stretch; I mean as I have said In past comments that I feel very supported by you knowing that you have given so many student lot's of your attention both as a coach and in the forums not to mention as moderator. Wow! That's a tremendous lot of time management and inspiring in itself. itt blows the old adage that them who can't teach to smithereens. I certainly have improved under your tutelage and hope for more. Thanks, Nic
  12. Hi, Use fewer RPs. I believe the Twist II book says something like less is better like when in sunset or in my case sundown where you find fewer RPs. When endurance racers go at night they can go just as fast becuase of fewer RPs to confuse themselves as Keith noted and I find this to be true but challenging...it takes time to develop the trust you need to use the RP's you choose as the most reliable. They may look similar so find the ones that are most prominet and ignore the rest. Good luck, It will work. I'm sure others will help you understand and correct me if I'm not exactly on the money or left something out. Thanks for bringning this important topic up. Vision and awareness are as important as anything else.
  13. Thank you all for the eye opening big reveal from where I sit. Many thanks.
  14. The Black Night became the Furious BN since I had. Max flash tune my ecu to the Brock's titanium Meg, put the new stickiest Miches on it with my sponsored Cox rad oil cooler guards for safety strength and looks and believe me she wants to take me to places I never thought possible. The noise! Praying tech will let me pass. I told u rchase. I want that '15 and chances r I'll ge it. Thanks all. I'm still riding with the headmaster through my uc clear 200 comm device and crave learning more.
  15. Off the top of my head I say if you're this interested to ask the question and our School accept's your'e application you are ready. Ask more experienced than I what you should bring. Read all preps carefully and go. With Code race I believe you are pampered and treated wih kid gloves as much as getting the skills and giving you the steely determination to race and win...from a rider who has never been at a code race School. I know one thing for sure...you will race.
  16. Got spooked last night by a guy who put in seven seasons at Loudon and told me some horror stories; My wife chimed in and reminded me that I promised no racing. Well sort of. I'm racing this coming year and that be with heck or high water. More later.
  17. Actually its 4D because the whole thing is constanlty changing with time.
  18. I'm glad you brought this up because of all the gazillion things I need to be better at in riding this stands way up in front. I am ok at changing my feild of reference, the challenge is using my mind to shift around the whole field of vision. Keith's orginal concept of using four points to practise on as in a rectangle is helpful but I'm realizing that that's just the beginning. Its really necessary to see the whole thing in 3D. Really...thanks!
  19. Glad you enjoyed your time with Chris. He was my Coach too and I really enjoyed working with him.
  20. Thanks for the kind words as you have called it exactly right. It is still swollen and painful going back to May 20, 2014... about five months ago but I don't feel a thing when I'm on the bike! Tougher souls like you are pure inspiration.
  21. All I can say is Man, do I love to go fast and get faster.
  22. YD, Awesome. I had given up my racing aspirations when I heard about your injury due to the fact that I had a two joint dislocation in my middle finger that is still not completely healed after four months. It looked pretty ugly yet nothing compared to what you must have experienced. Long story short...I am completely inspired and willing to consider the next step of getting some schooling at Penquin next year, Thanks, Nic
  23. Thanks Robert, Most definitely inspiring. My Black Night is back! Everything back in perfect condition just like off the showroom floor except for my "Cornering Learn the Art" liscence frame I picked up at my CSS School day and she runs like a champ. My mechanic loves K & N so what could i do but let him go ahead even though Will isn't fond of them. I believe I can feel and hear the difference in performance. The tune-up was after 11,775mi and I know the air filter was horribly dirty due to the sand and resultant dust used here in the winter; I would have changed it much sooner had I known it wasn't part of the 6k service. I put 250mi on her yesterday. Lets just say I was glad to get her back. My riding after a hiatus since 5/20/14 is right back where I was only a little better. Amazingly it was there as soon as I got on the bike because I just put my mind to the adage that when you fall down, get right back up. Robert, you know I did some much slower low power riding at your behest since May 20. I know your instruction helped. Thank you and to all the other members who have made suggestions about my riding. I took a my Long Island Sport Bike Group out for two technical loops (where we lost another young rider 22 year old, who was not a member of my group...this was last week and he was out on his own and angry that he couldn't find anyone to ride with, Cobie, this is the same turn that I was having trouble with last year and you easily discerned it was a double apex, I usually do this ride often and then I took them out on the highways to the Jones Beach Needle. If not racing and riding stupidly fast, its just good to ride in a group and the younger inexperienced riders are just thirsting for someone to lead them. With three riders as good or better than me to pick up some of the slack, I've been able to establish three rides per week this summer where there were NONE last year. I'm hoping to get the group well established with rides down to NJMP for CSS and track days. We have one of our Members, Mike, going to the two day CSS in August and we may get some others to join him for the ride and to see how great the School is. Another dream of mine, once I become a better rider, is to go into the local high schools and encourage them to get training, proper gear, and maybe save a life; There has been a rash of crashes lately and it breaks my heart. My wife and I passed another rider up morning in street clothes who died in a traffic accident. There was another non-fatal crash I came upon just after it happened. I'm telling you all this not to be scary or morose but to remind myself and express to you all the imperitive nature for safe riding where motorcyclists can find the kind of insruction that will help them the most be it MSF and similar or Cornering, Track Clubs, or Racing Schools. This is the situation in the NYC metro area. There are some very good clubs that are City based and I'm trying to follow their lead. The connection between this and my racing is very important to me. Now that my bike is back I can make plans for the rest of the season and I will post up on these. Penguin suggests at least 5 track days before the the licensing course and I'd like to avail myself of that if possible. Eric told me he would wave that if I look good enough in the track and street day. I intend to use the experience gained from Trevor Pennington to improve my manner on the track. So, onward and upward to become a better safer rider and to be a real racer.
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