08Missile

Thanks for the input, Hotfoot and Lnewqban! And for not making any crotch jokes :-) And, that's a great point! In trying to get my head between my windshield and mirror, look through the turn and hold on with my legs, I probably am quite a bit into the tank. That would also refute another technique I've given up on, which was to rest my inside knee on a "ledge" of my side fairing, which really threw me forward, but which I thought might work to "weight" the front tire, thus improving contact patch/steering, etc. Anyway, like I said, I gave up on that one. I'm going to try that hands width between the crotch and tank thing. Makes sense.

Hi all, Hope this reply doesn't go off point. Even though I've been riding my Yamaha FJR with a sport bike group for almost 5 years, I'm going to my 1st track day in April at Texas World Speedway. In researching the riding school, I saw a YouTube video where an instructor referred to the "triangle of daylight", in reference to getting your leg out. That was a helpful description for me. So, I've been trying to practice that technique, with 1/2 a cheek off. Reading this topic, I might be realizing something. It's easier to get my leg out if I twist my butt away from the turn. That obviously causes me to get crossed up and makes it impossible to lean off the "correct" way. I imagine the rest of the solution lies in dipping my inside shoulder. Am I just too old and stiff in the crotch or is there still hope for me?

Thanks Hotfoot. Please tell Cobie thanks, too. I'm still experimenting with it. Today, I found that it seems like all you have to really do is direct the inside of your arm at the elbow toward your rib cage and the bike just falls over. Honestly though, it's a little hard to gauge because a very subtle movement causes a very dramatic effect. Thanks again.

Hi all, I haven't been on the board for a while but returned to see quite a few more viewpoints. I appreciate all the opinions. At this point, I just want to clarify that pulling was something I "discovered" by chance and yes, I consider myself a beginner among you. I'm still trying to develop a plan. Got the TOTW DVD and seeing the techniques is really helpful. I wish Cobie or even Mr. Code himself would weigh in. Anyway, thanks again for all the suggestions. I can tell you all are truly interested in helping. Appreciate you!

Sorry. Didn't mean to abandon my own thread. Zilla, I've got to digest some of your post but I appreciate the time you put into it. Sounds like I need to sign up for school. CSS that is.

Thanks for the responses. VanHorn - Guess I should have said pull the bar toward the direction you want to go, i. e., to go left = lean left, pull the right hand bar to the left.

OK boys and girls, question: I've searched the boards quite a bit and haven't seen much about pulling the bars to countersteer, instead of pushing. What say you? Is that a legitimate and sound technique? Now, from reading other posts, maybe I'm steering too long into the curve and not releasing pressure on the bars after I lean it over, but pulling the bars seems to give me more effect with less effort. I really think I start out pushing but then I pull the inside of my elbow down toward the tank and immediately the bike turns in very easily. It also seems to have an added advantage on the left handers because as the inside of your right elbow comes down to the tank, the throttle rolls on automatically. And, you can regulate how much it rolls on by your hand position on the throttle. And, some might even think it's more intuitive to pull the bar in the direction you want to go. Well, that's been my experience so far. Fire away!