Jaybird180

The other day I was wondering what the accident rate is for an experienced motorcyclist while driving an automobile. It was commented to me that I drive in similar style to how I ride. My choice of vehicle has been influenced by my riding. So, thinking in numbers I wonder if an insurance company would be willing to adjust the rates for my auto premium because I participate in motorcycle related schools and events. It couldn't hurt, right? I'm a better driver than the guy in the Mercedes next to me who can't hold his line, right? So I got to thinking, an insurance actuary could provide data in 4 categories, off-road rider, high performance track rider, street-sport rider, and cruiser rider, whom I suspect will have the smallest change in accident rate. In theory, the high performance track rider would have the safest driving record, followed by the off-road (dirt) rider and then the street rider, followed by the cruiser with an auto accident rate similar to the general non-motorcycling population. So, until we get an insurance actuary to chime in, I propose in this thread we discuss our subjective evaluation of our own driving habits and how motorcycling has or has not helped us in that area.

ok

Hey Jay: I have been on a track day once about 3 years ago. I am very rusty right now, because I haven't ridden for about 2 1/2 years, and I hope I will be in a good shape by may. I live 70 miles away, but I don't have a trailer, a truck, or a car that can trail anything. I only have a 350Z conv. and a Del Sol...only 2-seaters for me.. Well, if you decide to bring the duck you can always rent. I've done Uhaul truck, Uhaul trailer (on a friend's vehicle), but the best was renting a minivan. I removed the seats, put the bike on the right side; sidestand down; strapped to seat hooks and slept trackside in the van on an air mattress. The best weekend I ever had. I love the way you think, Jaybird! ...and you're welcome to use the idea. I've been thinking about buying a mini-van, but I've been told I'm banned. We're still negotiating that one (LOL).

What do you mean by this, Hub?

Underpowered can be a good thing when you're working on technique. I've told all my friends that I wish I'd started on something smaller. Dunno if I can go back now (hmmmm..........)

Wiki says that bike is less than $2000 US. It looks like it would make me a good track bike, wonder if I can get one in the states???

Seems fine to me. Anyone else?

When you're done braking and shifting, you should already be in position with nothing to do except countersteer.

No Pic

Ok Bobby, some questions for you, whilst you're in thinking mode then. What is the pick up drill for? Could you react quickly enough with pick up drill to counteract a slide? If you think about what the rear tyre is already doing when it starts to slide, what would be the consequence of either rolling on more throttle, or alternatively chopping the throttle? Bullet Ok, I believe the pickup drill is for getting a bit more power down at the exit, preferably enough that the rear squirms or spins just a bit as your picking it up! When I think what the rear tyre is doing when it starts to slide, I think coming around, I know that at this point chopping the throttle is not an option as it will result in a highside, I understand that by maintaining a constant throttle will act like a rev limiter and the tyre will regain traction smoothly, then I guess you continue the roll on! Its the last option I wonder about, keep rolling the throttle on (TC rule #1)! Ok so I imagine that the rear tyre will keep coming around and your lean angle will increase until your in a lowside situation, even if it does regain traction before lowsiding then your bike will most likely be pointing towards the gravel at the inside of the turn unless you have used the pickup drill a bit to keep the bike headed in its desired direction, I'm not sure if you could react quickly enough with the pick up drill to counteract a slide, possibly not unless you started the slide intentionally! Bobby You see, you did know after all. Good answer. Bullet Ask Colin Edwards about this one!

Well speak up Mang!!! Which 'us' are you referring to??? Who has a date at NJMP? My club TPM has one, but it's in conjunction with Mladins retirement race and I will NOT be participating in that crashfest; too many riders thinking they can fill his shoes (LOL).

This is a good description and something that I found by accident myself. But it brings up something that's been nagging me for quite some time that I've heard about: I've heard something about weighing the inside peg on corner entry and outside peg post-apex. Anyone know anything about this? Is it completely bunk? FWIW, I weigh the inside peg through exit, but I'm not anywhere near the edge of traction either (LOL)

I started 2009 with a goal and a result (I think, I got those words right- LOL). Sadly both have fallen short. I had a goal of 3 school days and 6 trackdays (minimum). Each of the school dates would count as a trackday for the purposes of my goal. I made 2 days with CSS in March and haven't been on track since :-( My desired result is to move up a level in my trackday org. I haven't had a chance to practice what I learned at CSS nor demonstrate that I even learned anything (my bad). Hopefully, I'll get back on track before this season is out, but I don't expect any miracles. Perhaps 2010...

Of course we can agree that this is dependent on the type of corner as there is no ‘one corner fits all’. Then why brake at all? As I understand, the sole purpose of the brake lever for the track rider is the setting of entry speed. For a given turn and the desired line through that turn the entry speed is a (relative) maximum value. So if one can carry more speed and hold the line, then THIS is the proper entry speed for that turn, that rider, on that bike, at that turn point, etc. And your point here seems to make a strong argument for the value of getting the entry correct, which I agree with; booger the entry and there's NO WAY you can fix the exit (LOL). We’re dangerously close to that super long trailbraking thread (LOL), which BTW is still a very interesting, entertaining, and informative read, but I’m not even sure we even scratched the surface of the Terho’s question. I’m the first to admit that without more information from him, I don’t have the talent or clairvoyance to be of any real value at troubleshooting.

I think you may be misinterpretating Keiths words here. When does Keith suggest you should be getting back to 60/40, with the throttle rule? What are you as a rider typically doing before this time? In this time, where is more of the weight? Does being of the throttle move the weight to the front? Does trail braking add more or less weight to this? I also wonder what bike you have, what setup, and what tyres and pressure you're running ? I suspect that the really fast boys have super sticky tyres? Bullet I thought the principle was the same no matter whether the tyres were super sticky or sports tourers, unless of course you are refering to how the tyre performs before turn in, in which case then I agree the super sticky efforts will be able to withstand much higher forces during braking and decceleration, but I assume no matter what tyre your on after you have the bike steered you get on the throttle ASAP and achieve the 60-40 as described in the book? Bobby Exactly, it is....! The only difference in quicker riders and going much faster, is they brake for longer and deeper into the turn, and as you only come back to the throttle once you've finished braking, that period of coming back to the throttle is usually a little longer. Make sense? Bullet Okay, I'll bit the 'bullet' so-to-speak (LOL). I have to admit that on one level your answer seems dead-on, but on another level, it doesn't quite sit well with me; and I'd humbly suggest that it's over-simplified. I've heard it said that trying to make up time braking is a bad-idea. And one can see why if the newbie rider hears this, they abandon the other points of effective riding and think, "just get in deeper" and I'll go faster. I suppose this is the bravado that Valentino Rossi was talking about when comparing the GP style of riding to Superbike style.

I completely agree on this point-LOLOLOLOL

Fossil; I take some pride in keeping my posts as accurate as possible so I decided to attach the May AMA Superbike results from Barber and was disappointed to see that the AMA web site didn't have the Supersport "Qualifying" times but it did have the race results; you my friend were faster then the field on your hot lap. Take a look... http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/events/resu...pe=F&rnum=1 Kevin Kevin, Kevin, Kevin please stop.....as much as I want to believe I am in that company, I am sure that was a wet track. You really made my day though! Okay then if you want something to deflate your ego, the AMA Supersport is now age limited!!! See if you can chase down a fearless 16 year old. A couple years ago I had a chance to do my first ever school. It wasn't CSS but it was a class of 5 students. I had a pair of 16 year olds on a small track on EX500's give me fits.

Sorry I haven't been seen posting in awhile. I read the forums, but...just haven't posted...for various reasons. AND THEN I find I miss a lot of the discussions and by the time I see them, they're old and stale or require a lot of reading just to catch up. If you want a brain teaser, Stuman is your guy.

Hotfoot, you get all the really cool toys.

THIS is the MIND OF A CHAMPION http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/mot...r-shark-attack/

Haven't had a chance to view the video. They recently started frowning on videos at work.

Ahem, excuse me, but I see nothing wrong with this technique?

That would get cool to see just for a lap But I doubt I'd do it either. CF Okay, okay, Fine.... I'll volunteer.

Was this during the race or during qualifying. If it was during the race, I could forsee them using the early turn-in for defense. Those WSB boys take every opportunity to pass.

Sorry about your unfortunate fall.