Jaybird180

I hope this is not too far OT, but I had this topic in mind as I was doing this in my car yesterday in the wet. I can confidently get the rear end to come around in the turns. I can also continuously feed power in sweepers until I get right on the edge of traction. It will get just out of line enough that I know it, but my passenger doesn't even know I'm playing this game, unless I hit a bump or slick spot and it goes, and then the electronic gadgetry takes over and limits my fun. I'd love to be this good (brave) on my bike. I figure: The typical car is about 2,500 lbs and has a rear traction footprint about 2.5X the size of a bike leaned over (2 wide tires vs 1). The way I figure, due to the weight and power, the motorcycle pilot should have more sensitivity and better control of traction. So how does one increase traction confidence? Is your car rear wheel drive? mine is front wheel drive so no good for drifting! I think that the first step to increasing traction confidence on a bike is recognising all of the SRs, especially #1 and #2 and be confident that when the bike breaks traction you will not, no matter what give in to these SRs! Both these SRs will put you and your bike into a potential crash situation so by understanding the effects of SR #1 and #2 and being able to ride through the slide without giving in to them would, should increase traction confidence! Do you agree? Yes, my car is RWD. I can see how SR 1 & 2 can be a barrier (LOLOLOLOL).

OK, it's been a few weeks, but I bought the stomp grip pads and the frame sliders are in the mail. Before I go sticking on the stomp grip, I got to wondering about the shape. I bought them already cut out for my bike (02 CBR600F4i) but when I hold them up to the side of the tank, it appears the material will have to stretch some to conform. I wanted to ask before I get half way into installing them- does this stuff stretch, or do you have to make some cuts in it to shape it? No cuts req'd. The word "stomp grips" go on facing forward.

I hope this is not too far OT, but I had this topic in mind as I was doing this in my car yesterday in the wet. I can confidently get the rear end to come around in the turns. I can also continuously feed power in sweepers until I get right on the edge of traction. It will get just out of line enough that I know it, but my passenger doesn't even know I'm playing this game, unless I hit a bump or slick spot and it goes, and then the electronic gadgetry takes over and limits my fun. I'd love to be this good (brave) on my bike. I figure: The typical car is about 2,500 lbs and has a rear traction footprint about 2.5X the size of a bike leaned over (2 wide tires vs 1). The way I figure, due to the weight and power, the motorcycle pilot should have more sensitivity and better control of traction. So how does one increase traction confidence?

WOOHOO! I was able to get the local boot place to do them!

Getting ready for my school in 2 weeks :blink: , I thoughtfully had some stitching done to my suit and a few seams on my gloves (these things are worn OUT). Then on my last street ride I burst the zipper on my boots. If anyone's familiar with them, I wear Setup boots made by Sidi. Decent boot for an excellent price. Well, I picked up my gear today and after 3 weeks the guy's machine wasn't working and he couldn't do my boot. Anyone know were I can get them repaired near Willow Springs? (just in case it comes to that) Plan B: Where can I ship them and have them shipped back to me? (trackside if neecessary) (I can't find an address for Sidi, and Setup is no longer available in the U.S.) Plan C: Buy a new pair (I've been eyeing the New Vertigo's) Plan D: Rent at the school Anyone???

Warmers can be an interesting thing; helpful if you know how to use them and deceptive if you don't. The warmer gets the tires to a temperature that should be ready to ride on, to reduce 1st lap cold tire crashes. However, that temperature is a bit below what a good rider can experience the tire working in it's designed temperature range. If you go slower, then the tire cools. If the rider is too slow or the track too cool then you can actually get them below the warmer's temperature. Hence the false sense of security they often provide. Someone suggesting that the cause of her crash is the lack of warmers is an indication of the person likely not looking deep enough to discover the cause of her crash. If this rider is fairly consistent and her laps were getting consistently quicker, then I would suggest eliminating tire temperature as the culprit.

Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn Express in Lancaster are both nice, similar to a Marriott Courtyard. They are 20-30 minutes from the track, and they have continental breakfast available very early. It's worth the extra 10 minutes drive, trust me - the Devonshire is... uh... not as nice as Stu makes it sound. What do you think of The Palmdale, Days Inn and LaQuinta?

JB, Cool! The 2-step sounds pretty simple (is in concept for sure), but there are some variables: when before the turn does the person look and also where? I didn't find I nailed it in a day! CF I didn't nail it in a day either. I went through a process. While it was working I began to again have those feelings of satisfaction that I remember (...and this one time, at band camp....)

On recommendation by Cobie, I took another look at Chap 22 of T2. I let it marinate for a week or so. Then as I was finishing my 2nd full reading of T2, when I finished 20-23 it made sense and I thought I'd try it while driving my car (the 2 step). Then this weekend (Indian Summer) I did some 2-up riding and worked more on the 2 step and found it odd at first, and then helpful. It became necessary to flick quicker and observe TC Rule #1 as I could now feel the rear grab the pavement. Distractions seemed to fade into the background and I could focus better on the exit. It just clicked...s'all I can say. Unfortunately, I didn't get enough solo time to confirm as the sun was going down, I was getting tired, etc. etc. PLUS the bike was handling waaaaaaay too fast after 2-up all day (I don't remember it handling like this).

http://www.starlane.it/en_Athon_GPS3_chron..._shiftlight.htm Really trick stuff!!!

That's Understandable Understanding in this area goes a long way. Cheers.

This seems to change often, for me, as I learn more or making changes in my bike or my riding. Lately I have started scraping a peg now and again, which makes me think I am at my lean angle and/or speed limit for that turn - so I try to hang off more, but hit a different limit on being able to lock on properly, without putting pressure on the bars. Or I adjust my suspension to be stiffer - then hit the limit of what I can manage on a different part of the track with the suspension set that way. I think, now, that one thing that limits me is figuring out how to measure the respective gain or loss as I make changes in the bike or my riding - ie, if I slow down the entry to this corner, do I get a better drive, and does that REALLY produce a better result? I look foward to CodeRACE to break this down and measure specific results with specific changes, but I also would love to hear suggestions in this area. Perhaps (if you don't already own one) you're at the level where you may consider getting a laptimer. Some of the fancy GPS units allow you to break down the track into sections. This way you have solid numbers as to gains vs losses.

I think participating in this forum adds a tremendous amount of value. I went riding this weekend and something finally "clicked" in my head....and whaddya know, IT WORKS!

Have you had a look at your suspension?

Only a Marine would get the joke

Hidden in plain sight!

Fiji; Great post and your statistic on military motorcycling accidents was startling...who would have ever thought that was possible? If the course that Dylan's team set up was on base and not a traditional race track - wait until you go to CSS at VIR. You will be changed forever. ; ) Welcome to the Forum and thank you for your service. Kevin Kane Kevin, Thanks. And believe me, I dont think anyone could be more excited than me to attend the CSS at VIR in May. Now I just have to get the clearance to finance this class through the boss (aka the wife) and hopefully I will be in the area and not going to some training exercise elsewhere, but I'll have to wait and see. Dylan told us, that he really wanted to get involved when he did some research and found out that the military accident rate is higher than the civilian rate! FIJI The Corps paid for my MSF course. It's now required that all servicemembers take it. I wonder if the argument can be made for further training.

Hey Bro: When I was in, the term Jarhead was only used by outsiders. I also had a long talk with another Marine about the use of DD, which apparently is changing and seems to be only used Senior to Junior. Welcome to the forum. PS- You forgot "Puddle Pirate" and "Shallow Water Sailor" (USCG). Only one of them is a term of endearment. I'll let those risky enough to try and figure out which by trial and error s/f

Would the sport loose a few newbies?

NICE PHOTOS. The one of Kevin looks surreal.

I'm wondering if hanging off can be a "pre-emptive" SR? In the case above, the student is hanging off when not necessary, probably because he THINKS traction may be at a premium. As a coach, how do you deal with this? As a rider, how do you deal with this in your own rider if you notice yourself doing it when not necessary? (LOL Comfort hanging off) BTW, These questions are posed to anyone on the forum, not Cobie exclusively.

This was something I'd previously thought about. The other day however I was reading T2 where Keith recommends a solid foundation in the basics then playing around with traction. Based on that I'd decided to put it aside until after my L1/L2 AT LEAST. Otherwise I'd say it depends on how I'm feeling that day.

I dont think Stoner needs to make excuses, he's is right up there with the best in the world, he has proven himself over and over again, so i dont believe that is an issue. Im sure if the pain is intense before the race, he'll get a quarterzone injection to see him through. Not even close. Stoner proving himself would have included him successfully defending his MotoGP title. He had the bike to do it with. The problem is that he didn't have the mental ability. He had plenty of things to blame that didn't include himself. He's only on his fourth year in MotoGP. He hasn't proven anything yet. Wow...(shakes head), you cant be serious man, Stoner has more than proven himself, the guy won the MOTO GP Championship in '07 !!!!...what more do you need to do? He has gone toe to toe with arguably the best rider the world . As for not winning back to back titles, all it takes is to not finish a race or have a mechanical issue and not place well and your championship hopes are out the window..or at the very least your playing catch up. I'll put my money on Stoner this year...Rossi's still the man, but im sure Casey has the minerals to run with him. Hey guys...isn't this a Cornering Forum? I suggest that we let Stoner and Rossi (and Pedrosa, Hayden, Lorenzo, Edwards et al) settle it on the track. Kevin Kevin, I like how you default to positivity in all of your postings. You have been an example for many on this forum of civility, humility and admirable conduct. However, I respectfully disagree with referre-ing this particular discussion. Why? It is quite often that discussions (heated debates, arguments, whatever you call them) may result in small, seemingly insignificant pieces of information that would not have otherwise come out, unless the person(s) are being pressed. Speaking for myself, it's not enough for me to know that so and so won the race; I HAVE to know why. I want to know the ingredients to making a champion; in motorcycling and in life. I have personally received much by taking a second review of words spoken by someone that had an opposing view on topics (and we know I've had some zingers here/there ). Those discussions have also allowed me an opportunity to continue to become better as a communicator; after all, talking about motorcycling wasn't as much an easy thing to do before Keith Code provided a vocabulary, framework and accompanying philosophy to help us to do that. Lastly, I believe that the posters involved have shown a level of maturity wherein they can be trusted with a wider berth, and that IF they do go askew, an opportunity to police themselves. Thank you for an opportunity to express my viewpoint. I am a humble student of the art. -JDM

Or you can ask to borrow Stuman's thighmaster.

WOW, that's pretty harsh! I think having one Moto GP Championship is proving yourself enough. Lets face it he is racing with one of the all time greats,(Rossi). I just read 5 minutes ago that he has the fastest lap times,(ahead of Rossi) at Qatar. Fastest by over half a second, did very few laps and was testing a new swingarm! Dani Pedrosa had a bad crash causing further injury and is returning to Barcelona to get checked out! Also looks like Suzuki have improved loads! MotoGP Official Night Test at Qatar - Day Two, best times 1. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'57.139 (37) 2. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'57.747 (51) 3. Colin Edwards, Tech3 Yamaha - 1'57.817 (41) 4. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda - 1'57.879 (60) 5. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'58.018 (24) 6. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'58.264 (42) 7. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'58.400 (63) 8. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'58.441 (53) 9. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'58.577 (54) 10. Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda - 1'58.619 (28) 11. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP - 1'58.936 (55) 12. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'59.036 (56) 13. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team - 1'59.153 (65) 14. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team - 1'59.195 (63) 15. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing - 1'59.266 (36) 16. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing - 1'59.764 (48) 17. James Toseland, Tech3 Yamaha - 2'00.234 (51) I guess the article I read that said Nicky was at the top of the time chart was outdated. Colin up in 3rd....impressive comeback Colin! Nicky was fastest on the first night of testing but it was a wet track so the times are a bit off, over 2mins and only 11 guys tested, here are the results to tonights 3rd and final test Qatar Night Test, Day 3 1. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'55.744 (31) 2. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'56.733 (82) 3. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'56.972 (75) 4. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.224 (70) 5. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'57.225 (53) 6. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.253 (42) 7. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP - 1'57.401 (77) 8. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda - 1'57.449 (74) 9. Colin Edwards, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'57.515 (46) 10. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'57.591 (61) 11. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'57.804 (66) 12. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing - 1'57.938 (54) 13. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing - 1'57.946 (50) 14. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team - 1'58.412 (61) 15. James Toseland, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'58.786 (51) 16. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team - 1'58.851 (73) Glad to see Melandri running this "private" Kaw, but too bad Hopper is out.