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Jasonzilla

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Everything posted by Jasonzilla

  1. There is both a magnificent bank and off-camber corner on Chuckwalla in California. The thing to remember about off-camber corners is that before you even turn, you're riding at a lean. If it's, say, a six degree angle and someone is wanting to get on the throttle, when the rider believes they're at a certain spot picking the bike up in regards to the typical horizon, they can easily forget they're actually still more leaned over than normal and be giving too much throttle for their actual amount of lean. Some don't think to adjust for the change in traction limits for where they're at. The same goes for braking into the corner.
  2. For the most part, I agree, but I can't wrap my head around how he doesn't lose balance and go off the track or keep sliding on his head. The brain is doing so much already, and then to change all these other things in tilting the head like this.
  3. It's the tires. Pol's hit the nail on the head. I was talking with a guy I met last night about his '70 Triumph Bonneville. The bikes of that day had a solid steel bar that was welded to the bottom of the bike for footpegs. I showed him that, even on my EX-650, my pegs collapse up in case I get that far over (which I don't on my EX). I told him about the tire advances and how that's the reason for the progression in leaning. The guys standing around were amazed when I told them they're dragging elbows now-a-days. I also showed them what a friend of mine does (see below) and they about lost it.
  4. This could have been used in the TOTW video as the horrible advice you can get from somebody. That's insane! I saw Pridmore in November being interviewed and he was talking about how counter-steering is wrong, it's body steering that effectively turns a bike. I had to walk away. I'm doing research on lack of rider education and accidents, and it's not just that he's wrong, but the advice he's giving is DANGEROUS. It's infuriating. Keith gets a couple of things wrong, but nothing he's getting wrong is potentially dangerous.
  5. Sorry I'm so late to the party, but I'm studying so much I don't have time to come to the site much. Putting the camera up front limits the appropriate feedback we can give. The main thing that was mentioned above is your turning. If I remember correctly, one person said you should change your turn points and learn to turn faster. If you learn to turn faster in the appropriate corners, that will correct your blowing the apex on so many corners, thus negating your need to change your turn points. That'd be my first suggestion. If you're steering as fast as you believe you can, then changing your turn points would be the best option for your level of riding. Either one will allow you to get the bike back up and get back on the throttle faster. This leads into picking the bike up. The pick-up drill would be something I'd recommend you work on. I could be wrong, but judging by the video, you seem to be allowing the bike to pick itself back up. Seconds could be shaved in improving this skill. Improving on that, it is what it is with you being in the beginner group. You could take advantage of this and work on squaring off the corners in order to get that drive coming out of the corners (in this case to pass other riders). I'm 240 lb on an under-maintained 10 year old 600cc bike. When bumping down to the intermediate group to coach friends and want to open the throttle up before the end of the session, I have to do it all the time to keep in front of, or keep up with the other bikes so I can stay close to them on the straights and by them on the brakes. It's a great skill, and it will help you improve on the pick-up aspect of corner exit. From there we go to your braking. You need to do it later. You get your braking done quickly, then seemingly coast to the corner. Picking your favorite corner and pushing your brake markers slowly will make a huge difference in your time. Then add another corner, then another.
  6. That's exactly right. They could be doing this without even knowing it. I also figured that that the ones who think they're making "fine course corrections" are just putting additional steering inputs into the bars as they're shifting around, just as when upright and thinking they're body steering.
  7. I'm thinking as far as when a source, especially in a largely published book by a respected educator, states you can make "fine" adjustments in a corner on the bike. It mentions mid-corner, so it's not turn entry. I'd like to know how much weight I'd have to shift to make an adjustment IN a corner. I'm leaning off, hanging on, looking at my points... I don't know how much they think they can shift to make these adjustments while in a corner. I sometimes still shift around in long corners while working on my BP and have no changes in my steering unless I'm performing the aforementioned hook-turn or putting pressure on the bars. I'm 240 lb, so my body is a huge part of my 600's weight. And it's a lot of upper body, not belly, so I'd think it'd be more noticeable were I shifting around. Wouldn't you think someone writing a book about this would be more specific, maybe MENTION something like hook-turn? I don't think I'm taking what is written out of context. Without bar input, I don't really think there can be significant changes in BP other than the equivalent of "veering," as mentioned in Keith's TOTW2 video, which would have the same effect. Not much. Would that be an incorrect statement?
  8. I've been scolded on this site for mentioning a certain motorcycle school and didn't want to post the actual name of the book. Hahaha. You rabble rouser.
  9. I like what Hotfoot said earlier on. I brake and use my thumb to blip. I think when I was first learning this, someone used an age-old quote: if you want to become great at something, do it 1,000 times. I was practicing it on the way to work every morning. It took a LONG TIME before I noticed I was blipping without any difficulty. It was on my EX-650, which is massively more difficult than on my ZX6. I'm going back to tracks I haven't ridden in years, and am noticing I blip without even doing it consciously. There are some corners I'll let the slipper clutch take control. My issue with this is that it seems to dictate my speed when going into a corner. I can decide how fast I want to be going myself with braking and blipping.
  10. Good clarification, Smith. I was stuck on the term body steering because it was in a couple of books I was reading and getting stuck on why it's wrong and how "body steering" is misleading and why it shouldn't be used. Weight management, or something similar, is more appropriate. You're right as well, Chase. My thing on that is another book I've been reading mentions that moving your body over before a turn helps initiate the turn. It says that you need to do a counter-steer in the opposite direction to maintain the bike upright if you don't intend to turn at that point. My problem with that is that it's going to initiate a turn before one intends to turn unless they shift right at the point of the turn which, as we know, compromises the suspension, or cause utter confusion. The wording in all these books is erroneous or confusing in relation to the other books. Even MSF has a book that says two different things. I know what it means, but that's because I understand counter-steering. A beginner may get confused.
  11. I hate living in Arizona. Unless we travel, our season starts in Sep-Oct and is over Apr-May. We lose as much time due to heat as the northern states lose to snow/cold. I'm back in school, so I'm taking advantage of having to write papers and am writing about motorcycle related topics (currently working on counter-steering) when I get the chance. I'm trying to do 4-5 trackdays a year while in school so I can keep up with my riding. The last trackday I worked on my lines. Playing with and progressing turn-points, apex, exit points. I've started riding a track that I haven't ridden in about 8 years when I first started track riding, so it was interesting to compare it to what I used to to. I keep notes on the tracks I ride. I threw some quick turn practicing in there as well.
  12. I'm writing a paper on counter-steering, so I'm reading a ton and watching video (mostly for the misconceptions of counter-steering) on it. It's mentioned repetitively that once in a corner you can make adjustments with your body. I thought this was incorrect. I know weighing the pegs can help make the tire oversteer for riders to manage the bike through the corners faster (Rabat can be seen to have his outside foot off the pegs quite often in order to get the rear tire loose). An ex-professional racer with a book in publication says you can make "fine course corrections" mid-corner with body position. I thought an effective statement would be "what happens with the bike straight up and down is true while leaned over." This would mean you could cause the bike to "veer," but not steer. Shifting body weight doesn't seem like it would help steer the bike though. I know being off the throttle, or not on the throttle enough, makes the bike tighten it's cornering, and this could cause the misconception. It's not explained definitively anywhere (except possibly in TOTW where it states something along the lines that the only way to make an effective change of direction is through counter-steering). Any help would be appreciated.
  13. I'm writing a paper on counter-steering, so I'm reading a ton and watching video (mostly for the misconceptions of counter-steering) on it. It's mentioned repetitively that once in a corner you can make adjustments with your body. I thought this was incorrect. I know weighing the pegs can help make the tire oversteer for riders to manage the bike through the corners faster (Rabat can be seen to have his outside foot off the pegs quite often in order to get the rear tire loose). An ex-professional racer with a book in publication says you can make "fine course corrections" mid-corner with body position. I thought an effective statement would be "what happens with the bike straight up and down is true while leaned over." This would mean you could cause the bike to "veer," but not steer. Shifting body weight doesn't seem like it would help steer the bike though. I know being off the throttle, or not on the throttle enough, makes the bike tighten it's cornering, and this could cause the misconception. It's not explained definitively anywhere (except possibly in TOTW where it states something along the lines that the only way to make an effective change of direction is through counter-steering). Any help would be appreciated.
  14. This is strange happenings. The first thing I thought of while reading this is that you mentioned knowing the throttle is closed. I found on my EX-650, but not on my ZX6, that in some corners I still somehow have the throttle open while cornering. If I know the type of corner coming up, I'll give myself a little extra braking room to ensure I have the throttle closed. The little it's open causes me to go wide, but not cause the rear to step out. Then again, it's a 650, not a 1,000. Your suspension is being mentioned, but unless you've changed your set-up, I don't see how this could be a factor, UNLESS the tires are different. They sound scrubbed in and are new, but I'd question whether they're a DIFFERENT type of tire than you've been using. Could be something about the new tire. Then there is the question of your experience level. I don't know if you're new to steeper lean angles, but while getting used to this degree of lean, there are different sensations the suspension will give you because you're not straight up and down anymore. Things change once you get past the comfort zone/natural block of 20-25 degrees. I always thought my front end was washing going into sharper corners. You get over it. By the way you're describing what you're doing, I'll bet you're more experienced at it. The pressure differences being mentioned (1-2 psi) aren't going to be much of a factor until you become more aggressive. Keeping your RPMs low and not "attacking the exits," I'd say a small difference in tire pressures wouldn't have an effect. My thing, as with Steven Athas, is what you're riding on, 40 psi! I used to ride to the track for trackdays, and even at an early morning moderate pace I knew when I had forgotten to deflate the tires. I pulled straight into the pits because I knew there was NO WAY to work around that problem. 40 psi is recommended for when you're commuting to work. Getting on the track and into trackdays, going through twisties on the back roads is not what 40 psi is for. Even without throttle, it could become a problem, and does increasingly so as you heat the tire up. At the trackday next month, find a a faster rider and ask him what he keeps his pressures at. I'd also think csmith12 was onto something. Changes in your BP, when you're shifting your weight, will do some fascinating and scary things to your motorcycle. If you've progressed your BP, it'd be worth reflecting on whether it was a change for the better. Otherwise, this probably wouldn't be a factor. Unless an external factor, road conditions (which you've said is good), fluids (no leaks found), or one of the changes mentioned (type of tire, pressure, change in suspension, BP, somehow still on the throttle) you've got yourself one of the more rare problems with corner riding. Good luck.
  15. I'm in school, literally, and am in an advanced writing class. It's probably no surprise that I'm planning on writing about a motorcycle related topic, counter-steering, if allowed by my professor. Every other professor forces me to write about nursing related subjects. I'm going to write on counter-steering, attempt to break it down, talk about the "alternative," and finally, write about the safety aspect of learning the proper way to steer a motorcycle. I am going to use all the published books I can find, whatever I can find on body steering (or body lean), and use the Hurt Report as well as government agencies stats for some of the safety aspect of it. My question is: does anyone know of any other resources I can use? Maybe something that describes the specific physics involved? Academic type papers and physics reference recommendations would be appreciated. I know it's a different question everyone is used to getting, but who else would I ask, and who else would I even think to start with? The smartest people I know in regards to motorcycle riding are on this site.
  16. When I was coaching frequently a couple years ago, I used a lot of this. Following a rider, using his BP to gauge, first, what was normal for him, then using some of the more technical corners to judge what he/she looked like when they were uncomfortable, then weeding out the corners they were consistently having trouble with and even the ones they were just inconsistent in. From there I could focus on their weak points and give them overall improved technique. Just putting in laps monitoring my own shoulder relaxation, I can tell what corners I'm uncomfortable in and work on that. For me it's a great way to tell. Even when I had my own (failed miserably) site, I had a huge article on adjusting your bike to help with comfort. It went unheeded. When we buy a new car, we adjust the seat, backrest, steering wheel etc to suit us, but on a bike we change the way we ride. This article puts a bunch of things together pretty well. Thanks for putting it into words.
  17. If you look at the Harley's that race in AMA, they do it also. It's obvious there. I'm going to have to watch a race. I watch them all the time but haven't noticed it in Moto 3. I'd guess the fairings would be designed so they wouldn't have to do that. I know with the Harley's they're unfaired, so it makes sense. Good eye.
  18. I don't think, as long as you're foot isn't getting in the way, that it's significant where you place your foot, as long as you're comfortable. Some school, in Texas I believe, teaches that "Triangle of Light," and it's silly how much time they put into teaching this. I've been trying (with varying degrees of success) to ride like Rossi did before moving to Ducati. He didn't stick his knee out much at all, like mostly everyone else does. When he turned the bike, he knew the limit. It was sensational to watch. He was just suddenly sliding his knee AND at max lean. I'm sure it was pending the corner though. I personally have my foot thrust up against the attachment of the peg to the bike with maybe my inside foot coming off the peg (lifting) slightly. I'll scrape peg (stock '05 ZX6R) before boot. Not sure I have any scuffs on this boot edge. That's with approximately 50/50 pressure weighting the pegs. When I was sticking my knee out to guide myself down, my foot was rotated out and pointed toward the ground while I was cornering. I was at Auto Club during the shootout last month and got on the CSS hydraulic bike and was given some good instruction to start hanging half a cheek off instead of a whole cheek, so I'm going to try that soon and would anticipate I'll need to turn my foot out even less, as I don't really stick my knee out much anymore until I'm near max lean.
  19. I've read that riders under intense situations (racing) can go an entire lap without blinking. This one blinks 3 times. I haven't paid attention during the trackday, but do know that after a trackday I do have a little irritation going on. I've experienced severely dry eyes just playing the Moto GP '13 videogame. Winning a season on a CRT with tire wear is insanely difficult, and even on the game I'm a point to point rider. I have to turn off the ceiling fan when I'm playing. I wouldn't say it's a negative in any way, just extremely focused. Something worth paying a bit more attention to one trackday.
  20. Welcome. You're going to improve more than you could imagine, if you stick with it. Even being on here for a while will give you a ton of information. Ask questions.
  21. Were you keeping the warmers on like with race tires? I put them on as soon as I got in and turned them on 10 minutes before going out and didn't have a problem.
  22. Nothing in the overflow is what I neglected to add. Thanks for the input.
  23. I've finally done it. After 8 years of track riding, I've started racing. A few weekends this year and I'll be all in next year. I thought for my first experience I'd have a funny story, or that I'd be pumped and shaking, but it wasn't like that at all. I've been on Arroyo once before. It's probably in worse shape than any other track I've ever ridden. I've been on around 10, so it's not like I've been sheltered. A tight corner before the straight has a dip that is, at its deepest, probably over half a foot deep. I'll walk the track if I can get there early enough to show you. It goes along the width of the track, so there's no avoiding it. The owner and other riders get people to go there. The one time I was at Arroyo, I was doing 1:24's. I'm horrible at new tracks and take a while to get used to them. During the practice day I couldn't come close to that time. I was lapping 1:31. I have no clue what was going on, but I was pissed. The front pack was doing 1:17-1:18, as they do in the races. I'd just wasted a bunch of money, was the only thing I was thinking, and I was about to pack my stuff and not bother with it. End my dream of becoming a Moto GP rider by the time I was 50 before I even started trying to fulfill it. My bike has been regeared and I'm on track tires for the first time. AND I'M 7-SECONDS SLOWER!!! Raceday came and I wasn't doing any better during warmup. I'm an excitable fellow, so everyone knew what was going through my head by my facial expressions and... well... I was saying everything that was going through my head. My friends were avoiding me because I'd snap at them. One guy's repetitive suggestion was "go faster." He avoided me as well, after I replied to the 5th time he said it. My girlfriend wasn't talking to me because I was being short and she knows there's just nothing anyone can say to me at this point. Having never raced, I didn't know what to expect. I wasn't nervous, and although I'd gotten a little excited a couple of days before the race weekend, there were no nerves. I was thinking maybe I just wasn't into it. I was in 3 races. I'm not going to keep you in suspense and just tell you now that I didn't win any of them. What I will do, is let you know a little about me. I have PTSD and am flippin' nuts. My mind is always working. When I'm on the track, everyone says that my problem is that I'm always thinking. I know this, but it's odd that everyone else can pick up on it as they all have. Everything I've learned in all my schooling goes through my head as I round every corner. When I go to sleep every night, it's a noggin full of thoughts. Try listening to your favorite song, a song you hate, a movie and a TV show all at the same time while trying to relax. That's what going to sleep is like for me. The damnedest thing happened when I went out for my races, though. Everything stopped. It was quiet. Not having a peaceful moment in my head for over 20 years came to an end. I've always loved the track because it turns everything down to one thing: riding the bike. But even that left my head. Just the race that was about to happen. There is no way to describe it. When everything from the race countdown to the flag was happening, my mind was blank. When we went into turn 1 (I was in the back in all of them because I signed up the morning of the races) I wasn't thinking about what I was doing with the bike, just what was happening on the track. Safe lines, other riders, and how I was going to get past them. What I was doing and going to do. I'd bet that, besides the physical requirements of riding the bike, my heartrate wasn't over 100. I've watched some riders with monitors on going and staying in the 160's, but I have to say that racing motorcycles is the most calming thing I've ever done. I'm not good at it. I had to fight to get past some 1,000's in a couple of races, and I have nothing on the straights, so if I pass someone a couple of corners before we go down the straights, I have it to do all over again because they fly right by me. I'm hooked though. It's like being addicted to anti-crack for me. In every race, it was a matter of picking off one rider after another. I split 2 racers going into a carousel and would swear it would be on a Moto GP greatest passes of all time video, had it happened in a GP race. I was screaming in my helmet! I ended up middle of the pack in every race, and everyone I got past couldn't get back around me. My best time was a 1:21 flat. When I hit 1:18, I'll be satisfied. I'm going to do one more race next month before packing it in for the summer, in order to get the bike repaired and suspension fixed (it's leaking all over from both sides after having it worked on by Cycle Mall in California and getting to do 3 trackdays on it before the fluids started shooting out). I've already put $3,000 aside so I can race next year without worrying about where the money is coming from. I'll also do a couple more races in the fall. Sorry it's not your standard race report, but this first race wasn't about what I did during the race for me. I was also just picking off riders in the slow group and closing gaps to get by some others. Nothing very interesting.
  24. I had my EX-650 serviced, seals replaced, and waterpump rebuilt. I ran the bike about 2 weeks and one day I pulled it into my garage, parked it, and received a 200 ml bolus of radiator fluid that leaked onto the ground. I peeled the bike apart to look for the leak and found nothing. I tried to put water in the radiator to try and recreate the leak, and it was full. I've ran the bike and nothing is happening. No more leaking. I can't, for the life of me, figure where the radiator fluid came from. Anyone?
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