Crash106
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Posts posted by Crash106
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Good question Nic. Here is something that might work for you:
- Take your best guess on a turn-in point (this is a good time to set your speed and get your body in position)
- As you approach the turn-in point, let your hands and face relax so your vision can expand
- When you can see (in your peripheral vision) that you are on target to hit your turn-in point, look in to the apex
- As you hit your turn-in point, turn in.
Get "Twist II" and you read more about it there.
Best wishes,
Crash106
- Take your best guess on a turn-in point (this is a good time to set your speed and get your body in position)
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I know it's a blast to "race" around and ride really fast on the street. But honestly, I can't afford the speeding tickets, the insurance points or the medical deductible. While I plan to attend CSS, I don't plan to buy a track-day-only bike and trailer. So, what can I do at the posted speed limits to make riding more fun?
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Does anyone ANYONE make a full face helmet designed to go on and off over glasses?
I've complained about this to several helmet makers--usually in a snarky tone right after their poorly designed helmet broke another pair of my glasses from slipping them on and off inside that tiny little face opening and those giant over sized cheek and ear pieces. I KNOW helmets need to protect the face, but I can buy a half helmet, a 3/4 helmet and a motocross helmet with minimal or NO face protection, so why doesn't anyone have the courage to make one to fit over glasses? It's not like it's tough--just square off the front of the helmet and face shield a bit, and make an opening where the frames fit over the ears. "Oh, we can't do that!" Well, I see plenty of helmet with little fins in the back, but nothing for me. What about MY needs? Boo-hoo. Now I'm crying and my glasses are fogging up! Okay. I'm done now. Thanks for letting me rant.
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Well, let's see: Arnold used to tell new bodybuilders all kinds of weird and misleading things, just to mess with them, slow down their progress and reduce the competition. I haven't heard a lot of THAT on road racing.
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Hello Cornering Experts,
I saw a high side crash on YouTube.com and it looked to me (and I don't know diddly about sliding a motorcycle) like the rider slid the rear tire, then chopped the throttle and turned into the slide. From "Twist II," this would be a perfectly natural--but wrong--thing to do. Am I seeing this correctly? You guys see and do a lot more of this stuff than I do. What do you think? The slide and high side happen at about 5:30 into the video. Thanks.
Keywords = Irene Crash Woman Motorcycle
Thanks,
Crash106
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Harniois, Eirik and All
I think you are correct that we CAN react to, swerve around or break for things closer than I originally stated. After all, I think I'm on pretty solid ground to say we've all turned into a corner, then leaned the bike over More at, or just before, the apex. Clearly, we're reacting to that approaching reference point. But I'm not sure focusing on a planned reference point is the same as seeing, comprehending and reaction to an unplanned patch of sand or oil.
I've certainly been calmer on the bike since I started scanning the road surface as I approach a corner, then making a commitment to standard throttle control (if that is appropriate in that corner). I feel I am riding smoother and safer by NOT trying to react to every little thing I see. That's what I was trying to get at.
Thanks to everyone for a great discussion.
Best wishes,
Crash106
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Welcome to the Forum, Mattman,
Have you read any of the "Twist" books yet, or seen the video? Just wondering.
What kind of racing are you interested in doing?
Crash106
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Congrats, DB, on making it work in the real world!
Cobie has a great point--you can practice the visual skills in the car. I do it all the time. I explained "watching the vanishing point" to my wife in the car. It about freaked her out when she started doing it. I was glad she tried it in the car FIRST before trying it on her bike.
Some of this racing stuff barely applies on the street--at normal speeds, there is just so much reserve traction available that it's just not needed. On the other hand, rain riding is a whole different part of the elephant. Opening up those corners and hanging off (or at least leaning in) to keep more rubber on the road suddenly makes a lot more sense.
How was the race?
Crash106
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Muppett,
You asked, "How would it feel riding at 40 mph with some kind of optical device that meant you couldn't see anything closer than 10 bike lengths? I'm not sure I'd want to try that!" Good point.
I recently read a review of the Victory Cross Roads and Cross Country. The writer preferred riding the Cross Roads with the clear plexi-fairing over the Cross Country with the large, handlebar mounted fiberglass fairing. He said, being able to see the road under his feet gave him a greater sense of agility. That feeling is an important part of our riding pleasure.
On my bike, I have a clear view over the windshield at about 40 feet in front of my bike. At anything over 30 mph, if I see something THROUGH the windshield, I can barely make the bike start to wiggle before I'm on top of the object. Since we are all human, our vision WANTS to get caught on stuff. Perhaps the trick is to learn to catch-and-release these "visual magnets."
Crash106
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I've been practicing my quick turns by scanning corners and, when it's safe, running the bike in deeper, looking for the vanishing point, then "throwing" the bike into the turn. (I wasn't looking for the apex or the exit because I wasn't trying to make the corner bigger. I just wanted a safe way to practice turning quicker.)
So today, I'm coming up to an intersection where I plan to turn right. This intersection has a chicane in the middle of it, and I have the green light. Just then, I notice a giant truck in the opposite lane! My attention has to go to the truck because it looks like he might turn left directly in front of me, and I need to keep the bike upright because I may need to do a panic stop. So, I'm watching the truck and when I reach my turn point, I just look away from the truck to the vanishing point and swoop right through through the chicane. It felt wonderful! No fuss. No stress. No panic. I knew what I needed to see, and knew I could turn that corner at the speed I was going. That's why I've been reading and practicing: to make the riding effortless, fun and safer.
Thank you Keith Code!
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I was wondering about speed and vision and how close is too close in terms of watching the road in front of the bike. I decided to do some math and find out. Here is what I learned.
- Average reaction time = 0.20 seconds
- Average time to lean a bike (or get on the brakes) - 1.00 second
- Total time to react and start turning or stopping the bike = 1.20 seconds
- At 40 mph, distance traveled in 1.20 seconds = 70 feet (or 10 bike lengths)
- At 60 mph, distance traveled in 1.20 seconds = 106 feet (or 16 bike lengths)
So, if my calculations are correct (please double check), then there is little reason to look at ANYTHING closer than 10 bike length in front of the motorcycle when riding at 40 mph or faster. Even if the road literally ends and drops off into a canyon, we will barely have time to start braking or turning before we sail off into infinity.
On the other hand, by looking MORE than 10 bikes length out, we are more likely to see signs of trouble--cars disappearing over the edge of the bridge, a guy waving his coat, brakes lights or whatever.
Today, after work, I'm going out to the parking lot to pace off 70 feet and 106 feet. Just so I can see how far out I need to keep my focus. Do you agree or disagree?
Crash106
- Average reaction time = 0.20 seconds
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Oh, I just LOVE that video! I showed it to my 15 year old who's wanting to get his first bike (a ZX10, of course).
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Christo, Thanks for the video link. I really enjoyed watching it. Ayup, that Yamaha factory guy rides just like me!
Actually, he rides his bike just like I drive my car--trail brake in, coast through the apex, then get on the gas on the way out. When I do this on the bike, it feels very familiar, but honestly using standard throttle control on the bike give me, and my passengers, a much greater sense of confidence and control. On the bike, at my skill level, swooping in with one turn and one continuous roll-on feels just fine. Crash106 -
Dear Ozfireblade,
I think you said it very well. Over the summer, I road US29 Tail of the Dragon in NC and TN. My nice inside-outside-inside lines would not work! The insides were scattered with rocks and sand, the outsides were full of crazed bikers, police cars and locals in giant monster pickups. A group of motard riders passed me doing wheelies and disappeared around a cliff. I would love to have run with them (as if I could), but for me, the sight lines were too short. In just two days of riding, I saw an entire science museum's worth of stuff in the road: sticks, a tree, a turtle, rocks, a giant black snake, boats, 8 police cars (I counted), a deer, 3 dead skunks and more. A lot of this debris only became visible to me as the blind corners opened up.
I ended up rounding off most of the corners, staying wide until I could see FOR SURE what was up ahead. I rode the left tire track for right hand turns and the right tire track for left hand turns. There were too many police cars to point and shoot for long (and my bike is too slow to really enjoy that sort of thing). I did get to use some nice, traditional racing lines--when I could see far enough.
Sure enough, the street is not a race track--but maybe it's a LITTLE like racing.
You know--I kind of think it is. I was watching AMA Superbike racing and while most of the riding was outside-inside-outside, if someone wanted to pass, they might run in underneath and point-and-shoot. Several times, I saw guys run very wide lines coming off the 180 mph front straight or run wide to block another rider! So, I feel much like you do: lines on the street, and lines on the track, are "ideals" that we must adapt to the changing environment of the real world.
Best wishes,
Crash106
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I took the bike out for a nice ride this weekend and noticed something different: I would ride toward a turn, slow down to adjust my corner entry speed to something comfortable, then turn and roll through ON the throttle. Turning ON the throttle took more push--more steering input--than when turning with the throttle closed. If I wanted to turn with the throttle CLOSED, I had to roll a LOT further into the corner (well, like 20-30 feet further) before slowing and turning. That was a bit scary because I was carrying more speed further into the turn. For example--on a right hand curve, I would have to go almost to the yellow line before rolling off, turning and rolling on. At normal street speeds, turning with the throttle closed seemed to require very good timing: close-lean-open almost as one action. Not what I expected.
Is it "bad" to turn with maintenance throttle already on?
Is it "okay" to go WELL into the corner before rolling off and tipping in?
Does anyone else notice this?
Thanks.
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I accidentaly posted "What I Want to Learn" twice in "School Questions." You are certainly welcome to delete the first one. Thanks. Crash106
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I've ridden the Buell and looked closely at the BMW S1000RR. I believe you will find that almost all the skills you learn on the BMW will transfer seamlessly to you sporty new Buell. And don't forget, BMW has a distinguished history too! There is joy in that.
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For me, going faster, learning to race or finding the fastest lines are not high priorities. Strangely enough, as I think it through, I really want Other things from a superbike class. Here they are:
1) I don't honestly and completely trust the bike to lean over without falling down or sliding out. I'd like to learn to trust the tires and not worry so much about leaning over and low siding.
2) I like to use my brakes hard, but how hard is too hard? I'd like to learn what the front tire feels like or sounds like just BEFORE it locks up.
3) A car invaded my space a few weeks back, and I had the almost overwhelming urge to turn the bars away before I got crushed. I BARELY stopped myself from counter steering the bike right into the pretty idiot on the cell phone. I'd like replace that natural reaction with something that won't get me killed.
4) Just how relaxed can I be and still control the bike? And how do vision, focus and the vanishing point relate to relaxation?
Maybe that's a weird list, but I think these are the things holding me back or worrying me as a rider. Are these things I could learn or work on in a Level 1, one day class?
Best wishes,
Crash106
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So, to do a cluthcless downshift, blip the throttle and kick down a gear. Right? The key being to time unloading the engine/transmission with making the downshift. I think I can handle that. Thanks.
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Hello All,
I understand "Powershifting" or clutchless UP shifting. But can I do a clutchless downshift on a regular strreet bike? On a bike with a slipper clutch? Or is it just a BAAAD idea? Thanks.
Best wishes,
Crash
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Cobie,
You said, "I'm a bit lazy, so don't get worked too much (don't hang off much, never use the clutch, etc.), unless I'm absolutely going as fast as I can."
Thank you. That is very comforting. I have seen lots of YouTube.com track day videos with guys hanging all over and the bike is leaned at, maybe 30-degrees. It makes me tired just looking at them! It's nice to know an "expert" who oftentimes just wants to Ride the Bike.
Best wishes,
Crash
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Thanks Bullet. You made some very smart comments. When we talked more about the school and the feedback, she said she would be glad to take the school when she buys her next bike--assuming it has a shifter. She rides my Burgman maxi-scooter now and loves the easy control. At the same time, she tells me how uncomfortable she is coming into corners, how she slows down A LOT and wishes it felt more comfortable. We'll see. If she comes, she'll need to ride her own ride. Just put her in a different group and we'll be fine. Thanks to everyone for their input.
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That effortless quality you get from easing into a corner with no brakes is the reason I ride a maxi-scooter instead of a regular motorcycle (plus, my hands don't work very well anymore). With the automatic transmission, I don't worry about what gear I'm approaching the corner in, or what gear I'll need coming out. I can just roll in, lean over and ease on the throttle. I LIKE that smooth, swooping feeling.
One of my problems with cornering is that I also enjoy braking hard. I don't know why. I mean, I don't really trust my tires to grip when I'm leaned over, but I LOVE to feel them grab the road and stop hard! When I ride like that, sometimes, the darned bike just about stalls and falls over, plonk, in the middle of the curve! It is hard for my brain to sort out the hard braking forces WHILE finding the right speed for the turn.
In my limited experience, using the throttle (not the brakes) to set the entry speed works better for carrying speed into and through the turns. It also makes me feel more confident and makes the bike rock back and forth a lot less. Still, sometimes, I just miss using the brakes really hard!
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I know this is the Cornering Forum, but because of some muscle problems, track days and road racing aren't high on my list of things to do. I have a rare muscle condition that makes me weak from excitement (like racing) and exercise (you know, like riding a motorcycle at speed around a road course). But I WOULD like to experience SOME of that. So, I'm thinking about trying some land speed record stuff.
There is an air strip here in North Carolina that has timing and radar equipment. I saw a guy do 242 mph on his turbo powered Haybusa last year. It looked like fun. I figure that for me, it would be easier, and safer, to stay strong for 2 minutes flat out, than 20 minutes or 2 hours or braking and clutching like crazy. Have any of you done this type of time trial/speed record racing? I'd love to take out an S1000RR and just see what 193 horsepower can really do. What do you think?
Here is a link to the East Coast Timing Association website:
Actually, he rides his bike just like I drive my car--trail brake in, coast through the apex, then get on the gas on the way out. When I do this on the bike, it feels very familiar, but honestly using standard throttle control on the bike give me, and my passengers, a much greater sense of confidence and control. On the bike, at my skill level, swooping in with one turn and one continuous roll-on feels just fine. Crash106
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in School Questions/General Discussion
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Hello Ace,
It sounds like you had a wonderful time! I enjoyed reading about it.
Crash106