superdave88

Yeah, another good reason to load up in the van. I wouldn't like it one bit but, I could handle it. I've been down a few times already. I just picked up what was left and rebuilt. By the way, that's why I'm faster than my bud's. I'm willing to push it to the edge. Hope I don't fall over the proverbial "Edge" again any time soon though. Soon hell, ever again! It kinda hurts. Hey Jeff, You ever come to Texas? Any of you guys? I'd like to meet ya'll. Maybe ride. A guy on an F4 was at the shop one day and noticed the "Superdave" written on my frame. Turns out he read my story about the lowside. It was wierd but, supercool!

Well, I did the track day! It was GRAND AND GLORIOUS!! Something FREAKISH did happen though. I came down with a freak Staphaloccous infection in my right knee!! It didn't enter through a cut or anything like that either so, I don't know....?? Very painful and potentially, the kind I had, deadly. Let's see, track day was the 8th so, it started on the 5th. It felt like I had knocked the hell out of my knee but, I couldn't remember doing it. The first thing all my friends sai was "What'd you get drunk?" No!? I don't drink much anymore so that wasn't it. Anyway, it got worse and worse. By the 7th I could barely walk so, I went to see the Doc. He gave me some super potent antibiotics with possible, terrifying, side effects and told me to "Stay off that leg"! Well, I couldn't miss my first track day! I got there, after a painful ride, and realized I had forgotten just one thing......Pain killers! We rode around the track real slow, for 20 minutes, in the first session. They cut us loose in the second session and silly me.......Almost wadded her up on the first lap. Blind decreasing radius. In too hot, already approaching max lean when I realized I wasn't going to make it, so... I stood the bike up and ran through the grass. And let me tell ya', these things don't handle worth a ###### in the dirt doin' 5o or so. It kinda went like this "Oh ###### too fast! Not gonna make it! Stand her up and run through the grass? O.K. sounds good. Hit the grass and "Oh ###### too fast! May still crash and burn! Whew! Made it!" Like hitting ice. So I made it and went on to whoop everyone in the begginer class!! I was scared to pass at first. I've never been on a race track before and I didn't want to f-up and get someone hurt but, they were going too slow for me. I finally started making passes and ended up passing the whole group twice in that one twenty minute session on a 1.7 mile course. No one was keeping time so I don't know what kind of laps I was turning but, they were faster than anyone else on the track. I'm not tootin' my own horn but, hey! I'll stay with the beginner class for a while though because, after all, I am a beginner, on road courses anyway. I may sign on with the intermediate class just to see what fast really is. I know those guys would humble me quick! Not to mention the expert class. I have alot to learn but, I catch on quick. The track photographer didn't get any good shots of me and the pics I did buy were mailed to me like a regular photograph, not on a disc so, I don't know how to go about posting them. I'll write him and ask but, there's not much to look at. I was hoping to be critiqued on my body positioning and stuff. Hell I don't even know what I look like! Can't get my wife to take pics. She hates the bike! So I guess that's enough long windedness for now. Hopin' to be at Texas World Aug.29th!

Well, I finally did it! I was a little nervous at first which caused me to tighten up so it was a little uncomfortable but, once I loosened up..........Whooowoooooeee! Man what a blast! It didn't last very long though and I was left wanting. I came..... down with a Staph infection in my right knee a couple of days before the event and really should have canceled but, Ya'll know I couldn't do that. No refunds and all. I forgot one very important thing at the house though....My pain medicine!! After two twenty minute sessions it began to rain and never let up. I used that as my excuse for leaving when it was really because my f-ing knee was killing me! I'll load my bike in the van next time too. It sucked riding home in the rain and in excruciating pain! I signed up for the beginner class because I hadn't been on a track before. I passed the whole group twice in 30 or so laps on a 1.7 mile course! I'll do the intermediate class next time which BTW is AUG. 28th @ Texas World Speedway. I don't know maybe I should stay with the beginner class for a little while. If nothing else it's a boost to my ego and it probably helps the less experienced riders. What do you guys think? I almost wiped out on the very first lap. Downhill decreasing radius with a track pitch change right in the middle. Instead of laying it down I stood it up and went through the grass doing about 40 m.p.h.. Whew! I wonder how that helped the less experienced. Don't do it like that!

The first time I tried to get the knee down I crashed! I went back the very next day and drug knee around two of the loops. The first being the loop I crashed on. Loops: Clover leaf interchange

Well, I've been practicing the 'No Brakes" discipline and it really does work. My corner speeds are up. I'm much more in control and It feels great. Going in too fast will always be "Going in too fast" but, most of the time your not going in too fast you just think you are. I didn't make the track day like I said but, that will change Monday August the 8th at The Motorsport Ranch in Texas. I've paid the registration fee and barring something freakish' I'll be there. I can't wait to see how slow I am. I mean how fast these things will corner with a real pro in the saddle. If they can go do it, I can do it! I hope to learn alot. Never looked forward to having my ass handed to me so much. I'll post some pics and a play by play for critique See ya'.

Well I guess I'm not the only one that does stupid ######! You sound experienced and I'm guessing pretty fast but, blind, unknown corners ain't the place for this one duuuude! I hope you're not to badly f-ed up. Did you break any bones? I want the details. How's your bike? Did you tell anyone or hide the evidence? ( I hid the evidence and still haven't told her that I went down in a corner at over sixty miles an hour.) I told her someone else downed it. I stayed gone from sun up to sundown for a couple of day's so she wouldn't see my pain. (Not uncommon, I'm a carpenter.) After a few days I told her I pulled my back out on the job. She hates my bike!! Scares her I guess. Any way hope you get to feelin' better.

When I first started cornering at speeds, I felt more comfortable on the right handers. Then as I began hanging off and draggin' knee I felt faster and more in control on the lefts. For me I think it had to do with throttle side. In other words I was hanging on the bars to keep myself on the bike. I have since become aware of this flaw and corrected it. Hanging on with my knee and thigh and steering with the hand on top away from the concrete whether it be throttle or clutch. Try this. (Not for the novice.) Take a sweeper on your good side, doesn't have to be fast, now relax your grip on the ground side handle bar to the point of letting go completely. Remember your body position (ass, elbows, knees, feet....) how it felt turning on your good side and relaxing the ground side hand to the point of letting go of it completely. Obviously you can't remove completely, your throttle hand on right turns but, being able to relax your grip to the point that all you would have to do is let go means your in, maybe not correct position but, at least a good balanced position. Now, I haven't given this a whole lot of thought and I'm no Master by any means so I hope this is not bad info. but, it really helped me smooth out my right hand turns ( my herky jerky side). Now (only on lefts) I drag knee and reach out and and touch the ground at the same time. What can I say I like to freak people out! Anyone know where I can get titanium tipped gloves!!

And by the way, practicing "No-brake" has made me smoother and increased my entry speeds by as much as 10%! A corner that I used to enter at 60 is now more like 66. I feel in total control with another 10% to spare. Not at all like I'm hanging on by a thread, right on the edge of disaster. I also just got a new set of Pilot Powers. Man o Man are these things sticky!! Thanks again Keith and all you guy's and or gals!!

Well, ya'll remember my post about the lowside? I can't remember if I stated my plan but, it was to slow down and concentrate more on my techniqe getting through the corner correctly. It is working!! I feel very much more in control and my main riding buddy will tell you ... I'm smokin'!! This site is also due many thanks for the excellent advice and plethora of skilled information Thank you all very much. I still don't know what "two-steppin'" a corner is. Anyone.....Anyone?

A relaxed grip and loose body allowes me to flow faster through the turns.

Yes Yes and Yes! I haven't had anyone time me, but I feel faster when I ride alone. I'm more reserved when riding with buddies.(and still whoopin' 'em) I think it's because of a couple of low sides I had. It's embarrassing and I don't want to be ridiculed and lectured again. I really pushed to go faster before I understood the dynamics of cornering. Not to say I fully understand them now but, I am getting smoother. After two lowsides in as many weeks I began to focus more on my technique getting through the corner rather than my speed. Now I'm faster and smoother than ever with PLENTY of room for improvement of course. "You have to go slow to go fast." Now, I'm very curious as to what "Two stepping" is. Would someone like to elaborate? Jef4y? Master Code? anyone? anyone?

I see what your saying now and agree. I catch myself doing the same thing and when I square up, that is hang not just my ass and knee off, but my whole body, I go faster with less lean angle. I think crossed-up is right, but the other direction. That is hang off further and hold the bike out away. At least on medium speed corners. Keep the bike as verticle as possible. I wish I could be more articulate. I hope what I'm trying to say is right.

I can't wait to get started on this technique!! I feel like I'm on the edge of control sometimes but, I know it can be done faster. A faster entrance leaves only one line. It could be five or ten feet wide but, still you know when you're in it and when you're not. It's hard to kill the SR's! It must be done!

It can only fit in the little grooves. I have mine set at #5 and bumps sometimes dislocate my kidneys. I think stock is #3

Sorry, It's just something I say to my, slower than me, buddies to make myself feel better about wiping out! One of them said "Why do always want to go faster? You're faster than most and the one's you're not faster than, you probably never will be!"

Crossed-up body position? I've studdied thousands of pics wondering about proper form and body position and, from amatuers to pros., I can't discern right from wrong only different. Mladin puts his head way down and Duhamel points his chin. Let's talk about this somemore.

I thought I was the only one that did crazy sh!t like hanging corners on the dangerous public streets of America.

I just thought of something. If you ain't dropped it in a corner you ain't ridin' !!

I'm new here. Hell I'm new to riding! (6 months) I have an '02 600 F4i. My brother-in-law is an advanced rider, with several track days and 15 years of riding and road racing experience so, I got some good vocal advice and instruction and utilized it from the beginning. I read half of "Twist II" and it helped tremendously. One day, after about 4 months of riding, my b-in-law said he was going to give me a lesson. We hadnt ridden together up to this point. To make a long story short He said " Damn't Boy!! You catch on quick!" He couldn't lose me in the corners. I stayed right on his ass and could even have passed him once. (only once. He got a bad line.) Anyway, in my effort to become even faster I went down lowside at 70 one night. Just a concussion and bruises. Wouldn't even have been that if it hadn't been for the fence post that holds the arrow sign on top telling you to Keep going that way. Arai saved my life. Thanks Arai. Joe Rocket saved my ass (from road rash). Thanks Joe. I've slowed down a little and am trying to work more on my technique and style. B-in-law said "You have to go slow to go fast." I wasn't far enough off the bike and leaned it just too far. Now I'm dragging knee on slow corners (50 or so) and feel much more in control. I need some track days though, to cool me down on the streets. My first track day is next month. I can't wait!!!