FIRST POST!!!
Okay, so what about us poor schmucks who can't afford to go to such schools or attend track days. Is there any way for use broke MOFOs to get faster? Of course, I ride a Ninja 250, so going really fast isn't happening, but I know I should be able to go faster and safer than I do.
That being said, I think you hit on it when you talked about cornering. I was thinking about picking up a book or two (maybe one of those Keith Code books that I keep hearing about). True, reading about how to take a corner and actually taking one are very different animals, but I'm sure it can't hurt.
Sometimes I have problems with countersteering. Especially at downhill left hand turns from a stop light. But I'm concious of it and am working on it. I've kind of developed a bad habit of steering in at times instead of countersteering. I think a lot of it has to do with confidence. The Ninja 250 has crap for suspension and I'm a heavy MOFO (230 lbs), so maybe that has something to do with it.
I really love riding my bike, but I'm still not confident enough to take it into the mountains or canyons. I've been dreaming of the day I can take a fast ride through Sunset to PCH and over through Malibu Canyon, but as things stand, I can't put a knee down, and even scraping my pegs is a rarity. I know on those roads that I mentioned, even the cagers sometimes go pretty fast, so I'd hate to be keeping up traffic especially when I'm on a Motorcycle.
I live behind Mt. Sac JC, where they teach an MSF course (where I learned), and they have a nice big parking lot. Unfortunately, everytime I've gone there on weekends to use the area where they teach the MSF during the week, I'm always chased out by the security patrol. I even offered to sign a release absolving Mt. Sac of any and all responsibility should I have an accident in their lot, but they still refused. God damn this liability bull crud.
Anyhoo, I sympathize with your desire to go faster, and am impressed that someone who has been riding as long as you have is willing to ask for more help. I'm still a newbie, but I'd like to say that you provide a good example of how to keep one's head.
Good luck and keep the rubber side down!
Okay, so what about us poor schmucks who can't afford to go to such schools or attend track days. Is there any way for use broke MOFOs to get faster? Of course, I ride a Ninja 250, so going really fast isn't happening, but I know I should be able to go faster and safer than I do.
That being said, I think you hit on it when you talked about cornering. I was thinking about picking up a book or two (maybe one of those Keith Code books that I keep hearing about). True, reading about how to take a corner and actually taking one are very different animals, but I'm sure it can't hurt.
Sometimes I have problems with countersteering. Especially at downhill left hand turns from a stop light. But I'm concious of it and am working on it. I've kind of developed a bad habit of steering in at times instead of countersteering. I think a lot of it has to do with confidence. The Ninja 250 has crap for suspension and I'm a heavy MOFO (230 lbs), so maybe that has something to do with it.
I really love riding my bike, but I'm still not confident enough to take it into the mountains or canyons. I've been dreaming of the day I can take a fast ride through Sunset to PCH and over through Malibu Canyon, but as things stand, I can't put a knee down, and even scraping my pegs is a rarity. I know on those roads that I mentioned, even the cagers sometimes go pretty fast, so I'd hate to be keeping up traffic especially when I'm on a Motorcycle.
I live behind Mt. Sac JC, where they teach an MSF course (where I learned), and they have a nice big parking lot. Unfortunately, everytime I've gone there on weekends to use the area where they teach the MSF during the week, I'm always chased out by the security patrol. I even offered to sign a release absolving Mt. Sac of any and all responsibility should I have an accident in their lot, but they still refused. God damn this liability bull crud.
Anyhoo, I sympathize with your desire to go faster, and am impressed that someone who has been riding as long as you have is willing to ask for more help. I'm still a newbie, but I'd like to say that you provide a good example of how to keep one's head.
Good luck and keep the rubber side down!