ANDYVH
New member
Dwestly is right on! I too am a MSF instructor of many years, but I also have studied many of the techniques of Lee Parks and other riding instructors. No track day, yet. It is a zen like thing when you are in the "flow zone" of riding. It becomes easier, less taxing, more mental than physical, and you do sense a lot more of what the bike and tires are doing because you are telling, and letting the bike do what it is capable of. Suddenly, you find you are smoother, more confident, safer AND quicker through the turns.
But it takes a lot of prep BEFORE the turn, not once you're in the turn. Hopefully once you're in the turn, you still have the skills to make the bike move/adjust quickly, and the mental balance to not freak out and quickly make minor adjustments. That takes practice and seat time. I too, treat every ride as a learning experience. Which for me started when I began to push my abilities and study what the really good riders do.
We recently got a S1000RR crash bike in the shop at the local BMW dealer. The 17 year old rider (can you believe that!?), as reported by his father, claimed the bike "wouldn't make the turn" and he lost off when it ran off the road. BULLS**T! The bike would make any turn that I know of in Wisconsin, the RIDER wouldn't make the turn is the problem. Oh, and this same rider wants to know how to get a Power Commander for his S1000RR.
I took two riders on a demo ride for the dealer Saturday, with me leading on a K1600GTL, they followed on a S1000RR and K1300S. They had both ridden in on older sport bikes, wearing t-shirts, jeans, work boots, helmets. They didn't like that I made them wear jackets for the demo ride. I briefly asked them about counter-steering, because they asked if the ride would have any turns. The word "countersteering" brought back looks of "HUH?" So a brief discussion got them going. They said, "we'll keep up", to which I replied, "don't try, ride your own ride." I backed it way off, and we did fine, but even in the rear view mirrors I could see the lack of skills, very evident.
But it takes a lot of prep BEFORE the turn, not once you're in the turn. Hopefully once you're in the turn, you still have the skills to make the bike move/adjust quickly, and the mental balance to not freak out and quickly make minor adjustments. That takes practice and seat time. I too, treat every ride as a learning experience. Which for me started when I began to push my abilities and study what the really good riders do.
We recently got a S1000RR crash bike in the shop at the local BMW dealer. The 17 year old rider (can you believe that!?), as reported by his father, claimed the bike "wouldn't make the turn" and he lost off when it ran off the road. BULLS**T! The bike would make any turn that I know of in Wisconsin, the RIDER wouldn't make the turn is the problem. Oh, and this same rider wants to know how to get a Power Commander for his S1000RR.
I took two riders on a demo ride for the dealer Saturday, with me leading on a K1600GTL, they followed on a S1000RR and K1300S. They had both ridden in on older sport bikes, wearing t-shirts, jeans, work boots, helmets. They didn't like that I made them wear jackets for the demo ride. I briefly asked them about counter-steering, because they asked if the ride would have any turns. The word "countersteering" brought back looks of "HUH?" So a brief discussion got them going. They said, "we'll keep up", to which I replied, "don't try, ride your own ride." I backed it way off, and we did fine, but even in the rear view mirrors I could see the lack of skills, very evident.