So in my endless quest to achieve total control of me and my bike, I've been seriously re-evaluating my riding style the last couple of days. First, I got new rubber front and rear. Seems to have given me a new confidence. Anyway...

So for a while now I thought I had a pretty good cornering ability. I was, I thought, getting low, hanging off the bike and carving corners seemingly effortlessly.

Well, Saturday I really started rethinking everything. I noticed that what I thought was, "hanging off the bike," was simply a horribly disgusting display of a rider who has had no formal experience on track style handling. Now, before I get to far - no, I know I'm not on a track when I practice these things, but I'm also not riding outside of my limits.

So I started really paying attention to the MotoGP guys and what they really look like when they're in a corner. They are seated much more aggressively (can't change that much about the F3), and I don't think it has as much to do with the bike (a bit, but hear me out) as it does the rider. I noticed they're visors are right next to and behind the windscreen. They're outside foot is always high up on the peg (not covering the thing like a blanket... like I was). Seems like it's just the ball of their foot mostly.

Well, I tried to emulate that at lower speeds. Before I get too far - lemme just note that I always thought before that I was riding nice and tight with good sightlines. Problem was, sometimes I would overrun my sightlines. I couldn't figure out why... until Saturday. I was literally hanging off the bike, but my butt was way back where the seat started to break to the passenger area. So I changed that up, scooted WAY forward and that alone was like, "HOLY COW." It seemed like a brand new bike, but one that I knew how to ride (weird I know).I started becoming more aware of my head positioning, keeping it level with the horizon and now I notice that when I'm in a corner, it seems like my head is inches away from the concrete... but my bike is way more vertical that it was with my old body position.

I started cutting corners harder, was able to keep my RPM's up in the power band and shoot through apexes all while doing so comfortably, and most importantly, KEEPING MY SIGHTLINES! Man - it's like a while new aspect to riding. I'm basically hugging the tank now and I actually knickedthe outside of my legdoing about40 (2nd gear) around a decreasing radius (kept my RPM's up in the 7K mark too!). I absolutely wasn't trying to drag my leg across pavement, but I know I can now... haha.

I juts wanted to share my learning with ya'll. I can't wait for the track this summer. I knew I'd have fun at a track, but I think I may have seriously found my new passion. I was riding with some guys today and a couple of them had liter bikes and talked a good game. I'd never met any of them before so I was thinking, SWEET! Thye like the twisties too...

Well, after I got to the end of the section, I waited for them to show up. Haha - I smoked 'em! They thought I had an old 1000 since I've got no stickers on my bike, lol. They were convinced that I was on a 1000... is that not a humbling feeling or what!?!?!

Okay, sorry to go on - but I had a blast. I'm learning more and more everyday and I just can't wait to apply it to the real track. This summer is going to be da bomb...

Thanks for readin'! Anyone wanna share anything they've learned about themselves or they're bike this spring?

P.S. Abadfish, I know we've had our disagreements... but I gotta say that your avatar has a whole new meaning to me now. I respect you for that... and that only - haha, just kiddin'. You too Tahoe... I wanna see some more pics of y

 

Sounds like you hit a good zone besides learning something new. I, too, paid really close attention to the Daytona and Moto GP this weekend, and had my own breakthrough today. Pushed passed previous limitations, and gave myself a pile of confidence. It is an amazing feeling to make measurable progress. It is very addicting. Good luck on your track days!

 

yeah man, sounds like you had a good day! I hate how i put the buckle protector on my tank, but when im tearing through corners in jeans, im humping on my tank so bad i've scratched a little half ark over the top of the scratch protector, so it really didn't do a damn thing!