How many people actually make it through the learning curve??

[DoubleEagle]

Since I had a bad crash about a year ago , I read a book by Keith Code ( who is famous for his racing history and running his Superbike Schools all around the country) and it has made me so much better as a motorcycle rider.
 
The title of his book is " A Twist of the Wrist ."

In his book he talks at great length about what causes us to have most of our single bike accidents.

He talks about SR . SR is your Survival Response. In other words what you do when you find yourself in a scary situation and how giving in to the Survival Response leads most often to a bad outcome.

Target Fixation , not looking through a corner .You should always be looking out as far as you can  through a corner to where you want to go , otherwise you will go where you are looking, which is normally bad,  especially if you are riding fast .

The use of Counter Steering is a must . It's one of the easiest ways to turn a bike especially in a tight corner. How to overcome all the bad habits that are a natural response to treacherous situations.

Basically teaching you how to react in a positive way to all the scenarios that present themselves in front of you as you motor along .

I have become much more confident in knowing what I can expect my bike to do in any given situation and what I SHOULD DO and what I SHOULD NEVER DO .

You will learn to become one with your bike. You'll learn what the limits are , how much you should lean the bike in corners , how to pick your entrance point to a corner and when to roll off the gas and when to roll on the the gas.

When to brake , how hard to brake , how not to upset your bike by inputting more than one action in a corner at a certain point .

It's an easy book to read and follow with illustrations and summations.

I would recommend it for any rider to read . It will make you a better, safer rider with more confidence so that you don't fear your bike but you will embrace it.    Dolph     

[DuciD03]

Sage advice all; thanks for sharing and mentoring, his is why I like you ggggggguuuuuuyyyyyyyysssssssss.

How many have read "The Pace"?, slightly different audience and a slightly different subject; its a great article on street riding; you can google the full article; its the take away mindset I find is the the most valuable & correct.  

With experience I'm more carefull than when I first got my street bike.  I rode on dirt for 7 years; the road is very different.  A couple of experiences that I think "what if" this or that happened; if there was oil on the road when I was riding too fast and gearing down too fast (rear smoking) I would have slid through that stop ... or dam! I was going to fast and that lady talking on her cell phone that stopped 1/4 way through her left seeing the motorcycle at the last second ...I'd be dead ...

This is a healthy discussion; especially at the beginning of the season ... it reminds us to take it easy and ride defensively

The Pace
Separating street from track, riding from racing
By Nick Ienatsch

"THE PACE

The Pace focuses on bike control and de-emphasizes outright speed. Full-throttle acceleration and last minute braking aren't part of the program, effectively eliminating the two most common single-bike accident scenarios in sport riding. Cornering momentum is the name of the game, stressing strong, forceful inputs at the handlebar to place the bike correctly at the entrance of the turn and get it flicked in with little wasted time and distance. Since the throttle wasn't slammed open at the exit of the last corner, the next corner doesn't require much, if any, braking. It isn't uncommon to ride with our group and not see a brake light flash all morning.

If the brakes are required, the front lever gets squeezed smoothly, quickly and with a good deal of force to set entrance speed in minimum time. Running in on the brakes is tantamount to running off the road, a confession that you're pushing too hard and not getting your entrance speed set early enough because you stayed on the gas too long. Running The Pace decreases your reliance on the throttle and brakes, the two easiest controls to abuse, and hones your ability to judge cornering speed, which is the most thrilling aspect of performance street riding."

YOUR LANE IS YOUR LIMIT
Crossing the centerline at any time except during a passing maneuver is intolerable, another sign that you're pushing too hard ...."

Ride on ..... brothers and sisters.  [moto]

[Popeye the Sailor]

Yes, bigger bikes tend to be less forgiving of mistakes. But a competent new rider should know to ride within their limits. They should be able to understand when they're in over their heads and do something about it before it's too late.

I would argue that a new rider cannot be considered competent.

[DoubleEagle]

I would argue that a new rider cannot be considered competent.

    Dave, when are the words new and competent used together in the same sentence. That would be like saying a college graduate is experienced in their field of study when all they have done is what was required to graduate.

Did I miss something along the line ?   Dolph        

[kopfjäger]

I would argue that a new rider cannot be considered competent.

 

[erkishhorde]

I would argue that a new rider cannot be considered competent.

I guess you're right. You can't be competent at something and still be new. How about reasonable new rider? Or maybe smart new rider?

[Gle8]

I've only been riding for 4 years, and I definitely consider myself to be a "new" rider. I had very little desire for a big bike when I started: My first experience on a bike was learning to ride my friend's Ninja 250 in a hospital parking lot, and after about an hour I got too confident and dumped it at very low speed (tried braking during a tight turn). Being the super understanding friend that he is, he shrugged it off and we pushed it home. Luckily it was very minimal damage to the bike, and none to me.

After that, I took the msf course, and bought a Vespa GT200. It was enough for me at first, and at the end of that year I was riding it from Philly to VA, and even took it through Deals Gap a few times. I then graduated to a CB350, then a Monster 620. Each of these was just enough bike for my experience level. And as previously mentioned, each came with a graduation of response in both the engine and controls.

Last week I upgraded to a Brutale 910s, and it is MUCH more bike than I am used to. The throttle/brake/clutch response has less room for error than any of my previous bikes. And I respect the hell out of it. I am glad I made the progression I did, as there are mistakes I made on the other bikes without consequence that could cause me to crash with this bike.

Do I think it's too much bike? Probably. But not if I ride it with the respect it (and any other motorcycle) deserves, and operate it as safely as I did my prior bikes.

[JustDucky]

I've been riding for 18 years, dirt, street, track, supermoto, even a little trials.  Never stop learning!  Thanks all to the great posts - helpful for and respectful of all. 

[booger]

I too have experience in the dirt going back to when I was 5 years old. I used to compete in peewee races on a KX60 and YZ80 and had an XL400 in high school. Quit riding after that, then about four years ago I took the MSF class, got a used SV650 and thought it was a rocket. I miss the bike actually, I now have an S2R 800cc and believe it's as fast as I'd want a bike to be. I can't imagine the power of an S4RS when the little 800 is so damn death-defying to ride as it is. I think I'll stay put and just do mods vs upgrading bikes. It's good to be satisfied.