Good form vs bad form - photos

[red baron]

Coming into a decreasing radius uphill right hander with some really shitty pavement.





Need to get my head further to the right, but maybe I did when I dropped into the corner.

[manwithgun]

 That looks like an awesome time and couldn't imagine any type of criticism.  Outside thigh is firmly anchored into the bike, allowing the rest of the body to move about as required without upsetting the bars.  It's been at least 2 years since I've been on the street but I'd imagine that dropping the head lower or farther to the right would actually LIMIT your options should a mid-corner correction be necessary.   I feel that the greatest form is the one that puts a smile on your face that sticks out of your helmet and then gets you home to share the experience with the people that understand.  I sometimes wonder how much the pursuit of vanity gets in the way of bike control and feel.  Lord knows that I've been through it myself, but wanting to look like Marquez on your local back roads is thankfully a club that I dropped out of...  Fast, loose, and confident,  are styles that I enjoy seeing on track but due to the simple dynamics of physics, wanting to emulate your idols at public highway speeds will often work against you.  I feel that speed, lean angle, and body position, are all bound together and require a perfect fluxing balance.   And that is before you even factor in the particular turn, surface, and conditions that you are adapting to...    Geez, it kinda sounds like I'm arguing with myself;  older me lecturing the squidly me.   Just know that my opinion is addressed to nobody in particular. 
  I'm going to dig out my license plate this year and would love to go on some rides.  My first resolution!   Hopefully we'll be in touch. 
 
-Jim

[manwithgun]

I'm so jealous you guys can ride supermoto. The track neighbors got ours shut down a couple years ago.  I'd be racing every weekend if it wasn't for those asshats.

That is truly sad to hear.   For reasons beyond me, supermoto seems to be making a comeback here in Cali.   I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that things will turn around in your neck of the woods...

BTW,  enjoyed watching one of your races from a chase cam.   Incredible drives on your corner exits!  Keep kicking ass and enjoy the ride in 2014.

[Triple J]

That is truly sad to hear.   For reasons beyond me, supermoto seems to be making a comeback here in Cali.   I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that things will turn around in your neck of the woods...

BTW,  enjoyed watching one of your races from a chase cam.   Incredible drives on your corner exits!  Keep kicking ass and enjoy the ride in 2014.

Ya, it's lame. The neighbors hassle the track any chance they get, and this is another way. The track was only licensed as a go-kart track, so that's what they're using. Nevermind that the karts are louder than the SMs.  Getting the license modified requires public input, so... Pisses me off when people move next to a loud business that's been there for a long time, and then complain about the noise.

Thanks! I was slow into the tight left hander so I had to get good drives out of it!  I worked with a fast AFM racer this past June and he really focused on technique to safely get good drives out of corners...seems to have helped. Now I just have to go faster everywhere else! 

[Slide Panda]

Well, this shot in the lovely weather is from the end of October which had a warmer day than last weekend when I was supposed to go to the track

Taking the new steed out for the first time. new lid, new steed, same old rider. need to get that inside arm up a bit more *tisk

[Monsterlover]

Don't be so hard on your self.

Just get low in some comfortable position and have fun.

You're not doing this for a living after all

[Slide Panda]

Don't be so hard on your self.

I'm really not - but since I started this thread I do belive in a bit of humility. And there's always room for improvement - so why not try?

[Monsterlover]

Do or do not...

[red baron]

This low enough?

[mr.freezer]

so before my friend crashed on my monster... me and the guy who used to ride in sneakers

[mr.freezer]

and although some vid... watch in HD

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202476103636473&set=vb.1011107752&type=2&theater

[Triple J]

Breaking in the new race bike a couple weekends ago.

[Monsterlover]

Breaking in the new race bike a couple weekends ago.

Two thoughts-

A) awesome!

B) I think you could get your head and upper body lower which would stand the bike up more.

Your right arm looks bent 90 degrees. Shoot for 45 degrees and that would shove your upper body over more.

Unless you have T-rex arms. In that case just keep on keeping on

[red baron]

Get them elbows down. 

[Triple J]

Upper picture has better form...it's a long left hander though, so it's easier. The bottom pic I can definitely get off more. FWIW, pretty much everyone looks like this here though...part of it is the nature of the turn...the other part is I'm not as young and flexible as I used to be!  

Right elbow is relaxed and laying on the tank in both pics, which is what I shoot for with my outside elbow. I do need to extend more though.

I can improve quite a bit still, and will continue to work on it a bit, but in the end I think it's "good enough". Now I just have to go faster! There are a lot of guys faster than me that look worse. I think body position is important up to a point, after which you just have to twist the throttle more and hit the brakes later. Bayliss, Schwantz, Pegram, etc. all have shit form but are stupid fast.