[tikki50]

during panic modes they drag their feet. My buddy does it so much we call him footdrager.

HAND FULL OF BRAKE! a serious no no.

[Feelininvincibl]

"not sure why it would have slid like that if you were standing it back up."

Maybe, I was a little late throttling up or maybe there was a little moisture on the road. It was 0530. I don't know. Maybe the front is a little soft for my size and weight and pushing so hard. I had to be "close" to knee down.

I was in a hurry on the way home today and was leaning into a corner. I was moving at a good clip and started leaning into it. I noticed I was doing what one of you said. I was using my body more to get the lean than the counter steering. So thanks for pointing out common errors. And thanks for input.

I am reminded constantly at work not to point out problems without having a solution or suggestion to fix it. So while you are pointing out "newb" mistakes please give us a way to fix them too. We will listen if we are the ones wanting to ride better.

[ihatecrashing]

I see a lot of newer guys "tank humping". Getting so close to the tank they can't move their body around on the bike to set up for turns... plus that just makes your balls sweaty, who wants that?!?

[ratchetman]

Originally Posted by Feelininvincibl

Maybe, I was a little late throttling up or maybe there was a little moisture on the road. It was 0530. I don't know. Maybe the front is a little soft for my size and weight and pushing so hard. I had to be "close" to knee down.

I was in a hurry on the way home today and was leaning into a corner. I was moving at a good clip and started leaning into it. I noticed I was doing what one of you said. I was using my body more to get the lean than the counter steering. So thanks for pointing out common errors. And thanks for input.

Slow down, it sounds to me like you are riding beyond your ability and certainly too fast for the street. I weigh the same as you do and while I'm sure my suspension is set too soft, I won't be changing it. The reason is that the streets here are very rough and softer settings really help on the comfort side. It could handle better but it's good enough for me.
I find that sometimes if I initiate a sweeping turn too aggressively the lean angle becomes very steep at the beginning of the turn. This could be a problem if the tires are cold or if there is some contamination on the road. And then we're back to my point about slowing down. When riding on public roads we need to ride at such a speed as to be able to compensate for crap on the road, other drivers and our own lack of ability. We all think we're heros on the street but lets face it, even a really good track rider does not necessarily make a good street rider.
I try to leave lots of room to compensate for problems but I still slip and slide the odd time.

[smkeatr]

Basic errors:

Not spending enough time in parking lots to practice your controls before heading out into traffic. It's too much to get used to the controls while trying to survive traffic.

NOT taking an MSF course and teaching yourself.

At red lights, stopping in the oil in the middle with your tires or your feet.

Not checking your 6 when stopped in traffic, all lanes around you, not just right behind you.

Not leaving yourself an "out" while stopped.

Riding in blind spots in traffic and not getting out of them soon enough.

Full gear no matter how hot it is.

[Have Blue]

Thinking about it, the one tip that applies regardless of what appears is going to happen is ALWAYS look where you WANT to go. If you dont want to run off the road, dont look there. The bike naturally goes where you look.

Blue

[Hitman954]

i'm confused, you guys (and I might just be missing it) seem to say no braking in the corner? then what is trail braking? I do this a lot when I need to scrub speed in a corner. not mashing, just having it there

[loadedthorn]

We say no braking to people who aren't skilled enough to brake safely in a corner. Saves them from high/low siding. For the street it's a pretty good general practice to go slow enough where you don't have to slow down in the corner.

[.OrgOwner]

Originally Posted by smkeatr

Basic errors:

Not spending enough time in parking lots to practice your controls before heading out into traffic. It's too much to get used to the controls while trying to survive traffic.

NOT taking an MSF course and teaching yourself.

At red lights, stopping in the oil in the middle with your tires or your feet.

Not checking your 6 when stopped in traffic, all lanes around you, not just right behind you.

Not leaving yourself an "out" while stopped.

Riding in blind spots in traffic and not getting out of them soon enough.

Full gear no matter how hot it is.

These are great tips, the last one in particular about wearing the gear is about the most common one you see and potentialy the most dangerous. Even if you drop it doing something dumb the right gear is going to keep the damage to a minmum. Another point, when riding in traffic I always stop slightly to one side of the vehicle in front to avoid a potential crush situation.

[kiai]

oh yeah me too I stand in traffic almost between vehicles saved me once from a being tail hit. was on highway here and it came suddenly to a very slow end stopped to side of 2 vehicles and noticed a car behind that didn't notice that the road came to a stop
I moved fast ahead between the vehicles and he hit that car bam

[Kvidalin]

Cannot brake when they really have to - (common for more riders than you think.)

[Phadreus]

A good way of thinking about the braking issue, as well as turning, and accelerating is: the bike wants to do one thing at once and it's best not to make it mad by asking it to do too much at once. For instance, in order to get 100% of the potential out of the bike for acceleration, one must completely sacrifice turning and braking. In order to get 100% braking potential out of the bike, one must sacrifice all acceleration and turning. Safe holds true for turning (must sacrifice all acceleration and braking). So if you want to turn and brake, you have to give up some potential for each and work with the compromise.

To sear this into reality, think a bout when accelerating straight, it is quite common to get the throttle wide open and reach maximum engine rpm. However, when in the middle of a turn trying to accelerate, one must be gentle with the throttle and one never sees maximum engine rpm nor wide open throttle. The same rules apply to braking senerios.

Hope this helps someone...

[Have Blue]

There is a finite amount of traction available. You can use it all for acceleration, braking or turning or any combination as long as you dont exceed 100% of the tire's ability. One quick way of chopping off some speed in a curve if you find you're insanely over :-) is to double apex the curve. Add a straight section in the middle with an apex at each end. After the 1st apex and on the straight section, stand it up momentarily and max out both brakes if need be. Then, lean it back over to make the exit.
Basically, at any time you can use throttle, you also have the option of using brakes. Traction requirements are similiar.

Blue

Originally Posted by Hitman954

i'm confused, you guys (and I might just be missing it) seem to say no braking in the corner? then what is trail braking? I do this a lot when I need to scrub speed in a corner. not mashing, just having it there

[Fastrr]

When stopping at a red light or stop sign and having the front tire at or in front of the first solid white stop line. Stay back 5-6 feet because if someone has an accident you don't want to be a part of it. It's a good cushion of space to avoid trouble.

[Phadreus]

Originally Posted by Fastrr

When stopping at a red light or stop sign and having the front tire at or in front of the first solid white stop line. <snip>.

Speaking of...those painted stripes can be VERY slick when wet.

[Have Blue]

Yeah, I just hate it when the front end goes in one direction and the rear another. Most annoying. :-)

Blue

Originally Posted by Phadreus

Speaking of...those painted stripes can be VERY slick when wet.

[Oldschoolcbr]

Panic Braking in corners. I used to go on alot of group rides where you would have several different skill levels. Inevitably one of the newbs would crash out by panic braking in a corner while trying to keep up with the faster guys. Like someone mentioned earlier, grabbing a bunch of front brake in a corner will stand you up and take you out of the apex.......seen it too many times. Got tired of ending rides early, having to go get truck, etc. Main reason I stopped riding with people I don't know.

[Phadreus]

Originally Posted by Oldschoolcbr

<snip> Main reason I stopped riding with people I don't know.

Another mistake easy to make for newbies, riding with groups of guys, following said guys while knowing nothing about their skill levels. Can follow them right into the ditch easily.

[HCCAFan]

Leaning the wrong way in curves ie. not pulling their face towards the lowside mirror.

Someone said something about tank humpers...I think I'm a tank humper. I like how it keeps the nose down but I'll try to sit back so as to not be called a noob.

[Phadreus]

Originally Posted by HCCAFan

<snip>Someone said something about tank humpers...I think I'm a tank humper. I like how it keeps the nose down but I'll try to sit back so as to not be called a noob.

I'm not sure this is the only technique, however; I have found the most effective way of keep the nose down is control of the rear brake. A very light application of it during hard acceleration keeps the front end right where you want it. You don't sacrifice any acceleration, you just apply enough to transfer some energy back into the chassis, “torqueing” it downward.

[Dave213]

I've had a newer rider complain that he needed new tires. His tires were slip'n and slide'n when he'd downshift before a turn. I explained to him that his Diablos were almost new and explained to him the concept and application of throttle blipping. So I guess newer and more aggressive riders need to learn that (if they don't have a slipper clutch).

[CBR929RE]

Eric Wood says to sit up close to the tank. as far as you against the tank and over the bars when accelerating, that way you maintain control of the bike if the back spins up and gets squirrely.

[HCCAFan]

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

Eric Wood says to sit up close to the tank. as far as you against the tank and over the bars when accelerating, that way you maintain control of the bike if the back spins up and gets squirrely.

Who is this Eric Wood guy? It's just the way I have always rode...

[ihatecrashing]

I find that keeping a space between me and the tank keeps my chest lower, and therefore my center of gravity lower which helps keep the back side down under heavy braking. It also gives me room to quickly slide my rear from one side of the seat to the other during cornering. I guess what I meant about "tank humping" is that I see a lot of riders look really rigid on their bikes, sliding way forward on the seat so their crotch locks onto the tank. You gotta be able to move around a bit. just my two...

[HCCAFan]

Eh, I am short and short armed so my chest is pretty much on the tank regardless. It is true that I can slide around better when I'm not right up on the tank, but that damn sky keeps blocking my view when I slide back.

[m0nSteR TwIn]

First time I got on a bike I was stunned at how fast it was. After a couple of weeks I was no longer intimidated by the power and I thought (mistakenly) I had learned how to ride. I started to push because I wasn't scared anymore. I promptly found a ditch by doing all the things you guys are talking about. I am the first to admit that I learned by doing it wrong and paying the price.

Take a rider training course, listen to your experienced friends instead of trying to keep up with them and accept that you are not as good a rider as you think you are. I've been riding for almost 20 years now and I am a very good rider and I know I still have soooo much to learn.

Ego is the #1 rider error new or old.

[loadedthorn]

On that same note, 55/75/105 mph doesn't feel that fast on a motorcycle, and just because you feel in control at that speed doesn't mean you'll maintain control if anything happens.

[CBR929RE]

Originally Posted by HCCAFan

Who is this Eric Wood guy? It's just the way I have always rode...

Instructor for Penguin Racing School, resident fast guy at NHIS, multi-LRRS/CCS champion, AMA rider.

Originally