[Bigdaddy75]

Originally Posted by cbr99xx

Street or track... Ego.

OH... And make sure they take those pesky labels off your tires before you leave the shop....

Ego is a huge problem. It often starts at the bike shop when choosing a motorcycle.

[rokitt51]

target fixation, tooooo much rear brake, revving the nuts off the bike at the stop lights or in the parking lots, and puttin that nice piece of ass on the backs of their bikes not understanding how to control their machines with it, or without it.

[bjay51d]

riding next to people in the same lane....I hate when people ride next to me.I need just in case space.I have no where to go with you right next to me.

[GitGoFast]

bjay51d, Even while stopped?

[bjay51d]

Originally Posted by GitGoFast

bjay51d, Even while stopped?

Just if rolling...If theres glass or whatever in the road I like to be able to swerve with hitting the bozo next to me...

[blue1000rr]

new riders that are in a hurry and i see split cars. what ive seen happen is it scares the **** out of the two drivers of the cars and they veer into the rider. bad news.

[.OrgOwner]

How about choosing the wrong bike from the start? How many people do you think get into trouble due to a bad choice of machine?

[FB1000inPA]

Way to many riders. Many folks tell me they really like a specific bike. I ask them why not any other one. They say in most cases - my friends, brothers or sisters, parents, etc have one and I like it. I guess its peerpressure that plays a big role in buying a bike and not the one that really fits them.

[08cbr600rr]

I'm new to streetbikes and have a new 08 cbr600rr. My problem is nervousness. I have much respect for the bike and ride smart, I just have trouble loosening up out on the streets. I guess this will come in time developing confidence and not riding as stiff. I haven't took any riding courses. I rode mx, and had shifting down on the dirt track,however, on the streets I need practice. Coming up to stop lights or corners or turning in parking lots, I seem to always shift down to much or not enough. Any advice on shifting when riding around town and when turning in to parking lots?

[129CBRider]

In parking lots keep as low a gear as possible because if you stall it in gear while turning tight it'll fall over in a heartbeat. On the road I use downshifting to slow down the momentum of the back tire and chain but not to the point of chirping the back tire.

One thing I've done lately which was an eye opener was to ride about 20 miles of various roads standing up on my 919 as if it were one of my dirt bikes. Revealed a whole new world of stability in the bike that didn't really feel like it was there when I was sitting down. Did it at night of course so as not to look silly Try it sometime.

If you watch the RacerBoyz on Speed channel crawling all over their bike setting up for the turns, what they're really doing is: shifting their weight to the outside peg, leaning it over, then putting the knee down as a curb feeler, steady throttle through the first part of the curve until just past the apex, then powering on smoothly as the bike starts to stand up.

[FB1000inPA]

Originally Posted by loadedthorn

On the subject of tires, but not really riding error is not checking tire pressure often enough.

A little T-CLOCS maybe?
Everything involved with riding including not checking the bike prior to riding is a riding error.

[FB1000inPA]

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

the MSF teaches not to brake in a corner because when you're new and you lean the bike over and grab the brake you're probably going to grab too much and end up lowsiding. it takes practice on how much to brake into a corner. once you start to get really proficient you'll find a lot of the stuff the MSF teaches about braking is backwards.

to scrub speed off in a corner you can gently apply the front brakes, just be real careful. if you're new the best thing is to do is probably just lean more, chances are you have a lot more lean angle to use. as I said before its all about trusting your tires.

I am disagreeing with you. I personally know how to and trained for a long time how to apply breaks in corners. Maybe you do as well - I give you the benefit of the doubt.

However, the MSF doesn't have it wrong and backwards.

SLOW, LOOK, PRESS, ROLL

You should never be in the position that you need to break in a corner. It is important and I read it frequently in this thread that the rider has the correct entry speed prior to entering the turn. This means the rider can concentrate on looking through the turn.

The only time you should be breaking in a turn is after straightening out the bike when there is an obstacle and you can apply the full breaking power.

The MSF teaches students the correct techniques.

[FB1000inPA]

Originally Posted by bigm3657

when do you need to counter steer?? my msf teacher said you will never need to do this unless you are going so fast you lose all balance. but still i cant see taking a turn(sharp curve) at like 40-50mph and just leaning with the bike and still have balance.

Originally Posted by HCCAFan

I always counter steer. Thought that is how you were supposed to do it. I do catch myself trying to figure out after a very simple curve such as ion the nterstate exactly how I just turned. I'm wondering, did I just counter steer, did I turn like I used to turn my dirt bike, did I just lean and the bike turned....maybe the bike turned by itself? Trips me out sometimes. In the beginning I made a conscious effort to counter steer all the time and seeing how much easier it is, I think that's all I do now aside of course from extreme low speed stuff like parking.

Begs the question - what do you think counter steering is and what is the correct technique?

How about - press forward on the handgrip in the direction of the turn. In other words, press left, lean left, go left.

[FB1000inPA]

Originally Posted by UncleJesse954

dont leave your bike parked pointing downhill... even slightly... even if you walk away from it and it looks fine and you'll be back in 30 seconds.. unless you prop the front wheel against a curb or something.

In gear? Hard to believe a bike would roll off parked in gear.

[rockyz1000rr]

Save the racing for the track after some lessons, and don't ever feel like you need to show off for someone that is egging you on to do so.

[129CBRider]

Concur with FB...braking in a corner while leaned over will make the bike stand up and take you off the edge of the road or over the double yellow.

Know a LOT of Harley rider who ended up in corn fields this way, Lol.

[edwinbourne]

Im new, and i find most of my fear comes from trying to lean in, but freaking out because a couple of times ive actually had the front slide out from under me, thank god i was riding slowly in the city and managed upright the bike, but it still gives me the bloody willys...

[edwinbourne]

P.S. to all the experienced guys and gals out there, thanks for the tips its very helpful in becoming a better (safer) rider... Edwin

[magga]

the front may have been pushing away from you if your tyre is a new one also braking into a corner may save your life but dont change your throttle position and gently apply back brake to help drag u round the corner which will also scrub off sum speed 4 ya

[magga]

Originally Posted by low-rider

no scud, if you are going into the left bend, curve, corner (call it as you like) then you wanna lean left. to be able to lean left quick and much easier (agresive) you have to push your bars to the right (i mean right)...your front tire has to look to the right (i dont mean a lot to the right...its small movement) and after pushing your bars to the right your bike will go itself into left lean. after you lean your bike to the left you are returning your bars in the middle or at the second half of the bend you can push your bars a little left. those movements of the bars are not large movements...

or if you enter the bend with to much speed you can brake (what is a little risky in the corner) or you can lean more...to be able to lean even more try to push your bars opposite of the bend and you will see that bikes go more down. it's so simple. go on a parking lot and try to go straigth with your bike (do it with let's say 40 or 40 mph) and try lean your bike with your body weight...and after that try the same thing (lean with your body weight) and at the same time with help of counter steering. If you are leaning your bike to the left then in the begining of the operation push your bars to the oposite (right). you will find out that bikes goes to the lean much easier and faster then when you have used only your body weight. its very hard to lean your bike on the track when you are riding very fast and agressive. its easy to lean your bike with your body weight when your speed is slow. a lot of speed doesnt let you to lean your bike. more speed less leaning, thats why you need help as much as you can get...that is counter steering. am i the only one who knows about it?

And you call me a beginer. guys, did you ever ride your bikes faster then 50 mph? have you ever been on the track? now i know im not a beginer...and i didng to to some fancy MSF or whatever.

[A_D_T]

Ive just read every single post here.... Some very good advice here... Thanks guys..Newbies or experts... All can take advice from here... After all thats what sites like tis are about... Have fun and stay safe guys...

[Maxsurgeon15]

I have a problem with trusting the tires. Any way to make it feel more glued to the road? Any techniques?

[Maxsurgeon15]

anybody?

[bjay51d]

Originally Posted by Maxsurgeon15

I have a problem with trusting the tires. Any way to make it feel more glued to the road? Any techniques?

properly setup suspension along with good rubbers is the key...I had the same problem I went out with a guy into this fast sweeper and was in total awe of how bad I got burned(he was on mille).I ran into CBRBOB & Hondagal at the bike night and I told bob about how bad this guy smoked me and how I didnt feel confident.Well he came over and fiddled with this and that. The bike now felt alot better but after some more minor adjustments and some michelins.Im way more relaxed and confident...now the only chicken strips I have is in my freezer

[Maxsurgeon15]

Originally Posted by bjay51d

properly setup suspension along with good rubbers is the key...I had the same problem I went out with a guy into this fast sweeper and was in total awe of how bad I got burned(he was on mille).I ran into CBRBOB & Hondagal at the bike night and I told bob about how bad this guy smoked me and how I didnt feel confident.Well he came over and fiddled with this and that. The bike now felt alot better but after some more minor adjustments and some michelins.Im way more relaxed and confident...now the only chicken strips I have is in my freezer

Sounds easy enough, but I'm waiting on my new 1000rr (obviously)
and I'm not sure how its going to feel. But on my r6 I just couldn't get over the fear of sliding it, I guess ill just have to get over it. (after I get my fame sliders of course haha)

[bjay51d]

Originally Posted by Maxsurgeon15

Sounds easy enough, but I'm waiting on my new 1000rr (obviously)
and I'm not sure how its going to feel. But on my r6 I just couldn't get over the fear of sliding it, I guess ill just have to get over it. (after I get my fame sliders of course haha)

You just made you job alittle harder that 1000 is alot more bike.If you dont feel right let me know Ill trade you the 954 for it

[fizzerchris]

I've seen several newer riders (and done it myself) "roll back" with their wrist when grabbing the front brake during panic mode... this just opens the throttle and obviously breaking isn't effective. Try this with a new rider while off the bike: "Hold your hands out like you're holding onto the handlebars. Ok, someone just pulled in front of you, grab the front brake!" and observe how their hand rotates back as they close their fist. Then slap their hand and tell them don't roll their wrist back like that.

[FB1000inPA]

Originally Posted by fizzerchris

I've seen several newer riders (and done it myself) "roll back" with their wrist when grabbing the front brake during panic mode... this just opens the throttle and obviously breaking isn't effective. Try this with a new rider while off the bike: "Hold your hands out like you're holding onto the handlebars. Ok, someone just pulled in front of you, grab the front brake!" and observe how their hand rotates back as they close their fist. Then slap their hand and tell them don't roll their wrist back like that.

It's called "wrist down". You roll off the throttle and squeeze the breaks. In other words, while you open the throddle your wrist is down and when you get off to squeeze the breaks your wrist straightens out.