[129CBRider]

When I first got my 919 I hated the way it felt like it was going to wash out the front end going into the corners. I hated the bike.

Then (after a month of extreme frustration) I re-read the owners manual and realized that I had wwwaaaayyyy too little air pressure in the tires. I had 25F/30R when Honda called for 36F/42R! After pumping them up, all was well, so much so that it seemed like a different bike.

So....first rule for every ride if you haven't been out in a day or two is:

Check the Tire Pressure!!!

Makes a HUGE difference in handling when it is set exactly at Manufacturer's Recommended pressure!

[FB1000inPA]

Hey 129CBRider. Maybe a look at a post a couple lines up???

Originally Posted by FB1000inPA

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

Now the question is ... What is T-CLOCS??

Tires, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis and Sidestand

[Bigdaddy75]

Originally Posted by FB1000inPA

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

Very good advice mate, I'm sure we are all guilty of this.

[129CBRider]

I always do that check all the stuff thing, it's just that i had the wrong numbers in my head for air pressure because I breezed through the owner's manual like I knew what I was doing already. Now I'm more careful to get all the info right from the start...

[blue1000rr]

i have valve stem caps that have built in pressure reader. i can remember where i found them but i payed like $10 for them. makes life so much easier you jsut glance down instead of taking off the caps and sticking the gage on.

[Bobo88]

Originally Posted by blue1000rr

i have valve stem caps that have built in pressure reader. i can remember where i found them but i payed like $10 for them. makes life so much easier you jsut glance down instead of taking off the caps and sticking the gage on.

I'm extremely interested in picking some of those up. Could you post a link perhaps? During season, I ride 150 miles daily at least for commute. In a season I average between 7k-10k miles. That's a LOT of tire pressure checking! lol

As far as this thread goes, there's lots of great information being shared. One thing I'm not seeing a lot of, however, is recognition of one's personality. There are lots of people who have a type of personality that just do not mesh well with being on a fast moving 2-wheeled machine.

The "panic mode" is being mentioned, and that's where this personality point often ends up. For instance, my good friend and roommate has the type of personality where he thinks he's above a lot of others, no matter what the event or scenario. But, when things go wrong or happen out of his control, he basically just says "Geeze!" and pretty much gives up trying to work through the scenario.

Trying to picture him on a motorcycle in a situation like that, I see him riding along coming up to say a huge pothole. He sees it late and instead of hanging on, dealing with the situation maybe by going around or slowing down to better manuever, saying "Geeze!" and in his mind starts thinking about other things. "Damn potholes! They need to fix this road!" and then what happens is he closes his eyes, lets the bike take control, and everything goes down hill from there.

Thankfully he doesn't have one yet, lol. He's considering buying a Ducati... yea not while I'm around he's not!

Some people just do not belong on bike because they're personality will not allow them to deal with the situation at hand, entering panic mode. But where these people differ lie in the fact they cannot learn how to keep control. No matter the amount of time or experience, their mind won't adjust.

[129CBRider]

I used to 'lock up' in a panic situation until I got thrown off a few times. Then I told myself, "Self, you had two seconds to do something about it and you didn't. Stop it!!!" See/Access/React Haven't been thrown off since. Just to help convince myself, I found this site that has a reaction time clock. Mine runs about 0.22 of a second. At age 59 that's still not too bad. Much slower on a dark night in the rain. I have found this out the hard way!
Online Reaction Time Test

[Bobo88]

Originally Posted by 129CBRider

I found this site that has a reaction time clock. Mine runs about 0.22 of a second. At age 59 that's still not too bad. Much slower on a dark night in the rain. I have found this out the hard way!
Online Reaction Time Test

It would be interesting to take this test during moments of heightened adrenaline to compare against moments of just sitting in front of a computer screen. Any willing participants?

[ryankharris]

Oh yeah, What about warming the tires? My first spill on my '03 954rr was blamed on cold tires and leaning on them without warming up. It was 48 degrees here in atlanta and i turned right after letting the clutch out. the bike fishtailed and tosse me right and went left. Buddies watching said it was due to cold tires. Is this still true?

[129CBRider]

Actually, because of the traffic light in the test, I get a slight adrenaline pump just waiting for it to turn green, !!!

[GATABITES]

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

number 1 think was already said, not looking through the turn/target fixation
second I think might be not trusting your tires. that one is a big problem for new riders.

Good Point coach........

[Platinum929]

This one has prolly been posted at least once already, but since I don't plan on reading every single one I'll rehash it. This topic said Basic Riding Errors, so I don't know what all of that race track stuff I've read has to do with this topic, but whatever. I think that the most basic riding error happens before any riding is done and that's when you get some kid with momma and daddy's or whoever's money and with little or no riding experience goes out and buy's the 1000's and 13 & 1400's, 'cause some magazine along with all of their friends have sold them on the fastest most badest animal out there. Of course everything else listed on here will be a given to be a riding error when your on a bike that your not experienced for.. That's just my opinion, take it for what it's worth......Peace.

[D3f3ND3R]

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?

I feel the same way my overflow dribbled greenstuff and even after i doused them in brake cleaner and soap and water i have a panic attack when I start to lean-I know what that asphalt feels like hot and cold therefore not trying to do it again...

[Chal De Cecco]

Trusting your tires boils down to a couple of things. Throttle application to the rear wheel is one. Be smooth/controlled and measured without excessive ham fisted wrist action. Work the gearbox for higher corner speeds, keep the tires in line.

Secondly, guard that front tire by alternating weight bias. Don't let the front decide where it's going-that's your job. The worst thing you can do is simply stay planted in the seat. Don't become a passenger for the bike- always be the rider.

It's much like riding a very spirited horse-you must focus and remain in control all the time. No time for daydreaming.....Chal

[FTP_929]

i think this is one of the worst things people can do..you see some guy in a parking lot and you're thinking "cool nice bike" then he sits on it,turns it on and F*cking revs it to like 10K rpms!! aarghh that saddens me so much

[StrumminRonin]

Originally Posted by FTP_929

i think this is one of the worst things people can do... you see some guy in a parking lot and you're thinking "cool nice bike" then he sits on it,turns it on and F*cking revs it to like 10K rpms!! Aarghh that saddens me so much

And they do it just as there's some little old lady walking by... Sometimes I want to say to them, "nice cans, just make sure the cops don't see it." But why tell them what they don't want to hear, and invite them to rev some more?

[FTP_929]

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

And they do it just as there's some little old lady walking by... Sometimes I want to say to them, "nice cans, just make sure the cops don't see it." But why tell them what they don't want to hear, and invite them to rev some more?

haha true,the worst thing about it is you see the person on the bike twist the throttle before starting it and you're just like "here we go" and to make things worse..


THE BIKE IS COLD!!

[bcpayne0911]

Well this has been a good thread and very informative for most. I have been riding for over 10 years off and on And still consider myself a newbie. My first bike was a Kawasaki EX 500 then Suzuki GSXR 600. I just graduated to the big boy 08' Honda CBR 1000RR. And yes I do believe the bigger bike is more responsive and easier to handle as long as you respect it.

There has been alot of talk about counter steering and all that but, after all the replies it can be a little confusing.
I think that sometimes it is something that just comes naturally from time on the bike and knowing what it can and can't do.

As for as the thread goes. I think most new riders don't respect the horses they have under their A$$!

[Dignam]

Originally Posted by 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.

Originally Posted by 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.

You guys hit it exactly. I have had my license for 4 years or so but had very limited riding experience over that time. I finally got a bike of my own recently and after a couple weeks I started to feel very comfortable and felt like it was all very easy. It is very easy to go 90 on the highway without even realizing it because it is smooth and feels like your going slow still. Luckily for me I was able to give myself a reality check before I made a huge mistake that cost me.

[shortskimper]

sidenote: i watched a cop behind a harley windscreen light a smoke up at a red light. halirious if you ask me.

i've been riding for three years, but have experienced a decent share of bikes. 82 xj750, 83 gpz 750, 93 zx6, and now my honda cbr929. i love counter-steering. do it without realizing it most of the time. i live in michigan so there is no twistie or no twistie tracks i can go to. that is why i consider myself still a newb. been to tennesse with the gpz. but that thing was a tank. but i loved every curve (also, southern people will call you a yankee if you call their curve a "corner" lol). want to go back so bad with the 929. anyway, to the point. i think the one thing i do wrong......don't pay attention to how much gas i have. i know stupid isn't it!! i'm sure we've all done it (i hope!)

[bonham]

Originally Posted by shortskimper

i think the one thing i do wrong......don't pay attention to how much gas i have. i know stupid isn't it!! i'm sure we've all done it (i hope!)

I've cut it very close a number of times, but I only ran out once. I was waiting for my buddy coming up the freeway to visit me, and I was going to lead him back to my place. I had to switch the tank to reserve that morning, so I knew I was low on gas. I wanted to fill up, but I didn't want to miss him coming up the freeway, so I skipped the pit stop and went straight onto the highway. About halfway back, I ran out completely. Thankfully, my buddy was towing a trailer, so he pulled out in front of me and we loaded the bike up post haste. It must have been the fastest bike loading in the west. If you were held up by a traffic jam on Eastbound US-26 in Portland sometime in in early spring of 2002, sorry about that!

[Alyciadad]

This is my first post and I just want to say THANK YOU!! This site is awesome! I have only been riding for about a month (OMG yes! I know I shouldn't be on a Fireblade!) and unfortunately the MSF class was booked all the way through the season here in my area so I didn't get to take that. This thread has been EXTREMELY helpful. Especially the stuff about counter-steering. Just that one post with the wiki link was a tremendous help in my handling capabilities. Until I read this thread, I was just leaning the bike with my body. It would be great if you guys could clarify the clutchless shifting. Is this ok to do, or will it hurt the bike?

Anyway, thanks again for all this very helpful information. I'm sure I will be spending lots of time on this site!

[shortskimper]

it's called rpm matching. the is a certain rpm at which the clutch is spinning as fast as your motor is revving and you can just let off the gas and shift up without clutching it. i do it all the time. as far as i know, it's actually better for your clutch because it's a quick shift. by the by. welcome!

[DragonRider]

This is an awesome thread, I have been riding for over a decade and would proudly consider myself scared to death of what this bike is capable of !!!

I ride a Harley Dresser as well and I know that I counter steer that beast too, I don't think I do any of it consciously(spelling) but since I graduated from dirt to street that is just how it felt natural to get in and out of corners, the combination of counter steering and looking through the corner are, IMO, the most important points to get you through a curve(corner)! Controlling speed also :-)

There was something else mentioned in here that I wish not only bikers would do but cagers too, when you are riding/driving behind a car/truck/whatever you should be looking and positioning yourself so that you can see the taillights of the car(s) in front of them. If you see that car avoiding something, you now have 6 seconds to react instead of 3, same thing with hard braking, you can start sooner than the car in front of you so you can almost completely eliminate eating there back windshield. This of course is assuming you are not one of those A-holes that tailgaits everyone...if you are you are jsut asking for a brake check, which of course will test your other skills mentioned in this thread...reaction time, knowing your controls, etc... If this all sounds new to you I suggest you go to page 6 and start reading from the bottom until you get back to this post, you will learn alot or you will be reminded of what you forgot since you took the MSF.

I just bought this 02 blade and by far it is the most bike I have ever owned as far as Sport Bikes are concerned, I am glad I read this as it reminded me to respect the throttle, master the throttle, smooth and consistent first, then I can master the braking...even in corners. On my cruiser braking in a corner is no big deal as I am generally not leaned way over or going that fast, it will take some more practice and skill to master that on this bike.

I think I have made every Newbie mistake on this bike so far since buying it 4 days ago , even though I know better , some of it is really fun but I can see that some of it will eventually get me or someone else hurt if I am not paying attention. This bike goes from 0-60 about 4-5 times faster than my HD so that leads me to believe that I need to pay attention that much more. I will let everyone know how it goes at the end of the summer.

Cheers

[taurag]

New riders don't realize just how critical correct body/weight distribution on any bike is especially 600cc and upwards. I see lots of guys simply cornering as hard as they can with hardly any upper body movement. This really scares me because I know that sooner or later this guy is going to fall. My tip for what it's worth would be to highly recommend whether on track or road, for especially new riders on supersport bikes to throw most of their weight forward literally over the tank and clamping it with their leg while the other leg hangs down towards the road surface. At the same time, make sure that literally half your body hangs off the bike. You will see your turning arm hovering accross the tank. This applies to aggressive track or road riding and emergency situations. I use this technique for road riding mainly because no matter how much I lean, my knees don't touch the road and secondly, my front end of my bike stays planted, no washing away. Trust your rear tyre, theyare not so fat for nothing. I notice that most motogp riders also do this. As you get more experience you can settle back and let the bike fall to the side without much need for putting all your weight forward. In this case your kneees will hit the ground. I did this for years when I got my 600 and it's really easy once you get the hang of it. Just hang onto that tank and go for it. When you get it right, it's an awesome feeling of being one with your bike and knowing that you are the master in control and not the other way around. I am sure others here also do this, not just me.

[setanta]

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.

Leave it in gear