[shakey1378]

Originally Posted by Konich

I actually think my 07 was pretty damn easy to handle and ride "comfortably" compared to when I started riding years ago. The thing is smooth and very forgiving compared to the other major 600's out there. Most of it has to do with the tool located between a person's ears

this post is mainly refering to the 1000rr fireblade not the 600rr. however i agree with most here that a newer 600 or bigger bike is not the best option. if the tool between the ears worked for everyone we wouldnt need a thread like this...

[Konich]

Yes, but even riding one of my friends 1000RR's it just felt like a bigger 600RR. Alot of the same characteristics but a lot more power. Its all a matter of controlling that right hand with what you have on your shoulders IMHO

[shakey1378]

i hear ya, but why put yourself under so much temptation and/or miscalculated application of throttle or an accidental slip of clutch, how bout getting caught in the rain.

personally if you are learning you shouldnt be on a bike that you have to be extra careful with the throttle. most people who make it through safely dont learn to ride "well" as fast as those who start on a smaller machine

fwiw i started on 80cc and moved up

and because the mentality of most americans "to busy worrying about your image and budget"

ive heard it 1 million times i dont want a 250/500 cause ill be tired of it in a month to a half a year...

if ya worried about learning to ride and just have fun you may not want to upgrade

[The Gerd]

Originally Posted by shakey1378

i have a friend currently learning on a 96 srad 750 and hes almost dumped it a few times. granted hes getting better but even he's admitted he bit off more than he could chew for a true first timer. isnt hindsight great

That bike was my first street bike and I can attest to it being more than a handful. Mine also happened to come with a full Yoshimura exhaust, Yoshi competition cams, new higher flowing jet kit, etc...the previous owner tracked it. I still have the Dyno graphs showing it putting down 135hp at the wheel. Needless to say it scared the crap out of me, my 09 Blade is less scary than that beast.

[SodaO]

MotoGP riders are doing it to transfer more weight onto the front tyre and down low to move the centre of gravity down and forward to improve braking and turn-in.

No they aren't. In fact Rossi himself admits to not knowing why he is actually doing it except that it makes braking easier. His foot is back on the rest before he's turning. The only factor that seems plausible is that by putting his leg forward he is counteracting the forward momentum of his body and reducing the force on his body, keeping him more in control.

I've spoken to Vito Guareschi (Ducati MotoGP development rider) who shares the same thinking.

Remember that there is a point in the turn when these guys will be using back brake, front brake and throttle all at the same time. In terms transferring weight to the front tyre for turn in, there is more than enough front brake to do the job.

[SodaO]

you can do a LOT worse than a Blade as a first bike. If you really don't value your life then get a V-ROD without ABS.

[bladeracer]

Originally Posted by SodaO

No they aren't. In fact Rossi himself admits to not knowing why he is actually doing it except that it makes braking easier. His foot is back on the rest before he's turning. The only factor that seems plausible is that by putting his leg forward he is counteracting the forward momentum of his body and reducing the force on his body, keeping him more in control. Remember that there is a point in the turn when these guys will be using back brake, front brake and throttle all at the same time. In terms transferring weight to the front tyre for turn in, there is more than enough front brake to do the job.

If even Rossi doesn't know why he does it how do _you_ know that he doesn't do it for the reasons I gave?
The front brake transfers weight but it does so through the moment of the axle tending to lift the rear. Keeping any mass lower than the axle should reduce the tendancy to lift the rear and keep the bike more settled for turn-in.

[SodaO]

If even Rossi doesn't know why he does it how do _you_ know that he doesn't do it for the reasons I gave?

Because Ohlins have data logged the effect with foot on and foot off. The effect is so negligible that they concluded it has no benefit.

Look, with all due respect, you seem to have a lot more track riding experience than me but I'm basing my information on what I have been told first hand by Livio Suppo and Vito Guareschi as well as what I've read from Ron Haslam and that is that they just do not know. Rossi says it feels better. Now Rossi is not an idiot and if he knew the reason he would ecplain it clearly. Ron even thinks he's doing it as a wind up and when everyone else is doing it, he'll stop.

[bladeracer]

Originally Posted by SodaO

Because Ohlins have data logged the effect with foot on and foot off. The effect is so negligible that they concluded it has no benefit.

It may well be negligable to the data logger but thankfully, motorcycle racing is still down to the rider. As long as the rider feels a benefit from it then it's not negligable to him - regardless of whether it can be logged.

[nedro]

I've been closely looking it this since the Man started doing it. From what I can gather, it looks as though putting your leg out like that on the inside will serve as a couterballance to the natural forces that cause the bikes rear end to swing out or back in as it were. Since these are lighter 800cc bikes than the big 1K bikes, everyone is riding them moto250 style (smooth, no backing in). I believe it simply stablizes this phenomenom where the back end wants to swing out durring hard braking while setting up to turn in.
Well, that's may thought on the subject anyhow.

[Surffrog]

Originally Posted by SodaO

No they aren't. In fact Rossi himself admits to not knowing why he is actually doing it except that it makes braking easier. His foot is back on the rest before he's turning. The only factor that seems plausible is that by putting his leg forward he is counteracting the forward momentum of his body and reducing the force on his body, keeping him more in control.

I've spoken to Vito Guareschi (Ducati MotoGP development rider) who shares the same thinking.

Remember that there is a point in the turn when these guys will be using back brake, front brake and throttle all at the same time. In terms transferring weight to the front tyre for turn in, there is more than enough front brake to do the job.

Originally Posted by nedro

I've been closely looking it this since the Man started doing it. From what I can gather, it looks as though putting your leg out like that on the inside will serve as a couterballance to the natural forces that cause the bikes rear end to swing out or back in as it were. Since these are lighter 800cc bikes than the big 1K bikes, everyone is riding them moto250 style (smooth, no backing in). I believe it simply stablizes this phenomenom where the back end wants to swing out durring hard braking while setting up to turn in.
Well, that's may thought on the subject anyhow.

If any of you guys had watched the last motogp, you might be forgiven for thinking it was being used to make the bike wider and therefore harder for someone to sneak up on the inside of the corner.

[bladeracer]

Originally Posted by Surffrog

If any of you guys had watched the last motogp, you might be forgiven for thinking it was being used to make the bike wider and therefore harder for someone to sneak up on the inside of the corner.

I doubt too many riders would be put off by a dangling limb.
And you know he's going to pull it in before he gets anywhere near the apex anyway so just aim for the leg.
Into the turn one braking area when he moved across the track was timed perfectly. When you're hard on the brakes committed to a full-on dive down the inside and suddenly there is no inside you aren't left with many options. He must've spent several laps trying to find exactly the spot on the track where he had to duck across knowing it would spoil the dive he knew was coming.