I got down tonight!

[OB_Kirk]

I was working a local road filled with 15mph twisties by myself this afternoon. The lack of distraction helped me to focus a little farther ahead. I just put in in second and lugged it through the corners. A more experienced rider showed on his 2000 GSXR-750 to work the same road, and I had him follow me for two passes. He said that I was really getting down and he was suprised to see a bike that big banking like that on such tight corners. I checked my tires, and my "wimp strips" were finally gone. After we closed the local Starbucks, we headed across town to the 24hr Starbucks. I found that after working on my confidence on the slower corners, the faster ones were easier too. Like most, I had learned the fast corners first, and worked my way down. On a 180 degree 25mph decreasing radius right hander, I set up for the corner and flopped it in at a pace that I was comfortable with. As it got tighter, I gave it just a little more gas, requiring me to stuff it in just a little bit lower, and my toe slider on my right boot touched down. It was a very good feeling. It did not suprise me. I did not wobble. I was very comfortable with it. I rode out the remainder of the corner grinding my toe slider. I rolled on a little early as I was exiting, causing the rear end to step out out a bit until I shifted. It felt really good. I can hardly wait for our Sunday ride now.

 

[OB_Cisco San Jose]

That's all it takes, practice,practice,practice. Works everytime. Nice going and keep riding safe.

 

[Guest]

Try some nice sweeping on and offramps that run 180 degrees or more.
Talk about slowly rolling it on, keep your eye on the exit and let'er rip.

 

[OB_JokerJ]

Way to go Kirk. I learned to handle curves on the off ramps. They are usually smooth and no chance of on coming traffic in my lane.

 

[OB_BarryW.]

Kirk,
Congratulations on refining your abilities. I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but as someone who's roadraced and now only rides twisties, I feel obligated to speak up.

Never underestimate the variability in available traction on public roads. Big rocks, invisible gravel, roadkill, fluids, etc. can seriously limit available traction. If you encounter one of these while riding at the limit of adhesion, you're going down the hard way. My personal technique is to let the available runoff dictate how hard I push it. At every corner I ask myself "what will I hit if I lowside in this one?". The best way to explore what you and the bike are capable of is at a track day and it sounds like you're at the point you should sign up for one.

My $.02

 

[OB_CuriousMike]

I have all but stopped having fun on onramps.
My version of what Barry said: Stuff gets dumped on onramps all the time... vehicles wallow to one side... gas sloshes out, paint cans fall over, dirt falls off, etc.

I'll put my knee down on racer road, but I'm nearly straight up and down on heavily travelled roads.