Cornering Courage

[jtemple]

I tried like heck to talk my wife into letting me get a DRZ400SM!

You guys do make some great points about keeping conservative on the street. I should just pony up the cash and do a couple track days.

[Trip]

Originally Posted by jtemple

I tried like heck to talk my wife into letting me get a DRZ400SM!

My wife is going to let me get one if I sell the fiddy. I will probably do it. Just got to find a SM I want.

[t-homo]

I am hoping to do a track day at either Heartland Park in Topeka or Hallett in Oklahoma toward the end of summer if you want to look at meeting up.

[the chi]

Originally Posted by Trip

My wife is going to let me get one if I sell the fiddy. I will probably do it. Just got to find a SM I want.

If you sell the fiddy let me know and how much ya want...looking for a track toy...

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by Trip

My wife is going to let me get one if I sell the fiddy. I will probably do it. Just got to find a SM I want.

Aprilia.

[racedoll]

Originally Posted by OreoGaborio

Some tires are different than others... some give you LOTS of warning, some very little... In either case you need to spend lots of time near that limit to be able to listen to them and learn the signs.

Exactly what I was thinking, just probably said in a better way than I would have put it. Although I don't quite agree with spending lots of time learning. If referring to experience, then OK but still I think this is how well a rider knows his/her bike. Yes, this comes from experience but some people pick this up quicker than others. And changing your suspension constantly won't help. Learn how it reacts with minor changes. Give yourself time to adjust to the changes you make to it.

Not only do tires make a difference, but the pressures you are running. Lower pressure will help with grip, but not too low. Too high and you lose some grip.

As far as trusting your tires, it's just something you have to do. Fortunately I have someone I trust and if they trust the tires, then I know I can too. I just have to trust my abilities. I know the bike is far more capable of what I can ever do with it, so the goal is just not to upset it - let it do what it needs to do, that everything will work out.

Originally Posted by jtemple

I probably just need to learn to relax a little and not be so worried about a crash. I rarely exceed about 80 mph in those big sweepers I was talking about.

Relaxing would help a lot. One thing they teach you in the school/track day are the chicken wings. Flap your elbows like chicken wings to get yourself to relax. Once you relax you expand your capabilities.

And if you can't afford to crash on the road, keep your head level, save your money and do a school/track day to satisfy your desires. A crash on the road will probably be far worse than at the track. Too many variables on the street.

[dReWpY]

2ct's have insane grip when properly warmed up, i litterally ran on the side wall at nashville.. not cause i am a great rider, but i make the bike work for it harder then it prolly needs too, but trust the tires and they will work

[Frostz28]

Originally Posted by jtemple

You guys do make some great points about keeping conservative on the street. I should just pony up the cash and do a couple track days.

Ya you really should. I used to ride REAL hard on the street with a group of buddies, from what Ive seen there are two things that will make you slow down on the street and just enjoy the ride. One is a crash, and two is hitting up the track. Trust me I know the track is expensive, I rarely get to go myself. But my crash was a WHOLE lot more expensive and could have been a LOT worse. Some of my buddies weren't so lucky and Ive visited several of them in the hospital, some for extended stays. I got lucky and didn't get hurt. I was ridin to hard on the street and there was just a touch of gravel on the road and down I went. I was only going about 60 and slid what felt like a mile. I can't imagine how far you would slid doin 100+ and you'd be lucky not to take out a fence or post or something with your body. The street is no place to be putting a knee down. Yes it can be done and all that but really its just to much of a risk. the surfaces are uneven, gravel, rocks, leaves, twigs, dust, animals, water anything can change in a second and then you're in big trouble.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Frostz28

Ya you really should. I used to ride REAL hard on the street with a group of buddies, from what Ive seen there are two things that will make you slow down on the street and just enjoy the ride. One is a crash, and two is hitting up the track. Trust me I know the track is expensive, I rarely get to go myself. But my crash was a WHOLE lot more expensive and could have been a LOT worse. Some of my buddies weren't so lucky and Ive visited several of them in the hospital, some for extended stays. I got lucky and didn't get hurt. I was ridin to hard on the street and there was just a touch of gravel on the road and down I went. I was only going about 60 and slid what felt like a mile. I can't imagine how far you would slid doin 100+ and you'd be lucky not to take out a fence or post or something with your body. The street is no place to be putting a knee down. Yes it can be done and all that but really its just to much of a risk. the surfaces are uneven, gravel, rocks, leaves, twigs, dust, animals, water anything can change in a second and then you're in big trouble.

Okay,I read this and then I read your sig line.... Sounds like you are tip toeing to me.

[Frostz28]

Originally Posted by TIGGER

Okay,I read this and then I read your sig line.... Sounds like you are tip toeing to me.

LOL ya got me. I don't tip toe on the track! I guess by "refusing to tip toe" I mean I refuse to avoid all unsafe things like riding motorcycles simply to end up dying like everyone else in the end. But that doesn't mean that Im trying to race anyone to death. I just don't wanna end up impaled on some farmers fence! or sliced into layers by a barbed wire fence! Like in that final destination movie!