April 4th, 2015, 01:37 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: D.
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2015 Ninja 300 ABS Posts: 86
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Rookie mistakes...will they ever end?
So I have about 820 miles on my bike. The last two times I went out riding, I made shifting mistakes. Once, I went to downshift and up shifted instead. The second ride, I went to up shift and downshifted instead. I'm thinking thank god for the slipper clutch and that I try to rev match. It's not like I do this every ride or every shift. It literally only happened once with each error.
Anyway, my question is... I know I'm still a noob but I was just wondering if experienced riders sometimes make these mistakes also. Will stupid things like this happen occasionally or do they tend to go away with time? Sometimes I feel like I take one step forward and two steps back. D. (Sorry if this belongs in the rider skills section. If it does, can someone move it please...thanks) |
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April 4th, 2015, 01:52 PM | #2 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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To error is human D, but the bigger mistakes do become less frequent with time.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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April 4th, 2015, 02:16 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Inderveer
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '07 ex250-F/J Posts: A lot.
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You keep riding and it'll get etched into your brain. It'll be second nature..you'll be doing things without even noticing. That's why you gotta keep practicing in parking lots for the rest of your life. Well, every now and then for the rest of your life lol..
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April 4th, 2015, 02:52 PM | #4 | |
Urban Legend
Name: Baron
Location: Brampton, ON
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250R SE - Circe Posts: 542
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Repetition. Repetition. Repetition.
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April 4th, 2015, 02:58 PM | #5 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Paul
Location: UK
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One thing I still do is trying to shift into seventh It does no harm but I always feel stupid when I do it.
You find at some point the whole thing pivots and you make mistakes because everything has become automatic so your attention begins to switch off a bit, talking to yourself and thinking through your day then suddenly the car in front is emergency stopping or a deer runs out and you were running on autopilot. You will deal with it okay but your heart rate will be up. Leaving the side stand down used to be a favorite but these days they have cutout switches so you stall instead. ps Try riding an old British bike, that will give you a co-ordination crisis for sure (right foot shifter one up three down ) |
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April 4th, 2015, 03:33 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Whodat
Location: Ware Is.,MA
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I have a few different bikes and some shift different than others. That being said, I still have to stop and think when shifting and still occassionally get it wrong (and that's after 50 some years of riding). Just remember, if you shift wrong always go to a higher gear to correct.
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If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! |
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April 4th, 2015, 04:00 PM | #7 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Inderveer
Location: San Jose
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Same here!!!! hahahaha
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April 4th, 2015, 05:18 PM | #8 |
sammich maker
Name: snot
Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen
Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '15
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I still count my gears when shifting. I found doing this in the beginning helped me remember up a gear = up shift, down shift = down a gear and I stopped looking for 7 and 0.
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April 4th, 2015, 05:30 PM | #9 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Whodat
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If you are consistent in your riding you will know what gear you are in by your speed. However; I don't know anyone that rides that way.
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If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! |
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April 4th, 2015, 05:39 PM | #10 |
sammich maker
Name: snot
Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen
Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '15
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I do it out of habit now, I can tell by my rpms and speed.
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https://www.brocksperformance.com/VZ...0035+C450.aspx |
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April 4th, 2015, 06:04 PM | #11 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Do you really "know" or just simply not care if the bike and rider are happy?
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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April 4th, 2015, 06:21 PM | #12 |
Urban Legend
Name: Baron
Location: Brampton, ON
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250R SE - Circe Posts: 542
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"Life is like riding - You can either tear the fastlane in half or stay in the slipstream trying to play catch up." -Baron |
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April 4th, 2015, 07:05 PM | #13 | ||||
ninjette.org member
Name: D.
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2015 Ninja 300 ABS Posts: 86
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Quote:
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Thanks everyone for the replies. I'm too much of a perfectionist and sometimes can get down on myself when I screw up. I'll try and keep it all in perspective and just realize that I'm still learning and can't be perfect just yet. D. |
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April 4th, 2015, 07:10 PM | #14 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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So youre 41, that don't mean crap. One of the guys I race with is 87 years young. Your age is just a number. ps...41 here too.
EDIT: I post this because I don't want age to ever to be a reason for any rider to give less than everything they got to riding the best they can.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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April 4th, 2015, 07:16 PM | #15 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: D.
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2015 Ninja 300 ABS Posts: 86
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Quote:
D. |
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April 4th, 2015, 07:17 PM | #16 | |
sammich maker
Name: snot
Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen
Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '15
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Quote:
I know what gear I am in while riding, I have worked on watching RPMs, speed and sound. Once I get her back I will need to do this again, even the sound will be different. I have yet to ride the bike 2 seasons in a row where the bike was set up the same. It's like getting a new bike every season.
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April 4th, 2015, 07:30 PM | #17 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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It's actually kinda really simple. As the rider, you know by feel when the bike is happy and when it's not. Do what you need to do on the street, but when you're at the track, stop counting gears and start "feeling". Counting takes time and attention that are better spent on other things. When you're ready ya know.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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April 4th, 2015, 07:39 PM | #18 | |
sammich maker
Name: snot
Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen
Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '15
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Quote:
First time on the track was my best, this years goal is to feel better than I did then. That's why we are going back to putnum.... Back to where I am comfy. Street I count in town, once out I stop counting. Good info.
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April 4th, 2015, 08:20 PM | #19 |
.
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.
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Weird. I just upshift until I hit 6 if I'm going at least 25mph. If I'm only going 25, I'll take off in 1st, shift to 2nd, get up to 25mph quickly, then keep the clutch pulled in and stomp it up till it doesn't go up anymore.
Also, DSomething: Mistakes never stop, no matter what you're doing or how long you've been doing it. |
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April 4th, 2015, 08:45 PM | #20 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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That goes a loooooonnnnnngggg way. I would love to see you at Mid-O, but seeing you reach your goals is much more important to me. Do werk! Report back!
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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April 4th, 2015, 09:28 PM | #21 |
wat
Name: wat
Location: tustin/long beach
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much.
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i try to count but always lose the count inbetween corners. the only gears that are super obvious for me are 1 and 2 and 6
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April 4th, 2015, 10:12 PM | #22 | |
Daily Ninjette rider
Name: Hernan
Location: Florida
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
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It is perfectly normal in your case, 800 miles since the end of January are not enough to make your control inputs automatic and to direct your attention to riding and traffic. You have to think before your inputs; with more practice, you will not. As you don't think about the muscles and movements involved in walking, you will reach a point of proficiency at which you will feel and control the bike like an extension of your body. Mistakes associated to the operation of the machine should go away with time. Then, the stage of over-confidence arrives and mistakes of judgment and assumptions regarding traffic and road conditions start happening. Those are much more serious and dangerous. I know you don't like reading, but make an exception with the book "Proficient Motorcycling", it may save your life one day.
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Motofool .................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí |
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April 5th, 2015, 03:10 AM | #23 | |
sammich maker
Name: snot
Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen
Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '15
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Quote:
I will be back to midohio and I will be ready. My goal this year.... I want to feel the bike float and work through the turns again.
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https://www.brocksperformance.com/VZ...0035+C450.aspx |
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April 5th, 2015, 04:48 AM | #24 | |
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Quote:
25 mph, I assume I'm in 3rd or 4th? Idk. Those middle gears exist for a reason. |
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April 5th, 2015, 08:19 AM | #25 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Paul
Location: UK
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250, Yamaha RS200 (classic) Posts: A lot.
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Has anyone ever tried the EL250 (the custom version) which is supposedly retuned for better low end characteristics at the expense of top end hp ? |
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April 5th, 2015, 09:01 AM | #26 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Yep yep... Mistakes still happen no matter what.
About 20 mins ago, I dropped my tool case. 85 sockets went everywhere. I could get mad and stuff but... It's attitude mang!
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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April 5th, 2015, 09:09 AM | #27 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: D.
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2015 Ninja 300 ABS Posts: 86
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Quote:
I got my bike in the middle of November so the mileage is from then; however, I totally agree that 800 miles is still noob territory. I am glad to hear the mechanics of operation will become second nature at some point. Now that I think about, it's like driving a car. When you first start you're overly conscious of everything but now...not so much. I didn't think about the next stage being mistakes of judgment and assumptions of traffic and road conditions. Something I will definitely keep in the forefront of my mind as I gain more experience. That most definitely is far more dangerous and a risk I'm not willing to take. OK, how in the world did you know I despise reading? That's too freaky that you knew that. I even hate reading an owners manual. I much prefer watching the movie over reading the book. I'd say cliff notes, but then that requires reading also . Besides, I am a "learn by watching, then doing" person. I have to visualize something for me to understand. Thanks for the reply. Lots of good info to digest. D. |
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April 5th, 2015, 09:37 AM | #28 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Whodat
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Quote:
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If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! |
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April 5th, 2015, 09:51 AM | #29 | |
sammich maker
Name: snot
Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen
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MOTM - Apr '15
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Quote:
I welcome all advice. Thank you!
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https://www.brocksperformance.com/VZ...0035+C450.aspx |
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April 5th, 2015, 10:09 AM | #30 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Whodat
Location: Ware Is.,MA
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14
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Best advice is to follow someone (who knows what they are doing) and do what they do. Shift when and where they shift, brake when and where they brake.
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If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! |
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April 5th, 2015, 11:55 AM | #31 |
Motorcycle Hypermiler
Name: Vic
Location: Livermore CA
Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): 1999 & 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250R's Posts: A lot.
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@DSomething, The key is to address the mistakes and take appropriate action. Try actively thinking about your shifting as you are riding; reaching the right RPMS, cutting throttle, de-clutching , shifting, ( rev -matching for downshifts), re-engaging the clutch , and returning to throttle. Work to make every shift as smotth as possible and after a while it will become almost automatic. This strategy applies to all elements of riding: good braking, cornering line, scanning for hazards and threats. One of the things about motorcycling I love is the level of concentration needed to do it well. Ridng well demands all of our attention and focus, otherwise bad things can happen.
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235 MPG Hypermotorcycling to a better tomorrow |
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April 5th, 2015, 01:25 PM | #32 | |
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April 5th, 2015, 05:42 PM | #33 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
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Huh, well it's your bike and your ride, do as you please. But I do differently, that's all. It's got a happy cruising spot around 5k-7k.
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April 5th, 2015, 05:44 PM | #34 |
Track Clown
Name: Chris
Location: Kingman, AZ
Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R, 21 MV F3 800, Kawasaki 400 build Posts: A lot.
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mistakes never end, i witnessed a far more experienced rider then me kill his bike at a stop light when i first started riding.
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April 5th, 2015, 06:00 PM | #35 |
Private Joker
Name: Ben
Location: Towson, MD
Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '99/'01 Ninja 250 "sketchy", '13 Ninja 300 "yoshi", '03 GSXR 600 "merlin" Posts: A lot.
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I went to change my oil the other day and took the filter out before pulling the drain plug...
mistakes happen even if you've done something dozens of times switch to gp shift though, sounds like that'd be more natural to you
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April 5th, 2015, 06:11 PM | #36 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
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I'm always going to be a rookie.
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April 6th, 2015, 08:01 PM | #37 | |
Daily Ninjette rider
Name: Hernan
Location: Florida
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
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You are welcome
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Motofool .................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí |
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April 6th, 2015, 11:47 PM | #38 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Poul
Location: Seattle
Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): 1999 Triumph Legend "Arwen", 2006 Ninja 650 "Matsuo Hotaru". 2010 Ninja 250 "Firefly" - sold. Posts: 338
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Try to upshift without clutch - on wide open throttle, preload the shifter and roll off the throttle. this way you will never confuse the two - roll off the throttle to upshift, pull the clutch and blip the throttle to downshift.
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Screw the inscrutable, eff the ineffable. |
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April 7th, 2015, 01:39 PM | #39 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: D.
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2015 Ninja 300 ABS Posts: 86
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Quote:
OK, so maybe not so freaky after all...but very stealthy...very stealthy. D. |
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