November 6th, 2012, 12:12 AM | #162 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Marc
Location: Castaic, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1986 Goldwing, 1996 CR500, 2011 Ninja 250, 2009 Harley Heritage Softail, 1941 Suzuki Gerbil 250 Posts: 427
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Quote:
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I know there's a 7th gear here somewhere... Changing to 15T/41T, now I'll get that 7th gear, lol. |
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August 31st, 2014, 08:10 AM | #163 |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 4
MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
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Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
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August 31st, 2014, 08:12 AM | #164 |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 4
MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
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Back in 2012, I learned how to pick up my bike and ride it the rest of the way around Road Atlanta without a right footpeg.
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Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
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August 31st, 2014, 01:55 PM | #165 |
Wrench wench
Name: The Stigette
Location: DC/MD/VA
Join Date: Jun 2014 Motorcycle(s): TWO HUNDRED FORTY EIGHT CUBIC CENTIMETERS (R.I.P.), SIX HUNDRED FORTY FIVE CUBIC CENTIMETERS Posts: 415
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Don't use the front brake in sand.
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August 31st, 2014, 05:23 PM | #166 |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 4
MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
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Or grass. Thanks Road Atlanta for that lesson!
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Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
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August 31st, 2014, 09:56 PM | #167 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Matthew
Location: Manitoba
Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): '87 KLR650, '97 Virago Posts: 39
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Ninja 250 is not an ADV bike, even if the ground clearance is fine low speed torque is negligible. It can't hillclimb worth squat.
I don't understand the fear of gravel. Loose on the bars, and you already ditched those stock tires, right? Usually run about 80-85kph if the road's in reasonable shape, now that I've got BT45s. On those stock tires-that-shall-not-be-named, did not do 80 ever... 50-60 was manageable but sketchy IIRC. |
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September 3rd, 2014, 05:20 PM | #168 |
wat
Name: wat
Location: tustin/long beach
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14
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what have i learned from crashing...
* avoid other people * it isn't over yet * never give up * don't let mistakes be an excuse for more mistakes. try to do correct things 100% of the time even if you have made mistakes. * just because you are scared doesn't mean the bike is (ie- the bikes performance specs stay the same... temporary things are temporary. continuing to do correct things will usually work out) * if the choice is between guaranteed failure and maybe failure, take the maybe. you might be surprised. if the maybe involves a cliff, it's not a maybe. * if you're on the track and the choice is between running off and doing something you think wont work, don't be scared to run off. i have run into the dirt topped out in 5th and although my jimmies didn't like it, i kept it up fine and was able to rejoin. but seriously you're on the track so if you're going at a reasonable pace, go for it. crashing on track isn't that bad. but don't go for crazy passes. nobody likes that asshole. * when you run off track... straight up and down. throttle just barely cracked open so it doesn't have much engine brake. you can ease into brakes or turning once you are firmly on the new terrain.
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4 out of 4 members found this post helpful. |
September 3rd, 2014, 06:23 PM | #169 |
ran when parked
Name: Katie
Location: DC/MD
Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): Freeride 250R, KLX250SF, mopeds Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Sep '17, Dec '14
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^good ones....
I learned... if you feel uncomfortable in any way, just slow down. Or pull over for a sec. JUST DO IT. No one ever crashed cause they took a breather in a parking lot or rode closer to the speed limit or stopped chasing the faster riders in front of them. |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
September 4th, 2014, 11:00 PM | #170 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Stuart
Location: Darwin, Northern Territory Austrailia.
Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300 ABS 2013 Posts: 5
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Don't leave your bike behind your best friends dads car, he will forget it is there.
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September 5th, 2014, 07:46 AM | #171 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Jay
Location: CT
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2015 636 ABS - 69 Honda 305 Posts: A lot.
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Dont ride when there is potential for black ice, and put your kickstand down when you get off the bike.
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September 8th, 2014, 09:50 PM | #172 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Murphey
Location: Eastern Washington
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Honda 919, 2004 Ninja 500R NAKED Posts: A lot.
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I've learned having the skill and experience to ride a particular bike doesn't mean you have the maturity to..
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2 out of 2 members found this post helpful. |
September 9th, 2014, 05:53 AM | #173 |
Nooblet
Name: Akima
Location: England
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '13
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It's a simple one and something I already knew this before I crashed, but hadn't fully internalized it: Look where you want to go, not where you don't. Target fixation is a b**ch.
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September 11th, 2014, 12:56 AM | #174 |
Phoenix Salvage
Name: Mac
Location: AR
Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250R Posts: 71
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-look where you want to go.
-avoid the front brake on dirt or gravel. -Look as far ahead as possible, and always keep your eyes moving. -don't brake for small animals on gravel. you can hit the animal and keep going, or you can wreck your bike and yourself, and still manage to hit said fuzzy animal in the process. -Even the nicest dog will try to kill you if you ride by them on a motorcycle and they aren't leashed/fenced in. -always keep a light touch on the handlebars. -Thinking about a crash tends to make one happen.
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See my current inventory of used parts for sale here |
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September 11th, 2014, 08:06 AM | #175 |
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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The red mist will have you layin' down faster than gmaws thick gravy on Sunday morn'.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
4 out of 4 members found this post helpful. |
September 12th, 2014, 06:36 AM | #176 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14
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I've learned that the right gear really is worth it's price. No more excuses to squid!
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1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
September 12th, 2014, 06:48 AM | #177 |
#squid
Name: nickypoo
Location: Five Guys
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): Track dedicated 2008 ZX6R Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jul '16
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I learned that road rash hurts more than you think, and 50 dollars for a pair of compression shorts with padding is worth every cent. Wish I had them on before lol
I learned that nylon melts quickly and hurts to pull out of road rash. edit: @choneofakind just saw your post above lol
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September 29th, 2014, 11:49 AM | #178 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Misti
Location: Vancouver, BC
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): currently: Yamaha YZF 250 dirt/motard Posts: 787
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This is a great question because I think that all too often people crash and just sort of blow it off as something that just "happens." I've had so many conversations with people where they say, "ya, I crashed, no buggy." but when I ask them what happened or what they did wrong they have NO IDEA.
I think it's important to take a good look at each crash, or even almost crash and figure out what you as the rider did to contribute to it happening and then figure out what you can do differently so that it doesn't happen again. I remember high siding a few times in my early days of racing and not having a CLUE as to why I crashed. It wasn't until I took CSS as a student that I learned that I was chopping the throttle when the rear end was sliding and that was the cause of me going airborne all the time. After riding the slide bike and learning more about how to control rear end slides I was able to prevent them from happening again (most of the time). I clearly remember the first time I was able to save myself from a high side because of the fact that I knew what to do if the rear end slid. I was at Laguna Seca in my early days of coaching with CSS and I was chasing a really fast student. He had been riding for about 10 mins and his tires were warm where as I had just pulled onto the track, bone cold tires, and took off trying to catch him. on the exit of turn 5 I gave it a bit too much gas and the rear went completely sideways and I remember saying to myself, "don't chop the gas, don't chop the gas!!" and I rolled held it steady and slightly rolled off until the slide subsided and I kept going. I was so excited that I had just SAVED myself from a nasty crash because of my fairly new understanding of what a high side actually was :dance cool: Anyone else have any stories about utilizing a skill (learned from a previous crash) to prevent another one Cheers, Misti
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"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
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September 29th, 2014, 12:01 PM | #179 |
Intrepid Adventurer
Name: Josh
Location: Rochester/Buffalo NY
Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2004 GSXR 750 , 71 cb350streettracker, 07 Polaris Predator 500 Posts: A lot.
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I learned to keep my cool, always have a police officer document the accident(unless you are afraid of the good old too fast for conditions ticket)
Asses yourself, for injuries, equipment damage and situation implications. Also - Get insurance. Get better insurance. and then get even better insurance
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LIFE IS NOT FOR REGRETS OR EXCUSES. Breath deep, seek peace. Embrace the Madness. Life is good, let it be |
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September 29th, 2014, 02:49 PM | #180 | |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 4
MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
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Quote:
Yep, I've got a few of those! I always pick my crashed apart, knowing it's my fault first before blaming the bike in anyway. I think humbling ourselves rather than immediately blaming the bike or the track or another rider is the best way to learn. My first track crash was at Little Talledega. I looked TOO far too early through a decreasing radius corner and missed a turning point. I ended up wide and on the gator strips at too high of a speed for my lean angle, and the suspension bottomed out. That one hurt a bit. Since then I was always more careful to get my bike pointed in the direction it needed to be before shifting my gaze to the next turning point. At Road Atlanta I learned, even if there's a wall coming at you really fast while you're in the grass running off the track, even the smallest amount of front brake at high speed isn't a smart move. I remembered that the next time I rolled off track (hey, that was at Jennings with Alex and Chris!), and I made it unscathed, keeping the rubber side down.
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Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
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September 29th, 2014, 05:49 PM | #182 |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 4
MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
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Especially in a corner with little run-off before running smack into a concrete wall (Corner 7 at Road Atlanta).
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Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
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September 30th, 2014, 04:01 PM | #183 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Brett
Location: Everett, WA
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 1998 Ninja 250 2007 Yamaha R6 2003 Honda RC51... sold :( Posts: 205
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Don't ride while you are exhausted.
Get enough sleep the night before a long day or trackday. Don't put everything off until the day/night before the trackday. Wear good gear. When you are wrong, stay wrong. Don't try to immediately get back onto the track while at speed. Slow down, get back on and then speed back up. Have medical insurance. (I was lucky enough to not have to learn the hard way) |
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October 2nd, 2014, 11:25 AM | #184 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Misti
Location: Vancouver, BC
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): currently: Yamaha YZF 250 dirt/motard Posts: 787
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Quote:
You make a good point when you say that you looked "too far, too early." This is actually a common mistake and I think it stems from the concept of "look through the turn." I hear people say that all the time and while it is important to "look through the turn." I think it is equally important to mention that you need to look through the turn in stages in order to ensure that you make it to the points that you are aiming for. If you try to look foo far too soon then you can miss your turn in point or you can get lost in the middle of the turn. What do you think is a better plan of action? Or how do you look through the turn in a way that doesn't leave you missing turn points or getting lost mid corner?
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"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
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October 2nd, 2014, 11:49 AM | #185 |
Certified Troublemaker
Name: Teri
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Ninja 250r "Pikachu", 2017 Ninja 650 "Epona" Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Aug '13, Aug '14, Feb '17
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Asphalt hurts (even with gear)...
And reinforced NOT to take ANYthing for granted when it comes to what people in cars may or may not do...
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Raven's Rejuvenation A bruise is a lesson... and each lesson makes us better... |
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October 2nd, 2014, 11:59 AM | #186 |
"scandal!"
Name: Adan
Location: Somewhere
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 250R(Crashed 2/26/2014), 09 ER6n Posts: 660
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Don't let yourself be pressured by others just to try and maintain distance with the group and never trust the cars around you. I trusted a car to merge while I looked away for several seconds, turned out they gave up and came to a stop in front of me.
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October 2nd, 2014, 12:06 PM | #187 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Al
Location: York, Pa
Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300..............2008 Ninja 500-sold...2009 Ninja 250-Crashed Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Sep '14
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I learned about the SMIDSY
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Keep calm and ride on -Motofool Never quit on a rainy day -ally99 |
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October 2nd, 2014, 12:10 PM | #188 |
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.
MOTM - Mar '14
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seconded, I have scars through my jacket where there was rubbing (slightly loose reinforced areas due to winter use w/jackets underneath stretching it) from my last street down.
what I learned from that down was to not allow myself to become distracted in a corner where I know there's gravel there and you have to stay on the car lines to avoid it. Loud noises like barking dogs tend to get your attention easily. My last track down taught me quite a bit more, it taught me that my mentality was wrong (at least until I'm racing and have the skills to be racing) as well as that my body positioning needed work. Was a typical at speed lowside with no run off in the second fastest corner at the track. I feel as though with better body positioning I could be just as hard if not harder on the throttle through there. I'm also not sure if I dragged my peg which lifted the rear slightly or if I lost the rear first but I was definitely leaned over more than I would normally and more than I've been since
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I see you over there seeing me, do you see the me I think you see? |
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October 2nd, 2014, 05:55 PM | #189 | |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 4
MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
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Quote:
That was my most painful track lesson, that here IS a limit to "look ahead as far as possible". After making the mistake, I'm able to pick better apex turn in points and stagger my gaze as I move. I look at a spot until I know my bike is pointed there and going in that direction before I look ahead to the next turn-in point.
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Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
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October 4th, 2014, 08:35 AM | #190 |
#squid
Name: nickypoo
Location: Five Guys
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): Track dedicated 2008 ZX6R Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jul '16
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Your tires aren't warm during commutes.
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October 4th, 2014, 11:40 AM | #191 |
Certifiable nontundrum
Name: Harper
Location: NC Milkshake stand
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16
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Jesus loves me
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October 4th, 2014, 02:15 PM | #192 |
#squid
Name: nickypoo
Location: Five Guys
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): Track dedicated 2008 ZX6R Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jul '16
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Don't brake hard just because you have knobbies.
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October 4th, 2014, 05:31 PM | #193 |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 4
MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
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Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
October 4th, 2014, 07:16 PM | #194 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: James
Location: Lakeland
Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninjette Posts: 809
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150cc Scooters don't lean over in gravel very well..
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"That's what" -she |
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October 4th, 2014, 08:40 PM | #195 |
Certifiable nontundrum
Name: Harper
Location: NC Milkshake stand
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16
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October 6th, 2014, 11:29 AM | #196 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Misti
Location: Vancouver, BC
Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): currently: Yamaha YZF 250 dirt/motard Posts: 787
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Quote:
That is how we teach it at the school and sometimes it may feel a bit choppy at first like you are connecting the dots but as you get more comfortable with your points and with moving your gaze smoothly from point to point it will begin to feel less choppy and more fluid and smooth. This way you don't risk getting lost mid corner or trying to look too far through the turn. You look to where you want to go and when you know you will get there you look further ahead. This is different from maintaining a wide view which is also very helpful. How is widening your vision in addition to looking at your reference points useful?
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"Leap and the net will appear!" superbikeschool.com www.motomom.ca |
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October 7th, 2014, 03:13 AM | #197 |
Certifiable nontundrum
Name: Harper
Location: NC Milkshake stand
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16
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Glass top bistro tables explode if you hit them while spinning your tire in the grass... Stupid is as stupid does!
Aaaaaaand make sure there are no water hoses in the grass to help you into said bistro table. |
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October 7th, 2014, 05:36 PM | #198 |
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.
MOTM - Mar '14
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and why were you spinning your tire in the grass?
...
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I see you over there seeing me, do you see the me I think you see? |
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October 7th, 2014, 05:47 PM | #199 |
Certifiable nontundrum
Name: Harper
Location: NC Milkshake stand
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16
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October 7th, 2014, 05:49 PM | #200 |
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.
MOTM - Mar '14
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well that kills my "wheelie through a glass table" idea
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I see you over there seeing me, do you see the me I think you see? |
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