May 22nd, 2012, 08:31 AM | #1 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Toly
Location: NY
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): KTM 390 Duke Posts: 428
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Corner, meet bike... bike, meet corner
I don't know why some of my bits of riding experience keep coming up under "Riding Skills" as opposed to the "Oh Sh*t" section... be it for the grace of Lord, dumb luck or book theory reinforced with enough practice to modify survival instincts... beats me.
A few days ago I was riding my buddy's FZ6R. His 160mm rear wheel is a mammoth compared to ninjette's, but feels amazingly flickable compared to my CBR's 180mm. So we ride a good way out, get off the highway, have some coffe, swap bikes and head back. He takes off on my CBR like a bat from hell and is nowhere to be seen. I follow up, and knowing the road well, I roll on, envisioning taking the on-ramp at about 30mph. Except that I had mistaken this particular entrance for another one, and the on-ramp is much sharper, about 90 degrees... and I am flying into it at 30mph... Oh ****, this is it - I will crash for sure. As they say - whether you believe you will crash or you won't, you will be right. Well, I was wrong. Here's what went through my mind: * sh!t, I will crash.. * braking is useless (in fact it would be suicidal but I didn't think in those terms in the heat of the moment) I pushed the bars away from the impact point, into the turn, and also looked away, as some hope of escape. I did it instinctively, cuz there was nothing better to do. And voila, the bike leaned over like a champ and breezed thru the turn easily, effortlessly, with room to spare! By the time I caught my breath the corner was well behind. Damn it, the bike can really lean! And some dudes can ride like that on purpose... wow!! Heck, I thought that after 4500 miles and some training I could ride Ninjette reall well, and upgraded... way, way too early. I've seen only the tip of the iceberg... how much more there is! |
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May 22nd, 2012, 08:41 AM | #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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This is how the sickness sets in......
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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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May 22nd, 2012, 09:44 AM | #3 |
Daily Ninjette rider
Name: Hernan
Location: Florida
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16
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Very well done!
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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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May 22nd, 2012, 03:34 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: T
Location: U.S.
Join Date: May 2010 Motorcycle(s): Current: '11 ZX-6R; Previous: '09 Ninjette; '08 ZX-6R (Ex-Wife '09 TU250X) Posts: 981
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Glad to hear you made it through unscathed and it is even better that you were able to learn from the experience.
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R.I.P EthioKnight (Alex) |
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May 22nd, 2012, 06:28 PM | #5 |
ninjette.org member
Name: CalvinAmI
Location: La Vergne, TN.
Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): '09 Ninja 250r [RED] & '06 Ninja 250 [WHITE] Posts: 162
Blog Entries: 1
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love. Love. LOVE the OP's post.
THAT is what I need to get through my head still. Confidence in the bike and that the tires will keep me on two wheels when I have my doubts. Learning lessons from others. Priceless. |
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May 23rd, 2012, 06:19 AM | #6 |
1/4 English, 3/4 Kick Ass
Name: Jeremy
Location: Dayton, OH
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Triumph Speed Triple 955i, '05 Suzuki SV650S(retired), '11 Ninja 250R(sold) Posts: A lot.
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Glad you came through it ok man. I've had a few oh **** I took that too fast moments, but I simply look through the turn and lean into it. I still have to change my undies though...
I still can't wait to get a 600 and see how it feels through the twisties compared to my little 250. |
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May 24th, 2012, 07:39 AM | #7 |
Smoker
Name: Bob
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): Guess.... Posts: 556
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This just proves what I always tell people - in the majority of cases, the rider runs out of skill before the bike runs out of capability.
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May 24th, 2012, 07:49 AM | #8 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Hansveer
Location: Bombay, India
Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250r - Track whore, Ninja 300 - SOLD, KTM RC390 - Orange Hulk, Ducati 899 Panigale - Red Devil. Posts: A lot.
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I had a similar "oh s**t" moment, while taking a not so sharp, downward sloping left hander... I didn't realise I was so fast till I was half way through the turn... What a rush... Lol I did what you did, smooth on the throttle, look where you want to go, both bike and me escaped unharmed...
Though, on particularly sharp corners, I do tend to panic and slam the brakes... But I guess, 20-30mph isn't fast enough to do too much damage... |
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May 24th, 2012, 09:32 AM | #9 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Toly
Location: NY
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): KTM 390 Duke Posts: 428
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Yeah, I didn't touch the trottle, just pushed away the bars and looked away. What a rush!
Quote:
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=104654 |
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