Corner, meet bike... bike, meet corner

Toly · May 22nd, 2012, 08:31 AM

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!

csmith12 · May 22nd, 2012, 08:41 AM

This is how the sickness sets in......

Motofool · May 22nd, 2012, 09:44 AM

Very well done!

Xoulrath · May 22nd, 2012, 03:34 PM

Glad to hear you made it through unscathed and it is even better that you were able to learn from the experience.

CalvinAmI · May 22nd, 2012, 06:28 PM

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.

NDspd · May 23rd, 2012, 06:19 AM

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.

Jinx250 · May 24th, 2012, 07:39 AM

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.

psych0hans · May 24th, 2012, 07:49 AM

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...

Toly · May 24th, 2012, 09:32 AM

Yeah, I didn't touch the trottle, just pushed away the bars and looked away. What a rush!

Quote:

Originally Posted by NDspd

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.

I just posted something about it here... not sure U wanna read it, lol

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=104654

May 22nd, 2012, 08:31 AM	#1
Toly ninjette.org guru Name: Toly Location: NY Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): KTM 390 Duke Posts: 428	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 Sht" 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!

May 22nd, 2012, 08:41 AM	#2
csmith12 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	This is how the sickness sets in...... __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

May 22nd, 2012, 09:44 AM	#3
Motofool 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	Very well done! __________________________________________________ *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

May 22nd, 2012, 03:34 PM	#4
Xoulrath 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	Glad to hear you made it through unscathed and it is even better that you were able to learn from the experience. __________________________________________________ R.I.P EthioKnight (Alex)

May 24th, 2012, 07:49 AM	#8
psych0hans 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.	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... __________________________________________________ GETTING BACK INTO RIDING? Read this.

May 22nd, 2012, 06:28 PM	#5
CalvinAmI 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	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.

May 23rd, 2012, 06:19 AM	#6
NDspd 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.	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.

May 24th, 2012, 07:39 AM	#7
Jinx250 Smoker Name: Bob Location: SoCal Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): Guess.... Posts: 556	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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