Canyon Riders... Listen up...

[Gurk]

I know, , but listen up.

I don't care if you're the 0.1% of the people who rides canyons that are ACTUALLY responsible and ACTUALLY have enough skills to get out of sketchy situations. You might as well stop reading here and mind your own business...

This thread is for the newbies who think who can learn riding motorcycles on canyons or veterans who think they don't have enough money to go to track so they "hone in their skills" at tight twisty roads.

STOP. Just stop kidding yourselves. I have converted 2 friends to riding track and commute only who were otherwise speeding up and down those canyon roads all day. I'm proud of it. They told me how riding canyons fast don't mean SH!T now that they have experienced the track. They told me now they don't need to speed in public roads because they quench their thirst at the raceway.

Well, I guess you can't reach everyone. Another friend went down today. He lowsided at the snake. His bike hit the guardrails and bounced back and hit him from what I gather. The shift lever made a huge hole in his leg. He also has spine injury..... THIS HAPPENED WITH A FULL RACING SUIT ON. Imagine what the damage would be without the suit. He's a lucky son of a bitch that the doctors told us he will be able to walk again. Only it will take endless physical therapy and excruciating pain for a few weeks.

He's one of the faster veterans. I don't know the exact detail of the how and why he crashed. All I know is that the same crash would end up with him getting up and laughing about it at the track.

Now go ahead and argue all you want about how big of a hot shot you are and you can handle the canyons. Go ahead and tell me not everyone can afford going to track.

Here let me just give you the Cliff's notes. YOU WILL NEVER, EVER be as fast as a guy who practices at the race track. Track too expensive for you? With the amount of money my friend will dump at medical with the injuries he has, he could've tracked for multiple seasons.

Now if you insist on riding irresponsibly at the canyon? Ya know what, go ahead. F*ck me if I'll ever feel sorry for you when your time comes. "Rider bro's for life" my a$$. If you are a retard, you are a retard. With or without a bike.

/rant

[Alex]

/moved to General

[psych0hans]

Well said...

[Jiggles]

Ask anyone on my group rides, I go slow as **** in the twisties

[Bentley813]

Well I don't have any canyons OR tracks anywhere near me so don't worry about me in that regard.

[Nny]

Originally Posted by Bentley813

Well I don't have any canyons OR tracks anywhere near me so don't worry about me in that regard.

cough ahem, pardon me.

On a serious note, that track is about 3 hours from you. There is also rumors that Monticello is opening back up to motorcycles this year but I hear the runoffs are horrible. I know it is a bit of a hike, but when you are ready I would highly recommend trying it out at least once. NESBA and Team pro motion are hitting NYST up quite a bit this year. If you run with NESBA, I may see you there. I am pretty sure they do leather rentals if you need them. I can confirm if you or anyone else would like as I will be at that track May 5th.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Gurk

listen up.


Here let me just give you the Cliff's notes. YOU WILL NEVER, EVER be as fast as a guy who practices at the race track. Track too expensive for you? With the amount of money my friend will dump at medical with the injuries he has, he could've tracked for multiple seasons.

If you are a retard, you are a retard. With or without a bike.

/rant

You will never be as safe as the guy who practices at the track. I used to ride like a wild banshee on the street (when I was younger). I would race anyone and if no one was around, I'd race the road. I was addicted to the speed. I had toooo many close calls and I'm very lucky I'm not dead or badly hurt. I have numerous friends that weren't so lucky. I was finally fortunate to meet a guy that challenged me to go to the track. They didn't have track days then so you had to race. I was scared shite my first day but overcame the fear and thrived on the challenge. It completely changed how I ride on the street. I still ride fast but I'm always in control.

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Ask anyone on my gay rides, I go slow as **** all the time

You'll crash if you don't.

Originally Posted by Bentley813

Well I don't have any canyons OR tracks anywhere near me so don't worry about me in that regard.

Excuses, excuses, excuses. There is a track near everyone.

The money you save in tickets and medical care will more than pay for track time.

[tnr4]

It's worth noting that there are reasons to ride 'the canyons' (whatever that means for each person locally) other than the reasons that drive one to the track. So yes, I'm looking forward to track time because I want to go fast and really hone my skills in a safe environment. But I also want to experience beautiful roads, by myself, through woods, mountains, coastlines, that lead to awesome places. This is about HITTING THE ROAD, not pushing oneself past the limits. There are reasons to do more than commute plus track.

Some of us see the bike not just as a hobby (tracktoy) but as a LIFESTYLE, in that it infuses virtually everything we do. I am happier about going to work today because I'm riding there. It IS a great hobby and will be fun and beneficial on the track. But I also will put 300 miles on it every weekend that I can, just because I love being on the bike, even if I'm not topping it out.

So sure: if you're only goal in hitting the snake is to triple the speed limit, then you may be a dumb sh*t. But if your goal in hitting the snake is to pace, stay within your limits, and have a freaking blast on two wheels, then NO: IT IS NOT THE CASE THAT YOU SHOULD GIVE THAT UP FOR TRACK EXCLUSIVE RIDING.

[CC Cowboy]

I believe OP's intent was using canyon, or twisties, as a track. Riding beautiful roads is great fun. Crashing sucks. Crashing on camera sucks even more.

[bfpower]

Does anyone know of a good track in the mountain west? Proximity to 59725? Nearest one I know of is Tooele but that's six hours one way.

[rojoracing53]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Ask anyone on my group rides, I go slow as **** in the twisties

Yes, yes he does

[Malicious Logic]

k

[CC Cowboy]

y

[Alex]

j

[Gurk]

F

[Alex]

[tooblekain]

A ****in men!!!

I still ride my Bonneville on the street as my commuter and I do ride the canyons, but I am not speeding through them. I do take the turns at a somewhat spirited pace but far from over my limits.

I love the conversations that happen at the canyons how they talk about how fast they are. I just start laughing.

[outasight20]

I couldn't agree more. I'm looking forward to doing my first track day this Summer. I rarely push my limits on the street. A few times I have leaned over pretty far on tight bends and scraped hard parts. Yeah, I felt like a real badass when I did that. You could even say that I thought I was a pretty damn good rider when I did that. But I KNOW I'm going to get owned on the track my first day out.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by outasight20

A few times I have leaned over pretty far on tight bends and scraped hard parts. Yeah, I felt like a real badass when I did that. You could even say that I thought I was a pretty damn good rider when I did that.

Scraping hard parts means you need to do something about your BP.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Scraping hard parts means you need to remove those parts

[KawiKid860]

I'd like to ride the snake, and other great twisty roads, but at a more sedate pace than those who are using them as a race track. It's just fun going through the twisties just cruising or at a nice fun pace (leaning, but not dragging knee or bike or worse). It's fun watching those guys hauling ass on rnickeymouse's youtube channel though. Hopefully doing my first track day this summer, hopefully will have a CBR by then too. The 500 has this nifty little warning system for when you're leaning too far, it's called the "obtruding center stand and fat exhaust cans"

[ChaoSS]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Ask anyone on my group rides, I go slow as **** in the twisties

Watch any of your videos, you go slow as **** on the track too. I think the last one I watched you got passed by a harley.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by KawiKid860

Hopefully doing my first track day this summer, hopefully will have a CBR by then too

Do it. Take the 500. It's not about going fast, it's about learning.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by outasight20

I couldn't agree more. I'm looking forward to doing my first track day this Summer. I rarely push my limits on the street. A few times I have leaned over pretty far on tight bends and scraped hard parts. Yeah, I felt like a real badass when I did that. You could even say that I thought I was a pretty damn good rider when I did that. But I KNOW I'm going to get owned on the track my first day out.

Take the Penquin school at the end of June. It's on a friday, then race that weekend, then do the trackday with Tony's. This way you won't get owned.

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Do it. Take the 500. It's not about going fast, it's about learning.

It's also about not crashing.

[nycsteve]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Take the Penquin school at the end of June. It's on a friday, then race that weekend, then do the trackday with Tony's. This way you won't get owned.

That's one hell of a weekend!

[cbinker]

Originally Posted by Bentley813

Well I don't have any canyons OR tracks anywhere near me so don't worry about me in that regard.

I drive 8 hours to the closest track, whats your excuse again?

Originally Posted by Nny

cough ahem, pardon me.

On a serious note, that track is about 3 hours from you. There is also rumors that Monticello is opening back up to motorcycles this year but I hear the runoffs are horrible. I know it is a bit of a hike, but when you are ready I would highly recommend trying it out at least once. NESBA and Team pro motion are hitting NYST up quite a bit this year. If you run with NESBA, I may see you there. I am pretty sure they do leather rentals if you need them. I can confirm if you or anyone else would like as I will be at that track May 5th.

+1

[nycsteve]

Originally Posted by cbinker

I drive 8 hours to the closest track, whats your excuse again?

Tow or ride?

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by nycsteve

Tow or ride?

Lol, props to anyone that would ride for 8 hours, do a track day and then ride 8 hours back home.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by nycsteve

That's one hell of a weekend!

It would definitely get you ready for the summer.

[cbinker]

Originally Posted by nycsteve

Tow or ride?

Trailer to the track friday, camp for the weekend at the track then the long drive home sunday evening.

[Havok]

Has spouting off with arrogance and attitude ever changed a canyon carver to a track rider?

[tooblekain]

Originally Posted by Havok

Has spouting off with arrogance and attitude ever changed a canyon carver to a track rider?

Very good point...it hasn't.

One of the most effective ways I have converted others was actually being at the canyons in my Bonneville just riding. Some would approach me and ask how I go so fast on it. I tell them I'm not even trying but give huge credit to always going to the track and perfecting my skills there. I then emphasize that I rarely do canyons because of the inherit dangers that are non-existant at the track.

One thing to understand...you can't convert everyone.

I know for me I knew trackdays existed but had no clue about them. I was always doing the canyons. I can't believe nobody riding canyons ever mentioned trackdays. There were a lot of guys bragging they raced but never talked in detail about it (thinking back on it now they probably were lying). My moment getting into track was when I posted a video and a few people said I need to do a trackday. I asked what that was. I was immediately interested to find out's not racing (since I had no interest for it ....at the time). From that moment on, I became hooked on the track.

It was around summer 2008 I did my first trackday...I haven't looked back since. The more I did trackdays, the less I canyon rode....now I can't remember the last time I rode the canyons (i know it was at least well over a year ago).

Now, Im racing because I hit a plateau at the track.

[Lychee]

Originally Posted by Havok

Has spouting off with arrogance and attitude ever changed a canyon carver to a track rider?

^ Has a fair point...

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Havok

Has spouting off with arrogance and attitude ever changed a canyon carver to a track rider?

Originally Posted by tooblekain

Very good point...it hasn't.



One thing to understand...you can't convert everyone.


Now, Im racing because I hit a plateau at the track.

Originally Posted by Lychee

^ Has a fair point...

Maybe speaking to crash victims would help.

[Kevin2109]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

The money you save in tickets and medical care will more than pay for track time.

This is a great point, track days are cheap, tickets are not. I could buy a years worth of track going twice a month with all the money ive spent on ****ing tickets

[Kevin2109]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Lol, props to anyone that would ride for 8 hours, do a track day and then ride 8 hours back home.

I came close to doing this once, kinda. @alex.s can attest to my story. But I had to ride 2 hours in pouring rain, slept for like 3 hours, woke up, rode another hour and a half to the track, tracked all day, slept in the car, then rode home 3.5 hours the next day

[Lychee]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Maybe speaking to crash victims would help.

Not really. What he is saying is that the attitude of the presenter is equally important as that of the listener. Personally, I like watching nature go by as I ride through the canyons at slightly faster than granny pace.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Lychee

Not really. What he is saying is that the attitude of the presenter is equally important as that of the listener. Personally, I like watching nature go by as I ride through the canyons at slightly faster than granny pace.

Hopefully you're not blocking the road and holding others up. That would be dangerous to you and others trying to get by you.

[Lychee]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Hopefully you're not blocking the road and holding others up. That would be dangerous to you and others trying to get by you.

Context. It is all relative. I am not blocking the road. Sometimes I pass cars travelling at a normal car pace. Faster motorcyclists can pass me just fine. Sometimes I pass slower riders. But this is off topic. What I was saying was that there is canyon scenery to enjoy.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Lychee

Context. It is all relative. I am not blocking the road. Sometimes I pass cars travelling at a normal car pace. Faster motorcyclists can pass me just fine. Sometimes I pass slower riders. But this is off topic. What I was saying was that there is canyon scenery to enjoy.

I totally agree but, why do they make it so blury?