Riding Articles You Wish Someone Would Write About?!

[Misti]

Are there any riding topics relating to riding skills or techniques both on and off the track that you wish someone would write about? If you could ask a writer to write ANY riding related article, what would it be and why?

[Snake]

I would want someone to write about ridding in the rain. Why? Even after riding motorcycles since I was a teenager ridding in the rain always makes me nervous especially when in a turn.

[jrshooter]

i would like to see how riding styles and racing lines have evolved over the decades. due to technolgy in tires and equipment,
almost everything else has been beat to death .
i do like snakes idea , twice i been down at the track in the rain.

[CC Cowboy]

Meet and greet the "Monster" track girls would be great know all article.

[Mechanikrazy]

I like more concrete technique than abstract articles.

Topics I wish I had seen in articles in addition to discussions at the school:
1) Speed scrub awareness and avoiding the often unnoticed crutch of starting the throttle roll on too early and too slow to make up for a slow corner entry.
2) Timing and transitioning from a normal grip "on the brakes" to screwdriver hand to start the roll on mid-corner back to normal grip on the drive out of the corner.
3) Upper body positioning comparisons and use of reference points on the bike.
4) Vision tricks and tips.

Other topics:
5) Where to focus first to lower lap times at various levels of riding ability--e.g. getting to full throttle between corners, driving out of corners, corner speed, corner entry.

[Misti]

Originally Posted by Snake

I would want someone to write about ridding in the rain. Why? Even after riding motorcycles since I was a teenager ridding in the rain always makes me nervous especially when in a turn.

http://www.motomom.ca/riding-in-the-rain/.

[Misti]

Originally Posted by jrshooter

i would like to see how riding styles and racing lines have evolved over the decades. due to technolgy in tires and equipment,
almost everything else has been beat to death .
i do like snakes idea , twice i been down at the track in the rain.

Good one.

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Meet and greet the "Monster" track girls would be great know all article.

Ha! I won't be writing that one, sorry

[Misti]

Originally Posted by Mechanikrazy

I like more concrete technique than abstract articles.

Topics I wish I had seen in articles in addition to discussions at the school:
1) Speed scrub awareness and avoiding the often unnoticed crutch of starting the throttle roll on too early and too slow to make up for a slow corner entry.
2) Timing and transitioning from a normal grip "on the brakes" to screwdriver hand to start the roll on mid-corner back to normal grip on the drive out of the corner.
3) Upper body positioning comparisons and use of reference points on the bike.
4) Vision tricks and tips.

Other topics:
5) Where to focus first to lower lap times at various levels of riding ability--e.g. getting to full throttle between corners, driving out of corners, corner speed, corner entry.

Ohhhhhh, these are amazing!! The reason I ask is that I've been writing my own column in a magazine for the past 14 years and it's getting hard to come up with new article ideas and I'm curious to hear from others what they would like to read about. Even though I write for a few magazines, I rarely read them so it's nice to hear from enthusiasts what kind of articles they hope to see. I've done a lot on visuals but the other ones you suggested are great

I've just started writing a masterclass column for another motorcycle magazine as well so the more ideas I can get, the better! Thanks!

I love the last one, what would you think is a good starting point for lowering lap times?

[DannoXYZ]

Originally Posted by Misti

I've just started writing a masterclass column for another motorcycle magazine as well so the more ideas I can get, the better! Thanks!

I love the last one, what would you think is a good starting point for lowering lap times?

I think corner-entry is extremely important. Perhaps most important relative to other areas for improving lap-times.

Can you go over that?

- braking markers
- transition to corner-entry
- turn-in markers
- balancing braking with throttle
- trail-braking
- different types of apex
- entry vs. exit corners
- etc.

Thank you!

[Snake]

Great article @Misti! Thanks.

[Misti]

Originally Posted by DannoXYZ

I think corner-entry is extremely important. Perhaps most important relative to other areas for improving lap-times.

Can you go over that?

- braking markers
- transition to corner-entry
- turn-in markers
- balancing braking with throttle
- trail-braking
- different types of apex
- entry vs. exit corners
- etc.

Thank you!

Corner entry IS extremely important, absolutely. You've listed a LOT of things here, each one a lengthy topic in and of itself. I can go over them for sure but probably not all at once.

Let's start with having markers for things like braking and turning in. We call them reference points or braking/turning in markers. Why do you want to have a marker in the first place? And what is a marker supposed to DO for you? Ideally for any given corner, how many markers should you have?

Let's start the discussion and I'll chime in and maybe even write an article about it down the line. Youve listed some great topics here.

[Misti]

Originally Posted by Snake

Great article @Misti! Thanks.

YAY! Thanks

[jrshooter]

Originally Posted by Misti

Corner entry IS extremely important, absolutely. You've listed a LOT of things here, each one a lengthy topic in and of itself. I can go over them for sure but probably not all at once.

Let's start with having markers for things like braking and turning in. We call them reference points or braking/turning in markers. Why do you want to have a marker in the first place? And what is a marker supposed to DO for you? Ideally for any given corner, how many markers should you have?

Let's start the discussion and I'll chime in and maybe even write an article about it down the line. Youve listed some great topics here.

if you dont have a marker you have nothing to reference from.
you cant move a brake point forward/ backward without reference point to adjust from. you are riding by feel and feelings can lie to you.

[Mechanikrazy]

Originally Posted by Misti

Ohhhhhh, these are amazing!! The reason I ask is that I've been writing my own column in a magazine for the past 14 years and it's getting hard to come up with new article ideas and I'm curious to hear from others what they would like to read about. Even though I write for a few magazines, I rarely read them so it's nice to hear from enthusiasts what kind of articles they hope to see. I've done a lot on visuals but the other ones you suggested are great

I've just started writing a masterclass column for another motorcycle magazine as well so the more ideas I can get, the better! Thanks!

I love the last one, what would you think is a good starting point for lowering lap times?

Originally Posted by Misti

Corner entry IS extremely important, absolutely. You've listed a LOT of things here, each one a lengthy topic in and of itself. I can go over them for sure but probably not all at once.

Let's start with having markers for things like braking and turning in. We call them reference points or braking/turning in markers. Why do you want to have a marker in the first place? And what is a marker supposed to DO for you? Ideally for any given corner, how many markers should you have?

Let's start the discussion and I'll chime in and maybe even write an article about it down the line. Youve listed some great topics here.

I am much more of a hands on learner than abstract, so the experimenting on the bike bit by bit is what helps me the most. Although the abstract topics are helpful, I have a hard time relaxing on the bike until I am confident in what I am doing physically. I mean that as when I know where my body should be, and when I should be doing what.

Regarding the good starting point for lowering lap times, I don't necessarily see it as a one-answer question. I think it depends on the rider and what their baseline is.

The "safe" answer for improving rider skills across the board: good visuals and reference points on corner entry.

My "real" answer on immediate lap time issues: throttle control on corner exit and trying to get to extend the 100% throttle duration between each corners. Trying to pick up a little extra bit on entry for the period from braking zone to apex gets risky for any given skill level, whereas the drive out and on-the-gas time from apex to the next corner's braking zone will cut more time on the straights.

Personally, at an intermediate pace, the latter was what helped me drop time quickly. Then when the plateau hit, focusing on visuals again to try and bump up entry speed helped me start chipping away again. And also, brought along some front end tucks.

I feel like one of these answer is going to get me a slap on the wrist though. Haha.

[Misti]

Originally Posted by jrshooter

if you dont have a marker you have nothing to reference from.
you cant move a brake point forward/ backward without reference point to adjust from. you are riding by feel and feelings can lie to you.

Exactly. Having a marker gives you a starting point and helps LOCATE you on the road or track, if you don't know where you are or where you are going then you won't be as confident as if you did.

So you start with a brake marker and a marker for where you want to turn in.....then what? How do you transition from braking-turn point to suddenly cornering? What should you have done first (Before you start turning the bike?)

[jrshooter]

Originally Posted by Misti

Exactly. Having a marker gives you a starting point and helps LOCATE you on the road or track, if you don't know where you are or where you are going then you won't be as confident as if you did.

So you start with a brake marker and a marker for where you want to turn in.....then what? How do you transition from braking-turn point to suddenly cornering? What should you have done first (Before you start turning the bike?)

i would say shifting eyes to next marker, i woud have hit the turn in with my peripheral vision.

[Misti]

Originally Posted by jrshooter

i would say shifting eyes to next marker, i woud have hit the turn in with my peripheral vision.

Visually, yes absolutely. You want to shift your eyes to the next marker (while you are still going straight) but keeping the turn in point with your peripheral vision. Yes.

What about any physical actions on the bike? Should you set up your body position well before or at the same time you turn the bike? why?

[jrshooter]

Originally Posted by Misti

Visually, yes absolutely. You want to shift your eyes to the next marker (while you are still going straight) but keeping the turn in point with your peripheral vision. Yes.

What about any physical actions on the bike? Should you set up your body position well before or at the same time you turn the bike? why?

i try to never sit center seat, if its a series of lefts i stay left on the bike.
i do center on the long straights and shift body before braking, sometimes tho i get caught shifting body while braking, not by plan but i think bieng lazy.
goal is to set up before braking to keep the bike setteled at turn in.

[Kowalski]

Thought I’d share this. I’ve found this article pretty informative and I’ve had it book marked for years now.
https://www.ridinginthezone.com/gues...g-cornerspeed/

[Yakaru]

Originally Posted by jrshooter

i try to never sit center seat, if its a series of lefts i stay left on the bike.
i do center on the long straights and shift body before braking, sometimes tho i get caught shifting body while braking, not by plan but i think bieng lazy.
goal is to set up before braking to keep the bike setteled at turn in.

If I can, another advantage to setting up before braking is mental attention -- in addition to moving around potentially upsetting the bike it also just adds one more thing to do during what is already a busy moment (paying attention to how you're letting off brakes, visuals going from turn point to apex or other in-turn references and speed sense) and for a double bonus there's also a temptation to use the bars as a place to put weight while you move if done later, which could result in unintended inputs.

[Misti]

Originally Posted by jrshooter

i try to never sit center seat, if its a series of lefts i stay left on the bike.
i do center on the long straights and shift body before braking, sometimes tho i get caught shifting body while braking, not by plan but i think bieng lazy.
goal is to set up before braking to keep the bike setteled at turn in.

Nice. Yes you don't need to sit in the centre of the seat (when track riding) so what you do sounds great! And as Yakarru points out, on top of helping to keep the bike more settled, setting up early can also give you added mental attention.

Originally Posted by Yakaru

If I can, another advantage to setting up before braking is mental attention -- in addition to moving around potentially upsetting the bike it also just adds one more thing to do during what is already a busy moment (paying attention to how you're letting off brakes, visuals going from turn point to apex or other in-turn references and speed sense) and for a double bonus there's also a temptation to use the bars as a place to put weight while you move if done later, which could result in unintended inputs.

Exactly . Are there ways that you can improve HOW you move across the bike as well?