February 19th, 2014, 05:35 PM | #1 |
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
|
tires scared to lean, not you...
hey all
I noticed I was getting increasingly reluctant to turn my ninja when riding... I just wanted to go straight.. and even going straight I avoided bumps in the road like the plague. my bike just felt terrible, I felt like I was going to fall if I turned at all, and I even went back to the MSF practice range and just felt so stiff and tense in my upper body and I felt like my front tire especially wasn't even touching the ground. the whole front end of the bike and the whole front end of me was a mess and I was going ridiculously slow through turns (like 5mph) because I was just scared I was going to lay the bike over. around turns faster than 10mph, the front end felt wobbly and unsteady and 'mushy'. if I hit a bump in the road the front tire would kind of shake which caused the handlebars to shake and the bike to feel unsteady as f***. I have been getting scared to ride for no apparent reason. I thought I was becoming a worse rider and making myself more tense and scared and there was a cycle... I lowsided 4 months ago and I thought I was freaking myself out and my bike was fine and it was all my fault. AND THEN I REPLACED THE TIRES!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I replaced my dunlop k360s from 2007 (I know, unacceptable, don't hit me!) with brand new pirelli sport demons. and I felt an INSTANT difference in the bike and the way I'm riding. the bike turns easily and smoothly, the handlebars feel steady, the bike feels happy and I am much more relaxed. even the suspension feels much better and my bike doesn't squat so much when I'm coming to a stop with the front brake. I was making a left turn today and I actually felt I was going TOO slow around the turn. and when I did lean, I didn't feel like I was riding on ice. I just feel so relieved that my problems weren't ALL my own fault. I still need to practice and get some confidence back, but overall I feel so much better with the new tires. my bike felt very 'stuck' before (like if I leaned it at ALL from exactly vertical it would just fall right over) but now it feels like it is supposed to. so I guess I'm saying to anyone who is getting scared riding and feels like their bike isn't right, listen to your bike!! tires, suspension, throttle, clutch, whatever else can make for a jerky, slippery, scary ride. I have to say this is the best $280 I've spent on my bike. and now I am thrilled that I can go ride without fighting with myself over why I felt scared. for once, it wasn't all just in my head! such a long post but I wanted to share my excitement as none of my non-bike friends understand why I am so over the moon about new tires |
|
February 19th, 2014, 05:39 PM | #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
|
My gut is talking to me... Aside of being old, where they squared off?
__________________________________________________
Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
|
February 19th, 2014, 05:42 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Whodat
Location: Ware Is.,MA
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14
|
Next time you feel nervous about something, ask others before you freak out over the little things. Just don't ask me, you might like the answer.
__________________________________________________
If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! |
|
February 19th, 2014, 05:45 PM | #4 | |
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
|
Quote:
|
|
|
February 19th, 2014, 05:46 PM | #5 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
|
Great thread. Any time you start to get those uneasy feelings about bike handling, checking the tires is a great first step. Monitor the pressure over time, because even if it's perfect right now, it won't be a month from now.
__________________________________________________
Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered) |
|
February 19th, 2014, 05:52 PM | #6 |
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
|
__________________________________________________
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 |
|
February 19th, 2014, 07:10 PM | #7 |
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
|
Glad you solved part of the problem! Now to work on the rest of it! Have you read Total Control by Lee Parks, Twist of the Wrist by Keith Code, or Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough?
Our bikes love to turn, and physics laws make it possible to lean WAY over at pretty high speeds and come out ok. Whatever the circumstance (bad tires, slick spot on the road, hard braking, fear of being too fast, hell, even if you're in the middle of a crash), the BEST thing you can ever do for you and the bike is stay loose. Staying loose is good practice whether things are at their best or at their worst. If you stay loose in corners (and stay on the throttle), you'll almost definitely pull through. If you manage keep your body relaxed, in situations such as hard braking, turning (slow or fast), or even crashing, you're going to end up better off than if you tense up. There is never a time when tensing up helps you on (or coming off) the bike. Practice staying loose. Good tires will help give you the confidence and the traction you need to practice.
__________________________________________________
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. |
February 19th, 2014, 07:21 PM | #8 |
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
|
Wait, you're back on the road again? I must have missed that in your lowside thread. So I take it that you now realize that a large part of your lowside was likely your tires being old and thus had total crap grip? I had the same situation with my pregen it had the original stock tires on it when I got it in 2012 and it's an '01! Better tires and everything just makes sense and feels right. Tires are simultaneously the most important and underrated motorcycle part.
|
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
February 19th, 2014, 07:37 PM | #9 |
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
|
I like your post ally! I've seen the videos of twist of the wrist. I should check out the rest...
yeah sirref, I've been doing various things to my bike all winter getting it really ready to ride again. I replaced the fairings with a 1988 ninja 250, painted the headers, replaced the exhaust (2 bros!), windshield, turn signals, bar ends, air filter, and now tires so I am ready to roll I feel less like an idiot for lowsiding, it was gonna happen on those **** tires.... |
|
February 19th, 2014, 08:10 PM | #10 |
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
|
How much was the 2bros? I need some form of exhaust for my pregen once I have it ready before I get it down to the track and the stock exhaust just isn't going to work for me.
|
|
February 19th, 2014, 08:11 PM | #11 |
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
|
I paid $120 for both slip-ons. Craigslist!
|
|
February 19th, 2014, 08:13 PM | #12 |
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
|
Woah, that's a crazy good deal. Guess someone just didn't need them for anything.
|
|
February 19th, 2014, 08:18 PM | #13 |
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
|
http://www.revzilla.com/product/two-...-250-1988-2007
this is what I have. I got a good deal because the guy bought his bike with them on, and realized after 1 day that he hated the sound. |
|
February 19th, 2014, 08:21 PM | #14 |
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
|
hahahaha, I've heard those 2bros pipes on 600s. I don't know how loud they are on a 250 but on a 600 they're some of the most obnoxiously loud pipes you can find.
|
|
February 19th, 2014, 08:25 PM | #15 | |
teh n00b
Name: Ralf
Location: Ontario, Canada
Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: 53
|
Quote:
Anyway, I know what you mean about the tires OP. My stock tires were squared off when I got me some Pirellis. Instant confidence boost. I'm sure part of it was mental but styllllllllllllllll. |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Want to ride but scared? | Checky | General Motorcycling Discussion | 39 | February 1st, 2014 07:09 PM |
Scared to pin it | Slick_Stevo | Riding Skills | 53 | August 17th, 2013 04:38 PM |
scared me | alex.s | Ride Reports | 10 | October 4th, 2012 06:40 AM |
[superbikeplanet.com] - When Men Were Men, And Tires Were Scared | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | November 2nd, 2010 07:20 AM |
Scared S***less | sombo | General Motorcycling Discussion | 40 | April 15th, 2010 12:44 PM |
|
|