October 27th, 2011, 12:52 AM | #1 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Ms.T, Queen of the Night
Location: Ontario, Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250 Posts: 938
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Do you practice skills? If so, what?
I do. I always start my ride with an emergency stop session on the first side road or parking lot.
Makes me improve and tells me my brakes are working nicely. What skills do you practice or need to practice? If you never practice, why not? |
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October 27th, 2011, 01:41 AM | #2 |
Nooblet
Name: Akima
Location: England
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '13
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I usually test my breaks (and other things) before I start my ride.
I practice all the time really. It feels like the act of riding is practising. I concentrate on my ride and think about how to do things better. Emergency stops are one thing I don't practice on public roads. That could go wrong! I tend to try them every now and then in an empty car-park (our term for: parking lot). I'm actually not very good at them, so I need to practice more. |
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October 27th, 2011, 03:33 AM | #3 |
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
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This post should be in the riding skills forum!
I love practicing. It's so empowering! I try at least a couple of times a year to find a big parking lot and spend an hour or so there. I practice U-turns, figure 8s, weaving/swerving, and different braking techniques. However, I use every ride as a practice for something. If I have the road to myself and get surprised by a light turning red, I will practice fast braking on the road (but not if there is another soul anywhere behind or in front of me). I also practice swerving around spots on the road when riding. Great post! I love hearing how and what others practice!
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October 27th, 2011, 06:30 AM | #4 |
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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I practice a few things routinely.
Smooth throttle rolls every single time I am out on the road. There is a house I pass with a dog that loves to chase me. I use this "bad" condition to practice roll offs. I roll off then roll on to effect the dogs judgment of interception point so I can pass with a lesser chance of issue. Sometimes the dog is not there, but I do it anyway just in case he is hiding behind the car parked in the drive. My mail box is 189ft from my house and has a large gravel patch around it. I use it to practice braking on a loose surface. I also hit the parking lots every now and then for practice. Front brake only, rear brake only (feathering the rear brake) & both at the same time. Decreasing radius circles around a cone in both directions & various other low speed techniques. Great thread!
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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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October 27th, 2011, 07:28 AM | #5 |
vampire
Name: A
Location: IT
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2 many 2 list Posts: A lot.
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I have a 2 mile circuit in an empty office park just 1/4 mi. from my driveway.
I practice just about everything (on and off pavement) at most different speed with plenty of space to spare. Occasionally catch some air with my Ninja 250. |
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October 27th, 2011, 07:38 AM | #6 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kevin
Location: Oklahoma City
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300SE Posts: 47
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practice
I view riding as practice. I maintain a constant "inner dialog" to remain focused. For example, coming to a stop I tell myself " check for gravel etc. when the bike is going to stop and where your feet will be". When turning I tell myself " Look through the turn, where you want to go" etc. I do that constantly and am always trying to determine what could happen or go wrong in every situation.
There are two specific things I make sure I do at least once every ride: 1. Stop and start on a hill. 2. Make a U-turn. Practicing these things when there is no traffic gives the confidence to be able to do them in traffic under pressure. |
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October 27th, 2011, 08:13 AM | #7 |
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.
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October 27th, 2011, 07:28 PM | #8 |
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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I agree with those who say riding is practice. Obviously you are reinforcing what you do, so if you only commute on a straight road with light traffic, it isn't much help. If you have mixed riding conditions like I do, commuting and ripping up back roads, then you would be amazed at how much practice you can get in a typical ride.
I constantly practice roll-ons/offs; maintenance throttle; smooth, gradual braking; looking through corners; turning as fast as possible for the turn; panic braking at lights with little to no traffic; the list just goes on and on. I also work my slow speed moves often. I know I have to freak people out with not putting my foot down. There is a three way stop I have to go through four times a week on the way to and from school. I usually have to travel about 1/8 of a mile through traffic waiting to get through the intersection. My foot never touches the ground unless there is an officer around or someone looks shifty when I start to leave the sign.
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October 27th, 2011, 10:16 PM | #9 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: George
Location: Florida
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250r 03 Yamaha R6 (Project bike) Posts: 271
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I've been practicing almost every other night or so for the past week or 2 and have really improved a lot. I found a nice vacant road at night. The course is pretty nice because I start with acceleration, 2 turns in each direction, quick stop, u turn, and repeat back to the original starting point and repeat. I think this course helps with a lot of important skills (accelerating from a stop, cornering, quick braking, and slow turns/u turns.
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October 28th, 2011, 01:36 AM | #10 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Ms.T, Queen of the Night
Location: Ontario, Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250 Posts: 938
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Thanks for the move, Alex. I thought about that section but I wasn't sure if putting it there would be preaching to the choir?
My last newbie practice session was taking off and having to quickly get from 1st to 2nd like when traffic is moving quickly and I need to get out of my driveway. Earlier this week, it stalled when I did that. I always release the clutch REALLY smoothly and progressively since they drilled it into my head at RTI (thanks instructors..) It also stalled about 5 mins into my ride when I had it going after a light and gave it some throttle. ??? Doesn't stall on hills where I was expecting it too. Am I giving it too much throttle? Not enough before but now too much? I have no trouble with going really slow and just using the clutch/brakes to control tricky maneuvers (feet up) so that takes away my idea that it's just my inexperience with the clutch. That's going to be my practice until it never happens again. |
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October 28th, 2011, 01:43 AM | #11 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Ms.T, Queen of the Night
Location: Ontario, Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250 Posts: 938
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Looks like I'm not alone in my practicing. For someone watching..."I'm honing my riding skills..." - sounds much cooler. One of the things I never got to try but have heard of is doing the circle while leaning to the opposite side of the bike. Something about counterweight?? Has anyone learned this or know where I would need to use it? I thought maybe tight corners but I tend to lean in the direction of the turn. What am I missing about that maneuver? |
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October 28th, 2011, 02:15 AM | #12 | |||
Nooblet
Name: Akima
Location: England
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '13
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Quote:
1) give it a very small amount of throttle 2) slowly release the clutch lever until you feel it bite (the engine starts to slowly try and drag the bike forward) 3) give it more throttle 4) slowly release more of the clutch as you need more speed. I don't recall stalling my Ninjette once, so this technique seems to be working for me! Quote:
Just thought I'd share that! Quote:
The 'counter leaning' (or whatever it is) did seem allow me to get tighter angles at slow speeds though. Maybe that's what it's for. |
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October 28th, 2011, 05:29 AM | #13 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Bill
Location: NC
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: 282
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Practice being "smooth" transitioning into & out of curves, shifting, brake application, and throttle application.
I enjoy working on up hill & down hill sweepers on Route 181 north of Morganton NC. |
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October 28th, 2011, 05:43 AM | #14 |
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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Knee to knee, smooth across the seat. Hell yea! And don't you just love the corners that have elevation change! I have a lot here in KY. Some are even blind curves.
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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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October 28th, 2011, 07:18 AM | #15 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Bill
Location: NC
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: 282
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Quote:
Long story short discovered twisty/sweeper riding in the NC mountains, and love it! Enjoy practicing every kind of twisty/sweeper with various elevation changes, too! |
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October 28th, 2011, 07:23 AM | #16 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much.
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During the riding season, I go to the parking lot at the high school and practice panic braking and those u-turn in a box maneuvers they have you do at the msf course. I'm pro at those things I use them when I'm riding whenever I pass a driveway in a neighborhood, or a parking spot in the parking lot. My left hand u-turns are a little better than my right handers...
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October 28th, 2011, 07:25 AM | #17 |
Mr. 988
Name: Jeff
Location: Sandy, Utah
Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): One Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 1
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+1 on this and all transitions. I practice being smooth as I can and not upsetting the chassis.
Oh, braking, all the time, everywhere, and at all speeds (if possible). Jeff
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"I'm the one that's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want to" - Jimi Hendrix Cancer |
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October 28th, 2011, 02:44 PM | #18 |
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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There is a great editorial by Andrew Trevitt in the latest issue of Sport Rider. It basically talks about smoothness and the need to slow down to go faster.
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October 28th, 2011, 02:52 PM | #19 |
Kamikaze Squirrel
Name: Zach
Location: NJ
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250r Posts: 300
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I'm lucky I have a MSF course like 5 minutes away from me. I practice stopping and small figure eights.
I also do runs on the ERC track to practice my cornering. |
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October 28th, 2011, 02:55 PM | #20 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Bill
Location: NC
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: 282
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Had a guy to tell me how he could not win a race until a friend told him not to push so hard, but have some fun and enjoy it. He started winning races.
It's really fun trying to see how smooth you can be. Along the way your pace picks up without trying. Believe being smooth makes you a safer rider, too. |
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October 28th, 2011, 06:51 PM | #22 |
Winging It In Life
Name: Umar
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250R; 2011 250R (sold) Posts: A lot.
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I sometimes practice u-turns & emergency stops at my job. I can only hit about 30 mph at work because anything above that sucks while riding over speedbumps.
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2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (Bought - Apr 22, 2011; Sold - Feb 17, 2015) 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (Bought - May 01, 2017; Current) |
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October 28th, 2011, 08:25 PM | #23 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Steve
Location: Valdosta GA, US
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250, 2006 Ninja ZX6R-636 Posts: 661
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I practice emergency stops, u-turn, figure 8, stopping in a curve. The MSF course track is not far from my house which for me is a perfect area to practice.
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October 28th, 2011, 11:09 PM | #24 | |||
ninjette.org sage
Name: Ms.T, Queen of the Night
Location: Ontario, Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250 Posts: 938
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Quote:
It doesn't happen all the time or even often so I don't think it;s something wrong with the bike but I don't want it to happen even once Quote:
Maybe because we have a lower center of gravity. Try this to demonstrate, it's hilarious: Sit on your knees on the floor and place a tissue in front of you so that it's just far enough away that you can touch it with your nose when you lean. Now with your hands behind your back, pick up the tissue with your lips. Now get a male friend to try that. It's payback for all the mean center-of-gravity jokes. Oops, back to practice... Quote:
Thanks! |
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October 29th, 2011, 09:58 AM | #25 |
So, where's the reverse?
Name: Anson
Location: Ontario, Canada
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.
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I need to hit the parking lot again to practice figure 8s and quick stops. When I go on my rides and pull out of the driveway, I'll usually practice swerving from side to side in my lane for the first couple of stop signs. I'll target sewer manhole covers or darker spots on the road. I find that this quickly helps me get a better feel for balance rather than just starting out my ride by going in a straight line.
Once I hit the main roads, I practice smooth on/off throttle control, shifting, smooth turns and paying more attention to concepts like initiating a delayed apex. I've been also doing practice with blipping while braking. I have the blipping part down but my problem is if I also have my fingers on the front brake, when I blip the throttle with my thumb or palm, this also pulls my fingers on the brake and causes the front end of the bike to dive a bit. |
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October 29th, 2011, 10:59 AM | #26 | ||
Nooblet
Name: Akima
Location: England
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '13
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Quote:
Quote:
I didn't want to learn to ride on my Ninjette and potentially drop it while I was an ultimate noobie, so I rented a 125CC bike to learn on. I didn't end up dropping the 125CC bike, but I'm still glad I learnt on it. The slow speed stuff is a bit more difficult on the Ninjette compared to that bike I learned on, so I'm glad I did my test on the 125CC. |
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October 29th, 2011, 02:05 PM | #27 |
RIP Alex
Name: Cuong
Location: Houston, TX
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 2
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Every commute to work and back I practice smooth in-fast out, keeping my lines, learning every nook and cranny in the road, emergency braking, braking in turns, and u-turns. I'm still working the slow speed u-turns.
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October 29th, 2011, 03:35 PM | #28 |
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
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I practice not getting hit. Everything else comes naturally.
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If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! |
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October 31st, 2011, 05:11 AM | #29 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Sabrina
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250r SE Posts: 52
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Quote:
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October 31st, 2011, 09:34 AM | #30 |
ninjette.org member
Name: KJ
Location: RIP Alex
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R (Sold - I'll miss you Ebony), 2009 Honda CBR 600RR ABS (Alexis), 2010 BMW S1000RR Posts: 93
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Probably one of the best skills to practice. I think I'll do this at lunch today
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November 3rd, 2011, 05:21 PM | #31 |
Not dead yet!
Name: Rob
Location: Marlborough MA
Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: 315
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The only thing I practice, whereby practice I mean "do something other than just try to get better at what I always do while riding" is downshifting while braking. It doesn't come naturally to me yet, despite all of my video game experience using sequential manual transmissions. Every once in a while I will dial up an emergency stop if no one is around, just to make sure I can still do them well.
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November 22nd, 2011, 02:44 PM | #32 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Shak
Location: NYC
Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2000 Ninja 250 Posts: 20
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I usually just swerve for a little and quick stop, theirs some great tips here that I'll have to try next time I get a open parking lot.
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November 22nd, 2011, 02:54 PM | #33 |
la pussy gata
Name: kit
Location: xx
Join Date: Jan 2011 Motorcycle(s): big wheel Posts: 540
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I practice not falling. I haven't succeeded recently.
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November 22nd, 2011, 05:30 PM | #34 |
.
Name: rock
Location: greenville, south carolina
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): black Posts: A lot.
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Bunny hopping
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Always get a second opinion because most of these people are makin' this stuff up |
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November 24th, 2011, 09:09 PM | #35 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Tommy
Location: Flemington, NJ
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 CP Blue Posts: 149
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I practice while riding too... I made a game out of avoiding manhole covers, miss one +1, go over one -1. It helps me stay sharp on avoiding road hazards, and emergency swerving and if I get too many-1's in a row I know its time for a break.
Next time I bunny hop one I'm giving myself a + 10!! |
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November 28th, 2011, 12:16 PM | #37 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Murphey
Location: Eastern Washington
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Honda 919, 2004 Ninja 500R NAKED Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
Sometimes I do a quick emergency stop, and I always use both brakes when stopping so I have a good feel for both of them. The other night I was in a big empty parking lot and I was like what the heck ima do some u-turns. AMAZED myself! was doing them so perfectly, well within the limits of the msf box, which I had trouble with on the msf bikes and was alright with on my own bike, but now I'm even better! Still no master though lol, lately when turning I've been really focusing on looking where I want to go and it helps a lot, makes turns seem a lot more stable |
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December 2nd, 2011, 08:24 PM | #38 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Ms.T, Queen of the Night
Location: Ontario, Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250 Posts: 938
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Hmm, just noticed another weakness in my riding that I could use practice on...
When turning left at an intersection where my lane is single and the other side of the road has two lanes (turning lane and straight through lane), I tend to cut the angle quite a bit. Wonderful at night when no one's around but should really work on the sharp part of that turn. Loooong arc and then a quick straighten out while looking over my right for people turning right. Oh, dear, another excuse to go riding! |
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December 3rd, 2011, 01:35 AM | #39 |
wat
Name: wat
Location: tustin/long beach
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14
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i just changed my tires, but before i did every turn i practiced my drifting skills.
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December 14th, 2011, 01:47 AM | #40 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Murphey
Location: Eastern Washington
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 Honda 919, 2004 Ninja 500R NAKED Posts: A lot.
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I usually practice clutch drop wheelies. Cant wait to get a l1terbike so I can just control my wheelies with the throttle
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