how to trust the tires

[Hawkster]

Well stated, Tragic and Oramac!

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I'll add a tad here...

Regardless of where you are as a rider, there will always be someone better.  The goal is to be the best that you can be.  That's the key to a long and happy riding career.

It's really hard to know what we're seeing when we're riding behind someone else.  (Particularly for a newer rider.)  Inasmuch as they do have an influence on how we're riding, it can be critical that we put them in context.  If they're devoting their ride to out-running you in order to show that A: they're a better rider, or B: Their bike is faster than yours, then you need to find someone else to ride with.  Pick someone that's willing to spend some time helping you to get better and buy them coffee and lunch.  Riding is a series of life-and-death decisions regardless of whether we're willing to admit it.  Who we pick to help us make those decisions can be just as important as the decisions themselves.

I tend to look at all the things that we do while riding as "places".  Braking is a place, turning is a place, etc...  The amount of time that we spend in those "places" determines how comfortable we are while there.  That's why quality practice is so important.

When you ride behind someone that smoothly flows through the canyon, you're seeing someone that's had a great deal of time in all of those places and is thus very comfortable there.  Your goal as a rider is to reach that same place.  The best way to get where they are is to take your time and make the small comfortable steps necessary.  When I began riding it was very thrilling.  Now, (27 years later) I find it less exciting, but still a place of great contentment.  IOW -  I've found that the ride is it's own destination.

"Proficient Motorcycling" By David Hough is a great read for a new rider.  "Sport Riding Techniques" by Nick Ienatsch is another great read, but a bit more advanced.  I recommend them both highly.  They made a big difference in my levels of confidence and skill.

Best of luck,

H~

Tragic - I need you to come out for some mentor rides soon.  Email me.

[TragicImage]

Jeff as soon as I stop working overtime I fully plan on showing up (I have a great job working for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics now).  I was going to go to the skills day last weekend but wasn't sure if its still at V.A. or not, and then noticed I had bald bald tires....

Are you going to SBBN on the 6th?  I'm planning on attending at whatever the new place is (its a first for me).  We can talk about the mentor rides then.

[nightrider]

Dunno why nobody brought this up but:

If you're trying to go faster in the turns, you don't lean the BIKE more or try to touch the footpegs (at which point you have run out of tire anyway). YOU lean more, the center of gravity moves out over the pavement, the bike stays MORE UPRIGHT, and HAULS MORE ASS.

This was illustrated to me by riding with someone and the distance he left between us in the curves was marked. However once I started leaning more onto the inner footpeg and doing the shifting weight thing, I could maintain speed or even accelerate through curves I had to brake for previously.

This is what he told me: weight on the inner footpeg, hands dont take weight but just steer the bike. Very light touch up front. Move your weight onto the inner footpeg and the bike will stay more upright through the turn, allowing you more potential turn ability, and also greater speed.

Aside from that, and the fact that he gave me a Clif bar, he was an @$$hole.

This is as much an issue as the tires.

Not that he should be learning this already.

[frankieG]

i did not know street riding was a competitive sport    just take your time and you will learn...safely....and advance

[D-Day]

My first bike was a 1976 Honda 550 F that I bought new in June of 1976.  That bike is a pig compared to a GS 500, slower and worse handling.  I put 10,000 miles on it in the next 6 months, and I still wasn't very fast or confindent in my riding ability.  I bought a BMW R100RS in April of 1977 and put 30,000 miles on it in the next 8 months.  By that time, I was fast and confident, but I have improved over the last 30 years, 20 bikes, 250,000 miles and 10 years of racing, and 6 years of track days after I retired from racing.  Yet, I still always think I have a lot to learn and always trying to stay away from being overconfident and careless.  The GS can go fast and lean far, but it takes rider skill to do it.  Here is a video of my son chasing me on a track, we are both on GS 500's.  It should let you know what the potential is.  http://www.fototime.com/inv/638C5945CC7A0DD

[bombadillo]

Dunno why nobody brought this up but:

If you're trying to go faster in the turns, you don't lean the BIKE more or try to touch the footpegs (at which point you have run out of tire anyway). YOU lean more, the center of gravity moves out over the pavement, the bike stays MORE UPRIGHT, and HAULS MORE ASS.

This was illustrated to me by riding with someone and the distance he left between us in the curves was marked. However once I started leaning more onto the inner footpeg and doing the shifting weight thing, I could maintain speed or even accelerate through curves I had to brake for previously.

This is what he told me: weight on the inner footpeg, hands dont take weight but just steer the bike. Very light touch up front. Move your weight onto the inner footpeg and the bike will stay more upright through the turn, allowing you more potential turn ability, and also greater speed.

Aside from that, and the fact that he gave me a Clif bar, he was an @$$hole.

This is as much an issue as the tires.

Not that he should be learning this already.

I already understand the basics, understand the physics, just seeing if there are any other tricks or just balls to lean it over a little bit.  I know and understand the concepts behind all of the weight shifting (I'm sure there's a technical name for it)  and many other things like this, and its not necessarily something I should not know or learn yet either.  I was just asking a question on how to trust the tires better.  My first step from many is to get new tires and not my old worn down center maxxis tires, 2nd is to keep up at my own pace and not try to outrun anybody. 

[D-Day]

I already understand the basics, understand the physics, just seeing if there are any other tricks or just balls to lean it over a little bit.  I know and understand the concepts behind all of the weight shifting (I'm sure there's a technical name for it)  and many other things like this, and its not necessarily something I should not know or learn yet either.  I was just asking a question on how to trust the tires better.  My first step from many is to get new tires and not my old worn down center maxxis tires, 2nd is to keep up at my own pace and not try to outrun anybody. 
[/quote]

Trusting the tires takes time and experience, it can take years if you are not aggressive by nature.  Nothing wrong with that, you will probably crash less.  If you want to really accelerate the process, do some track days.  Buy some Bridgestone BT 45 in the proper size, they will help you feel more condfident than some hagged out tires for sure.

[pbureau69]

pratice pratice pratice...

I ride with the local SMR group, and twisties is the word of the sunday mornign ride, nothing crazy, all about techniques.
first 3 rides with them, I was always late out of the turns, and had to constantly catching up in the straights....

now... I can be in the middle of the pack without any problems

I use Av45/46 Avons  180/80 and 120/80 and I LOVE THEM...

[D-Day]

I use Av45/46 Avons  180/80 and 120/80 and I LOVE THEM...

On stock GS wheels

[TragicImage]

I use Av45/46 Avons  180/80 and 120/80 and I LOVE THEM...

On stock GS wheels

yea no, I wouldn't reccomend that..... a GS doesn't need a 180.... ever.... for anything.
The only point of running a 150 is so that you can get better tire compounds.

[toyopete]

I use Av45/46 Avons  180/80 and 120/80 and I LOVE THEM...

On stock GS wheels


yea no, I wouldn't reccomend that..... a GS doesn't need a 180.... ever.... for anything.
The only point of running a 150 is so that you can get better tire compounds.


Ime still on the Bridgestone 550 ( 130 rear ) I believe this is the standard tire for the GS
now Ime used to the 180 of my former SV 1000 I do mis some feel in the curves and I reach the side of the tires at an early stage should I change tires before I make some errors?