http://bamarides.com/ride/events/motorcycle-gymkhana-birmingham-al-june-16th-10am-4pm/
(http://amgrass.com/flyers/birmingham-gymkhana-june16th.jpg)
MAP: https://maps.google.com/maps/place?ftid=0x88891061f145b4af:0x3590723886397b9f&q=BMW+Motorcycles+of+Birmingham,+7500+Crestwood+Boulevard,+Birmingham,+AL&hl=en&ved=0CA0Q-gswAA&sa=X&ei=yMzXT7rhFpiEzQSHxu2bAQ&sig2=dOsP7eeGDfmRVdwzXwiOYw
Think you have what it takes to scrape pegs at parking lot speeds ? Want to gain confidance and learn how to control you bike in a much safer and smoother manner ?
Come, join us, for a free day of skills and very friendly competition. GS500s, dualsports, supermotards, harleys, two strokes, and even a gold wing with a trailer will wow you with their skills and smoothness.
Gymkhana IS NOT A RACE, it is a skill building course for amatures for folks that want to ride smarter and safer. Folks that don't want to cring as they pass over a small bit of gravel or debris at parking lot speeds. You WILL ride safer. You WILL ride smarter. You WILL have a blast, and see some great riders!
If you feel you can compete with some of the faster riders, sign up for the TIMED EVENT. Its still FREE, and I promise you will FEEL THOSE SKILLS THE very NEXT TIME YOU RIDE !
I'm bringing my drz and scooter. I'll be competing with my friends and the wife is going to run the course to build her skills, on the scooter.
See the flyer, and post up if you need ideas for great places to eat / visit while you're here. BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK is only 20 minutes away if you want a 2-fer weekend !
(http://amgrass.com/flyers/FlyerGymkhanajune16ths.pdf)
http://amgrass.com/flyers/FlyerGymkhanajune16ths.pdf
Cmon cmon !
Hmm, 43 views and no takers ?
I was scared the first time out too ;-)
I would show up in a heartbeat if I didn't live thousands of km's away, lol :icon_rolleyes:
But I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for stuff like this closer to home.
Quote from: Formori on May 28, 2012, 08:56:15 AM
I would show up in a heartbeat if I didn't live thousands of km's away, lol :icon_rolleyes:
But I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for stuff like this closer to home.
Its easy to do. Empty public lot, some tennis balls/cones and carve it up !
Check out amgrass.com or bamarides.com/forum for more. :-)
Damn I wish I could a day or two off for this.
Quote from: comradeiggy on May 28, 2012, 10:36:08 AM
Damn I wish I could a day or two off for this.
call in sick , it's THIS SATURDAY ( 6/16 ) from 10-4pm and will be a great time.
bring the gs, supermoto, advbike, cruiser, custom, or anything you WANT TO LEARN TO LEAN BETTER ON and I promise you'll leave with a newfound skill set.
This is the most fun you'll have slow speed on a bike. Period.
C'mon cmon !
aaaach... I wish this were closer to me :(
This was a huge success (feel like I'm talking to myself, but anyway) from several angles, in our fine city of Birmingham.
Around 80 riders signed up and participated in building their skills, excluding the 20 or so that staffed and also rode in the event. The youngest rider was 7 (i think) and the oldest 71 (i believe). Several females displayed their skills on all 4 courses, including the timed course. We would have liked more, but were happy with how many tried it out.
As always, there is a bit of a SHARING CARING atmosphere at BamaRides events. As such, I rode a total of 9 bikes. They included:
KTM 990 ADV - incredible sound, power, comfort
xt350 - the perfect cheap dualsport
drz400s in 17" SM trim
drz400s (mine) in dirty DS trim
drz400s in dirty trim with pumper carb and full knobbies
hyosung 250 scooter (mine)
honda rukus 50
bmw 1150gs just helped my buddy with transmisssion / clutch replacement on this one
Triumph Tiger 1050 - the best engine and comfort on the planet !
There were 3 different main courses, with a trialing area for unsure:
trialing area = a 24' circle of tennis balls cut in half, to asess rider skill level before being allowed on the main courses.
course 1 = "GP8" a grand prix figure 8, calling for 5 complete figure 8's with a timer
course 2 = the hand of death, a multi-slalom and figure 8's along with multi-directional small tight circles to test both coordinations left and right turning
course 3 = similar to course 2, but with a more speed intensive aspect focusing on accel/decel into and out of increasing / decreasing radius turns.
As always, riders were unsure of themselves, and some flat out refused to try any courses for personal reasons. Understood. The people that did, LEARNED, excelled, and were amazed at the progress in just a few hours.
Some highlights:
A Victory Venture rider went from apprehension (he weighed around 100 lbs) to flawlessly clearing all courses on his BIG swoopy machine.
A 7 year old went from from literally scared of being on the course, to flawlessly clearing it on his dirt bike. His father coached and coaxed (along with his mom) him around the course, until he finally was SMILING and happy to do it over and over.
There were huge improvements. There were spills. There were realizations of lack of skill. Most importantly, there were people willing to volunteer their time, energy, skills, and MONEY to make it happen. Remember, this was a FREE TO RIDE event, and every penny was from the good folks at BAMARIDES. Donations were accepted for future events.
If you have EVER QUESTIONED your abilities to make the proper decision under 30 mph, you owe it to yourself to attend some similar event. Learn and teach the right way to handle your motorcycles. Learn the limits of it's handling. Scraping pegs at 90mph is not what we are advocating. This is real world skill sets you will FEEL and USE on a daily basis during your commutes, fun jaunts, and runs to the store.
Some folks will skip right to the video, and you'll miss the message. This is only a smidgen of what GYMKHANA is all about:
(http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc340/MARKANDBINA/2012%20Summer%20Gymkhana/2012-06-16_13-03-55_355.jpg)
(http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc340/MARKANDBINA/2012%20Summer%20Gymkhana/2012-06-16_15-12-30_398.jpg)
she's a better rider than you are... unless you can prove otherwise
(http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc340/MARKANDBINA/2012%20Summer%20Gymkhana/2012-06-16103452.jpg)
rediculous after party begins
(http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc340/MARKANDBINA/2012%20Summer%20Gymkhana/2012-06-16165636.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr-mB21iO78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdcnV7iHyws
https://picasaweb.google.com/114016016885038887092/Gymkhana061612
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAluAKUsaYU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmq_UaxuPTM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wllio77E5Hw
https://vimeo.com/44225616
If -one- person feels compelled to improve their slow speed skills and recovers from a possible crash because of improvements, I'm happy. Test yourself. Challenge yourself. Do it -today-.
:thumb:
awesome mang! i'll definitely be keeping an eye out for something local like this.
watched some of the vids looks great!! i'll read over your post and finish watching the vids later
Looks like fun! I wouldn't do it on my GS though. Too much work in it now to watch it drop to the pavement!
Damn I really wish I could have attended. Unfortunately, I work for my dad and live with him for the summer, so calling in sick isn't really in the cards.
Quote from: bombsquad83 on June 19, 2012, 07:12:26 AM
Looks like fun! I wouldn't do it on my GS though. Too much work in it now to watch it drop to the pavement!
that's kind of the point to all of it !
Rememmber, this is NOT A COMPETITION. Its a skills building tool. Anyone that pushes the limits to the point of a drop does so all on their own.
Each person you saw riding aggressively on the courses knows full well doing so will most likely result in a low or high side.
Quote from: steezin_and_wheezin on June 19, 2012, 07:04:26 AM
awesome mang! i'll definitely be keeping an eye out for something local like this.
watched some of the vids looks great!! i'll read over your post and finish watching the vids later
Do that ! I promise you will surprise yourself and build skills in short order.
Quote from: comradeiggy on June 19, 2012, 07:28:33 AM
Damn I really wish I could have attended. Unfortunately, I work for my dad and live with him for the summer, so calling in sick isn't really in the cards.
Excellent ! All you need are some cones, halved tennis balls, or anything you're happy maneuvering around. Do it on your own, it takes 30 minutes in a parking lot, start to finish.
My problem is that I would want to push it to the limit, but I don't want to hurt my bike. I need a crappy bike to learn this kind of skill with.
Quote from: bombsquad83 on June 19, 2012, 08:45:55 AM
My problem is that I would want to push it to the limit, but I don't want to hurt my bike. I need a crappy bike to learn this kind of skill with.
Youll never hurt your bike pushing it to the limit. Its when you push past it that things go wrong....
When you don't know where the limit is, pushing it to the limit implies going past the limit at least a few times. :icon_lol:
Quote from: bombsquad83 on June 19, 2012, 08:45:55 AM
My problem is that I would want to push it to the limit, but I don't want to hurt my bike. I need a crappy bike to learn this kind of skill with.
You're up against an invisible, mythical wall of fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Folks were riding their $30000 bikes exactly as the folks riding $400 bikes: better than they knew how at the beginning.
Again, this is not a race. This is skills building. The gs is not a golden calf. Ride it !
Quote from: bombsquad83 on June 19, 2012, 08:45:55 AM
My problem is that I would want to push it to the limit, but I don't want to hurt my bike. I need a crappy bike to learn this kind of skill with.
I meant to ask, are you more afraid of dropping it, or getting hurt dropping it ?
Quote from: ohgood on June 19, 2012, 10:17:19 AM
Quote from: bombsquad83 on June 19, 2012, 08:45:55 AM
My problem is that I would want to push it to the limit, but I don't want to hurt my bike. I need a crappy bike to learn this kind of skill with.
I meant to ask, are you more afraid of dropping it, or getting hurt dropping it ?
I'm not really afraid of getting hurt. Just of the disappointment of damaging the bike. That's why I said I need a crappy bike that I don't care about beating up. Wearing appropriate gear and going at parking lot speeds, the risk for severe injury would be relatively low I would think.
I have to say also: I would not take bombs bike out to an event like this for some time... wait till the new car smell wears off a little and have had a chance to work up a good skill set, comfortability, and confidence on the bike before you add distractions of a large event. I would still work up skills on my own in a parking lot though, where there are no distractions other than whats in my head. Bomb has spent too much time on his bike to lose its gloss with a single drop on asphault.
To Bomb: I don't know if you have taken the rider safety courses offered in your area already, but the basic rider course offered there is very cheap (if not free). They provide the bikes, helmets, and instructors, and you actually do quite a few routed courses like whats offered at this event during the basic rider safety course. They even offer advanced rider courses which do even more routed courses like these that are ridden with your own bike. Highly recommended for any rider, experienced or not.
P.S. Bomb: I'm a little jealous how good your bike has turned out! Definately looks like time well spent.
- Bboy
Quote from: BockinBboy on June 19, 2012, 11:31:01 AM
I have to say also: I would not take bombs bike out to an event like this for some time... wait till the new car smell wears off a little and have had a chance to work up a good skill set, comfortability, and confidence on the bike before you add distractions of a large event. I would still work up skills on my own in a parking lot though, where there are no distractions other than whats in my head. Bomb has spent too much time on his bike to lose its gloss with a single drop on asphault.
To Bomb: I don't know if you have taken the rider safety courses offered in your area already, but the basic rider course offered there is very cheap (if not free). They provide the bikes, helmets, and instructors, and you actually do quite a few routed courses like whats offered at this event during the basic rider safety course. They even offer advanced rider courses which do even more routed courses like these that are ridden with your own bike. Highly recommended for any rider, experienced or not.
P.S. Bomb: I'm a little jealous how good your bike has turned out! Definately looks like time well spent.
- Bboy
Thanks man for the props on my bike. I did take the Beginner rider safety course here at ISU in Bloomington/Normal. That is the 3 day long one. It was a good experience. I did pretty well, only 4 points on the final test, and none on the written exam. I think I would do better now if I did it again. The box is tough, and I went over a line just a tad. Thinking about taking the intermediate and advanced courses sometime.
On another note, we still need to get an Illinois Riders get together done sometime this summer. A few that posted in the Illinois Riders Group thread in the meet and greet section have dropped off though...
Quote from: bombsquad83 on June 19, 2012, 11:02:36 AM
I'm not really afraid of getting hurt. Just of the disappointment of damaging the bike. That's why I said I need a crappy bike that I don't care about beating up. Wearing appropriate gear and going at parking lot speeds, the risk for severe injury would be relatively low I would think.
If you take the fairings off, and have decent frame protectors, risk of damage to the bike should be fairly low too.
you're never going faster than 30 mph I would think. And the fact that it is all parking lot, means no bouncing of hte bike, which means it should "slide "and not get damaged much. unless you're super unlucky/careless.
Quote from: Phil B on June 19, 2012, 07:54:26 PM
Quote from: bombsquad83 on June 19, 2012, 11:02:36 AM
I'm not really afraid of getting hurt. Just of the disappointment of damaging the bike. That's why I said I need a crappy bike that I don't care about beating up. Wearing appropriate gear and going at parking lot speeds, the risk for severe injury would be relatively low I would think.
If you take the fairings off, and have decent frame protectors, risk of damage to the bike should be fairly low too.
you're never going faster than 30 mph I would think. And the fact that it is all parking lot, means no bouncing of hte bike, which means it should "slide "and not get damaged much. unless you're super unlucky/careless.
Its so much slower than that. If you watch the videos, the guys moving at a good clip (advanced groups, no doubt) at under 30mph, more likely 25 tops. I can't read my speedo in the clips on my phone.
The point of course is -NOT- the speed. The point is to increase slow speed handling skills and confidance. What you see in the quicker videos is -playing- around.
I can understand anyone's reluctance for fear of dropping a nice bike. My viewpoint is, it WILL HAPPEN, better to happen on a closed course with no traffic and people watching to tell me what I've done wrong and how to correct it.
Then, when you or I are out on the road we will have more confidence and skill to overcome adverse conditions.
The 90% of folks that say "but I might fall" will never try it, and never learn. Gymkhana is for the 10% that give a f%$k and desire to learn. It sounds brash, but is not intended that way.
:)