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.