Lessons learned from "mistakes"

[GPTECHMAN]

What have you learned over the years...how has it changed your riding?

Anything(s) that you are still working on and why?

After much ownage I am needing to rethink my riding:roflmao:

[qdbike]

Lol let's see what my crash average is after a couple years, then I'll get back to you GPTech ;)

[Cyanide41]

wow, were would I begin. #1 thing I learned is that there is no 1 answer. No single way to do something. #2 was no matter how fast you are there is someone faster. Find them and learn what they have to offer. Apply it and if it works for you, then keep it. #3 If you are not having fun, then what is the point?

[GetnJgyWitit]

Look, Lean, and commit. Believe in yourself and don't second guess. When you do, that's when you get yourself in a messed up situation. Also apply the brakes as smooth as you can and release them even smoother.

[flare]

i've learned to loosen my arms, which made doing everything easier and provided more confidence

[Lost]

Riding is easily 90% mental!! 9% how fat you are... 1% bike..


lol, or something like that!

I crashed into a mountain going too fast. I learned its not worth it to go fast on the street. There is no "Run-off".

[nocontrol]

Lol let's see what my crash average is after a couple years, then I'll get back to you GPTech ;)

Isn't your count up pretty high now as it is? Just pokin' fun at ya!:roflmao:

[thehowchow]

1. don't panic
2. remember that dragging knee is not to lean more and look cool, but to counter-balance

[Crash716]

don't drag knee in the mountians...take it to the track!!! I know it's a bit hypocritical as i have in the past but i had to learn the hard by clamming into the back of a truck at 50mphs...YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS AROUND THE CORNER!!!

I can assure you i have seen nothing as scary in my life as coming around that corner seeing a truck and being convinced my life was over!

save your speed for the track and enjoy the scenary!!

VVVVVV PIC below if from 3 years ago!!

[pulse]

target fixation will get you every time! keep your mind clear while riding so you can react to unexpected situations.....don't think too much, let your natural skill and knowledge guide you.

[brakstad]

let your natural skill and knowledge guide you. Now how is THAT gonna help techman :rolleyes:

[coronagolf]

Ride smart, ride sober, ride safe. Watch the lean, don't get adrenaline addicted. Sport bikes are made for corners, not wheelies. Ahhhh Screw IT! It's too early to think. More useful, not so obvious, things later....

[TreAdidas]

Close your eyes and :pray:



jk


:)
Best bit of advice I've ever been given is:
1. Get your braking done before you get into the turn. Yeah some people can trail brake blah blah blah but I'm not one of 'em.
2. You can always add speed later but you cannot always scrub off speed later.
3. It is OK if you cannot see the guy in front of you. They'll wait up at the next stop... .... that is unless it is Anthony.
4. Fear death.

[Fixcinater]

Respect yourself, the road, your bike and THE OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE OUT THERE on the streets.


Police/Firemen don't like trying to clear their head after shoveling somebody off the pavement anymore than people like to get into those situations.



The street is not a racetrack, don't ever convince yourself otherwise, even after making a couple passes up the Tight side. 7/10s is a good place to be.


My most recent lesson: Don't assume, even though a guy has years of riding experience on the local roads, that he'll have his cell phone along (or convince his passenger to carry one) so they can be contacted when they lose the group.

[nocontrol]

From my humble up-bringing, and this one's for Darrin and Joie:

Motorcycling is mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter.

[cryptyk]

Every morning before I go on a ride, I crouch by the bike, grab the footpeg and recite the following in my head. It's a ritual for me now. (I don't say the numbers in my head. They are only there for this post)

1. I have nothing to prove to anyone.
2. My ego will not dictate my riding style.
3. I will ride safely so I can come home safe to my wife, family and friends.
4. I ride because I enjoy it. I ride to enjoy my life.
5. I will respect my bike because I know it is not a toy.

[shaggy]

wow, were would I begin. #1 thing I learned is that there is no 1 answer. No single way to do something. #2 was no matter how fast you are there is someone faster. Find them and learn what they have to offer. Apply it and if it works for you, then keep it. #3 If you are not having fun, then what is the point?

+1, wow, really cann't add to, or say this, any better.

[Dissident]

I've learned:

Anything can happen anywhere, anytime, you get on it.

The slowest pros are way faster than everyone you know.....

Track days =/= racing.

Racing is seriously humbling. But will really teach you what's up.

Barring the occasional mechanical, the bike doesn't do anything you don't tell it to do. It's not your tires, it's not your suspension, it's not the track; IT'S YOU!

And it's usually faster to ride at 80% and not crash, than try to ride 100% and crash.

[GPTECHMAN]

Dont target fixate...keep those eyes moving if you get that "not gonna make it feeling"....similar to Jiggy's look, lean, and believe....the tires will hold

Dont push it on the street...and stay at 80 at the track. It keeps me alive and gives Beez, jrider, shaggy, nizzle, and jarhead enough room to keep up.

Have a buddy look over your bike after you work on it, he'll catch what you messed up on and make sure you get infinite shiet for it.

Start working on your bike like 5 months in advance...it still wont be ready.

Sometimes your buddy doesnt always do what he normally does...keep enough room for those X-factors. :hammer:

If you arent stoked on your tires get some that you are perfectly confident in...its makes a worlds difference

Always hydrate before and during strenuous riding...it'll keep away the brain fade.
Prepare for the crash

Ride within your limit

Check the egos at the door

Go slow and learn the road or track...you get more info when you slow things down.

Set little goals for yourself and go accomplish them...it helps to actually work on little things at the track instead of just racing around.

Try to be smooth and learn lines...try different lines all of them work for someone. See what works best for you


When some one says "Im just gonna Chill" IT MEANS "ITS SOOOO FACKING ON!!!!!"

[mrdangle]

don't drag knee in the mountians...take it to the track!!! I know it's a bit hypocritical as i have in the past but i had to learn the hard by clamming into the back of a truck at 50mphs...YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS AROUND THE CORNER!!!

I can assure you i have seen nothing as scary in my life as coming around that corner seeing a truck and being convinced my life was over!

save your speed for the track and enjoy the scenary!!

VVVVVV PIC below if from 3 years ago!!

i know how you feel! i went around the corner and there was a stalled harley ... i avoided him but i hit the mountain instead ... got titanium rod in my arm for that one :eek:

[Dissident]

Good point; never try and rush something on your bike (tho, when racing, this one gets tricky!) cause you'll mess something up! Rushing is a great way to end up riding in the dark or have something fall off (or in the case of Ducatis and Harleys, having MORE things fall off)


Have a buddy look over your bike after you work on it, he'll catch what you messed up on and make sure you get infinite shiet for it.

Start working on your bike like 5 months in advance...it still wont be ready.

[fratellobp]

At the track, never follow directly behind another rider going into a turn (especially the B Group at Fontana with Fastrack). I got some sick video to back me up on this (and the vid also demonstrates the principle of target fixation). No crash, but too close for my comfort.

[GPTECHMAN]

post vid...

[fratellobp]

post vid...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTzWN2LnJGE

As you can see, I wasn't directly behind this guy, but if I had been...not sure how it would have turned out. Oh, and the other obvious lesson from this mistake...look beyond the rider right in front of you!!

[GPTECHMAN]

that was awesome... the school of rock song ;)

[GetnJgyWitit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTzWN2LnJGE

As you can see, I wasn't directly behind this guy, but if I had been...not sure how it would have turned out. Oh, and the other obvious lesson from this mistake...look beyond the rider right in front of you!!

Looks like a standard trackday to me. :errf: Either those two were in the wrong group, or you were in the wrong group. Why did you go through the little chicane, but the other rider in front of you didn't? Either way, good job on keeping on your toes! :cheers:

[brakstad]

Why did you go through the little chicane, but the other rider in front of you didn't? Just because the guy infront of you blows the turn does not mean that you should blow the turn too :squid:

[GetnJgyWitit]

Just because the guy infront of you blows the turn does not mean that you should blow the turn too :squid:
LOL I know that, but I wasn't sure if dude was blowing the turn or camera man was going the wrong way. LOL

[ninjanick]

They don't call it "Angeles Crash" for nothing!

[brakstad]

LOL I know that, but I wasn't sure if dude was blowing the turn or camera man was going the wrong way. LOL

It was definately dude (not camera man) blowing the turn... Going straight there is for NASCAR only :thumbsup:

[fratellobp]

Looks like a standard trackday to me. :errf: Either those two were in the wrong group, or you were in the wrong group. Why did you go through the little chicane, but the other rider in front of you didn't? Either way, good job on keeping on your toes! :cheers:

Ya, that chicane is the "preferred" line...:lol:

As for being in the correct group...good point. I am close to the transition of Intermed/Race groups. (I think my fast lap that day was a :43 that day). The guy I passed on his left was your classic "scream down the straights and drop anchor before the turn" type. I have done trackdays with Ti2TT, Trackdays, Fastrack, and Socalriders. My experience has been that Fastrack Intermediate group AT FONTANA has by far the widest variation in rider abilities and lap times of all the other orgs and tracks. Definitely gotta be on your toes in those sessions.

[ThreeSixT]

don't drag knee in the mountians...take it to the track!!! I know it's a bit hypocritical as i have in the past but i had to learn the hard by clamming into the back of a truck at 50mphs...YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS AROUND THE CORNER!!!

I can assure you i have seen nothing as scary in my life as coming around that corner seeing a truck and being convinced my life was over!

save your speed for the track and enjoy the scenary!!

VVVVVV PIC below if from 3 years ago!!


DAYAM, still remember that like it was yesterday. :whistle:

[KaTooM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTzWN2LnJGE

As you can see, I wasn't directly behind this guy, but if I had been...not sure how it would have turned out. Oh, and the other obvious lesson from this mistake...look beyond the rider right in front of you!!

Good save...but your line was way wrong for that corner. you should of been way up on the wall. I try to leave about six feet. I make my decision to blow or go through turn one right when I let off.

The reason for that is alot of people are way to far to the inside line, and have to grab the binders. Fastrack will not ding you for blowing turn one right there if there is alot of traffic and your passing slower riders.

1:43 is not bad level III for sure.


Here are some 1:43 laps I did quite awhile ago at Fontucky...I was also not close enough to the wall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jTrXnyOVrQ

[itr835]

I learned that hanging your @$$ off your bike isn't correct body positioning.
Taking California Superbike School set me straight on Correct and Proper Body Positioning.
To this day, I'm still working on my Body Positioning, Looking ahead, Corner Speed, getting better drives out of corners, getting on the gas sooner, standing the bike up sooner from my lean to get on gas sooner etcetera etcetera.
I'm always learning; willing to be corrected in order to learn and improve!

[argh6]

I learned that hanging your @$$ off your bike isn't correct body positioning.
Taking California Superbike School set me straight on Correct and Proper Body Positioning.
To this day, I'm still working on my Body Positioning, Looking ahead, Corner Speed, getting better drives out of corners, getting on the gas sooner, standing the bike up sooner from my lean to get on gas sooner etcetera etcetera.
I'm always learning; willing to be corrected in order to learn and improve!

Make sure you hit a TI2TT trackday! We work on stuff like that every time!:thumbsup:

[pulse]

Make sure you hit a TI2TT trackday! We work on stuff like that every time!:thumbsup:

and follow this guy around.....very fast, super smooth and rarely touches a knee down while other rider go through knee pucks in a day. jerry has good body positioning to learn from:thumbsup:

[itr835]

Make sure you hit a TI2TT trackday! We work on stuff like that every time!:thumbsup:

As I've already mentioned, I've done a few levels Under Keith Code and Company at California Superbike School. I'm planning on doing a TrackDay with my own bike soon. I just recently finished drilling and fitting my new plastics. I'd like to continue working on 'stuff like that' :nerd: so I'll PM you once I'm ready.......with time on my hands and of course, with a little bit of money too! :roflmao:
I may also talk to MelBel regarding this matter since she also runs with TI2TT right? And she works nearby my Apartment in San Marcos. :thumbsup:

[itr835]

and follow this guy around.....very fast, super smooth and rarely touches a knee down while other rider go through knee pucks in a day. jerry has good body positioning to learn from:thumbsup:

Right on Jared! I'm not one to go out there just to get my knee down and go through pucks. I wanna go out there to continue improving and not to necessarily race around and be the fastest. I just want to get riding down correctly and have fun. I guess Trackdays are much cheaper than taking Schools so I'll do that soon. :thumbsup:

[veejay]

easy on the front brakes when you're in the dirt on slicks

[GPTECHMAN]

Bengt will run you off the track when scared...

[brakstad]

Bengt will run you off the track when scared...

Ah, common now! Don't give me a bad rep just because I squeezed you a little :roflmao: There was still some room for you, we have video proof! Speaking of videos, quit it with these dumba$$ posts and finish the highlight reel already :hammer:

[argh6]

Ah, common now! Don't give me a bad rep just because I squeezed you a little :roflmao: There was still some room for you, we have video proof! Speaking of videos, quit it with these dumba$$ posts and finish the highlight reel already :hammer:


Yeah Sean, I know, but he'll B**** out if you just shove him out of the way!!!:hammer: :roflmao:

Then again, I think he'd low-side himself just to take me out, so nevermind what I just said, Bengt is the man!!!