Advice on rider training?

[maraach]

Ok, as the topic states, i am looking for advice on where i can go to learn to ride better.

Basic history is: got my license in 2001. Rode until 2004 when a 'friend' put an end to my riding (long story). At that stage bike was my only means of transport, and i was using it mainly to commute around Sydney, with the occasional weekend trip of around 100km round trip. Sydney traffic in peak hour. I think i mainly learned all about slow speed maneuvering here.

Now, bought a zx9r in May this year (4 year break?), and have put around 2000km's on it so far (all weekend riding). Am really enjoying myself, but figure a bike that good deserves a better rider.

Can anyone suggest anything? I'm doing my best at getting as much saddle time under my belt as i can, and it is helping me get better. However, as i have only done the required training courses i figure there is a lot more i can learn.

I'm extremely nervous about most of the courses i have heard that involve a track, though seeing my lack of experience maybe i need to change this perspective. From all the reports i've heard about my insurance (http://www.insuremyride.com.au) i want to be extremely careful about doing track days or a lot of the training courses as there are numerous people out there who said their claim was denied after they had an accident at one of these.

[fireyrob]

On the track your not covered... In saying that you push yourself and the bike to a level your comfortable with and take plenty of time / space passing people! There are no cars, trees or telegraph poles in your way so its a good way to learn about yourself and what the bike can do! If you push yourself and the bike too hard then yeah of course your going to come into trouble! But then again the damage dropping a bike on a track with run off area as opposed to on the road where it could collect just about anything is entirely different!

As for experience Ive been riding for 5 months and have done a track day on a Ninja 250 & a zx10r! So your well ahead of me in terms of riding experience! A couple of us are doing California Superbike School late this month where they teach you alot about body positioning, braking, cornering, vision, etc etc... So I can't review it yet but been told by MANY that its definately worth it!

[Frank]

I'd check with your insurer, as most of them will still cover you while your on a track AS LONG AS you are doing an advanced rider course and the like, BUT not when you are doing just a normal track day.
A friend of mine had his then new ZX6 taken out by another rider during a California super bike school course at Eastern Creek and his insurance company paid him out, but I'd still check with your insurer.

[mohawk miss]

If you're not keen on the track thing you can try some of the Stay Upright courses. They do, I think, Intermediate and Advanced courses in braking, cornering, etc

Good on you for wanting to learn more. Lots of us are always "gunna do that" but somehow never get around to it.

[shinnynoggon]

look in to STAY UPRIGHT coarse , i too had a 4yr break then got the zx12r , did intermediate coarse that opened my eyes and put me back in the groove cheers paul

[maraach]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I think the stay upright sounds like the first step. I guess the only thing that's stopped me so far is a stupid sense of pride of turning up on a cool bike and riding pretty poorly . A lot my mates ride, and they ride well. I started before a lot of them as well, so in my head i feel like i should be doing alright, but i know they are all better than me. I spend most of my time well behind them on a ride day out watching them decide to scrape their knee's around corners as i just ease off.

Thanks for the advice fireyrob. Just for the general information of all i am probably one of the most conservative (read scared stupid) riders out there. I was hit by a car once when i was younger (21) and a decent stint at St. Vincents taught me a lot about patience when riding a bike. Since then i've probably been a little too hesitant with pushing myself when riding. I just like to take it conservatively as i remember how much that gravel stuff hurts.. especially when you go into a median strip at 70km/h.