Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

During the ride on Sunday, we hooked up with another mate and his partner. They both ride BMW's, he a K1200S and she an F800ST. She rides well within her limits and is smooth and safe. He, unfortunately, is an accident waiting to happen. (According to my mate, he bins a bike about every 12 months or so!!) I sat behind him for a little while as it was obvious he wanted to lead. He would blast past on the straights. After he passed me on about the 5th straight, I decided to not pass him in the next set of corners, but rather sit behind and watch the action! And action aplenty it was!!! He proceeded to run wide on almost every left hander, to the point where on one occasion and oncoming car had to move over into the dirt to avoid him. On right handers he was entering way too shallow and thus, using half of the oncoming lane once again!!! Again, a car had to pull into the dirt to avoid him (Ablood big 4wd it was too, he was lucky not to get collected!!).

Any way, my point is that for the newer players, road positioning and corner entries are paramount to a safe, fast, fun and ejoyable ride! If it is a right hander, we should be somewhere in the left hand part of the left hand lane and if a right hander, then as far to the right of the left hand lane as possible!! Anyway, there are millions of roadcraft tips which the members in here might possibly offer, so I thought I would open it up for others thoughts....!

i know my corner entry points arent ideal all the time, occasionally i ride beyond my capabilities (cue video from superbikes ) but mostly it just limits my corner speed.

and believe it or not marty im always thinking to myself in my head " now where would marty be turning in from?" because having unsuccessfully tried to watch u form behind, i know your lines are pretty safe and also quick

"But maaaaate whadabout the racing lines i see those Gp blokes usin mate. Thats how all my mates ride and they are sick riders bro......"

A quote from a bloke I put through a learner course once.

You're spot on though Marty. Keep it wide on entry and tight on the exit always means you've got buffer tp play with on the exit, plus the old slow in, fast out is the way to go. Unfortunately not a lot of riders get it.

Six Addict wrote:" now where would marty be turning in from?" because having unsuccessfully tried to watch u form behind, i know your lines are pretty safe and also quick

The only problem with that theory is that Marty's usually entering from the wrong side of the road as he goes around you into a corner ...but at least he's wide and can see a long way through the corner that way.

I try and follow 4 rules.

1. If I don't hammer the straight bit, I don't fark up on the brakes and miss the corner
2. Enter wide, and at apex my head is within the configns of my lane
3. Slow in, not quite so slow out is safe - I can learn to increase entry speed of a particular corner with practice - IT DOES NOT WORK THE OTHER WAY ROUND
4. If I am not confortable with the pace, slow down - I'd rather be slower than the guy in front than be the guy who bins it from trying too hard.

what the fark is that guy thinkin...I'd suggest it's not just a riding problem..

Id suggest his problem is more a mental condition like little man syndrome or similar !

BMW rider syndrome???

Strika wrote:If it is a right hander, we should be somewhere in the left hand part of the left hand lane and if a right hander, then as far to the right of the left hand lane as possible!!

There's two options there for right handers, but what about heading left?

Six Addict wrote:i know my corner entry points arent ideal all the time, occasionally i ride beyond my capabilities (cue video from superbikes ) but mostly it just limits my corner speed.

and believe it or not marty im always thinking to myself in my head " now where would marty be turning in from?" because having unsuccessfully tried to watch u form behind, i know your lines are pretty safe and also quick

Having watched it all a few times over now (still working on the editing ) I can say that there actually isn't too much that's bad on the video mate, and most importantly you knew when you were pushing a bit and eased off. There's always room for improvement though, and when I finally get the video out you'll get a lot of value from watching your lines and those of the other guys and seeing where you can improve things


....and trust me, you'll get to watch yourself a bit because you seemed to keep popping up in front of me

Mick C wrote:

Six Addict wrote:i know my corner entry points arent ideal all the time, occasionally i ride beyond my capabilities (cue video from superbikes ) but mostly it just limits my corner speed.

and believe it or not marty im always thinking to myself in my head " now where would marty be turning in from?" because having unsuccessfully tried to watch u form behind, i know your lines are pretty safe and also quick

Having watched it all a few times over now (still working on the editing ) I can say that there actually isn't too much that's bad on the video mate, and most importantly you knew when you were pushing a bit and eased off. There's always room for improvement though, and when I finally get the video out you'll get a lot of value from watching your lines and those of the other guys and seeing where you can improve things


....and trust me, you'll get to watch yourself a bit because you seemed to keep popping up in front of me

some of my friends will tell you the camera always seems to find me

im gonna be hanging for a copy of the dvd mate!!! its a tops effort on your part... might have to buy myself a camera

hoffy wrote:what the fark is that guy thinkin...I'd suggest it's not just a riding problem..

Id suggest his problem is more a mental condition like little man syndrome or similar !

It's funny you say that Hoff!!! I just got back from having a bite to eat with Dangerous Dave. He knows this guy better than me and a few years ago, was at a Suzuki ride day at the Island. Another mate of ours was with Suzuki at the time and as the ride day was not heavily booked, he invited Dangerous Dave and this other guy down to fill in seats on sessions where there were spare bikes. Just to make it look well patronised.

The first time they go out, they only got to Honda, before the red mist descended in front of this guy. He went screaming up the inside of Dangerous Dave into Honda. Dave was already at near full pace for cold tyres and this guy shot up the inside of him at a million gazelles and then proceeded to run off into the gravel. He luckily kept the bike upright! It was Suzuki's Australias bike naturally!

When Dangerous got back into the pits, he had a little go at him about it. Basically asked "What the fuck were you thinking?" His reply was indicative of his personality. ....."I just couldn't help myself....I had to be in front..."!!!!!!!!! Idiot! Ambitions and abilities. They shouldn't be mixed up!!!

Strika wrote: Ambitions and abilities. They shouldn't be mixed up!!!

hit the nail on the head Marty

robracer wrote:

Strika wrote: Ambitions and abilities. They shouldn't be mixed up!!!

hit the nail on the head Marty

Yeah...this is one thing I just don't get. All throughout my riding, from a beginner knowing nothing, to now knowing a little about riding, I have always just tipped my lid to anyone faster. Usually I just think to myself one of two things. 1. Boy can that guy/girl ride....one day maybe I can do that with more experience and practice....... or 2. Boy that guy/girl is brave......I wonder how far up the road before I have to stop and pick up the bits!!

One thing I never do though is try and keep up with, or in front of, a rider who is obviously faster than me. Usually I just ride normally, with a little bit more room on my right, for them to pass me whenever they damn well feel like it!!!

I actually enjoy it when someone who is faster than me is riding with me. I like to hook onto the back of them and watch what they do that makes them do quick! Which leads me to something else, which I might drag out an old thread and post it in that!

Two names that come to my attension Dennis and dory ?????.If thats the case i have never seen dennis going that far over the top,mostly as he is behind me,but on the odd time i have followed him he seems reasonably in control.And yep i never have any itension of passing you marti when your on the go

z900/zx9 wrote:Two names that come to my attension Dennis and dory ?????.If thats the case i have never seen dennis going that far over the top,mostly as he is behind me,but on the odd time i have followed him he seems reasonably in control.And yep i never have any itension of passing you marti when your on the go

Nah not Dennis mate. He tends to keep things in perspective from what I have seen. This was a totally diff person! not one you have met on rides with me previously. As far as passing me goes Mal, I seem to recall a certain orange 9 flying past me on the way from Toolangi to Healesville one day and fecked if I could take it back!!!!!!!