| Author |
Message |
    
Alfau
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2012 - 11:33 pm: | 
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I just now in the last couple of day got my bike back after having major work done. Engine rebuild amongst other things. In particular new steering head bearings. To cut a long story short the steering head bearings were adjusted just a tweek away from correct but in reality too tight. What a different feel that has created to the bike.
It doesn't have to be major to upset the apple cart..wheel alignment is vital also tyre pressure, huge factors.
Interestingly if the ignition timing is out just a smidge it can create the effect of lack of engine break. all making one feel insecure..
What a fantastic hobby.
ABOVE ALL ELSE "Stay focused".
(Message edited by alfau on January 20, 2012) |
Zane
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 12:46 am: |
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Alfau,
I feel a lot better now. At least I haven't driven down a manhole yet... |
Azxb9r
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 01:37 am: |
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Riding skills seem to come and go from day to day. There are some days that I am one with the bike and flow like water, and other days that I just cant get comfortable on the bike and spend the whole ride fighting with it. I have the same problem with mountain biking and skiing also...some days are just better than others.
If you think your problem is technique related, try reading Lee Parks book Total Control. It has a lot of good advice and exercises to work out the bugs. |
Mark_weiss
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 04:58 am: |
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Like any other skill, sometimes you just have a slump. Some take longer to get out of than others.
Maybe it's due to living over on the west side. All those straight gridded farm roads do nothing for cornering skills.
Better than MSF's BRC-2, see if you can find a site running the new Advanced RiderCourse. I'm not certain that any school in the Phoenix area has it available though. Might need to go to Pima College in Tucson. |
Milt
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 10:30 am: |
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The two pass algorithm for fast cornering: Go fast enough to wipe out, then a little slower. |
86129squids
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 12:42 pm: |
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Zane- do you have any other bikes to ride? If you do, maybe changing things up would help...
I've been wanting a D/S to get dirty with- I'm fully aware that if I did, my riding skills overall would improve. Used to have a Shovelhead- switching from the XB to that old contraption would automatically "ping" my reset button, especially for lean angles...
Hate to hear that 35 miles out and back didn't help... didja take familiar roads? I will say, reading your posts to date, it sounds like you're having a mental/visualization problem...
Go rent, no BUY, the World's Fastest Indian... just for the "feel-good" factor.
Good luck! |
Bob_thompson
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 01:29 pm: |
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I really can not add much more here then has already been said and what great comments they are but will emphasize for me, at 70 years old, I have stayed really fit (strong, attentive, with good reflexes and dexterity) by eating healthy, working out regularly and keeping the mind highly active.
Then when I ride my 1125R, fairly aggressively, in these canyons dicing it up with my son on his SV1000, or just cruising, its 110% focus when riding and a good nights sleep before, along with a good healthy breakfast and never leaving the house angry or with my mind focused on anything else except the ride. And, of course, using my favorite saying, "we ride today for tomorrows ride". Also always remembering that I'm not 25 anymore. Without saying ATGATT always, every ride no matter how short.
So here's hoping for at least one more riding year. Is this a great country, or what? Still lovin' life. Stay safe all. Bob
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Zane
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 02:49 pm: |
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Squids,
I've seen "The Fastest Indian" four or five times. Simply a great movie.
The only other bike I have or can afford is my 10 speed. Maybe I should use it to go back to the basics.
On my last ride I tried to pay more attention to my riding technique. I did notice I’m not looking through the turns near enough. That’s part of the problems. I’m also not leaning enough in the turns. I’ve got an express way near me that has some big sweeping entrance/exit ramps. Plan to use those to work on leaning properly. There is also a high school parking lot not far from where I live. It has a nice big open space to practice. When in doubt, go back to the basics.
Bob,
Where is that road? When I get passed all this, I should treat myself and run it a couple of times. |
Bob_thompson
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2012 - 03:17 pm: |
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Zane, to be honest I just pulled that from my photo files. I do not know where that one is but the one I like here most of all is called Wolf Creek pass (In Utah not the one in Colorado). It is about 60 miles long with never more then a 1/4 mile straight and many 80-90 mph sweepers and very similar to the one pictured. Virtually no LEO's and wide shoulders. It runs from Francis Ut. to Hanna Ut. and the summit is at about 8800 ft. It is beautiful. Find it here: "www.canyonchasers.net/maps" As you can see we have many to choose from and always have a canyon to run. I believe the one pictured I ran one time in Idaho. |
Just_ziptab
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 - 10:55 am: |
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Lay a 2x6 on the sidewalk and walk the length of it.....pretty easy.
Lay the same 2x6 on top of a ten foot wall and walk the length of it.Not so easy....but it becomes easier with repetition..... |
Zane
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 - 11:23 am: |
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So true, Ziptab, so true.
I've got a nice ride picked out for today. Good mix of some straight roads, some mild corners and elevation change. Plan to run through it a couple of times and try not to hit any open manholes. Gonna focus on looking out farther in the turns and smoother breaking to a stop.
Some times the only thing to do is keep on keepin' on. |
Mr_grumpy
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 - 12:37 pm: |
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Don't think too much, your body & brain know a lot more than you give them credit for sometimes. |
Moxnix
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 - 01:19 pm: |
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Cook books, sex manuals, riding technique guides. And then there is instinct developed with on the job training. |
Etennuly
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 - 09:23 pm: |
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What I know about this is that it is all about how you feel.....and what your spouse will let you do.
My father-in-law sold his last road bike at 70 because he and his wife decided he was too old to ride. So after a ten year lay off he was bored. For his 80th birthday he and his wife bought him a Goldwing trike and they have done over 10,000 miles on it over the past three years and loving it. |
Brumbear
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 - 09:29 pm: |
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I have good and bad days but the thought of a bad skill day riding, is still more appealing to me than a good day at work |
Buellathebuzzer
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - 07:33 am: |
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Some one brought up a good point in another thread (http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/406 2/666025.html?1327408108). A good way to learn about something or develop your skills, is to teach it. IT people do this all the time. Coaching in an MSF course would mean more bike time specifically focusing on your skills and interacting with others in a learning environment does as much for the coach/instructor as it does for the student. |
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