how can I get better?

[tuningfork]

What I would recommend doing is taking a MSF course. You will learn a lot there. Not sure if they have any classes right now.

+1, but I see you are in the UK...so that might be difficult. Funny enough, the back of the owners manual has some very good parking lot drills for riding practice, similar to the MSF drills.

IMO this bike has really good handling (without much hanging off BTW), just takes practice and seat time. :thumbup:

 

[Cuba]

If you haven't taken the MSF basic course do it. If you have, take the experience course. Both are free, both are great at teaching basic and semi advanced techniques. Highly recommended by all.

Track days are great but expensive. You need a full suit which isn't cheap, plus the cost of the track day. I would say do the MSF first.

On your own do what these guys are recommending. If you know of a roundabout in your area that is deserted at certain times (think mall that is closed in the mornings) or just a big empty parking lot in good condition you can gradually add speed while riding in a circle, keep leaning more. It's safer since you won't suddenly be surprised to find random debris in the corner, you won't be entering too fast since you are gradually adding speed, and there shouldn't be traffic to worry about. You will be in a constant lean so you'll have a lot of time to get the feel of it. Just don't over do it with speed, build your confidence.

 

[nimzotech]

While I recommend the MSF course, they will not teach you proper leaning technique. The basic course had us do donut circles, figure 8s, rapid breaking, weaving around cones. Just your basic but usefull skills. I too am thinking about taking a track day begginer's lesson, but am turning away based on the amount prep work that needs to be done to the bike before hand; fluids drain, taking mirrors off, etc.

 

[Layne5150]

One way to get rid of some of that fear, but not to much is to look far as you can to the end of the turn. When you can, even look through the corner, far as you can again to where you are heading. Looking far ahead will make you feel as if you are going slower in the turn. It will help with your line also. Dont worry about going over the lines if your going to fast/slow, your periferials (spelling?) will take care of that and not let you do it.

A good way to get your bike leaned over is to countersteer. If you are going in a straight line, and you push your right bar forward/pull left bar back, you will lean your bike to the right. If you push your left bar forward/pull on right bar, you will lean left. It seems backwards, but it really works, try it going down the road with no cars. Just start off by doing it easy, then soon you will be swerving back and forth like they do to warm up the tires in the races. After you have this mastered, you can use it to lean over in the turns.

In my opinion this is a perfect description of how to corner. Sounds like someone has done some instructor duty on a riding course or really paid attention when they took one.

 

[abraxas]

Getting on a track is exactly what you need to do. Problem with track days is while you don't want to win any records, it seems like everyone else does.

What i took away from track days, that i apply to just about any corner is very simple:

Slow - all your slowing must happen before the corner, get to a comfy pace
Look - look through the corner, find where you want to go
Lean - into the corner, you're going slow, so no frights, just be smooth
Roll - roll on the power slowly, feel the bike respond

Hope it helps

 

[multiplicity]

Wow guys, thanks for all he comments. This is why I love this forum - really good advice with little, or no, sarcasm! Cheers Again.

I can't really go on a trackday bacause I think that you need full racing gear which I don't have. I also maintain that they are geared more towards learning how to ride quickly which I have no desire to do. I can't imagine me turning up there saying "well, I don't really want to go much faster than 40 please" would go down too well with the other riders in my group!!!

I will look into the links mentioned.

I live in Beckenham, Kent. Not Beckingham - Sorry, I don't even know where that is?

The best way I've learned to corner (ie lean) so far is to follow faster motorcyclists for a while and keep up with them round corners (I'm talking within my comfort zone obviously - and because I generally only ride my bike while commuting it's always below 40 mph) I watch them lean and think "wow, that was quite far" then next thing I've followed them round on the same line and kept up with them, so maybe I do lean further than I think - it just doesn't feel to far when I'm actually doing it??

Cheers

 

[mstewar1]

Wow guys, thanks for all he comments. This is why I love this forum - really good advice with little, or no, sarcasm! Cheers Again.

I can't really go on a trackday bacause I think that you need full racing gear which I don't have. I also maintain that they are geared more towards learning how to ride quickly which I have no desire to do. I can't imagine me turning up there saying \"well, I don't really want to go much faster than 40 please\" would go down too well with the other riders in my group!!!
...

Ah ha! The truth comes out, you're guilty of riding without gear, shame shame. Just had to make sure we met the correct quota of sarcasm per thread.

Abraxas broke it down really well.

I'd add: Keep your body "quiet but active". You don't have to get all motogp or anything (leaning way off) but being aware of your points of contact is a great place to start. Hands lightly, yet confidently, on the grips, elbows slightly up and active, head and eyes looking where you want to go (as opposed to looking right where you are! you're already there, why would you want to look there? Look ahead...), head and eyes parallel with the horizon, your behind sliding slightly side to side on the saddle, and the balls of your feet on the pegs.

If you watch the pro's ride you notice that they all, even the guys at the back of the pack, keep their bikes as smooth and stable as they can throughout the turns. And the turns are where the fun is!

Now go get some gear...

 

[fz6nick]

In my opinion this is a perfect description of how to corner. Sounds like someone has done some instructor duty on a riding course or really paid attention when they took one.

nope! Just learned from my dad. He was a very very avid canyon rider back in the late 80s, early 90's. Rode a hurricane600.

I could still use some track days tho, It would help tons, then everything ive read in Twist of the Wrist II would come to life.

 

[multiplicity]

I've got all the gear (probably more than I need) but for a track day I thought you needed a full racing, 1 piece suit??

The only problem I can forsee with looking way ahead is surely you need to know you're not about to run over a manhole cover, or some dodgy bit of loose tarmac?

 

[Fred]

Most track days have relaxed rules on armor. It doesn't need to be a set of one piece leathers. Check with your local track day organizers, they'll set you straight.

 

[mstewar1]

From my experience, organizers of track days want you to wear protective gear, which doesn't necessarily or always mean leathers. I wore my joe rocket textile suit and there were plenty of folks in aerostich suits. Really glad to hear you've got gear.

As far as the looking ahead notion, I didn't mean that far. My bad for not being clear.

The idea is that your eyes scan the roadway constantly. The important point is to not look just a few feet in front of your tire, that's a sure way to go slow. The notion of target fixation comes into play if we do that. Stare at something in the road the next time you're out and see if you don't just run straight over it. Allow your eyes to scan your path but don't stop looking up and ahead. You'll be amazed at how much smoother you'll become if you trust your ability to see and process what's important, set yourself on your line accordingly, dismiss the object and trust your ability to follow the path you chose, and repeat.

This may very well save your bacon one day, too. Developing the habit of seeing and processing, without undue or excessive focus, will get you in the habit of seeing where else you can go if something suddenly appears because you're constantly scanning, looking for a desirable line.

I hope this helps/is clearer.

 

[Shinn]

Key with turning is to be within your comfort level. It sounds like you know all about counter steering, and if you do not, that is what you need to learn ASAP. A motorcycle will go where you look, it is tried and tested, so always look into a turn. Lean angle will come with practice, you do not even have to be leaning off of the FZ6 to get some pretty scary angles. Infact, leaning in heavier traffic is worse as it takes away some control if you need to hit the brakes hard (once had an experience with a moose...). In response to your manhole/debris comment, if you notice things before hand, it gives you even more time to respond and take the appropiate counter measures.

As previous posters have said, books can help, and some courses, but the best thing you can do is keep riding. In time it will come and you will feel more and more confident.

As for track days, they do help quite a bit, but yes, you need full gear (as in full leather, or at least that is what is like here in my part of Canada). As well, your bike needs to be preped properly, which takes quite a bit of time if you have never done it before.

 

[steveindenmark]

Go and get professional track instruction.

You cannot read about it and then go and do it correctly, it does not work that way.

Steve