Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong

Buell 1125 · Jul 21, 2011

So about 2 times each track day I usually end up in the grass. I don't know if its me getting scared I'm not going to make the turn half way through or what it is but no matter what I always end up on the grass at least once a track day. Here is a video of me going into the grass, i hope this helps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZWIcK2pMHg

Heartlesspinto · Jul 21, 2011

You're pussying out. I can see your head come up in the reflection of the speedometer right as you roll off the throttle and steer for the grass. You are literally steering for the grass.

Buell 1125 · Jul 21, 2011

yea i need to stop getting so scared mid turn like that. so should i give it more gas and lean the bike over more to make the turn next time i think im not gonna make it?

Heartlesspinto · Jul 21, 2011

Dude, i'm a new rider and even i know that you already know the answer to that and what you're doing wrong. Even in your other video you said in the description that you "panicked." You know you can make those turns.

Xian_13 · Jul 21, 2011

I am going to go off on a limb...
Where are you looking, when you go off into the grass?

I would wager, you are not continuing to look through the turn!

You are by far better off trying to make the turn and crashing...
Then giving up and riding in the grass.
Keep looking where you want to go, like a football field ahead of where you are!

-X

Dug2 · Jul 21, 2011

the best thing i can tell you is "trust more" the bike has more ability than you.

marshall skloss told me once; dont stop riding the bike until yer face is either on
track or in the grass................and then......still try.

i not one for werds of wisdom, but it seems you give in to fear.

plotts · Jul 21, 2011

I have never saw running off as an option. A good friend of mine used to run off all the time. I told him to ride like it isn't an option, low side or make the turn. He hasn't run off since. Just need to change your mind set. You are more likely to crash doing what you are doing then just looking through the corner and making it stick.

Good luck, you'll get there.

Buell 1125 · Jul 21, 2011

yea i guess i am my own worst enemy. it does make more sense to just go for it rather than give up mid turn. i think i need to look further through the turn too.

Pilotx1 · Jul 21, 2011

take your time and work with a coach, your lines are pretty lax thru those corners that we saw.

your setup thru 4 and into 5 also never seemed to differentiate the 2 corners leading to you early apexing 5 and pointint you into the grass.

xian13 is likely correct as well with where are you looking. you need to be looking where you want to be not at what the bike happens to be pointed at

Buell 1125 · Jul 21, 2011

yea i have so much trouble with the end of turn 3 i think its called the bus stop. that giant concrete square in the middle screws me up every time. which is probably causing me to mess up the setup on turn 4

Germany · Jul 22, 2011

Don't look at the road right in front of you, yes the bus stop is a bit weird, but that concrete patch is actually grippier than the rest of the track, if you are on the perfect line, you will not hit it...
Look for someone to follow, a CR! They can show you the lines you should use.

Running off is like jumping out of a window, you might get lucky on the first floor but on the 5th, it will hurt... Make it your rule to stay on track what ever you have to do.

Try to slow down until you make the perfect turn, than start picking up the speed with holding the line, use your body to steer the bike, lean off to the side and the bike will turn better.

the guy infront of you takes that turn slower and seems to have his bike more tipped to the side. try to find a balance in speed, leanangle and the perfect line.

Nexus · Jul 22, 2011

Also if you are getting scared you are also probably going to fast for what you can handle safely.:2cents:

$2000 for the SV

Kegger · Jul 22, 2011

Germany said:
Don't look at the road right in front of you, yes the bus stop is a bit weird, but that concrete patch is actually grippier than the rest of the track, if you are on the perfect line, you will not hit it...

Also, when you get there, you should already be looking at the next turn, not down at that patch. If you look left you will go left, if you look right you will go right, if you look down...................

Germany · Jul 22, 2011

If I read that right, you are doing the next Wednesday at BHF. If so look for Steve Alexander aka G2G, he is a CR. Ask him to show you a good line and also explain to him what your problem is, he is a excelent coach for BHF and can help you get you past your problem

Xian_13 · Jul 22, 2011

Germany said:
...
Look for someone to follow, a CR!...

Not to split hairs here... (Which means, that is exactly what I am going to do)

I almost always advocate following a CR.
Just not with this situation.

If you would follow a CR to learn his line, you are going to just watch the CR.
The minute the CR is not there, you will be accustom to going faster... Then you will still freak out and go off into the grass... but now faster.

Definitely work with an instructor.
Have them assess you.
I just fear having them tow you, will lead to a crash.

-X

Germany · Jul 22, 2011

Xian_13 said:
Not to split hairs here... (Which means, that is exactly what I am going to do)

I almost always advocate following a CR.
Just not with this situation.

If you would follow a CR to learn his line, you are going to just watch the CR.
The minute the CR is not there, you will be accustom to going faster... Then you will still freak out and go off into the grass... but now faster.

Definitely work with an instructor.
Have them assess you.
I just fear having them tow you, will lead to a crash.

-X

You are right. I meant that... good CRs do that, don't they? At least all the good guy's that helped me... first follow, than lead, and than follow again if possible...

eE jeremy · Jul 22, 2011

I've been riding track for 4 seasons now and have run off the track ONCE, and that was because I was in a tank slapper and physically could not control the bike to make the turn. Making the corner is almost always and option, and if you are running off once per trackday you need to take a step back and calm down before you hurt yourself. You should never be scared out there, take it easy, work on the fundamentals and getting comfortable, if you are always running around the track scared you are:
1) A danger to yourself and others,
2) Not going to learn as quickly because you wont be concentrating on improving, but rather gritting your teeth ever corner wondering if you're going to make it.
3) Not doing something right, either not looking through the corner, or don't have confidence in either yourself or the bike.

Only you can Identify what the problem is, why are you standing it up and running off, once you know why you're doing it, figure out the fix. No confidence in the tires? Get new tires. No confidence in the bike? Get the bike fixed or looked at by someone you trust. Ttarget fixating? Go slower and focus on picking up your visual reference marks and looking through the corners. Riding over your head? Slow down.

Next time out, make it priority 1 to keep yourself and your bike under control all day, this means no running off the track.

Buell 1125 · Jul 22, 2011

yea i think it is all mental. i am not scared by any means on the track, and i definitely trust my bike and tires, i think my problem is not looking through the corners all the way and target fixation. my last session of the day i went out there saying i was going to go at a relaxed pace to finish the day and was going to try to keep the bike more upright because i was scraping the crap out of my toe sliders and the rear was sliding on me. looking at the video it ended up being my fastest session of the day. i think i get a little ahead of myself out there once i start to "feel it". i definintely need to work on my lines too. i know the white dots are on the track but sometimes they are hard to see.

eE jeremy · Jul 22, 2011

Buell 1125 said:
yea i think it is all mental. i am not scared by any means on the track, and i definitely trust my bike and tires, i think my problem is not looking through the corners all the way and target fixation. my last session of the day i went out there saying i was going to go at a relaxed pace to finish the day and was going to try to keep the bike more upright because i was scraping the crap out of my toe sliders and the rear was sliding on me. looking at the video it ended up being my fastest session of the day. i think i get a little ahead of myself out there once i start to "feel it". i definintely need to work on my lines too. i know the white dots are on the track but sometimes they are hard to see.

Sounds like you've got a lot to work on, your toes should not be hitting, check your foot position on the pegs. When is your rear sliding out? Unless you are really haulin' the mail you should not be spinning up the rear on an SV. Get with a CR next time out, I'd hate to see you hit the ground because of something preventable.

DieselBoy · Jul 22, 2011

no worries man, it happens. There is a name to this phenomena , if my English allows , it's called brainfart ....

Had one a month ago . went of the track in turn 2 at BHF. so get it over with and don't overalyze but do think about wtf your toes are dragging as 'tis is much more serious.

Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong

Buell 1125

Heartlesspinto

Buell 1125

Heartlesspinto

Xian_13

Dug2

plotts

Buell 1125

Pilotx1

Buell 1125

Germany

Nexus

Kegger

Germany

Xian_13

Germany

eE jeremy

Buell 1125

eE jeremy

DieselBoy

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