Looking for some advice

1257 Views 24 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Champ91, Aug 7, 2002

Nick 600 F3

Discussion Starter · Aug 5, 2002

Hey all,

Well I finally got on a track, ahh I loved it, it was great. We have this technical college up here that has a road course for teaching police officers high speed driving techniques. Anyway, this local racer has arranged to use it for holding mortcycle skills training (track days) courses. Its pretty sweet, he basically ripped of freddy spencer and keith code stuff. We spent most of the day in third gear with no braking, just judging corner speed, conentrating on late entry, quick steering, late apex, smooth throttle, body position, and being relaxed. We had three open sessions where braking and shifting were alowed. The track is pretty cool, you can basically run it in 2nd, shifting into third on the tiny back stright can be done, just reqries extra braking. Its got 16 turns, four of the them are just little short chutes, so really 14 good truns, including one bus stop left hander that could probably be done in first.

I loved it. I had brand new bt010's and I just beat the shit out of them. Chuncks pulled to the edges! I love it. And I nerver really had any serious puker moments.

Oh yea onto my question.

I had a real problem with my lower body weight distribution while leaned over. Now I understand the whole weighting the outside peg on inital turn in for quick steering, but my question is where does you weight fall once leaned over? I really felt like my inside peg was over loaded. The couple time It touched down it seemed to unsettel the bike, perhaps I unloaded the throttle too much. I just feel as though I'm standing on the inside peg. I mentally tried to put my weight on the outside peg but it just doesn't feel like it can be done. I tried to more or less let as much weight fall on my butt, well what was still of it on the seat, however, I still felt as though I was standing on that inside peg. Meantally it was taxing cause I became more and more concerned about it and couldn't get comfortable hanging off. Guys, please shed some light on the proper meathod of hanging off and how to distribute your weight. The instructor sympathised with me and just said it comes with proactice, he is really laid back. SHould the outside be weighted most? SHould you be able to take your inside foot off the peg? Should my legs be soooo sore!!!!!!?????? Thanks.

Sorry for the length, can you tell I loved it????????

Nick

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Odysseys

· #2 · Aug 5, 2002

ride hard on the track will make you feel tierd..no question about it.

try this...when your setting up for a turn...: get your ass off almost to the crack of your ass off the side of the seat to the inside of the turn...counter steer that bitch as you lean into the turn with upper body and stick that knee out. with your other leg use your theigh (sp) and rest it agasint the tank....this helps you hold and relax on the bike while leaned over...then you can slightly weight that outside peg...its more of a resting slightly pressure...not a shove the shit out if it pressure.

this is my method. of fast steering, you countersteer in as you push on the oppisite peg..this helps the bike SNAP faster over.
then once i get that done...its holding on with the outside leg agasint the tank.

it really does take some pratice to feel your body in the right spots..but once you do its like 2nd nature and you dont even think about it.

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phozed

· #3 · Aug 5, 2002

you don't weight the outside peg for quick steering is what I've heard/read/been told (but this is kinda like an oil debate) - best way I remember and apply it is: you weight the inside peg to steer quicker or to initiate a faster turn-in, then weight the outside peg for stability through the turn and if you're really brave (not me) you can get on the gas a lot harder.

Watch Troy Baliss ride, he damn near stomps on the inside peg in the beginning of a turn, but by the end it looks like he's on the outside peg. The STAR instructors said to wedge your outside foot inbetween your clip-ons and frame (or where ever) - but I dunno... that sounds really nasty even if you lowside.

I'm not really concerned with getting my knee out, rather I just try and pivot my body around the gas tank and make sure your head is roughly where your mirror would be. I still do it wrong, but I'm getting better with practice... I think another thing to remember is do what works for you, and experiment - but just look at the different riding styles of the pros and it goes to show you there is more than one right way.

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phozed

· #4 · Aug 5, 2002

one other thing they said at STAR that I really like is when you turn you should only use the handlebars to begin the turn, once you're at lean, all minor line changes should be made with your lower body (weighting pegs and pushing tank w/knee).

KBOlsen

· #5 · Aug 5, 2002

There are a number of different schools of thought on this... in my (very) limited experience I would agree there is no one "right" way. I've been told to keep my head as close as possible to the center of the bars, letting the lower half of my body do the work (one butt cheek off in either direction), ball of the "inside" foot resting on the peg (heel naturally turned into the side of the bike), and the heel of the "outside" foot on its' peg (Rosno suggested this would enable me to have a better "feel" of what the bike was doing, but I haven't yet put the latter part of it into practice). I also try to get all my body adjustments completed before I start braking for the turn - by the time I reach the turn-in point, I'm holding the throttle steady (gently accelerating) and just push in.

cherrypicker

· #6 · Aug 5, 2002

phozed said:
one other thing they said at STAR that I really like is when you turn you should only use the handlebars to begin the turn, once you're at lean, all minor line changes should be made with your lower body (weighting pegs and pushing tank w/knee).

My F4i with M1's on it only requires that I lightly counter steer for turns under 70mph. I use my knees and body weight a lot to steer the bike. I think that's a habit from Mountain biking.

I understand your problem. My knees and hips are realyl sore after on;y a couple sessions. I'm having trouble finding a very natural positon for leanign off. I think i'm not pivoting enough and mostly jsut sitting straight off the bike.

Like everyone has said. It should get better with practice. I think cheap leathers make you a little more sore too since they tend to bind a little.

Odysseys

· #7 · Aug 5, 2002

from what i know I FEEL...countersteering and weighing the inside peg FEELS like its turning it in faster...but i found that by doing it this way...all your really doing is adding more lower weight to the inside as you turn in..YES it feels like it is helping....BUT for ME, ive done it ALOT and really dont like it anymore...i have a feeling its putting to much SLIDE AWAY force on the tires...(like almost throwing it into a double wheel slide) when i am in attack body posistion...pushing off my left peg and pushing my right bar FLICKS me in faster making a right hand turn then inside peg to iside bar.

there is times...when i do weight the inside peg....more so when trying to get more leaned over threw the turn...when i didnt do a really good entry for higherspeeds.

but it still comes down to finding what works for you..

once you have the correct funtamentals.

there is no right or wrong way to do stuff..ITS what works for you and allows you to haul ass smooth and faster then you were before.its takes of lot of trying things

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Nick 600 F3

Discussion Starter · #8 · Aug 5, 2002

Thnaks for all the idea's. From what you have all said I feel I am saftly not on the wrong path

which is good. Practice that's what I need.

t So the really tough question, do I keep the F3 and keep pushing it beyond 16,000 miles, or do I go get an 02 zx6r? I've got the money and I think I'll be getting into a house soon and then will have no money for a new bike, plus by the time that shit is all said and done, the F3 won't be worth squat. I know the 03 is going to be a whole new design, but I like the 02! What to do?

Nick

Odysseys

· #9 · Aug 5, 2002

nahhh just track that bike till the engine blows

Kruz

· #10 · Aug 5, 2002

02ZX6R???? Whatcha smoking? The F3 is a much better track bike....more spare/aftermarket parts. Keep the F3 for the track...sell the plastics for a grand on ebay...and buy some sharkskins. 95 F3 was a popular year...Honda sold a ton...plenty of demand for those plastics.

I like to use the tank/frame as my outside leverage point when turning it in. The outside peg is more of a base from where to apply/lessen pressure.

Champ91

· #11 · Aug 5, 2002

I have found that as my times have come down and I have gotten faster, that I am wieghing down the outside peg while getting half my fas ass off to the inside more. I have also noticed that my upper body is over the tank and not leaning towards the inside. Something I need to work on.

Kruz

· #12 · Aug 5, 2002

Nick.....
<<<<<<<<<<<<< see picture

Odysseys

· #13 · Aug 5, 2002

ill use myself....this is BAD corner taking...not leaning off the bike, not adjusting my weight, not good head posture...i musta been just playing around in this pic and not hitting it that hard.

but this pic shows...basicly some moron just steering threw the corner

Odysseys

· #14 · Aug 5, 2002

this one is better....ass off the seat, knee out, feeling for that comfort lean agle spot to know where i am..body posture good, head over good elbows and shoulder good, outside knee braced agasint the tank..and i am comfortable

cherrypicker

· #15 · Aug 5, 2002

Odysseys said:
ill use myself....this is BAD corner taking...not leaning off the bike, not adjusting my weight, not good head posture...i musta been just playing around in this pic and not hitting it that hard.

but this pic shows...basicly some moron just steering threw the corner

And that's different than any other time... how? :twofinger

VIVID1

· #16 · Aug 5, 2002

Wow... Nick is doing track now??? that's everybody now. we're all hooked, spending the money.

Nick, I also say keep the HONDA... and get some leathers.

Nick 600 F3

Discussion Starter · #17 · Aug 6, 2002

Michael said:
I would guess Nick doesn't have the cash to just throw away an f4i to the track and just go buy a new bike, like you do! :twofinger

Only in my dreams :twofinger

By the way, congrats on the RC51 John, oh yea also congrats on most improved rider of the year award. I still remeber the first time I met John, it was on a starved rock run last summer, he had the biggest chicken strips I'd ever seen on a bike. I must say I have been throughly impressed watching you improve to a rider I would surley take asvice from :thumbsup

Nick 600 F3

Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 6, 2002

Thanks all for the thoughts on body position. I surley have something to work on next time out.

Oh and thanks for the thoughts on keeping the F3. Soo, shark skins, hmm where might I find those??

Anna, Are we not going to see you up here this weekend? Neal has been trying to get a hold of you. Oh and as far as the track goes I have been trying to get out there since the very begingin of this summer, last weekend was just the first time my busy ass domesticated lifstyle would allow it, ugggggggg!!!!!! I think a hitch on my jeep and some trips to brenard and mid aremica are in order for next summer

KBOlsen

· #19 · Aug 6, 2002

www.sharkskinz.com

Kruz

· #20 · Aug 6, 2002

I would guess Nick doesn't have the cash to just throw away an f4i to the track and just go buy a new bike, like you do!

Keep up the hard work Mikey, someday you too, can afford such a collection .. :twofinger

Nick...
Most improved rider? Thanks... For the record, my F4i was brand new on that Starved Rock trip; of course it had chicken strips. Actually now I drive like a girl on the street, fast on the track. Complete opposite from a two years ago. I did make some leaps on the track.

Don't pay full price on the skins whatever you do. You don't have to get actual Sharkskins either (they are the most expensive). I bought mine from Matt Drucker www.mdracingstp.com for $800 shipped to my door in 5 days. Give him a call...tell him John Krasucki referred you. He'll hoook you up (I think between myself, Dave, and Ryan he has enough to put three kids through college) I needed them fast a paid a little more. The other brands would have taken a few weeks for about $100 less. I got the supersport skins, thats what you want too, so you can use your seat. I also got the pre-rivited holes with D-rings. Put your stock plastics on Ebay...you should get a grand easy if they are in good shape.

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