Discussion
After nearly 2 weeks and 160 miles later since collecting the Gixxer6 k7, I feel that my riding has come on leaps and bounds. Running it in can be a bit frustrating (under 8k revs for first 600 miles), but I suppose it's a good thing as I want to scrub the tyres properly and not want to kiss the tarmac whilst doing it *touch wood*. Done a combo of wet/dry miles to get the confidence up which is also useful.
Though I'm getting more confident of applying more lean angle as the tyres are more scrubbed in, not that I'm ready to go the knee down stuff just yet but at how many miles in would you say it's safe to do so?
I've heard that California Superbike School or Ron Haslam day would be ideal to get the confidence up and to brush up on cornering technique. Something that I'll do in time...not sure if it's best to focus on the road riding this year before doing any track stuff as I want to practice as much as possible with my bike before any track riding
Though I'm getting more confident of applying more lean angle as the tyres are more scrubbed in, not that I'm ready to go the knee down stuff just yet but at how many miles in would you say it's safe to do so?
I've heard that California Superbike School or Ron Haslam day would be ideal to get the confidence up and to brush up on cornering technique. Something that I'll do in time...not sure if it's best to focus on the road riding this year before doing any track stuff as I want to practice as much as possible with my bike before any track riding
depends how experianced you are?
i have been riding bikes since my early teens (i'm now 33)
i generaly start a new set of tyres as if riding in the wet nice and steady and very smooth then gradually build the pace up untill full attack ... there is no "set amount" of miles
i have been known to scub a pair of tyres in fully within 20 miles, then be dragging the footpegs withought a problem
just go steady and build up the lean angle and corner speed gradualy and dont blame me if you slip off
take care
i have been riding bikes since my early teens (i'm now 33)
i generaly start a new set of tyres as if riding in the wet nice and steady and very smooth then gradually build the pace up untill full attack ... there is no "set amount" of miles
i have been known to scub a pair of tyres in fully within 20 miles, then be dragging the footpegs withought a problem
just go steady and build up the lean angle and corner speed gradualy and dont blame me if you slip off
take care
Edited by y2blade on Wednesday 16th April 11:47
I wouldn't think it's neccesary to apply that much lean on the road anyway...just wanted to know in case I decided to do some track riding - once I've built enough bike experience.
Having only started motorbiking last summer at the grand old age of 30, I've got plenty to learn so won't want to drop the bike or interact with the scenery anytime soon
Having only started motorbiking last summer at the grand old age of 30, I've got plenty to learn so won't want to drop the bike or interact with the scenery anytime soon
When you get new tyres, they always tell you to take it easy fior the first few miles. I wiouldn't think it'd take myuch more than that. Regarding lean angles, you won't (or really shouldn't) be getting silly angles on the road.
It it's knee down action you're after get some track days booked.
CSS won't be teaching you how to do this.
Re New tyres - I was having a training day with Simon Crafar in Spain last December. I was on fire on the 750, and was getting both knees well into the ground. I wasn't riding the bike, more like hanging onto it...It was great. He came out after lunch declaring that he'd have to take it easy for 3 laps or so, as he had new slicks on that were cold. Ok, I say. Well, he was on an R1 and I managed to stay with him for oooooh, I'd say 400 yards! He wanted to scrub the tyres in and get them up to temperature. Mate, he just dissappeared so fast it was ridiculous. Got intop the puts and I suggested that he had forgotten that he had new tyres on....he hadn't, and said that he WAS taking it easy!
It it's knee down action you're after get some track days booked.
CSS won't be teaching you how to do this.
Re New tyres - I was having a training day with Simon Crafar in Spain last December. I was on fire on the 750, and was getting both knees well into the ground. I wasn't riding the bike, more like hanging onto it...It was great. He came out after lunch declaring that he'd have to take it easy for 3 laps or so, as he had new slicks on that were cold. Ok, I say. Well, he was on an R1 and I managed to stay with him for oooooh, I'd say 400 yards! He wanted to scrub the tyres in and get them up to temperature. Mate, he just dissappeared so fast it was ridiculous. Got intop the puts and I suggested that he had forgotten that he had new tyres on....he hadn't, and said that he WAS taking it easy!
im doing my cbt at 39 In my supersport/superstock days i would put a new set in for each race, warm up laps was 1-2 laps was enough to scrub them in, they were on tyre warmers for at least an hour before hand though. No warmers and new tyres lethal! this is where you have to scrub them in gently, otherwise the top layer of rubber heats up faster than the rubber underneath and you will suffer cold tear.
y2blade said:
hornetrider said:
Don't know about anyone else but I've never got my knee down - but I scrape the pegs on a regular basis and never get left behind!
i very rearly get my knee down unless doing it for the sake of it..mostly i just get the pegs down i dont get left behind either
hornetrider said:
Don't know about anyone else but I've never got my knee down - but I scrape the pegs on a regular basis and never get left behind!
Thing that I've learnt is that the only difference then, is your body positioning. I 'm not going any faster or leaning any motre than I used to , but my knee now only drags as I'm off the bike a lot more.....feels good though!! God, I'm such a kid.I can't believe you're all so sensible!
I was desperate to get my knee down a few years ago. So I went out on a quiet evening to find a suitable place to practice (a roundabout) and went round and round until I was leaning over and hanging off enough to achieve it.
Childish, immature and stupid? Yes. Didn't stop me grinning like a cheshire cat all the way back home with my newly scuffed up sliders.
On a track day though I agree things are very different. Ive only done one but after the first session realised that you could ride so much better and lean on the tyres so much harder when you knew joe bloggs wasn't waiting to enter the roundabout
Before long I was showering sparks off the pegs trying to get round the outside of anything I could find.
Unfortunately, my new found confidence was swiftly eroded in the 3rd session when I proved all the experienced head shaking bikers right by sticking the peg into the tarmac enough to lift the back wheel, throw me off and catapult the bike down the track. Game over
So the moral of the story - knee down is great fun, practice it on track but try not to be an idiot like me and stack it trying too hard!
I was desperate to get my knee down a few years ago. So I went out on a quiet evening to find a suitable place to practice (a roundabout) and went round and round until I was leaning over and hanging off enough to achieve it.
Childish, immature and stupid? Yes. Didn't stop me grinning like a cheshire cat all the way back home with my newly scuffed up sliders.
On a track day though I agree things are very different. Ive only done one but after the first session realised that you could ride so much better and lean on the tyres so much harder when you knew joe bloggs wasn't waiting to enter the roundabout
Before long I was showering sparks off the pegs trying to get round the outside of anything I could find.Unfortunately, my new found confidence was swiftly eroded in the 3rd session when I proved all the experienced head shaking bikers right by sticking the peg into the tarmac enough to lift the back wheel, throw me off and catapult the bike down the track. Game over
So the moral of the story - knee down is great fun, practice it on track but try not to be an idiot like me and stack it trying too hard!
I've never got my knee down... saying that I've never really tried although I've ground the pegs / boot a couple of times - not intentionally either.
I dont think its a particularly bad idea to try it where its quiet so you get an idea of how much the bike can lean over before it grinds out but as mentioned its your body positioning that will enable you to get your knee down rather than the position of the bike.
I dont think its a particularly bad idea to try it where its quiet so you get an idea of how much the bike can lean over before it grinds out but as mentioned its your body positioning that will enable you to get your knee down rather than the position of the bike.
I don't get my knee down, I don't get my pegs down, I rarely get to the edge of the tyre and I know I wouldn't be confident keeping up with some fast chaps on the road... the day I stopped worrying about it was the day I really started enjoying riding, got smoother and presumably faster. Push yourself if you want to but might enjoy it more if you relax a bit, stop trying so hard and you'll achieve your aims anyway.
dern said:
I don't get my knee down, I don't get my pegs down, I rarely get to the edge of the tyre and I know I wouldn't be confident keeping up with some fast chaps on the road... the day I stopped worrying about it was the day I really started enjoying riding, got smoother and presumably faster. Push yourself if you want to but might enjoy it more if you relax a bit, stop trying so hard and you'll achieve your aims anyway.
wise words indeedIn 10k over the last two years I have yet to encounter a single piece of road which has required getting my knee down.
Maybe out on the track its useful, but on the road I certainly wouldn't want to "commit" myself to trusting the road surface, lack of diesel, wet metal grids, horsecrap to make me not come unstuck. Hmmm, maybe I just worry too much LOL
Maybe out on the track its useful, but on the road I certainly wouldn't want to "commit" myself to trusting the road surface, lack of diesel, wet metal grids, horsecrap to make me not come unstuck. Hmmm, maybe I just worry too much LOL
dern said:
I don't get my knee down, I don't get my pegs down, I rarely get to the edge of the tyre and I know I wouldn't be confident keeping up with some fast chaps on the road... the day I stopped worrying about it was the day I really started enjoying riding, got smoother and presumably faster. Push yourself if you want to but might enjoy it more if you relax a bit, stop trying so hard and you'll achieve your aims anyway.
Snap.On the road if you are getting your knee down then you are leaving yourself open to all sorts of problems.
Try and keep up with a bike cop on a pan who is in a hurry and tell me if you need to get your knee down.
I imagine its not necessary on roads, but its gotta be fun surely? Il be practising on a local industrial roundabout as soon as i get my mito running! I just hope i dont get too carried away on a bike, when i got my car licence 3 years ago i acted like a prat eerywhere i went i was on the limit, nearly had a few really bad smash ups, so i hope i can get on a bike and not emulate it!!!
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