Learning to Ride (Track vs Street)

Captain Morgan · 07-07-2010, 12:40 PM

I don't have time to read through the whole thread. I think the track is good for teaching you the limits of your bike and how to handle things when you think you're coming in too hot for a turn. I can say with absolute certainty that if I had not had track time, I would have gone down on the way from your house to the rally. I came in way too hot for a couple turns, but because I've ridden on the track (even without the strom) I knew that I could hold the turn if I just looked through and trusted the tires. I only knew that because of track experience, even though that experience was on an R6 and not the strom.

Knowing how to ride and how to operate a motorcycle is one thing, but the track gave me the confidence to handle turns I wouldn't have handled well at all. Was I riding over my head on that trip? Yeah, because I hadn't been riding for 5 years, except for the past couple months. But, I was still able to handle my mistake without going down, solely because of track experience.

Trip · 07-07-2010, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Morgan

I don't have time to read through the whole thread. I think the track is good for teaching you the limits of your bike and how to handle things when you think you're coming in too hot for a turn. I can say with absolute certainty that if I had not had track time, I would have gone down on the way from your house to the rally. I came in way too hot for a couple turns, but because I've ridden on the track (even without the strom) I knew that I could hold the turn if I just looked through and trusted the tires. I only knew that because of track experience, even though that experience was on an R6 and not the strom.

Knowing how to ride and how to operate a motorcycle is one thing, but the track gave me the confidence to handle turns I wouldn't have handled well at all. Was I riding over my head on that trip? Yeah, because I hadn't been riding for 5 years, except for the past couple months. But, I was still able to handle my mistake without going down, solely because of track experience.

HA HA, yeah that was fun, but we were also well over the rules of the road as well. So we were being douches.

OTB · 07-10-2010, 08:09 AM

You are talking about two entirely different things; skill and judgment.

There is a difference between technical "skill"; the ability to use the motorcycle to it's performance limits, and judgment; which is the ability to use the proper skill at the proper or appropriate time.

A technically competent rider can be scary to ride with on the street, because he or she uses poor judgment and puts others at risk. I know a fellow who lives a few miles from the Gap....he's a whiz and will leave anybody I know and ride with in the dust.

He's also a prick to ride with in a group; he gets impatient and buzzes up the middle, he shows off constantly, ect. ect. ect.

When he shows up for a ride now, I "remember a business appointment and have to leave". I know I'm no peach to be around, but his antics are both scary and annoying.

He's far more skilled than I'll ever be, but his riding scares the crap out of me because he rides like nobody else is around; either other bikers, cagers or the locals who have to put up with his shenanigans.

For what it's worth.

07-10-2010, 08:09 AM	#3
OTB The Man Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CrabTown USA Moto: 00 Bimota DB4 Posts: 823	You are talking about two entirely different things; skill and judgment. There is a difference between technical "skill"; the ability to use the motorcycle to it's performance limits, and judgment; which is the ability to use the proper skill at the proper or appropriate time. A technically competent rider can be scary to ride with on the street, because he or she uses poor judgment and puts others at risk. I know a fellow who lives a few miles from the Gap....he's a whiz and will leave anybody I know and ride with in the dust. He's also a prick to ride with in a group; he gets impatient and buzzes up the middle, he shows off constantly, ect. ect. ect. When he shows up for a ride now, I "remember a business appointment and have to leave". I know I'm no peach to be around, but his antics are both scary and annoying. He's far more skilled than I'll ever be, but his riding scares the crap out of me because he rides like nobody else is around; either other bikers, cagers or the locals who have to put up with his shenanigans. For what it's worth. __________________ http://www.decreasingradius.net/

07-07-2010, 12:40 PM	#1
Captain Morgan Let's do another U-turn Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indiana Moto: 2009 V-Strom Posts: 3,816	I don't have time to read through the whole thread. I think the track is good for teaching you the limits of your bike and how to handle things when you think you're coming in too hot for a turn. I can say with absolute certainty that if I had not had track time, I would have gone down on the way from your house to the rally. I came in way too hot for a couple turns, but because I've ridden on the track (even without the strom) I knew that I could hold the turn if I just looked through and trusted the tires. I only knew that because of track experience, even though that experience was on an R6 and not the strom. Knowing how to ride and how to operate a motorcycle is one thing, but the track gave me the confidence to handle turns I wouldn't have handled well at all. Was I riding over my head on that trip? Yeah, because I hadn't been riding for 5 years, except for the past couple months. But, I was still able to handle my mistake without going down, solely because of track experience.