Not quite noob, definately not advanced

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BaoQingTian · Wed Oct 11, 2006 11:12 am

I got some great guidance off this site about 8 months ago when looking for a bike. After taking the MSF class in March, I picked up a used GS500 for $1000 in April. I've riden it every day and put 4500 miles on it in the last 6 months. Much of it is commuting to work, but I also make it a point to try to do the twisties at least once a week.

I feel fairly comfortable and confident on the bike. However, about a month ago I took a spill. I was stupid, riding about 45 in a 25 on an unfamiliar, yet pretty deserted road. Apparently the road sign that warned of a 15 mph hairpin curve was missing. As I got into the righthand curve, I was scraping my pegs and still couldn't take it tight enough to stay out of the other lane. There was a blind corner that I didn't know if a car was coming around. I braked and went down. I wasn't really hurt...shoulder was sore for a couple weeks, knee had rugburn from the inside of my pants, but that was about it.

My point in telling this whole narrative is to say that I've got a handle on the basic skills taught in MSF, but I feel if I had better skills I would have been able to keep the bike from going down (like putting a knee out to take the turn tighter without the bike leaning as far). I also don't want to integrate bad habits into my riding technique. My question is, where do I get those skills? A class is probably out of the question, but are there a couple of good books that you could recommend that describe correct techniques and some exercises so I could focus on a technique every week? What do you all do at this point? How do you keep honing your MSF skills and how do you add new tricks to the bag?
I'd appreciate any help I could get.

deedee1 · #2 Unread post by **deedee1** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 11:17 am

Maybe the experienced rider mfs course. you use your own bike and do the drills at higher speeds i believe. Forgive me if I am wrong.

have a great one and safe riding
Deedee

VermilionX · Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:09 pm

i suggest a track school.

the ERC is basically just like the BRC as i've been told by people who took it.

you do use your own bike so that makes a big difference if your bike is different from the MSF bikes that is.

i really doubt the ERC will teach you to drag knee or advance cornering skills.

but anyway... ask people who took it in your area, it might be diff there.

oh and i recommend the book "Sport Riding Techniques" by Nick Ienatsch.

CajunBass · Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:21 pm

Sticking closer to the posted speed limit is out of the question I suppose?

Especially on a road you don't know..

VermilionX · Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:25 pm

CajunBass wrote:Sticking closer to the posted speed limit is out of the question I suppose?

Especially on a road you don't know..

i dunno about where you guys live but the PSLs here looks like they are made for trucks.

a better advice would be to take it easy on unfamiliar roads. since like what happened to you... not all turns are marked. it really sucks when 10 and 15mph turns aren't marked especially when they are in the middle of higher speed turns.

Baltimore Newbie · Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:46 pm

+1 to Cajun. But other than that may I suggest reading Proficient Motorcyclying 1 and 2. And Lee Parks Total Control. All good reads and they have really helped me personally. They teach you about line selection and a delayed apex. If you had entered the corner from the outside, say the left side of the lane for a right hander. You may have had more room to get enough lean angle to make it. The books that I mentioned all cover this and in much more detail than I am giving you.

sharpmagna · Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:46 pm

take a look at this: http://www.leeparksdesign.com/miscpage_002.asp

Shorts · #8 Unread post by **Shorts** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:12 pm

A couple good reads will help. In fact I just ordered a couple of the Proficient Motorcycling books by Houghs. I also suggest an advanced rider class, if not the MSF ERC, then another private course.

#9 Unread post by **Koss** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:15 pm

Baltimore Newbie wrote:+1 to Cajun. But other than that may I suggest reading Proficient Motorcyclying 1 and 2. And Lee Parks Total Control. All good reads and they have really helped me personally. They teach you about line selection and a delayed apex. If you had entered the corner from the outside, say the left side of the lane for a right hander. You may have had more room to get enough lean angle to make it. The books that I mentioned all cover this and in much more detail than I am giving you.

+1 to Cajun and Baltimore. Those books are a great resource.

Nalian · #10 Unread post by **Nalian** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:15 pm

After getting some good theory in your head about what you need to do to find a good line for taking a corner, I'd suggest spending a bit of money on some cones and finding a parking lot near you. Set up lanes and corners that you know you can do and get warmed up. Then modify them to become sharper turns in a methodical step process.