Excellent figure 8

Message

Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:05 am

beginner wrote:Usually when a vehicle is designed to go faster and make wider turns the steering is less sensitive than for slower and sharper turning situations. For some reason a motorcycle designed to go fast needs more sensitive steering?

A sportbike isn't designed for only wide turns. Also, there's a difference between steering at low and high speeds on a motorcycle.

beginner · Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:52 am

Nalian wrote:
beginner wrote:'Perfect circle' figure 8s are harder than just staying in a box and crossing at the same point. I'm not working on that style yet, too soon.
Why too soon?

For 6 months I did an hour a day of PLP. Figure 8s and Uturns were the #1 and 2 turning exercises and variations of both. I found the perfect circle version to be frustrating and a bit out of reach at the beginning, plus I have to setup markers, quite a few, to work on that. I decided to stay with more free form figure 8s in a box and let my balance and steering improve some more before getting serious about the perfect round ones.

As for always using the same foot - what you practice is what you'll use subconsciously after a while. I do this because the area I live in is fairly hilly, so the right foot is almost always on the brake.

Ah, the brake, of course. In my situation virtually the only time I use brakes is in practice. The reason I mentioned countersteering into the left lean on stoping was for anyone reading who might find that useful. After a while it does happen automatically. Another way to do it occurs to me, counterbalancing to the right. I don't consider that because the seat on my bike is too tall.

ofblong · #23 Unread post by **ofblong** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:48 pm

a properly done figure 8 WILL NEVER be a circle. Circles are easy figure 8's are not. When are you people gonna learn beginner has an agenda and to quit posting on his threads? He wants to make everyone think he is right when we all know he isnt. I mean that dude on a goldwing pulling a trailer did perfect figure 8's. I didnt see any of those cops doing one that good.

beginner · #24 Unread post by **beginner** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:20 pm

ofblong wrote:a properly done figure 8 WILL NEVER be a circle. Circles are easy figure 8's are not. When are you people gonna learn beginner has an agenda and to quit posting on his threads? He wants to make everyone think he is right when we all know he isnt. I mean that dude on a goldwing pulling a trailer did perfect figure 8's. I didnt see any of those cops doing one that good.

Come on, I was not criticizing the guy with the trailer. I don't criticize anyone for practicing. Practicing is what I admire.

TEvo · #25 Unread post by **TEvo** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:21 pm

Here's my idea of a perfect figure 8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLnoGQJQNT8

beginner · #26 Unread post by **beginner** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:57 pm

TEvo wrote:Here's my idea of a perfect figure 8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLnoGQJQNT8

I admire the good stunt guys (because they practice). I just found this video. I have to believe this is how the best stunt guys started and where they might still practice new things. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ETb6CTs ... re=related

ofblong · #27 Unread post by **ofblong** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:11 am

beginner wrote:
ofblong wrote:a properly done figure 8 WILL NEVER be a circle. Circles are easy figure 8's are not. When are you people gonna learn beginner has an agenda and to quit posting on his threads? He wants to make everyone think he is right when we all know he isnt. I mean that dude on a goldwing pulling a trailer did perfect figure 8's. I didnt see any of those cops doing one that good.
Come on, I was not criticizing the guy with the trailer. I don't criticize anyone for practicing. Practicing is what I admire.

your post specifically stated that was not a figure 8.

beginner · #28 Unread post by **beginner** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:48 am

ofblong wrote:your post specifically stated that was not a figure 8.

Sigh, the way it appeared to me is he was doing Uturns or perhaps he did just one complete figure 8 and my eye didn't catch that. The figure 8 examples I'm looking for are with lots of repetitions.

I do have an issue with the institutions who promote motorcycle safety. Those have been discussed. But that is driven by the fact that I ENJOY talking about the thing I spend so much time doing on the bike--practicing. BTW I enjoy practicing too.

The more people who practice, and the more time they spend doing it, the easier it will be for me to find disicussions about that. The last thing I'm going to do is disrespect someone for practicing, including the guy pulling the trailer.

ofblong · #29 Unread post by **ofblong** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:46 am

beginner wrote:
ofblong wrote:your post specifically stated that was not a figure 8.
Sigh, the way it appeared to me is he was doing Uturns or perhaps he did just one complete figure 8 and my eye didn't catch that. The figure 8 examples I'm looking for are with lots of repetitions.

I do have an issue with the institutions who promote motorcycle safety. Those have been discussed. But that is driven by the fact that I ENJOY talking about the thing I spend so much time doing on the bike--practicing. BTW I enjoy practicing too.

The more people who practice, and the more time they spend doing it, the easier it will be for me to find disicussions about that. The last thing I'm going to do is disrespect someone for practicing, including the guy pulling the trailer.

That is a figure 8. A much tighter figure 8 than the videos you posted of cops taking HUGE turns.

beginner · Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:55 pm

ofblong wrote:That is a figure 8. A much tighter figure 8 than the videos you posted of cops taking HUGE turns.

The figure 8 in the cop video starts about half way through. Click on the half way point in the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0zF6SBA ... playnext=1
He was rambling and moving around the center point but he was doing the standard 18' diameter circles. That video got my attention because he was doing the maneuver with a lot of clutch, brake, and throttle. My figure 8s are throttle only. There aren't right ways and wrong ways, there are lots of ways. I'll try to learn as many of the ways as I can.

One of the reasons for all the cones is it feels different to maneuver around things instead of lines. On the farm there is a patch of concrete next to a pole barn that's the right size for figure 8s but it hard to do them there because turninig into the wall is intimidating. One of next summer's goals is to learn to do figure 8s next to that wall.

I meant no offense to your friend, I apologize, okay?