CaptCrash

Looking ahead while riding a motorcycle is a basic skill every motorcyclist should have and practice. It is not an advanced skill. However, like many things your fundamentals can be messed up and you can still survive. It’s true. You really want to see someone with flawed fundamentals get beat up? Watch “Hells Kitchen” they bring in working, moderately successful chefs and as the show goes on things get tricky and their flawed fundamental skills are exposed and they eventually fail—sometimes spectacularly.

They can cook. They just aren’t chefs. Make sense?

Looking where you want to go is a lot like having being on Hells Kitchen. If things are simple, a lack of a basic skill can be covered. You can ‘fake it ‘til you make it’. Missing fundamentals can be covered up, strengths will hide weaknesses, and, well, you can fudge it your whole riding career and get away with it if you’re lucky.

You may know I’m not a proponent of the “every motorcyclist crashes” theory. I don’t buy it because NOT every motorcyclist crashes. The difference (other than bad luck) is if a rider gets themselves in a situation that exposes a fundamental flaw in their skill set.

Looking well ahead—looking where you want to go—is one of those skills that when you need it and you don’t have it, will leave you on the ground cussing.

Let me share the situation that showed me that visual leading was a fundamental skill. I was riding from Idaho City to Lowman with 2 friends, one on a ZRX1100 and one on a ZX-9R. I was riding my old GSXR-1100 (last of the oil cooled ones). After we started over the summit and down into Lowman we turned it loose. Yes, it’s tight up there but it’s also fun and there’s those straights for passing…

My pal on the ZX-9 had dropped back (a wise call) and me and Dan were dicing pretty good, just zipping along. Just before Beaver Creek (I believe is the name) as you travel to Lowman you make a tight, slightly off camber right, hit a little chicane and then make a 180 left and switch into the old Lowman Fire burn. There is a 200-300 foot drop there and no guard rail. Dan was exiting the turn a little wide, his front caught the paint stripe and he tucked it. Bang, he was on the ground.

Time slowed down for me. I remember getting on the brakes and the bike straightening up. I know this sounds dumb but the first thought in my head was “Damn, the bottom of Dan’s bike is really dirty.” Followed by “look at all the sparks!”

As the bike slide and spun away I looked at Dan who was rolling and sliding on the pavement. Trust me, having done the slide/roll thing, it is very interesting to see from the other side. The only thought in my head became “Don’t hit Dan, DON’T HIT DAN, DON’T HIT DAN!” and I looked directly into his eyes. I thought “I’m gonna spear DAN!”

Then a little voice in my head said “Where do you want to go?” and I looked over to my right and down the road where I wanted to be. That picture, of the road I wanted to take is BURNED into my mind to this day.

I turned my head, looked and went.

Dan’s bike and Dan both slid to a stop about 3 feet from going over the edge. In looking at tire marks on the road and in the dirt it was clear I had:

Been skidding the rear in a straight line toward the edge, had released the rear, which left the pavement, carved an arc with it in the 2 foot wide space between the pavement and drop off and then gone down the road 50ft to make a controlled, safe stop.

Basically I had slewed the back out, flattracked the back off the pavement, kept the front and changed directions to stop safely.

I have no idea how. All I can see is that vision of a ribbon of asphalt where I WANTED to be and where I WENT when I looked at it.

Now, if all that was required to ride a motorcycle was looking, which would be followed by going, then we would all look and then go! I believe my years as a dirt biker probably were what got that big Gixxer turned because--looking at it today--I’m sure that the back tracked out and I spun it up to get it turned once I was out of shape and had the front end on the pavement and the back in the dirt. A dirt bike fundamental is steering with the rear end and I believe that is what I did.

But all the dirt bike fundamentals were useless until I looked where I wanted to go.

Keep your head and eyes up. Look where you want to go. Look at the Dan? Hit the Dan. Look to your escape route. Look to safety, go to safety.

It’s not easy, but you CAN do it.

(Thumps chest) Peace out!

Proeve

very nice,, very true,,,

theduckllr

Agreed! I think it's also important for riders to realize that riding on the road requires MORE precision and focus than riding on the track. On the track you have several lanes to use, runoff, and you are hitting the same turns lap after lap with limited obstacles to worry about. Looking ahead on the street, and focusing on the desired path is the most fundemental and overlooked skill we need.

My last Lowman Loop ride involved coming out of a tight corner featuring a similar cliff for runoff, only to find an ELK standing on the center stripe. I had time to finish the corner and lock it up, only to stop within 20 feet of that fairly unimpressed cow. Moments later a truck came around the same corner and nearly rearended me in the middle of the road. Proof again that looking through a corner is mandatory for driving anything. Becoming a better rider will also make us a better driver and vice versa. Practice it!

Hubbs

This is very true. I hadn't driven my car in almost a month since I got the bike. My shifting was alot smoother....was just depressing that it wouldn't go 0-60 in under 4 seconds

I totally agree with the "Look where you want to go" statement. They drive that into your head during the STAR BRC - and failing to do so once during the final exam cost me 4 pts (looked at a cone during the wide weave exercise...found the cone with the back tire). It's hard to force yourself not to look at the shiny object that you are trying to avoid, or to keep your eyes on your path of travel when there are more interesting things to look at (i.e. flashing lights, license plate sayings, etc. - whatever catches your eye). In any case, had I followed this simple fundamental, I probably would have got a 100% on the riding exam (got 100% on the written though ).

Rokkit_Science

"Look where you WANT to go" Best advice I was ever given. "Look through your corner"
Its easy as long at there arent any firetrucks (with firemen in them). Ive been known to endanger the lives of people in my car and everywhere around me when I see firetrucks


I have to be very careful about how closely I follow a bike, I tend to fixate on their back tire instead of watching my corner.



I try to wave at bikers when Im in the cage...

Tydd

Continuing the . I'll catch myself doing that every once in awhile. Just make sure your window is rolled down when you do. Slamming your hand into the window when trying to wave is painful.

Rokkit_Science

Ive even gone so far as to reach up with my left had and turn on my windshield wipers by pulling in the lever as if it were a clutch. lol

Tydd

I'm happy to admit that I've never done that one before.

Idaho Wolverine

Yes, look where you are going, not where you are at is good too.
In my BRC classes, we get people looking at every cone they are passing instead of looking one or two ahead.

It does help to look where you are going, because you already know where you are, and it is too late to do a damm thing about what is there.

Not breaking while turning is another good one, unless you are a bit more experianced.

Cider

I agree! Don't break when you turn!

Idaho Wolverine

Break; Brake

Hoe; Whoe

Our language is jacked up some times, ya know?

phone sounds like fon.

Linker33

Ming

most definitely never while in front of me on the track.
cuz next time i'll take my helmet off and beat some !
random i know. but very important.

Ryan@IdahoSportBikes

WOOT!!! Trail braking baby! It wins races!

http://motorcyclebloggers.com/2005/0...l-braking-101/

http://www.sportrider.com/ride/RSS/1...ing/index.html


HAHAHA!!! I think everyone should be watching this video!

R1DON

only a blond would admit to something like that

R1DON

trail braking is only for experienced riders, the good majority of riders shouldnt be touching the brakes at all in a corner. however they still do and that is why you see so many wrecks where people cant figure out what happened...people get freaked out and instead of letting off the throttle and leaning the bike more, they panic and grab as much brake as possible. bike, meet wall, river, cliff, etc.

CaptCrash

R1 makes a good point and I would sugges that since most bikes haven't had their suspensions set up properly they tend to stand up in a turn under braking.

Which, if you're running wide in a turn, means that:

1. You're worried about going wide 'cause you're carrying too much speed.
2. You apply the breaks to slow.
3. The bike straightens and starts running WIDER!
4 You freak and overbrake, tucking the front or losing the rear.
5. You 'realize you ain't gonna make it and lay 'er down'...ie fail to negotiate the turn.

see http://www.boiseriders.net/forums/in...;topicseen#new for possible example.

Cider

I received my trail-braking indoctrination last summer at track school, so I found it interesting that one of those articles posted on the first page of this thread didn't even mention the two main reasons for trail-braking:

(1) The bike turns quicker when the front is lower
(2) The slowest part of the turn coincides with maximum lean angle, conserving traction

Slow-look-lean-roll works for millions (many of them better than I), but it has the disadvantage that the slowest part of the turn is at the corner entrance while the bike is upright. It is preferable to minimize speed (and time) while at maximum lean angle, since that is where traction is at a premium.

Here's where I pretend that I'm remotely on topic: in all of the books I've read and training that I've received, the only thing that never varies is "look where you want to go."

CaptCrash

Trail braking is good stuff--but there's a reason you have to go to the track to learn it! (I don't know of anyone who teachs it to the general public...)

Take a look at the average rider and then throw "brake in a turn" into thier toolbag and...yikes.

Lowest common denominator means least complex and low risk behaviors get taught.

(For example the MSF braking standards are more relaxed than the IdahoSTAR braking standards...)

Idaho Wolverine

I guess I am above standard then. The MSF BRC (two day class) I just graduated yesterday went thru a few hours of braking excercises. No we dont get into trail braking, but I do stress not to do it until they have A LOT more experiance with there bikes.

Man, this is a ruff crowd. My R1 is junk because it is not a Suzuki and MSF is no good because it is not STAR.

Good thing I am well hung, or I might fell sorry for myself

LazyJ

Dont take SV too seriously....meet him in person and I'm about 99% posative that you will find he's a very likeable person......even if he does have an ONLINE ADHD attitude......for as long as you have been a member I find it hard to believe that you haven't caught on to the fact that a number of us get off on a certain degree of sarcasm

..........besides....maybe he is just jealous you feel great about having a well hung R1

cheers

oh yeah, and to stay on topic here......I do a bit of trail braking........but you never find me advising others to do it

CaptCrash

MSF is decent stuff.The braking standards are a touch easier than the STAR ones--so?

If you really want to feel like the MSF is under fire go here:

http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/to...?TOPIC_ID=4576
http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/to...?TOPIC_ID=5292

OR

http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/to...?TOPIC_ID=5299

Me? I think the MSF BRC and ERC are pretty darn decent. One of the major differences is Idaho pushes braking and cornering (ala Oregon) a little more.

CaptCrash

OH, a note for everybody:

The new Idaho STAR Experienced Course practices 'quick stops' from 30mph...

Head and eyes up baby...

Slider

I have heard of trail braking and plan on learning when I go to the track next year but as for the Stars coarse I thought it was a great coarse and well I will be teaching it to some of you next season. I recieved a letter in the mail requesting that I become an instructor. Now lets just hope that none of you have tainted me.

Cider

Come on, wouldn't it be fun to teach new riders how to hang off, throttle blipping, clutch-less upshifts, and trail-braking?

Seriously, I have a high opinion of MSF/Stars--I've taken four classes (three in Idaho, one in Michigan), and I was impressed with the quality of instruction every time.

LazyJ

Now you just have to convince people to actually TAKE THE COURSE.....

Bungeeguy

oh yeah, and to stay on topic here......I do a bit of trail braking........but you never find me advising others to do it

[/quote]

Hey lazy I think that you have confused going through a 20mph corner doing 25 crying into your helmet and with your foot on the rear brake as trail braking.

LazyJ

hmm...crying....RIIIIGHT!

but you go ahead and keep up the good stabs

Cider

I've never heard anybody suggest that this is a good way to ride, but Rossi is notorious for not looking through corners. In almost every picture of him, he appears to be looking somewhere near the front tire. He has explained this in the past by saying that he already knows where the turn goes.

R1DON

sure if we wanted to start up a bike junk yard, they would all wreck in the first set of corners. all they need to know for a while is to stop feeling invincible because they are faster than the other retard that he just passed on THE STRAIGHTS. hell, most riders in this valley would lowside the first time the rear tire broke loose in a corner. they need to start giving a motorcycle knowledge test or better yet an IQ test along with the credit apps for bikes. most would get denied