I learned how to really lean the bike - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

St0nkingByte · 01-10-2005, 12:55 PM

I'm into my third month of daily riding and I've finally got the confidence to really lean the bike in turns. Its amazing how much easier it makes life! I took the MSF and I've read all the books but I never felt comfortable really leaning the bike much, I just always felt like I was going to fall over. Finally I started rolling on throttle as I go through the turn (just like they taught me at the MSF) and the whole bike is feeling much more solid and I'm leaning much more. It seems silly because logically I've known all along that this is what I should be doing but once I get on the road I get very conservative and I would feel that if I rolled on throttle I'd go wide in my turn.

There are two 90 degree turns in my neighborhood on 35mph speed limit streets I've been practicing on. I can now take them at around 30mph, most cars slow to 20 or so on those turns. It's a pretty major step for me

Now instead of taking turns way too wide I'm starting to cut inside too much! This morning I even noticed that I'm wearing part of the tires I hadn't touched before

All in all this is just another reminder that I'm still a noob and I need to continue to be careful.

themeatmanlandry · 01-10-2005, 01:10 PM

Leaning a bike onto a turn is a feeling like no other.

c50tiger · 01-10-2005, 01:54 PM

Wait 'till the first time you drag a peg. Ok.. the first time you'll probably need to change your shorts. But then you'll want to do it again.

boz · 01-10-2005, 04:29 PM

make sure there's no dirt/debris/fluids on the asphalt though...if there's such things on the road, obviously you don't wanna lean so much and lose control...

LayinLo · 01-10-2005, 06:57 PM

Wait til you get your first wheelie.......J/K

Glad to see you building your confidence.

GIXXER-Mike · 01-11-2005, 12:10 AM

I know the feeling. It's, it's, it's "SOUL STIRRING" (hehehe)!
After rides I often spend a few minutes just inspecting my back tire, too. The wear is beginning to go up the sides

.

Ride-or-die · 01-11-2005, 07:22 AM

im growing in confidence to lean my bike every time i take it out

**Clint** · 01-11-2005, 08:37 AM

Go out and tell all your friends who want 120 hp bikes so they can rocket forward in a straight line that you now know what motorcycling is really about. Welcome to it.

And wait until the next time you get on a sport bike.

Gixxerdale · 01-12-2005, 01:27 AM

Like was said, be prepared when you drag a peg, don't panic. It's a good thing. Also be ready the first time a tire slides out in a corner, stay focused and ride it out. Then pry your vinyl seat cover out from between your butt cheeks, place it back on the seat, and ride home to change your shorts!

Nexus242 · 01-12-2005, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themeatmanlandry

Leaning a bike onto a turn is a feeling like no other.

So is ripping a wicked huge fart!!!! Oh the relief!!! :p

SuzukiGirl1 · 01-12-2005, 12:12 PM

[quote=LayinLo_usmc]Wait til you get your first wheelie.......J/K

QUOTE]

That's no joke! I did my first "accidental" wheelie last year. Scared the crap out of me, but then after I came down and everything was fine, I thought it was pretty fun!

I'm sure that my tire only came off the ground about two inches, but it feels like a lot!

Congrats on your accomplishment...I know what that feels like. You should test ride an SV sometime if you really want to lean...that thing just falls into the corners!

St0nkingByte · 01-12-2005, 12:29 PM

I'm not sure if my Marauder is capable of doing a wheelie

Are there any Marauder stunters out there?

When I took the MSF course I did a wheelie and a stoppie with the dual sport I was on. It was kind of neat to see the instructor's eyes get really wide like that. I wish I could say I was trying to do them but um, they just sorta happened.

The Chad · 01-12-2005, 01:54 PM

good on ya, glad to hear that you are feeling more comftrable on the bike, it only gets better and better, just wait till you tap an elbow, I have no knee pucks on my gear so I keep my knee tucked into the tank, when I tapped an elbow, that's a great feeling. I think you're right, I don't think you bike is the right modle to wheelie, lol, feels great when you keep one up for 1.3km's. Never mind being a jackass on the road,(like myself from time to time) learn at your own pace and solong as you enjoy it, that's all that matters.

GIXXER-Mike · 01-12-2005, 11:27 PM

CHAD...

You've tapped an elbow somewhere (other than a track)

? Had to be an amazing feeling

!

Tell me where it was at.

LAX · 01-12-2005, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus242

So is ripping a wicked huge fart!!!! Oh the relief!!! :p

lol

themeatmanlandry · 01-13-2005, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus242

So is ripping a wicked huge fart!!!! Oh the relief!!! :p

You must be some hit with the ladies!

KAOS · 01-13-2005, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus242

So is ripping a wicked huge fart!!!! Oh the relief!!! :p

so thats what happened to your pants in your avatar!!

LayinLo · 01-13-2005, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KAOS

so thats what happened to your pants in your avatar!!

And the winner is ...............KAOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sunny · 01-13-2005, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by St0nkingByte

I'm not sure if my Marauder is capable of doing a wheelie

Are there any Marauder stunters out there?

actually you can do wheelies on any bike.

video of a guy doing one on a valkyrie:
wheelie

tlwisner · 01-13-2005, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LayinLo_usmc

Wait til you get your first wheelie.......J/K

I'm still waiting for the first wheelie on my C50 and my Gz250. The first wheelie on my Concours was interesting...

01-10-2005, 12:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
St0nkingByte Sprocket Pilot Joined: Nov 2004 Bike: 2005 BMW R1200RT Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 893	I learned how to really lean the bike I'm into my third month of daily riding and I've finally got the confidence to really lean the bike in turns. Its amazing how much easier it makes life! I took the MSF and I've read all the books but I never felt comfortable really leaning the bike much, I just always felt like I was going to fall over. Finally I started rolling on throttle as I go through the turn (just like they taught me at the MSF) and the whole bike is feeling much more solid and I'm leaning much more. It seems silly because logically I've known all along that this is what I should be doing but once I get on the road I get very conservative and I would feel that if I rolled on throttle I'd go wide in my turn. There are two 90 degree turns in my neighborhood on 35mph speed limit streets I've been practicing on. I can now take them at around 30mph, most cars slow to 20 or so on those turns. It's a pretty major step for me Now instead of taking turns way too wide I'm starting to cut inside too much! This morning I even noticed that I'm wearing part of the tires I hadn't touched before All in all this is just another reminder that I'm still a noob and I need to continue to be careful.

01-10-2005, 01:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
themeatmanlandry Happy-ass Lunatic Joined: Dec 2003 Bike: 2002 Bandit 600S (Black); 2006 GSXR750 (Black) Location: Memphis Posts: 11,423	Leaning a bike onto a turn is a feeling like no other. __________________ Go to hell

01-10-2005, 01:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
c50tiger Can Ride And Chew Gum Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: 2005 C50 Location: Selma, Alabama Posts: 2,058	Wait 'till the first time you drag a peg. Ok.. the first time you'll probably need to change your shorts. But then you'll want to do it again. __________________ Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all. - Douglas Adams COGITO EGGO SUM: I think, therefore I am... a waffle

01-10-2005, 04:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
boz Kickstand Operator Joined: Nov 2004 Bike: '97 Intruder 800 Location: Shreveport, LA Posts: 275	make sure there's no dirt/debris/fluids on the asphalt though...if there's such things on the road, obviously you don't wanna lean so much and lose control... __________________ BOW TO YOUR SENSEI !

01-11-2005, 12:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
GIXXER-Mike U.B's LoveChild Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: 2004 GSX-R600 (Blue/White) Location: ALABAMA Posts: 1,113	I know the feeling. It's, it's, it's "SOUL STIRRING" (hehehe)! After rides I often spend a few minutes just inspecting my back tire, too. The wear is beginning to go up the sides . __________________ "I'm here to fight for truth, and justice, and the American way."

01-10-2005, 06:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
LayinLo Flipper ( Don't Ask ) Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: Crunchy 02 GSX-R 750 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,936	Wait til you get your first wheelie.......J/K Glad to see you building your confidence.

01-11-2005, 07:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ride-or-die Petrol Taster Joined: Oct 2004 Bike: 2000 GSXR-600 Location: ESSEX, England Posts: 751	im growing in confidence to lean my bike every time i take it out __________________ Both knees are good friends with Mr Road. they play everyday!!

01-12-2005, 01:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
Gixxerdale Forensic Bug Splatter Analyst. Joined: Mar 2004 Bike: 02 GSXR 1k Location: The warm and twisty roads of SoCal Posts: 3,028	Like was said, be prepared when you drag a peg, don't panic. It's a good thing. Also be ready the first time a tire slides out in a corner, stay focused and ride it out. Then pry your vinyl seat cover out from between your butt cheeks, place it back on the seat, and ride home to change your shorts! __________________ Proud Father of a U S Army Soldier... The key to life is to die young...at a very old age... Ride like you own the road...and...someday the road will own you.. My Favorite Ride? Tomorrows!

01-12-2005, 12:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
SuzukiGirl1 Moderatrix Joined: Mar 2004 Bike: 2004 SV650S Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 2,700	[quote=LayinLo_usmc]Wait til you get your first wheelie.......J/K QUOTE] That's no joke! I did my first "accidental" wheelie last year. Scared the crap out of me, but then after I came down and everything was fine, I thought it was pretty fun! I'm sure that my tire only came off the ground about two inches, but it feels like a lot! Congrats on your accomplishment...I know what that feels like. You should test ride an SV sometime if you really want to lean...that thing just falls into the corners! __________________ SuzukiGirl '04 SV650S, Yellow...lovely!!

01-12-2005, 12:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
St0nkingByte Sprocket Pilot Joined: Nov 2004 Bike: 2005 BMW R1200RT Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 893	I'm not sure if my Marauder is capable of doing a wheelie Are there any Marauder stunters out there? When I took the MSF course I did a wheelie and a stoppie with the dual sport I was on. It was kind of neat to see the instructor's eyes get really wide like that. I wish I could say I was trying to do them but um, they just sorta happened.

01-12-2005, 01:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
The Chad Site Wrench Head Joined: Nov 2003 Bike: crashed Location: Duncan B.C. Posts: 635	good on ya, glad to hear that you are feeling more comftrable on the bike, it only gets better and better, just wait till you tap an elbow, I have no knee pucks on my gear so I keep my knee tucked into the tank, when I tapped an elbow, that's a great feeling. I think you're right, I don't think you bike is the right modle to wheelie, lol, feels great when you keep one up for 1.3km's. Never mind being a jackass on the road,(like myself from time to time) learn at your own pace and solong as you enjoy it, that's all that matters. __________________ A truly wise man asks more questions than he answers, I think I must be retarted

01-12-2005, 11:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
GIXXER-Mike U.B's LoveChild Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: 2004 GSX-R600 (Blue/White) Location: ALABAMA Posts: 1,113	CHAD... You've tapped an elbow somewhere (other than a track) ? Had to be an amazing feeling ! Tell me where it was at. __________________ "I'm here to fight for truth, and justice, and the American way."

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