Guys: sports bike riding posture and comfort

[nightsteed]

Eh? Hahah... No, I don't think so.

 

You can rent the track.

 

But the riding instructors.... hahaha... you'll have to get your own.

Erm, scub, pls remember not to get those "1 fist to balls" variety of instructor to spare yourself the pain.

[Chaoz]

Ah ok good.

 

Remember,

1-fist distance from your balls = painfree

1 fist to your balls = painful

 

WaHAHAHA this is so funny...

 

hahaha! so anyone knows where there might be a place that teaches proper riding of sportsbikes in singapore...or johor?

 

if u have time and spare cash, there's a superbike school in thailand..

[scubasimon]

@chaoz: where in thailand? got contact?

@nightsteed: won't know till i try, ya? if they do the 1 fist to my you know where they'll end up without a you know what.

 

hahaha!

[haodouken]

yamaha yzf-r125, scubasimon?

[scubasimon]

yamaha yzf-r125, scubasimon?

 

no lah...yamaha is not italian mah...but saw the r125 yesterday at Looi's and it looked better than i expected

[redbeacon]

if u have time and spare cash, there's a superbike school in thailand..

 

Ehh, that one is not to teach people how to ride. It's more on performance riding/racing.

 

A good example would be the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, but that's only set up in America.

[scubasimon]

Actually, MSF is rather similar to our driving centres, right? I was looking for something similar to the Sportsbike School in the US. You are right though. They teach people to ride in a race situation. That is what I want to learn because that way I can understand more fully how the bike works and all that jazz. Or maybe some sportsbike riders here can teach me lah

[redbeacon]

Actually, MSF is rather similar to our driving centres, right? I was looking for something similar to the Sportsbike School in the US. You are right though. They teach people to ride in a race situation. That is what I want to learn because that way I can understand more fully how the bike works and all that jazz. Or maybe some sportsbike riders here can teach me lah

 

MSF isn't just like our driving centres, it even has advanced modules where riders can learn more on how to get the most of safety out of riding on the roads.

 

You can try sportbike schools but most of it is focused on obstacles-free racetrack riding. I attended one such school, and I have compared it to touring, so I pretty much know how both differs from each other.

 

The road we ply on is a totally different jungle out there. The ironic thing is, we are in it.

As such, concentration and how you control your bike the road versus the racetrack are different.

 

Not meaning to be a cankersore here but this is just my 2 cents worth of experience. Inquiries welcome

[scubasimon]

@redbeacon: but we don't have MSF here so you think those track places is a good place to learn the handling techniques of a sportsbike but not about how to handle it in traffic? that makes sense...given this...what would you recommend as a good way to understand the sportsbike better? i have enough road experience with cars so understanding traffic isn't the problem. understanding how to handle the bike is my problem...and probably how to handle the bike in specific emergency situations on the road is even bigger problem...and how to fall off a bike is another one.

 

hope to hear some thoughts

[KeraKing]

@redbeacon: but we don't have MSF here so you think those track places is a good place to learn the handling techniques of a sportsbike but not about how to handle it in traffic? that makes sense...given this...what would you recommend as a good way to understand the sportsbike better? i have enough road experience with cars so understanding traffic isn't the problem. understanding how to handle the bike is my problem...and probably how to handle the bike in specific emergency situations on the road is even bigger problem...and how to fall off a bike is another one.

 

hope to hear some thoughts

 

my advice is bring your bike to a track.

and get more advice there.. hehe

and dun forget to ride it on the track as well.

 

the tuas circuit is good place to learn.

for a newbie like me, it's not scary like pasir gudang.

i rode my 250 there and had fun.

 

keep in mind, there are good advice and bad advice.

 

there are also good books on sport riding techniques available.

 

for emergency situation, do an e-brake.

Edited September 23, 2009 by KeraKing

[redbeacon]

@redbeacon: but we don't have MSF here so you think those track places is a good place to learn the handling techniques of a sportsbike but not about how to handle it in traffic? that makes sense...given this...what would you recommend as a good way to understand the sportsbike better? i have enough road experience with cars so understanding traffic isn't the problem. understanding how to handle the bike is my problem...and probably how to handle the bike in specific emergency situations on the road is even bigger problem...and how to fall off a bike is another one.

 

hope to hear some thoughts

 

When I graduated out from riding school with a Class 2B license, I had so much experience with the upright-postured training Yamahas that when I bought my first bike, it was a Honda sportbike. The forward leaning posture was weird at first and it was a little difficult to adjust to at first, but I took the basics of what I learnt in riding school (signaling, lane changing, distance from cars, turning and banking with leaned-over confidence, road experience with cars) -- and applied that onto my sportbike.

 

Over the months, I had gotten used to the posture. In short, I had simply taken my basic skills on an upright bike, and applied it onto a sportbike. The odd posture made me learn how to fine tune my skills to suit the odd posture that's demanded of a rider on a sportbike.

 

Next came the Aprilia RS125 because I really wanted to own something that was much more 'authentic' as a sportbike

It was, in my definition back then, worse than my Japanese conceptualised, Thai-manufactured Honda NSR. The posture placed me way too forward, and the ride height was high.

 

To exacerbate the riding problem, the 25cc reduction that the RS125 offered versus the NSR meant that the bike can't move off nicely unless you rev to bring the RPM higher where the powerband is, and because of that I was quite unstable on the bike until I figured out how others rode it.

 

Again, I have taken my "basic skills" on the training bike, and from there, fine-tuned -- i.e. included/remove some handling skills needed to make a sportbike work (learnt on my NSR), and lastly, fine-tuned that again and learnt how to better manage the throttle to move off smoothly (RS125). Everything went from there, and it really complimented the purpose of me getting a sportbike. It's all about adaptation.

 

Don't be surprised if you find that I haven't given any advice on how to handle your bike better...it goes by the old adage of "everything's learnt by experience". But if you want, you can tell us all what are the specific things that you are concerned or are having trouble with when operating a sportbike. We'll try to answer the best way that we can.

 

Same process happens all over again once you upgrade to the next class of bikes.

 

P.S.: I'm a sucker for sportbikes

 

my advice is bring your bike to a track.

and get more advice there.. hehe

and dun forget to ride it on the track as well.

 

the tuas circuit is good place to learn.

for a newbie like me, it's not scary like pasir gudang.

 

Hey there.

 

Anyways, I would second this recommendation if the track was empty or if the track was solely used for people who want to go there to "just ride their bikes". One of the main issues of track riding is distraction; it's not good if we have an environment with other fast riders poking you from behind, or overtaking you causing you to be startled, etc.

Edited September 23, 2009 by redbeacon

[scubasimon]

@redbeacon: thanks for sharing. no doubt learning through experience is invaluable. however, i feel that it is even better if i can learn through others' experience as well.

 

one of my strengths is learning through observation. i have the ability to translate what i read/see/hear into what i do. this helps a lot. but what i see may not be the right thing because everyone else learnt their own way...which may not be the best way, no?

 

anyway...i guess at this time the point is moot. there isn't such a facility available and its Hobson's Choice when it comes to learning beyond what the driving schools teach. i'll take everyone's advise here. evolve my riding style. go to the track and learn more about my bike. talk to others. read a book. research the web. i suppose that is the best i can do at this time...

 

...unfortunately my bike battery flat so cannot ride until i have time to fix it. DANG!

[redbeacon]

one of my strengths is learning through observation. i have the ability to translate what i read/see/hear into what i do. this helps a lot. but what i see may not be the right thing because everyone else learnt their own way...which may not be the best way, no?

 

anyway...i guess at this time the point is moot. there isn't such a facility available and its Hobson's Choice when it comes to learning beyond what the driving schools teach. i'll take everyone's advise here. evolve my riding style. go to the track and learn more about my bike. talk to others. read a book. research the web. i suppose that is the best i can do at this time...

 

Good gawd, dun like that leh....you're making me feel more of a sympathetic person with your decision there -_-"

 

So I went to my shelf and got out my "How to ride a Motorcycle" by Pat Hahn, and while whimsically flipping the pages, I stopped at Page 61 which gave this advice:

 

Posture Perfect

Smart motorcyclists ride with their shoulders relaxed, arms loose, a light, firm grip on the handlebars, back straight, knees pressed tightly against the motorcycle, balls of their feet on the footpegs, and head up and eyes looking toward the horizon.

 

Go through a checklist every time your ride; shoulders, arms, hands, back, knees, feet, head, and eyes. Don't leave your driveway (or carpark in our case) without a quick review of good posture

 

This also goes in line with track riding. Stiffen yourself up, and you'll cause yourself to be fatigue, not to mention bike instabilities and reduced energy to react at a moment's notice. It may be difficult with the forward-tilting posture the sportbike rider has to be in, but it's doable through some practice.

 

How about the question "if I look down, will I go down?" Good thing to ponder when you have spare time, commit yourself to being a better and efficient sportbiker the next time you mount.

 

=====

 

This is just one tip that I'm sharing, hope others here have some too.

[scubasimon]

hahaha...did i make you feel that way? that was not what i intended to do. i was trying to support the point that leveraging all avenues for learning will usually result in faster learning with less pain

 

that book sounds like a good one! i found another three that might be good.

http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/bookseaohb.cgi?ISBN=096504503X&AREA=04&LANG=E

http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/bookseaohb.cgi?ISBN=0965045021&AREA=04&LANG=E

http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/bookseaohb.cgi?ISBN=0965045013&AREA=04&LANG=E

 

i like the "if i look down, will i go down" question. i remember that in coaching we always say "think of what you want to do, where you want to go, rather than what/where you want to avoid" because your thoughts guide your actions, similarly, where you look guides where you will head towards...its interesting to see this phrased in motorcycle terminology...very cool!

[KeraKing]

Anyways, I would second this recommendation if the track was empty or if the track was solely used for people who want to go there to "just ride their bikes". One of the main issues of track riding is distraction; it's not good if we have an environment with other fast riders poking you from behind, or overtaking you causing you to be startled, etc.

 

dats y i recommend tuas track.

 

pasir gudang is a bit irritating with big bike blasting down the straights, but crawling at the turns.

 

anyway this might be useful.

they inviting 2b rider for intro to tuas track.

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258146

[scubasimon]

@KeraKing: yeah...that event sounds perfect! unfortunately timing doesn't work for me as i am babysitting this weekend...well...there's always a next round...hopefully soon

[Wayang]

pasir gudang is a bit irritating with big bike blasting down the straights, but crawling at the turns.

 

ooooh.. crawling at the turns eh..

[Chaoz]

dats y i recommend tuas track.

 

pasir gudang is a bit irritating with big bike blasting down the straights, but crawling at the turns.

 

anyway this might be useful.

they inviting 2b rider for intro to tuas track.

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258146

 

ooooh.. crawling at the turns eh..

 

oops... i smell something..

[DeusExMachina]

@KeraKing: yeah...that event sounds perfect! unfortunately timing doesn't work for me as i am babysitting this weekend...well...there's always a next round...hopefully soon

 

 

Dude, take Raptor's offer to coach ppl at Tuas track.

 

He can teach you more in person than whatever theory you read off a book or website.

[scubasimon]

i wanna take up the offer so badly. but bike riding ranks as a far second to my boys when they need me. so i have to pass up on the offer this time round and hope there will be another one soon...

[jonypep]

i am scarred to drag in bike:cry:

[mild_slevin]

Pillion does have hard time on the rear too... Tried it myself and quite uncomfortable LOL. Especially when rider hit the brake and pillion would slide and hit the back of rider.

[DeusExMachina]

i am scarred to drag in bike:cry:

 

I'll be scarred for life too if I saw you riding a bike in drags....

[DM]

riding a scrambler for more than a year now, i'm used to the slouch and sulk posture now.. perhaps i might settle for a touring/ naked bike soon..

[scubasimon]

Hehehe...I gave someone a ride on my TW the other day and she mentioned that it was so much more comfortable than a sportsbike that she almost forgot to hang on tight...and only realized she had to when we moved off from a traffic light!

 

I think getting used to each kind of bike's riding position is an art...took me awhile to get used to the TW...and then the Mito...but I suppose those are two extremes and the rest should be easier. Then again...the bigger bikes...gotta get used to the weight...hahaha!