STREET SMART

[Spectrum]

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BUYING A BIKE?

A New Mini Series by Street Smart

 

Will give our safety post a break &

Do a Mini Series on Buying a Bike?

 

Something close to our hearts & wallet.

 

Here in Spore...

Riders are restricted by our licence.

Eg Class 2b(up to 200cc), 2a(up to 400cc) & 2 (all bikes)

 

A decision to Pay More for the luxury of a New Bike...

Or budget for a 2nd hand one.

 

Which bike is for u?

Will it be a street or sport bike...

Tourer or dual purpose...

Scooter or maybe a scrambler.

Do u go for your Heart or Head?

eg. what u like or what is best for u.

 

Which dealer to go... Mah, Looi, Boon Siew...

Or should u buy from say the classified here in the forum.

 

How to spot a lemon(bad 2nd hand bike)

And when to walk away.

 

As it can involves up >$20 000 for a purchase...

This mini series hope to help u make some...

 

This Red Ducati 999s should be in the region of $40 000... about.

 

Smart Decisions!

 

Do chip in with your comments to help our fellow bikers.

[Spectrum]

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INFORMATION

 

A Few Places u can find these information.

 

Bike Magazines: My Favorite are the UK Mag... go search for a review on the bike that interest u. Eg for this case the Piaggio X9

The Latest Bikes will nomally be featured most.

There will also be bike comparison... eg X9 vs aprilla vs burgman vs silver wing

Aust or America mag are also available.

 

Internet: A great souce of info. Go to the Manufacturer's Home Web.

 

Forums: Go the forum on the particular bike... there u will read the good, bad & ugly of the bike. Also the people there will be the best to answer your questions.

Read the forums around the world, not just here in sporebike.com

 

Speak to the Owners: One of the Best way to really gauge the bike.

Could be your friends or join a teh session with the riders in the forum.

 

Ride the Bike: If u have the opportunity... give u a great feedback.

Ahem... have to get someone to lend u... or the moto tiam owner.

 

Important Point Is Not To Rush Into the Decision!

[endlessloop]

Originally posted by Finity@Aug 12 2006, 01:26 AM

- type warming up.

read about this in one of the post [should b street advice 1 "50% of Crashes happen within the 1st 6 min"]

saying "Another point to note is that your tyre has not warmed up yet, so taking a big turn at speed immediately is risky." So how does 1 have to have the tyre warmed up ?

 

Warming up tyres

 

Modern road tyres are designed to warm up very quickly. U don't really need to do any special thing to warm up commercial road tyres.

Don't believe? Just feel your own tyres after a ride. The tyre skin is actually rather warm.

Moreover, Singapore is such a warm country compared to the european countries or USA.

Just to be safe, just don't go on a max lean on your first corner after you start your bike. Otherwise, for road riding, I don't think warming up of tires is a significant factor to any loss of grip.

 

However, for track riding, it is different. Track riding pushes the bike to greater limits. So it is good to ride at least 2 warm-up laps before pushing hard.

 

There are a few myths about warming up of tyres:

 

1. The tyres that really need to be warmed up to grip properly are the racing tyres.

These tyres are not even the BT-014, Pilot Power or Super Corsa. They are not for normal road use and it is very hard to find them. They don't have grooves for max gripping surface area. These racing tyres have compounds that grip even better than equivalent road tyres, but only if they are warmed up. And they take a longer time to warm up than road tyres. That is why in the racing pits, u see the electric tyre blankets are wrapped around the tyres to continue heating the tyres before the race start.

 

2. Jinking your bike to increase warming up of tyres.

 

If u really want to increase the heat of your tyres, a much more effective way than jinking (steer the bike left, then steer right, then steer left...) is to decelerate and accelerate, then decelerate....

 

Our tyres heat up from the friction when our tyres grip against the road tarmac. So the greater the friction produced, the greater the heat transferred to the tyres.

 

In the F1 race, drivers jink because there is a whole row of other F1 cars behind u. If u stop then accelerate, then stop, it might cause some drivers behind to crash...

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure where the source was from about 50% crash happened within 6 min of starting the ride. But I am not surprise if this is true.

 

It is not clear in your message of the full paragraph, but I don't think the major cause for the above statistics is due to cold tyres.

 

Reason is that commercial road tyres warm up very very quickly. So cold tyres is hardly ever present, especially in Singapore.

 

I believe the more important cause is the state of mind of the rider. When the rider is not in the proper state of mind when he starts his ride, he wouldn't be able to observe and react to danger in time. And road riding is full of hazards. So it doesn't take long for bad news to hit.

 

Inproper state of mind include the mind is somewhere else preoccupied with something other than riding. Such as thinking of play, work, girlfriend/wife, what to do when reach the destination. Or the ride is in emotional state such as just quarrelled, just got scolded, being late and rushing for something.

 

All these can really spoil your riding day.

[Finity]

Tks endlessloop n spectrum for the info about the warming of tyre.

 

Last few days trying to apply wat i learn here n apply it on the road while taking a car ride frm my friend's car. Hard to adjust frm a passenger to a driver/rider.

Some of it i nvr use it in training school also good to b apply.

 

- [tip #26 tunnel vision]

spot [focus onli the path i am] vs flood light [focus on both the road + path i am]

during training school, always use spot. And remember once almost cause an accident by using this method in school.

 

# was on a stagger junction, left n right road = road in the circuit, opp road = private car[private student] that comes into the circuit. So on that particular day wanted to make a right turn, so onli concentrate on traffic left n right n nvr put much/nvr put attention to the opp. road. so when left n right is clear of traffice, wanted to make a move when spotted the car[frm no where] that turn out frm the opp road. Due to my kiasu n kiasi way i saved myself.

 

wat was taught = look right, left, right then move

my kiasu n kiasi way = look right,left,right,left then move

 

- others [concentration]

this happen to me a few times while inside the circuit riding, my mind was off to somewhere, n when my mind is bck on focus on the road, a car would pop out frm nowhere or have start to stop, this force me to use the e-brake skill. Lucky speed inside circuit is slow[30-50km/h] so manage to stop without locking the wheels, or bang into the back of the car.

 

- others [tip # 17 will he/she turn into my path]

 

this also happen a few times, they just turn in without checking the mirror or blind spot. I have to either slow down or worst brake to let the "blind" driver/rider to proceed.

 

K thats all for now ... will pop by again soon ...

[Denden]

The Pace (Part I)

Nick Ienatsch's article on The Pace

 

Reprinted w/o permission as originally published in Motorcyclist, Nov 91.

 

Racing involves speed, concentration and commitment; the results of a mistake are usually catastrophic because there's little room for error riding at 100 percent. Performance street riding is less intense and further from the absolute limit, but because circumstances are less controlled, mistakes and overagressiveness can be equally catastrophic. Plenty of roadracers have sworn off street riding. "Too dangerous, too many variables and too easy to get carried away with too much speed," track specialists claim. Adrenaline-addled racers find themselves treating the street like the track, and not surprisingly, they get burned by the police, the laws of physics and the cold, harsh realities of an environment not groomed for ten tenths riding. But as many of us know, a swift ride down a favorite road may be the finest way to spend a few free hours with a bike we love. And these few hours are best enjoyed riding at The Pace.

 

A year after I joined the Motorcyclist staff in 1984, Mitch Boehm was hired. Six months later, The Pace came into being, and we perfected it during the next few months of road testing and weekend fun rides. Now The Pace is part of my life--and a part of the Sunday-morning riding group I frequent. The Pace is a street technique that not only keeps street riders alive, but thoroughly entertained as well.

 

THE PACE

 

The Pace focuses on bike control and de-emphasizes outright speed. Full-throttle acceleration and last minute braking aren't part of the program, effectively eliminating the two most common single-bike accident scenarios in sport riding. Cornering momentum is the name of the game, stressing strong, forceful inputs at the handlebar to place the bike correctly at the entrance of the turn and get it flicked in with little wasted time and distance. Since the throttle wasn't slammed open at the exit of the last corner, the next corner doesn't require much, if any, braking. It isn't uncommon to ride with our group and not see a brake light flash all morning.

 

If the brakes are required, the front lever gets squeezed smoothly, quickly and with a good deal of force to set entrance speed with minimum time. Running in on the brakes is tantamount to running off the road, a confession that you're pushing too hard and not getting your entrance speed set early enough because you stayed on the gas too long. Running The Pace decreases your reliance on the throttle and brakes, the two easiest controls to abuse, and hones your ability to judge cornering speed, which is the most thrilling aspect of performance street riding.

 

YOUR LANE IS YOUR LIMIT

 

Crossing the centerline at any time except during a passing maneuver is intolerable, another sign that you're pushing too hard to keep up. Even when you have a clean line of sight through a left-hand kink, stay to the right of the centerline. Staying on the right side of the centerline is much more challenging than simply straightening every slight corner, and when the whole group is committed to this intelligent practice, the temptation to cheat is eliminated through peer pressure and logic. Though street riding shouldn't be described in racing terms, you can think of your lane as the racetrack. Leaving your lane is tantamount to a crash.

 

Exact bike control has you using every inch of your lane if the circumstances permit it. In corners with a clear line of sight and no oncoming traffic, enter at the far outside of the corner, turn the bike relatively late in the corner to get a late apex at the far inside of your lane and accelerate out, just brushing the far outside of your lane as your bike stands up. Steer your bike forcefully but smoothly to minimize the transition time; don't hammer it down because the chassis will bobble slightly as it settles, possibly carrying you off line. Since you haven't charged in on the brakes, you can get the throttle on early, before the apex, which balances and settles your bike for the drive out.

 

More often than not, ciccumstances do not permit the full use of your lane from yellow line to white line and back again. Blind corners, oncoming traffic and gravel on the road are a few criteria that dictate a more conservative approach, so leave yourself a three- or four-foot margin for error, especially at the left side of the lane where errant oncoming traffic could prove fatal. Simply narrow your entrance on a blind right-hander and move your apex into your lane three feet on blind left turns in order to stay free of unseen oncoming traffic hogging the centerline. Because you're running at The Pace and not flat out, your controlled entrances offer additional time to deal with unexpected gravel or other debris in your lane; the outside wheel track is usually the cleanest through a dirty corner since a car weights its outside tires most, scrubbing more dirt off the pavement in the process, so aim for that line.

 

A GOOD LEADER, WILLING FOLLOWERS

 

The street is not a racing environment, and it takes humility, self assurance and self control to keep it that way. The leader sets the pace and monitors his mirrors for signs of raggedness in the ranks that follow, such as tucking in on straights, crossing over the yellow line and hanging off the motorcycle in corners. If the leader pulls away, he simply slows his straightaway speed slightly but continues to enjoy the corners, thus closing the ranks but missing none of the fun. The small group of three or four riders I ride with is so harmonious that the pace is identical no matter who's leading. The lead shifts occasionally with a quick hand sign, but there's never a pass for the lead with an ego on the sleeve. Make no mistake, the riding is spirited and quick--in the corners. Anyone with a right arm can hammer down the straights; it's the proficiency in the corners that makes The Pace come alive.

 

Following distances are relatively lengthy, with the straightaways---taken at more moderate speeds--the perfect opportunity to adjust the gaps. Keeping a good distance serves several purposes, besides being safer. Rock chips are minimized and the highway patrol won't suspect a race is in progress. The Pace's style of not hanging off in corners also reduces the appearance of pushing too hard and adds a degree of maturity and sensibility in the eyes of the public and the law. There's a definite challenge to cornering quickly while sitting sedately on your bike.

 

New rider indoctrination takes some time because The Pace develops very high cornering speeds and newcomers want to hammer the throttle on exits to make up for what they lose at the entrances. Our group slows drastically when a new rider joins the ranks because our technique of moderate straightaway speeds and no brakes can suck the unaware into a corner too fast, creating the most common single-bike accident. With a new rider learning The Pace behind you, tap your brake lightly well before the turn to alert him and make sure he understands there's no pressure to stay with the group.

 

There's plenty of ongoing communication during The Pace. A foot off the peg indicates debris on the road, and all slowing or turning intentions are signaled in advance with the left hand and arm. Turn signals are used for direction changes and passing, with a wave of the left hand to thank the cars that move right and make it easy for the motorcyclists to get past. Since you don't have a death grip on the handlebar, you left hand is also free to wave to oncoming riders, a fading courtesy that we'd like to see return. If you're getting the idea The Pace is a relaxing, noncompetitive way to ride with a group, you are right.

 

RELAX AND FLICK IT

 

I'd rather spend a Sunday in the mountains riding at The Pace than a Sunday at the racetrack, it is that enjoyable. Countersteering is the name of the game, a smooth forceful steering input at the handlebar relayed to the tires contact patches through a rigid sport-bike frame. Riding at The Pace is certainly what the bike manufacturers had in mind when sport bikes evolved to the street.

 

But the machine isn't the most important aspect of running The Pace because you can do it on anything capable of getting through a corner. Attitude is The Pace's most important aspect; realizing the friend ahead of you isn't a competotor, respecting his right to lead the group occasionally and giving him credit for his riding skills. You must have the maturity to limlt your straightaway speeds to allow the group to stay in touch and the sense to realize that racetrack tactics such as late braking and full throttle runs to redline will alienate the public and police and possibly introduce you to the unforgiving laws of gravity. When the group arrives at the destination after running The Pace, no one feels outgunned or is left with the feeling he must prove himself on the return run. If you've got something to prove, get on a racetrack.

 

The racetrack measures your speed with a stopwatch and direct competition, welcoming your agression and gritty resolve to be the best. Performance street riding's only yardstick is the amount of enjoyment gained, not lap times, finishing position or competitors beaten. The differences are huge but not always remembered by riders who haven't discovered The Pace's cornering pureness and group involvement. Hammer on the racetrack. Pace yourself on the street.

[ermintham]

About the tyre pressure... you might want to try softening your suspension.

 

yea..i wld love to but mine's a dead one.

 

 

what bike're you riding, and what pressure you using? haha, and what's your weight?? bumpy ride could be anything, really... overinflating tires, bad suspension set-up, worn wheel bearings... underinflating your tires may mean poorer road handling and tire-life, you might want to consider your suspension rebound, or lighter fork-oil etc.

 

im riding sp. the prob is tire pressure it hink...ive tried to play ard with it...it seems to work.. my mech says coz of my size....i nid to lower the pressure in my tyres...im only 53kg. but til now i dunno to jus lower tt of the rear or adjust both the rear and front tire pressure

 

 

 

ps 1)sorry for late reply...haben been coming to forum lately.

2) if only i cld go for the trip...mum dun let me go over the causeway

[Spectrum]

Thks Endlesss & Denden for the post...

 

Finity: Things gonna get more exciting on the roads. Promise!

 

Ermin: It about covers all to soften the ride...

Next solution is perhaps a bigger bike... They nomally eats up the

bumps better with superior suspension.

[Spectrum]

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Heart or Head?

 

Well, what does your heart says? (what u really like)

And how about your head... (what's gonna suit u best)

 

It is sometime a very difficult decision...

But u have to decide.

 

Maybe I share how I come to buy my Hornet 900.

 

Sports bike are really the top of most bikers' list.

Also the bike that rules the bike manufactures...

And the reviews of mag.

 

The Sleek Styles & Power says it all...

 

So we have the SP, Kips, CBR... Ninjas, Gixers... R1

 

For me... I have left the biking for a long time.

Coming back... Top of the list goes to comfort then power...

 

I 1st looked at the Deuville.

Nice complete bike with panier... (I can put my tau pau, stuff & helmet)

And a Fazer 600.... ($13500)

Like the design of the fazer... & gd review with the mag(older fazer)

 

When a colleaque express concern that a Deuville does not have the power...

and I should really consider a 1000cc bike as the re-sale is better.

 

So I Look for a Fazer 1000. ($18000)

I was not too sure how my interest will hold so decides on a 2nd hand one.

 

View a few Fazer but didn't really

settle to one I like or the price was not what I was looking at.

(It was nice the moto tiam even let me have a go at the bike at UBI)

 

The TDM Yamaha was the next bike I checked out...

Nice No. FL88

Didn't like the V Engine.. a little noisy for me...

The straight 4 are much smoother.

 

That's when one of my guys stumble upon a Red Hornet 900

Somewhen in Defu Moto Tiam while servicing his bike there.

 

Had a look... 3000km on the clock, look brand new... $12000

2 yrs old...

Didn't quite interest me...

but I did my check on the internet anyway.

 

That's when I found out that The Hornet was very popular in UK.

And it is quite a good bike.

 

With that... I invited down my Hayabusa & CB1000 friends to have

another look at the bike...

A good going over to see if the bike was ok.

I didn't ride the bike but let my buddy

have a go at it... since he was more experience.

And man was he impressed with the bike.

 

The Hornet has been with me now for 2.5 yrs

And It had been a wonderful relationship.

 

Hope this sharing will help u decide...

I normally say to guys to go for the heart...

If it's not gonna cost too much.

 

Otherwise, he's gonna be thinking about it the rest of his life.

And when u have enough.... go for the what that fits.

[Denden]

The Pace (Part II)

Nick Ienatsch's Pace Philosophy

 

Reprinted w/o permission as originally published in Sport Rider, June 93.

 

PACE YOURSELF

 

The street is not the track - It's a place to Pace

 

Two weeks go a rider died when he and his bike tumbled off a cliff paralleling our favorite road. No gravel in the lane, no oncoming car pushing him wide, no ice. The guy screwed up. Rider error. Too much enthusiasm with too little skill, and this fatality wasn't the first on this road this year. As with most single-bike accidents, the rider entered the corner at a speed his brain told him was too fast, stood the bike up and nailed the rear brake. Goodbye.

 

On the racetrack the rider would have tumbled into the hay bales, visited the ambulance for a strip of gauze and headed back to the pits to straighten his handlebars and think about his mistake. But let's get one thing perfectly clear: the street is not the racetrack. Using it as such will shorten your riding career and keep you from discovering the Pace. The Pace is far from street racing - and a lot more fun.

 

The Pace places the motorcycle in its proper role as the controlled vehicle, not the controlling vehicle. Too many riders of sport bikes become baggage when the throttle gets twisted - the ensuing speed is so overwhelming they are carried along in the rush. The Pace ignores outright speed and can be as much fun on a Ninja 250 as on a ZX-11, emphasizing rider skill over right-wrist bravado. A fool can twist the grip, but a fool has no idea how to stop or turn. Learning to stop will save your life; learning to turn will enrich it. What feels better than banking a motorcycle over into a corner?

 

The mechanics of turning a motorcycle involve pushing and/or pulling on the handlebars; while this isn't new information for most sport riders, realize that the force at the handlebar affects the motorcycle's rate of turn-in. Shove hard on the bars, and the bike snaps over; gently push the bars, and the bike lazily banks in. Different corners require different techniques, but as you begin to think about lines, late entrances and late apexes, turning your bike at the exact moment and reaching he precise lean angle will require firm, forceful inputs ant the handlebars. If you take less time to turn your motorcycle, you can use that time to brake more effectively or run deeper into the corner, affording yourself more time to judge the corner and a better look at any hidden surprises. It's important to look as far into the corner as possible and remember the adage, "You go where you look."

 

DON'T RUSH

 

The number-one survival skill, after mastering emergency braking, is setting your corner-entrance speed early, or as Kenny Roberts says, "Slow in, fast out." Street riders may get away with rushing into 99 out of 100 corners, but that last one will have gravel, mud or a trespassing car. Setting entrance speed early will allow you to adjust your speed and cornering line, giving you every opportunity to handle the surprise.

 

We've all rushed into a corner too fast and experienced not just the terror but the lack of control when trying to herd the bike into the bend. If you're fighting the brakes and trying to turn the bike, any surprise will be impossible to deal with. Setting your entrance speed early and looking into the corner allows you to determine what type of corner you're facing. Does the radius decrease? Is the turn off-camber? Is there an embankment that may have contributed some dirt to the corner?

 

Racers talk constantly about late braking, yet that technique is used only to pass for position during a race, not to turn a quicker lap time. Hard braking blurs the ability to judge cornering speed accurately, and most racers who rely too heavily on the brakes find themselves passed at the corner exits because they scrubbed off too much cornering speed. Additionally, braking late often forces you to trail the brakes or turn the motorcycle while still braking. While light trail braking is an excellent and useful technique to master, understand that your front tire has only a certain amount of traction to give.

 

If you use a majority of the front tire's traction for braking and then ask it to provide maximum cornering traction as well, a typical low-side crash will result. Also consider that your motorcycle won't steer as well with the fork fully compressed under braking. If you're constantly fighting the motorcycle while turning, it may be because you're braking too far into the corner. All these problems can be eliminated by setting your entrance speed early, an important component of running the Pace.

 

Since you aren't hammering the brakes at every corner entrance, your enjoyment of pure cornering will increase tremendously. You'll relish the feeling of snapping your bike into the corner and opening the throttle as early as possible. Racers talk about getting the drive started, and that's just as important on the street. Notice how the motorcycle settles down and simply works better when the throttle is open? Use a smooth, light touch on the throttle and try to get the bike driving as soon as possible in the corner, even before the apex, the tightest point of the corner. If you find yourself on the throttle ridiculously early, it's an indication you can increase your entrance speed slightly be releasing the brakes earlier.

 

As you sweep past the apex, you can begin to stand the bike up out of the corner. This is best done by smoothly accelerating, which will help stand the bike up. As the rear tire comes off full lean, it puts more rubber on the road, and the forces previously used for cornering traction can be converted to acceleration traction. The throttle can be rolled open as the bike stands up.

 

This magazine won't tell you how fast is safe; we will tell you how to go fast safely. How fast you go is your decision, but it's one that requires reflection and commitment. High speed on an empty four-lane freeway is against the law, but it's fairly safe. Fifty-five miles per hour in a canyon may be legal, but it may also be dangerous. Get together with your friends and talk about speed. Set a reasonable maximum and stick to it. Done right, the Pace is addicting without high straightaway speeds.

 

The group I ride with couldn't care less about outright speed between corners; any gomer can twist a throttle. If you routinely go 100 mph, we hope you routinely practice emergency stops from that speed. Keep in mind outright speed will earn a ticket that is tough to fight and painful to pay; cruising the easy straight stuff doesn't attract as much attention from the authorities and sets your speed perfectly for the next sweeper.

 

GROUP MENTALITY

 

Straights are the time to reset the ranks. The leader needs to set a pace that won't bunch up the followers, especially while leaving a stop sign or passing a car on a two-lane road. The leader must use the throttle hard to get around the car and give the rest of the group room to make the pass, yet he or she can't speed blindly along and earn a ticket for the whole group. With sane speeds on the straights, the gaps can be adjusted easily; the bikes should be spaced about two seconds apart for maximum visibility of surface hazards.

 

It's the group aspect of the Pace I enjoy most, watching the bikes in front of me click into a corner like a row of dominoes, or looking in my mirror as my friends slip through the same set of corners I just emerged from.

 

Because there's a leader and a set of rules to follow, the competitive aspect of sport riding is eliminated and that removes a tremendous amount of pressure from a young rider's ego - or even an old rider's ego. We've all felt the tug of racing while riding with friends or strangers, but the Pace takes that away and saves it for where it belongs: the racetrack. The racetrack is where you prove your speed and take chances to best your friends and rivals.

 

I've spend a considerable amount of time writing about the Pace (see Motorcyclist, Nov. '91) for several reasons, not the least of which being the fun I've had researching it (continuous and ongoing). But I have motivations that aren't so fun. I got scared a few years ago when Senator Danforth decided to save us from ourselves by trying to ban superbikes, soon followed by insurance companies blacklisting a variety of sport bikes. I've seen Mulholland Highway shut down because riders insisted on racing (and crashing) over a short section of it. I've seen heavy police patrols on roads that riders insist on throwing themselves off of. I've heard the term "murder-cycles" a dozen times too many. When we consider the abilities of a modern sport bike, it becomes clear that rider techniques is sorely lacking.

 

The Pace emphasizes intelligent, rational riding techniques that ignore racetrack heroics without sacrificing fun. The skills needed to excel on the racetrack make up the basic precepts of the Pace, excluding the mind-numbing speeds and leaving the substantially larger margin for error needed to allow for unknowns and immovable objects. Our sport faces unwanted legislation from outsiders, but a bit of throttle management from within will guarantee our future.

 

THE PACE PRINCIPLES

 

Set cornering speed early. Blow the entrance and you'll never recover.

 

Look down the road Maintaining a high visual horizon will reduce perceived speed and help you avoid panic situations.

 

Steer the bike quickly. There's a reason Wayne Rainey works out - turning a fast-moving motorcycle takes muscle.

 

Use your brakes smoothly but firmly Get on and then off the brakes; don't drag 'em.

 

Get the throttle on early Starting the drive settles the chassis, especially through a bumpy corner.

 

Never cross the centerline except to pass Crossing the centerline in a corner is an instant ticket and an admittance that you can't really steer your bike. In racing terms, your lane is your course; staying right of the line adds a significant challenge to most roads and is mandatory for sport riding's future.

 

Don't crowd the centerline Always expect an oncoming car with two wheels in your lane.

 

Don't hang off in the corners or tuck in on the straights Sitting sedately on the bike looks safer and reduces unwanted attention. It also provides a built-in safety margin.

 

When leading, ride for the group Good verbal communication is augmented with hand signals and turn signals; change direction and speed smoothly.

 

When following, ride with the group If you can't follow a leader, don't expect anyone to follow you when you're setting the pace.

[Denden]

Cornering Speeds

OFF IDLE:

Lotsa laps, load of miles

 

BY NICK IENATSCH

 

This sport, the one you're so addicted to, is unmatched in terms

of thrill and difficulty. Because of those assets, mistakes mean

more than hitting a ball into the net like Andre Agassi or throwing

an interception lke Brett Favre. Those guys can afford to make

mistakes, we can't. Rather than spend the next few years

learning from the school of hard knocks, let's shortcut the

learning curve by examining a few of the ways we hit the ground.

 

We crash on cold tires. And everyone who falls off cold tires says

the same thing: "Man I was going SO SLOW!" Respect cold - and

especially new and cold - tires by giving them a few miles to

warm up, and develop an inner alarm that gongs every time you

start a ride. Cold tires can handle smooth, subtle braking,

accelerating and cornering inputs. Just don't be aggressive.

 

We crash on overloaded tires. Modern sportbike tires will do

amazing things, but traction is finite. Tires begin to slide when

they become overloaded, like when too much front brake or too

much throttle is combined with too much lean angle. Those

scenarios push either the front or rear tire over the traction edge.

If it's a gentle push, the rider can usually gather it back up, but

if the traction edge is leaped over, the rider is down before he

knows it. We can sneak up on these traction limits by slowing

and smoothing our control applications. The faster your bike, the

smoother you need to work the brakes and throttle.

 

We can crash trying to catch up. The motorcycle has very little to

do with a rider's speed on backroads, but until you understand

that fact, using the throttle to keep up your friends seems like a

viable option. Trouble is, your focus has just gone from riding

technique and trying to read the road to trying to hang on with

your more experienced friends. Don't succumb to this

temptation. Ride at your own pace and keep studying the sport.

Learn to transition your bike off the throttle, onto the brakes and

into the corner's apex. Riding on the street isn't about going fast,

it's about attaining repeatability at speeds that won't freak out

your brain. Get it right going slow and don't worry about anyone

else.

 

We crash because we want to go fast. Freddie Spencer has a

great line: "This is a slow corner. I'm going to go.....slow!" On the

street, these "slow corners" can include intersections, school

zones, blind crests, unfamiliar roads, crowded freeways, gravel

strewn backroads etc. The riders that scare me the most are the

ones that can't slow down. Thirty miles per hour doesn't seem

fast until you see some idiot going that speed while splitting

lanes in stopped traffic. Speed reduces time and adds distance

in an emergency situation. Recognize and respect dangerous

situations that can be remedied by slowing down.

 

We crash because we bail out. What do you do when you enter a

corner too hot? First, understand that the term "too hot" probably

means that your brain is overwhelmed, not that the bike is at its

limits. You freak out because you missed a downshift or didn't

go to the brake lever or got surprised by an unforeseen situation,

but the bike could probably still make it through the corner if your

brain could just settle down. Do these three things: 1) LOOK

through the corner. The brain doesn't know the pavement exists

until the eyes see it. If you look off the road, the bike will

follow. 2) LEAN into the corner until the bike is dragging on the

ground. That's the limit. 3) BELIEVE in modern technology and

know that if you are looking into the corner and leaning all the

way over, the bike could still make it. Too many riders enter a

corner too hot, stand up the bike and nail the rear brake. Look,

lean and believe.

 

We crash because we aren't mentally there. Your motorcycle

covers 88 feet per second at 60 mph, so an instant's inattention

moves you quite a distance. If you're thinking about work, your

family, the scenery... slow down or pull over. If you're thinking

about your riding, make sure you're thinking about the next

corner, the next intersection, the next brake application...the

future. You can't turn back time, so forget a previous mistake and

look to the next situation. Ride ahead of your bike.

 

We crash because we rush corner entrances. Kenny Roberts

said "Slow in, fast out." Think of the entrance as preparation for

the exit. On your next ride, try reducing your corner-entrance

aggression by 5 percent. Literally ride into the corners slower

than you feel you could enter, and watch how much better your

exits get, how much better you get your bike steered down to the

apex, how much earlier you can pick up the throttle, how much

more relaxed you are. It worked for Roberts when winning three

world championships, and it works for street riders who want to

make it to breakfast every Sunday morning for the rest of their

lives. Most single-bike crashes come from too much entrance

speed.

 

We crash because we can't keep up with the motorcycle. Today's

sportbikes are the safest, most competent motorcycles in

history, yet they continue to hit the ground. Make sure your

software is equal to the hardware. Practice emergency braking.

Take advantage of the many riding schools and open track days

in your area. I can speak for the rest of the Sportbike staff when I

say if we hadn't visited the racetrack on our testbikes, we

wouldn't have had half as much fun or discovered the true

performance available from these amazing machines.

 

Discussing crashes is a no-no in some magazines. That's too

bad, because rather than commit a mistake that leads to

damage, I'd much rather learn that lesson from someone else's

goof! Don't be afraid or embarassed to work hard on your riding,

because the better your technique becomes, the more your bike

will reveal to you and the more joy this sport will deliver.

[Spectrum]

Denden:

[chris 525]

Originally posted by Spectrum@Aug 12 2006, 11:07 AM

50% of the Crashes happens the 1st 6 mins...

 

Cold tires don't grip too well... that's correct.

Takes about 5-10min for the tyres to warm up.

 

But the main reason for the crashes is the

Transition to riding... eg settling down to the traffic conditions.

 

 

3 lanes means 5 lanes...

 

For a 3 lane highway/street..

the bikes sometimes uses the space between the lanes

in heavy traffic.

eg. riding on the lines that divides the lanes.

Between vehicles.

It is also call "Filtering"

 

Feel Free to ask any questions...

Nothing is silly here... when it comes to road safety.

 

Am sure u will enjoy riding...

sh*t it only takes me 6 minutes to get to work :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Spectrum]

Hi Chris... Are u back in Spore?

Gd to hear from u... U miss the Durian Ride.

^

6 min is a general transition time...

Most city rides are really short...

 

Just be more alert!

When we start our rides...

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Bikes/NeworUsedBike01M.jpg

 

New or Used Bike

 

Guess it is all down to dollars & cents.

If u can afford a new bike...

There no nicer feeling than owning something brand new.

 

But Many do not realise the high cost of depreciation.

(especially the 1st year)

Say u decides to buy a New Honda CBR1000RR.

(the chance to ride a new super sport)

$23 000 plus Insurance $1700 per year.(for below 30yrs)

 

U put down the down payment of $4000 cash.

Loan the rest for 7yrs.

 

Be prepare to pay $250 per month for 7 yrs. for the machine.

 

Eight months down the road...

U decides that you had enough of a super sport bike.

Maybe installments/insurance too heavy, bike too hot... uncomfortable...

a lot of pwr u don't use... what ever... or simply U had enough...

 

Now u wanna sell...

Try to sell at your price but eventually back to shop.

And finds that the shop will take it back at $16 000

 

U sell the bike to the shop & still continues to pay 4 more months of installments!

(yes, u have no bike & still owe money to moto tiam)

 

A lot of bikers are caught in this scheme.

So Beware!

 

The above figures are a rough estimate...

to give u a ball park figure to the cost of owning a new bike....

if u decides to sell within 2yrs.

So... Best to spread the depreciation by keeping your new bike for

Many, many yrs...

 

Alternately...

 

The financial loss for a used bike will be less.

But then...

U may get a bad bike!

But if u are patience & Look the right places...

u may get a gem!

 

So choice is yours...

 

As for me... I do not know how long my interest will be.

so I chose a used bike.

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Bikes/142.jpg

 

Buying A New Bike

 

Show rooms like Yamaha @ Paya Lebar

are not too interested in selling bikes.

They prefer the moto shops to do it.

They will quote a higher price if u do ask.

As when I visited the Suzuki show room at Owen...

only the Burgman was on show.

 

Kawasaki @ Sin Ming... has a new show room

 

Honda @ Bukit Timah has now taken to sell the bike at normal prices.

So u can walk into the show room & buy one.

 

The Moto Shop at Bukit Merah does have the latest bikes for on display

and if they don't have it... they can get it for u.

 

Mah @ Serangoon Rd has a very nice range of bikes.

Looi @ Kaki Bukit Level 2 is one place u would like to pop by.

Universal @ Serangoon is a shop house with a gd range.

Ducati @ Lavender

Harley @ Leng Kee

 

Teo Spray @ 5 Defu is a big agent for Suzuki...

The GSR600 was on display there with there was only 2 in Spore.

 

Do a small tour & u get the best price.

But remember... the followup service is also important.

For some reason... the one that sells u the bike

always gets to buy it bike back.

 

He is also most glad if u trade your bike in for another.

It is his business to sell bikes... He makes both ways.

 

OTR: On the road price includes all

(check if insurance is in.... including comprehensive or 3rd party fire & theft)

 

U can get most of the address at the web directory.

So have fun! Bike Hunting...

 

Some bikes come from the agents & a minority are parallel imports.

Agents may not bring in certain models. eg Hornet 250

[gohjohan]

Harley at Leng Kee is on the East side? I didn't know that. I stay on the west side and I'm 10-15 mins away from Leng Kee.

 

Anyway, be patient in your shopping. Do your homework. Do you guys remember the tip on head and heart? Start from there and when you know what style of bike you like and feel comfortable with, then, do your home work based on the reviews on the different brands of bikes given.

 

Once you know the bikes that you want, start searching and when you find it, see if you can take it for a spin. Comfortable? Too powerful? Too underpowered? What's that tiny dents on the tank? Why is there oil on the cooling fins?

 

I'm sure you get what I mean. Test the bike and do a check. You feel something is not right, skip the bike. Maintaining and repairing could cost more than expected. If you are paying by installment, the interest paid, will burn more money than it's worth, especially in the 1st month when you get your bike and find out the problems.

 

Overall, it could be days to even months before getting your right bike (assuming you've got your Class 2 and your research is limited to any bike that LTA approves)

 

 

I know, for people who are looking at my siggy and wondering why I changed 3 classes of bikes in 9 months. Well, I'm holding my Class 2 technically for a few years and I haven't been riding for also a few years. So when I went back to riding, I know I shouldn't go to Mah's buy my heavy, fast cruiser bike and ride off into busy Serangoon Road. So I started with a Phantom, realised that 2 stroke engines are not my cup of tea, I changed to the Dragstar 400, found it underpowered eventually and also after the Harley open house, my fingers got itchy so I searched for a Class 2 cruiser and landed with the Shadow 750 from Mah's.

 

The lesson here? Thankfully, my head and heart yearns for a cruiser bike. The rest of it was on research and also right place, right time. If you haven't rode for a while, take sometime to reorientate again.

 

So go for your bike and happy hunting

[Spectrum]

thks Johan... Corrected location...

Think there's a couple of bike shop in Bukit Batok & Admirality...

[Finity]

Finally the D-day have arrive. Tomorrow will be the day to decide whether i can get a bike. I am confident but not v.confident for the examiner to pass me. Cause due to the high accident rate to motorist, dont think they give me a pass so easily tomorrow.

 

 

well one of my friend[a brader that join this forum] just met an accident recently.

 

injury:

multiple bruises on his elbow, feet, whole right leg and his hand.

 

 

Situation:

Was riding on the road, from far saw dere is a man jay walking when it is red man. Then he stop at the divider. So as soon as my friend is half way the cross junction at Dr 4 pasir ris. He just walkin again. Den my friend horn at him but he dash across, my friend have to jam brake to avoid him.. Den skidded and flew off frm bike. De nxt moment he is in hospital

 

 

Frm above learn that wat my instructor said is correct. Nvr assume thing, anything can happen, so dont assume.

[Spectrum]

Finity: Confidence is important to pass test.

over-confidence is not gd. so u are ok.

 

Remember... what the tester wants to see is that u can handle your bike well enough to be safe on the road.

More important that u have a gd look out for other traffic that may endanger u.

or u them.

 

So have your head check of those blind spots.

 

Am sure u will do well..

 

Accident: One of the worst senario... the pedestrian/traffic stop.

So u relax & continue.. then he decides to move into your path.

 

U are right... never assume.

One way to prevent crashing into him is to assume he will dash across.

Keep your speed low enough that u can stop or avoid him if he dashes.

 

A simple accident can sent u to the hospital...

Try to make it a habit to wear protection.

A light weight jacket with guards, gloves, thickest jeans u can find in the market

& boots.

 

I Know it is hot! But what to do.... "we dress for the fall"

 

Quick recovery for your brader...

[Finity]

Today us a bad bad day. 1st of all reach the school saw my no. tag. 17. Eee not so good if u say in chinese cause it means death date. Next instructor brief .... finally time to get on the bike. Start my bike, nothing happen at 1st but after about 1 min or so my bike engine die while idling. Saw the bike in front of me have same problem, i quickly hightlight to the instructor. He quickly change a bike for me. Thought should be ok, but when i on the signal light grr no light at all. inform instructor again, without saying much he rush to get another bike for me. This time no time for me to try n know the capabilty of the bike as it was my turn.

 

So move off n everything seems smoothly til i reached the 1st course ... slope.

Wanted to move-off after stopping at the slope, the engine die again.... not once but 3 times. Grr think no hope liao, so my burden seems lighter. So proceed as usual loh.

 

Bad things dont happen once. At the e-brake course my engine stall again whn i stop nicely b4 the stop line. look @ tester tester look at me. This time i totally give up cause engine stall so much time such got 1 the tester will give me an immediate failure. So proceed n finish the whole package n proceed back.

 

Saw an instructor told him my situation n he gave me the answer: 2 points, 4 points or maybe immediately failure. At this point then i realise my chance frm 0% have rise to 50% ....

 

.

.

.

.

.

Finally time for the result: I PASSED !!! :cheer:

Hai i am soooooo lucky, n lucky i nvr give up totally, but just lighten my heavy burden of passing. So dont give up hope even u make a small mistake cause mayb the tester may give u a chance which u nvr know

[Denden]

You ah..... reading halfway I thought you'd fail.

 

Congratulation!!!

 

An advice for you... Always remember what you were taught in the driving school.

Got your license to ride on the road doesn't mean things taught in school don't apply anymore.

Since you're now gonna do the real thing, you got to be more alert then ever.

 

Ride safe!

[Denden]

Taken from SOCALSVRIDERS without permission.

 

 

Some things I do:

1) I always use my high beam during the day until dusk.

 

2) I believe in active and liberal use of the HORN! I will beep cars poking out from behind parked cars, I will beep cars trying to make a left turn in front of me, I will beep cars which I believe may be merging into me when I'm in their blind spot. I USE MY FRIGGIN' HORN! Sometimes people may think I'm an a****** again , but at least, they noticed me.

 

3) I assume every car slowing down facing me or stopped facing me is going to make a left turn in front of me! I try and prepare myself for Emergency stops in this situation. I stare down the driver, and take nothing for granted.

 

4) I try and find an "out" if faced with a situation. Maybe the best place to avoid a collision would be to go for the space that the car is currently vacating, if I said that correctly. When slowing to a stoplight amidst traffic, I try and leave a good sized gap in front of me. I check my mirror for the car behind me. I am ready on the throttle and bars in case I need to dive away from the car behind me, if they are closing too fast.

 

5) I believe in using turn signals, lights, and as much Scotchlite/reflective material as possible. Alot of people "shave" signals, reflectors, and lights off their bike, but I feel safer with my big, stupid Dumbo-ear factory turn signals.

 

6) I wear a bright helmet (white), supplemented by a "Halo" Scotchlite band if I'm out at night. I have noticed motorists looking strange-eyed at me, trying to figure out what that glowing thing on my head is. I probably look dorky, but I don't care...they've seen me.

 

7) I "cover" the brake and clutch when in traffic. A few fractions of a second may save your life.

 

That's it for right now. I am certainly NOT AN EXPERT, and don't want to sound like a know it all or anything. I simply want to start a discussion about this stuff, one which I hope will be ongoing and informative to all...

 

My intention is to evermore try and help avoid anyone from this board getting hurt while riding.

 

Safe riding to all my new friends here, and to all the friends I've yet to meet.

-Fernando

[ermintham]

Originally posted by Finity@Aug 24 2006, 11:59 PM

Today us a bad bad day. 1st of all reach the school saw my no. tag. 17. Eee not so good if u say in chinese cause it means death date. Next instructor brief .... finally time to get on the bike. Start my bike, nothing happen at 1st but after about 1 min or so my bike engine die while idling. Saw the bike in front of me have same problem, i quickly hightlight to the instructor. He quickly change a bike for me. Thought should be ok, but when i on the signal light grr no light at all. inform instructor again, without saying much he rush to get another bike for me. This time no time for me to try n know the capabilty of the bike as it was my turn.

 

So move off n everything seems smoothly til i reached the 1st course ... slope.

Wanted to move-off after stopping at the slope, the engine die again.... not once but 3 times. Grr think no hope liao, so my burden seems lighter. So proceed as usual loh.

 

Bad things dont happen once. At the e-brake course my engine stall again whn i stop nicely b4 the stop line. look @ tester tester look at me. This time i totally give up cause engine stall so much time such got 1 the tester will give me an immediate failure. So proceed n finish the whole package n proceed back.

 

Saw an instructor told him my situation n he gave me the answer: 2 points, 4 points or maybe immediately failure. At this point then i realise my chance frm 0% have rise to 50% ....

 

.

.

.

.

.

Finally time for the result: I PASSED !!! :cheer:

Hai i am soooooo lucky, n lucky i nvr give up totally, but just lighten my heavy burden of passing. So dont give up hope even u make a small mistake cause mayb the tester may give u a chance which u nvr know

hey congrats...time to get a bike i suppose..haha

[gohjohan]

Originally posted by Finity@Aug 24 2006, 11:59 PM

Today us a bad bad day. 1st of all reach the school saw my no. tag. 17. Eee not so good if u say in chinese cause it means death date. Next instructor brief .... finally time to get on the bike. Start my bike, nothing happen at 1st but after about 1 min or so my bike engine die while idling. Saw the bike in front of me have same problem, i quickly hightlight to the instructor. He quickly change a bike for me. Thought should be ok, but when i on the signal light grr no light at all. inform instructor again, without saying much he rush to get another bike for me. This time no time for me to try n know the capabilty of the bike as it was my turn.

 

So move off n everything seems smoothly til i reached the 1st course ... slope.

Wanted to move-off after stopping at the slope, the engine die again.... not once but 3 times. Grr think no hope liao, so my burden seems lighter. So proceed as usual loh.

 

Bad things dont happen once. At the e-brake course my engine stall again whn i stop nicely b4 the stop line. look @ tester tester look at me. This time i totally give up cause engine stall so much time such got 1 the tester will give me an immediate failure. So proceed n finish the whole package n proceed back.

 

Saw an instructor told him my situation n he gave me the answer: 2 points, 4 points or maybe immediately failure. At this point then i realise my chance frm 0% have rise to 50% ....

 

.

.

.

.

.

Finally time for the result: I PASSED !!! :cheer:

Hai i am soooooo lucky, n lucky i nvr give up totally, but just lighten my heavy burden of passing. So dont give up hope even u make a small mistake cause mayb the tester may give u a chance which u nvr know

Congratulations Welcome to the club! Now the real education starts handling the roads with good and bad drivers!

[Finity]

Tks !!!

 

Getting a bike is a sure thing but not sure when cause frm the day i know the result til now still emotion unstable haha cause my hope really go down quite low when i stall 3 times at the slope. Frm a confident guy who thinks wont make a single mistake in the circuit yet make one mistake 4 times. maybe because i really pratice alot thats y even with low morale i still able to complete the whole test with little marks.

 

Haha riding safely i think i able to, cause going to buy a new bike[bajaj pulsar] so got to run-in the bike for a few months n see all vechicles overtake me.

 

And its time for me to restudy this forum again to get most point in my head as to prevent n cause an accident to happen. :cheer: