Yup...that's the one.Excellent little 'booster' which actually is good for the motor...I think;)51,000 miles on that 07...nary a peep of weird acting engine parts.And there were a lot of variables while I had that bike.Lots of engine tweaks.You know I didn't baby that motor...ran as good at 1 mile as it did at 51K.Better actually at 51k.I used to think.."she's STILL breaking in"...performance 'seemed' to just get better and better.Pretty cool.
I think that Muzzy mod was the first thing I installed...then the flies...and PCIII...and...the MAPS!!!!!We remember THOSE discussions...don't we... Wonder how Jeffos doin now?Haven't been to his site in ages.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/16/2012 @ 5:34 PM *

I had the day off, and the Mountain was Empty of cages...

The best advice I'd seen so far was "Just dont do it...", so I tried that.

I've been trying to overcome Fear, my fear that drives a Survival Response to close the throttle, to reduce speed. You guys have been helpful, but were having a technical discussion about equipment. This is not about the machinery, but the balls and the brains to overcome Fear.

So I worked on that...

I lit it up, that Fear, and worked on convincing myself that I had Control. It went better when I convinced myself to relax, I Got This. Un-tensing the knot between my shoulders... relax... relaxrelaxrelax...

I noticed something else. I've had the MSF advanced course a couple times, and they teach the rider to adjust their placement in the saddle, and to one side or the other of the bars. Being on a public road (not a track), I wanted to "go fast" without looking like I was going fast.

The something else I noticed was, I could *not* get the machine to corner well at speed by sitting straight in the saddle. I *had* to get low, and get to one side of the bars to get it to corner. If I did not do this, it would not hold my line. But to do it without looking like I was hanging off was harder. "The Pace" sort of thing...

Anyway, I feel like I did well today. I did not crush the Fear, but I have convinced myself that I can do better, and so I will keep trying, keep learning...

Same as Rook. I had that before taking the flies out and right after I took them out (bad map from PC site). Now with Brock's Map and new spark plug she is so smooth. The bottom response is looney and power is really linear. For performance riding a PC is a must in my opinion.
If you go to Ivan website and check his maps for the 14s, he says that flies out and correct map = smoothness.
With Brock's map I get my best fuel economy at 4k rpm so I'm rarely at 3500 anyways.

Also before a turn practice bleeping the throttle to keep your rpm in the right zone. A slow hairpin would probably have you below 4k rpm in 1st but 2nd and an occasional 3rd should suffice for most. One thing with the 14s is that they are so powerful it is too easy to stay in high gears. Liters and 600 aren't that forgiving.

One thing with the 14s is that they are so powerful it is too easy to stay in high gears. Liters and 600 aren't that forgiving.

When I am sport riding I ride mine like a liter bike. The thing that is different is that with all the power, you really can't wind the throttle wide open. You have to have some real sensitivity to the throttle. I'll be cornering at 5-6K rpm with the throttle open just a crack as I turn in. When it's time to nail the throttle the rpm is there but I don't pour it on too heavy before the apex with the bike leaned over as far as I can go.

Meb, what I meant by "don't do it" was don't come completely off the throttle. When riding I never completely close the throttle unless I'm coming to a stop. It's called maintenance throttle, when i'm cornering and adjusting my entry speed I close the throttle but not completely (I may only be feeding 3, 4 or 5% throttle) but it isn't closed. Once my entry speed is set and I pitch in I start opening the throttle back up at a slow steady pace. If you have ever been to Pridemores school or read any of his books this is part of his being smooth teachings.

I'm not saying just start opening the throttle either, you have to know when and that usually means being able to look through the corner and see the exit so you'll know where you are going to be at the exit. You don't want to just whack the throttle open either.

* Last updated by: heathun on 11/17/2012 @ 8:45 AM *

Men wrote: I did not crush the Fear, but I have convinced myself that I can do better, and so I will keep trying, keep learning...

^^^^ He's going the distance. He's going for speed!

Meb, have you tried addressing your Ninjee prior to entering technical portions of the road? I talk to mine all the time.

Some selected quotes:

- we're late for work, get me there in on piece.
- Ninjee! Make revolutions for 90mph and engage any target that attempts blocking maneuvers!
- You whore! What did you do to these tires!? BAD!! That's a bad girl! Shame!!

"You whore! What did you do to these tires!? BAD!! That's a bad girl! Shame!!"...well...she's your girl...say anything ya want I reckon...but you DO realize the payback's a REAL BITCH.

Huh. Something happened to Grn's post.

I got the copy in my mailbox, but it's not here!? It is valuable info to me, and so I'm gonna repost it for ya, Grn.

Thanks, guys, the last few replies have really helped. *That's* the stuff I wanted to know... The machine works fine, the culmination of decades worth of brilliant engineering from the minds of some very sharp people. I'll look into mods and "improvements" as I evolve into this sport. So, for now, the machine behaves better than I can take advantage of.

But this other stuff. My stuff... That's my focus.

Grn, I understood your repiles about posture in the saddle. My understanding is, the "hanging off" of the same side as the turn improves (lowers) CG, and improves (gains) ground clearance, for a given turn radius. Otherwise, yes, it's all about Counter-steer. I spent many turns yesterday re-proving that to myself. I pushed that bar around just for play, sometimes pushing harder or softer than "needed", just to gauge the response. Smoothly, you understand, but playing just the same.

I'm also thankful for the reminder of what I'm playing with, and the importance of Focus. To lose Focus while playing with Fire is risking getting badly burned... This is actually a point that I agonize over, and it may not be healthy for me to agonize: I chastise myself for telling others to tame their wild behavior and then seem to do the same thing myself. I think about this often (but I do not rebuke others often). I have many rationalizations for this, but when I attempt to write them, they read "ugly", and I abandon the writing, and may abandon the rebuking. The "two minded-ness" of this is, for me: Can't justify your own, then don't crap in someone else's nest, and... If I can get through to one reckless man, if they can hear and listen, then perhaps his family will benefit from the years of love that will remain. These are the things that go through my head as I attempt to rationalize it.

Hagrid, I did actually begin to address the cycle! How did you know? Yup, I talked myself (and the cycle) through alot of the experience yesterday. Thats new behavior for me. I think it helped, I'm gonna do it some more. It seems to be socially acceptable now, too. No one knows the difference between talking to oneself, or someone else, in your ear (cell phone behavior). I love the comments you came up with, tho! Warp speed, Engineer! I given' it all she got, Captn'...

Heathun: Your writing is almost identical to what I've read in "Twist of the Throttle II", my current reading: Set up and complete the steering input before cracking on the gas. Briefly "coast" (= maintenance throttle) and then roll on the gas evenly, smoothly and constantly throughout the remainder of the turn. Good stuff, and it speaks to the mechanics of a "good" fast turn. Yes, I have bad "Street Lazy" habits.

You and Grn also speak to the "looking through the turn", yes sooooo important, good, thanks...

I also decided to spend the time when not in the twisties just enjoying a low speed journey through the mountains. It's posted 35 the entire way, almost 18 miles of mountain road. I decided to not tempt fate too much and to get some "down time" after the jolt "up" from evoking the Fear, when the road straightened out for a bit.

Rook and DragKing speak to the power of this cycle's engine. The track riding reading I have does not differentiate between low power and high power turns. It's telling me that the cycle is designed (to engineering spec) to "turn best" when the suspension works in it's best range. The gas is cracked on and applied linearly and smoothly to promote this "best range" suspension through the turn, which is a 40/ 60 percent mass ("weight") distribution front to rear. The writer maintains that anything else (any other throttle control, and any other control input that causes the suspension to deviate from this "best range"), will cost lap time (will be slower).

However, I understand your points: RPM range (gear selection) is important, and... this is a very powerful motor. Crack and roll on that gas carefully!

What I learned yesterday was that, for this cycle, it is possible and dangerous to roll on too quickly in a linear fashion. I could be smooth and linear on the gas, but this motor has so much torque that I quickly bumped up against Fear before the turn completed. I ran out of Turn before I ran out of Fear, while rolling on Gas. The neat thing was, I could tell when I was doing things well, and when I was not so good on the controls...

I wound up the day coming out of the twisties and thinking to myself. This is some of the best fun I can have between my legs that did not involve sex!

Here's Grns "missing post":

Yer talkin about fear?That's YOU in that avatar?Sheesh.

Fear is good.Fear
will keep you alive.Lose your fear...you do stupid things.Things that get you or
someone else killed or maimed.But fear can take over as well...make you do
things you learned you shouldn't.Don't worry...stay relaxed.Flow with your
machine.Think positive....keep looking ahead and around.Be ready...but
relaxed.Talk to yourself.Enjoy.nobody says you HAVE to go speedballing
everywhere.

This bike will corner just fine hanging off the opposite
side...did you know that?It's not you body position that's turning the bike.It's
your countersteering that's turning the bike.That's it.Sitting straight in the
saddle,with nolean...when your bike is leaning in...and you're straight in the
saddle...what is that?YOU ARE LEANING with the bike.As one.It doesn't know how
you're sitting...it's only responding to bar inputs...that's it.You can hang off
to the left,and countersteer(push) on the left bar ,your bike will turn
right.With you hanging off the opposite side.Seating position will affect
turning in a very limited way.Some of my most secure and planted turns...have
been sitting vertical in the saddle,no lean on my part...just 'leaning' with the
natural angle of the bike itself.The more you ride...and remember..it's the
countersteer that turns the bike...you can relax a bit more and feel more in
control.

Let me say...you saw my crash video...yes?....that should have
never happened...you know why?Because once I lost focus of the radius,I stopped
countersteering.At the very last minute...I was attempting to use my body to
swing back in to the lane.I was.I remember that.Had I pulled it together
quicker...and focused on where I needed to be in that curve..and countersteered
MORE...I would have made it easily.There was plenty of room in that
lane...before I allowed my focus to blur.My using my body to try and change the
direction of the bike...it didn't work...and fear grabbed on....hard
lesson...but reality.COUNTERSTEER...that's your key....sit where ya feel the
bike moving under ya like you're one.That's what yer looking for.When
everything's right with you and the physics of the machine and
situation...you'll feel it.Your confidence will climb...you'll relax.You don't
have to be going fast to do any of this....that's what's so great about this
bike in particular...it'll rail without being unsafe...It's heavy for one
thing...and that means..it's stable.But it's responsive as well...which
means...YOU'RE in control...not the bike.Whatever input you put into the
countersteer...that's how much you're gonna get...higher speeds require more
input(force)to accomplish the same end.At high speed and cornering,you will be
having to push pretty good sometimes to keep er on line...keep pushing..and look
ahead...ahead of your bike...out there...Worry about leaning after ya get used
to countersteering through a lot of different corners and speeds.

You sitting
upright in the seat...the centrifugal force going straight through the axis to
the rear wheel...that's excellent.

No one knows the difference between talking to oneself, or someone else, in your ear (cell phone behavior).

The gas is cracked on and applied linearly and smoothly to promote this "best range" suspension through the turn, which is a 40/ 60 percent mass ("weight") distribution front to rear. The writer maintains that anything else (any other throttle control, and any other control input that causes the suspension to deviate from this "best range"), will cost lap time (will be slower).

The writer obviously is NOT a Jedi.

However, I understand your points: RPM range (gear selection) is important, and... this is a very powerful motor. Crack and roll on that gas carefully!

yep, believe me, I'm a big proponent of studying theory on anything and everything you want to understand but practice is NOT the same as theory. Never does that come so crystal clear as when you are sliding sideways on a 500 lb motorcyle with cement walls and steel poles all around you. I'm sure every type of climate/topography has it's adverse conditions. Cold and dust are #1 and we got both this time of year. You have to know your machine by experience. Keep the book smarts tucked away but really, experience is what saves you. The theory points the direction to what we need to watch for but experience is the real teacher. As is the case in every discipline, you aint worth sh!t until you have actually done the stuff you learned in a classroom.

I dunno, the more I read about riding the more I am confused. my advice: just read one chapter/section and work on 1 thing at the time. Like Casey Stoner said: racing a motorcycle is not about thinking. Basically don't limit the bike capabilities with your brain. Twice I was able to drift the rear (I'm just talking about half a foot) I was able to make it happen both time because I was so concentrated it was like I was not even on the bike. A little bit like a light dream in which you are aware of the impossibility of getting hurt, turning around or celebrating prematurely knowing your shot is going in, being in the zone. Also don't fight the fear. Rather accept that you may get hurt, maybe cripple for the rest of your life, acknowledge that even the worst case scenario is ok, life goes on. lol You gotta make peace with God before you jump on a zx-14 lol

* Last updated by: dragking on 11/17/2012 @ 1:10 PM *

Meb … when you are entering a corner are you tucked over the tank or upright and do you have a lot of weight on your bars/wrist?

Cooter:

I'll describe what occurs, but the description takes much longer then the actual act.

So, well before turn-in, I move my butt to one side of the seat or the other and set up. Throttle set for entry speed. Just before turn-in, set to maintenance throttle and begin coasting. Begin and finish steering inputs, and turn-in. Looking as far through the turn as I can see... Complete coasting, somewhere well before apex. Crack gas on. Evenly, smoothly, and linearly get on gas as much as I dare.

Pre-turn-in, I'm gripping the tank with my legs when I can, otherwise I'm kinda "draped" over the tank when in the turn, trying to rest arms. Weight is off arms and wrists as much as I can manage. Lightly hanging off without appearing to be too aggressive about that. That's one main reason I bought this model, was the ergo's of the cockpit.

Pre-turn-in, I'm avoiding "charging" the turn if I can possibly do so. I'm light on the brake, sometimes no brake. I'm also not WOT, and I'm shooting for smooth and relaxed.

That last part is still very difficult for me, the relaxing, I Got This. It's a Big Cycle, heavy, powerful and for me, Scary. I'm gonna talk about that next...

DragKing, Rook, Grn:

These thoughts from you guys really electrified my attention. Especially from DragKing. I'll start there...

I have believed for many years now that there *are* worse things than dying. The thought of being seriously badly hurt for the rest of life drains the blood from my face as I think about those consequences. Not to just me, this part of the story is not about *just me*. I wake to that sweet woman next to me and it polarizes me that she might have to take care of me, or leave, or worse, if'n I screw up out there. Not to mention the million day-to-day activities I take for granted. Lets just say I try not to take too much for granted when I'm on this machine. As an aside, she rides her own cycle. The same is true on my side, for her, as balance.

I will try to continue to excel in the "working space" that I will allow myself. The cycle does not "try to kill me". I reserve that spot all to myself, in what I will allow.

I'm a lucky man. I have a wonderful, teriffic woman whom I love very much. I have a fantastic son in whom I'm very proud. I have great job that I excel at and it pays well and gives me terriffic self esteem. The bills are low, the house is paid for, and I have excellent health insurance... You get me? I've got a *great life*. Not every man can say these things, and fewer still that are willing to allow great risk to it.

So, it with that background that I say to you, I am humbled by your abilities on these machines. I am truely in awe of the experiences you describe on these pages.

I started this thread in hope to glean some understanding about how to "work up" to your levels of expertise, believing that tempering the Fear with Understanding and Training would direct me in the right direction. What I've come to understand is that, what I will take away instead is, my abilities will never become honed to such a sharp point as your abilities.

I simply am not willing to take such risks. I believe I have too much to lose.

I'm not willing to walk away from the sport, not yet. But, the bulb has definitely been lit, and I will have to decide if I can live within the constraints I've set for myself, on this cycle, (75%?, 85%? what will it be?...) or will I be wiser to walk away from it?

I dunno... I had one young man tell me just this week that he "was the smartest reckless man he knew". He knew he had a reckless streak a mile wide, and considered himself a smart guy. He *knows* his behavior will cost him dearly some day, some way. Yet, he continues to be that way.

I have been in accidents, more than my share. Not on this cycle... I like to avoid them! They're expensive as all get out, they wreck lives and equipment, the endless converstaions with repair specialists, insurance agents, physical therapists, on-and-on ad nauseum. I hate them, accidents. There's **Nothing** manly about any of it.

I guess my point is, I'm paying attention to what you're telling me, and I hope that I can be wise enough to listen, and use it within the limits that I have set myself. I *am* thankful for your help as I sort out what I can be doing better. In turn, I hope I bring a different perspective besides purely technical machinery-speak.

I simply am not willing to take such risks. I believe I have too much to lose.

It is an odds game. Sooner or later most crash. How far do you want to push it? I believe I will give up before I am dealt a losing hand...or something else will happen. Eh, most of the time people don't die but there certainly have been members on the previous forum who did die or were maimed from crashing.

You remind me so much of the guy who refused to break the speed limit by more than 10 mph on his 14. The reason: he was a dentist. He thought the bike was really cool and he got a great deal on it so he took it. Then he found himself defending his choice to obey traffic laws against detractors on the forum. I had to supported his right to ride his bike the way that made him happy. He had a successful practice and a happy family and lived in a community where he was somewhat of a model citizen. He had great insurance rates. He did not want to risk any of that by being perceived as a hooligan. He was now enjoying the benefits of making practical and conservative choices all his life. If I were in his position, I would probably do the same thing he did. Ride slow, look cool.

Gardner, you sound as if you may have an easier time financing a racing hobby than most. If you are caught between two worlds, track riding might just be exactly what you need. It really is quite safe although people do get hurt at times, it usually is just the bike that gets busted up. You will be able to go faster so much easier and safer on a track and do it in a sustained manner, not here and there looking over your shoulder for police. If you have the bucks, pick yourself up a small trailer and a 600cc used track bike. Get one for the Mrs. His and Hers. Many who do this pretty much feel there is no purpose to riding fast on the street anymore. The track is much better.

* Last updated by: Rook on 11/18/2012 @ 6:18 PM *

"your levels of expertise, believing that tempering the Fear with Understanding and Training would direct me in the right direction. What I've come to understand is that, what I will take away instead is, my abilities will never become honed to such a sharp point as your abilities"....MAN...let that go!Forget about who's more 'better' than who.You bought this bike to have a good riding experience,yes?Okay then...have a good riding experience.(and I mean this with much love)...If you try to 'be someone else' on your bike....you're gonna miss your own ride.Nobody here is somehow...better...and I don't mean that in a bad way...there's a bunch of excellent smart tuned in riders here.But so are you....hell.you've ridden bikes...you know what's up.Just enjoy your 14...ride your ride.Your not trying to be Pridmore,or Rossi.Believe me...they aint where they're at by luck.Years of riding.Like you.They're racers...you're not(I assume).I'm not.The majority isn't.You don't HAVE to be.I realized that after my last crash....ride my ride...stop the 'head games' with myself...and be genuine.The bike fits me....I feel good on it.That's plenty.Talking about carving...triple digits...that's not a mark of a 'skilled rider' per se.It could be the mark of a fool who hasn't had his down yet.When yer young,these things are only the mark of a 'man'...as you said...when ya get some wisdom behind ya...ya start seein...appreciation for things...instead of trying to prove yerself against others.I don't EVER want to be where I was a short while ago...ever again.So yeah...I probably sound a bit pussy to some here..ID care either.I've railed hard...lot more than some.Means nothing.Just that I was fortunate...fortunate I didn't end up dead or maimed or guilty of causing that to someone else.

You're doing fine....reading those books..I have em too..and a few others.I had an MSF course in 99.It's easy to get carried away with these bikes...easy.That's what can make them so 'dangerous' at certain points.It's not always the speed that gets ya..sometimes...it's the complacency that can get ya...I know...I've done it.

Having a bike like this...you naturally want to 'go faster'...everyone talks about it's power and speed.But this bike has some not so talked about performance things that 'can be' very important remembering in a series of seconds...Ya hear guys say...it's heavy...I have...and it doesn't handle 'real great' under certain situations.They are right.It does have some limits that don't match the power and size.Well..they do...but the bike I think is intended to be afast enjoyable capable sportbike,and to be ridden with a sense of "i want to stay alive,so....".I don't think that outright while I'm riding...but it is really the thing to remember with a bike this smooth and strong.You CAN get yourself killed very quickly with this bike...since we're talking about the 14 here.TWO wrecks for me with my 14's.Virtually the same scenario as well...but different.Involved a turn,and perceived leanability...and.."I can't lean anymore...she'll slide"...what was the major factor with both serious wrecks...which both ended up in totalled bikes.#1...speed approaching a fairly sharp curve,and fear of sliding(the bike).Guess you could say..fear of losing tire grip...that may be more accurate.

Strange thing is...had I slid(lowsided)I most likely would have faired MUCH BETTER.

Anyway...my point here is...this bike has huge potential to be uncontrollable by not paying attention.Once it gets in it's groove...it doesn't like leaving it..so inputs and lane picks and apexes and such need to be determined very quickly.Approach speeds need to be determined very quickly...NOT in a critical place in the turn.Those books do an excellent job of talking about 'having a certain amount of spending cash' or whatever..you don't want to get into a situation that requires a bunch of potentially risky changes in midcorner...or before.It can happen...happens all the time....coming in 'too hot'...some say that's just a myth for saying..."I couldn't handle the turn".With this bike...if you're 'too hot' coming in...you are in deep shit fast.IT WILL NOT STOP LIKE A LIGHTER NIMBLER BIKE.And that's the danger part with the 14 IMO...It smoothly accelerates to speed...seemingly effortlessly...and you can easily be deceived thinking you will be able to brake the bike in time.I've been there.It won't perform miracles.Just too much mass going forward.

But this is really old news...and I'm certainly no expert...although I DO crash pretty well;)

In slow...out fast...ya....that's about it right there.In safe...out...however ya want(I guess).Hell,ya can't help but have some fear when ya realize.."shit,she's running out of room"...yup...then...bam.The deal for me is...don't get there in the first place!DUH.But you CAN get there...by forgetting that it's a heavy bike...and fast...and ONLY two contact patches to manuever on.

Sounds like your countersteering episodes are working well.I do the same thing...play with how she responds...swerving...braking.I HAVE to be careful from now on.....slow down some before the entrance and have my vision focused on WHERE I want to be....I forget.Get complacent...lose the edge...then shit happens.Always.

Strange thing though...I've always really likes this bike's weight...it feels secure when I'm riding...that's one reason I got another one....it's perfect for me....I've talked too much now...so go out and have fun and relax...take yer time and enjoy the attributes of your Ninja...

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/18/2012 @ 6:37 PM *

Guess you could say..fear of losing tire grip...that may be more accurate.

That is exactly correct. You have lean angle and traction. That is all you have for certain. Dust, temperture, road imperfections, obstacles (animals), misperceived condition, surprises, on and on...these things you hopefully can contend with. They are all but non-existant on a racetrack (well reduced a great deal, at least).

Now the "fear"....that is quite possibly your experience from past near misses telling you what cannot be done. Hopefully you get the fear before the thing actually happens.

Whether it is track or street, the key is to progress slowly. Repetition is half of the reason pros are so fast. Learn the course and don't set up situations where you are easily surprised.

* Last updated by: Rook on 11/18/2012 @ 6:33 PM *

"racing a motorcycle is not about thinking"...key word there..."RACING"...not street riding.You better be thinkin when yer out on the street...you won't last if ya don't.

Well said my man! Just one correction: I'm a novice! I have been riding for less than 3 years ( 3 in may). Give me a year. When I will have some track days under my belt I will gladly claim those praises.
When I was playing sport and lifting weight a lot of my inspiration came from the linebacker Ray Lewis. He once said that he didn't mind giving the sport his all because some men put their lives on the line for ideals or ideas. Something like that. I do want to live comfortably but the man I am could die inside if I woke one day and found out that I had so much that I couldn't put it on the line! I guess I'm a little like the man you described. I have to make it a little harder on myself from time to time. I even missed a shot on purpose in College to make the game more interesting.
That being said before starting the bike up , I always know how much I am going to push that day. No stupid risks. The only thing that makes me drift from that sometimes, is a close call with a cage or wild life, then I tell myself I could be riding it like I was on a Harley and still die or injure myself and the only way I could live with it is if it was my fault. It's easier to forgive oneself.
A little more than a year ago, I was on my way to the gym and got rear ended. The funny thing is that I had gotten a brake from a cop the week before so I told myself I was going to ride ultra safe. Signal,here, signal there, dead on the speed limit, predict what the traffic was going to do but still I got rear ended. In my opinion, you gotta treat life like a women, be gentle and courteous 80% of the time, the other 20%, show her you got a dark side. That's another reason I'm 32 without kids, they tend to kill that spirit.

MotoGP guys are the best riders in the world but as far as character, they get no points. Watching the Isle of man gives me wings. Those guys have families and race on a budget (just look at the oversized leather suits) but still find the courage to go all in. The question I ask myself is who is crazy them or us? Hard to say. All I know is our contemporary life is a prison: pay bills, take the trash out, work out, smile at your boss, be polite etc... Something gotta give. Life is so demanding that I gotta cheat her once in a while. You are probably thinking about wheeling at 140, or trying to put elbow on asphalt. No, I'm just talking about doing something that you thought you couldn't do last time you were out, whether it is braking later, getting on the gas earlier or getting a little lower. The Diablo Super Biker application is the perfect tool for the job. It gives me "lap time" and lean angle measurement. When I think I pushed it enough, I just save the data and try to get consistent with it until the pace starts to feel slow.

Last but not least. I got you some inspiration:

Isle Of Man
M. Dunlop the best/youngest Isle Man racer in my opinion, won a race a week later after his father died...racing. How could I look him in the eyes if I can't do 45 in 30 mph suggester turn? lol

* Last updated by: dragking on 11/18/2012 @ 7:43 PM *

[quoteracing a motorcycle is not about thinking"...key word there..."RACING"...not street riding.You better be thinkin when yer out on the street...you won't last if ya don't.[/quote]
Green you're not THINKING, you don't get it. The idea is that you practice till it's second nature so you take the guess work out of it. Now it is a different story but when I played b-ball in College I didn't think about shooting, the ball just left my hand. Since I am not famous, I'm going to quote a great philosopher: Bruce Lee:

" A good fight should be like a small play, but played seriously. A good martial artist does not become tense, but ready. Not thinking, yet not dreaming. Ready for whatever may come. When the opponent expands, I contract. When he contracts, I expand. And when there is an opportunity, I do not hit. it hits itself"

Not thinking doesn't mean dreaming. It means that you have such a mastery of your skills that you don't think about you next move, you just do it. You're so at peace that you surrender to your bike. You see the road through the eyes of the bike, the suspensions etc. Be like water my friend!

@Meb: When you're done with Keith Code, pick up Total Control. Although sometimes similar, I found the info in that book more valuable. There is a section about meditation. Picturing yourself on the bike through various situations. You should try that.

By the way this is classic zx-14 thread lol It starts somewhere and end up in a different zip code

* Last updated by: dragking on 11/18/2012 @ 7:46 PM *

"you don't get it"...of course I don't...how stupid of me!Let's see...you've been riding for how long?....and me...I've been riding(the 14) for how long?With two serious crashes...and lots of close calls...no,I guess I don't get it.Sorry for assuming again...

yo..MEB..don't pay any attention to what Grn's saying...he's full doo doo.WHEEEEEEE!!!!! My name there says it all...I'm GREEN....now Dragking there...that's mighty manly....I'd listen to him if I were you!LOL!!!!!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/18/2012 @ 8:13 PM *

I just meant you didn't understand what I was talking about. Sorry Green! lol

It's all good....I understand about the 'second nature' deal...you always tell yourself while your riding or whatever...hey...I got this...no prob.And while yer telling yourself that...that semi has just crossed the centerline...and you're leaned in deep and fast...right ON the centerline...you have about 1 second to do the right thing....maybe less."second nature'....I don't think ANYONE can get past the fear of nailing that semi...no matter HOW LONG YOU PRACTICE.Not saying you shouldn't...just bein realistic.

Thinking...that's what I mean...thinking..."what will I do IF?"...easy to feel everything's 'in control'...when it's smooth sailing.Let the shit hit the fan...within seconds...out of nowhere...then what?Your brain has to process..."okay...I'm gonna hit"...I have to.......what?If a guy doesn't fully get the countersteer deal down...it is REALLY EASY to PUSH ON THE RIGHT BAR out of needing to get to the right...NOW.OOPS...that semi...and you just covered another 125 feet..and you're closing at a combined speed of....say 150?...too late....it's a done deal.YOU"RE OUT.

Hopefully...you DO the practiced deal...and countersteer left as hard as you dare...without hesitation....but....if you don't....then all your training goes...kaput...along with the rest of your life.I know....gloomy...but true IMO.Things can happen so fast...instincts take over...even though we've told ourselves...'I got this deal here'....that's what I meant about riding on the street...as you know.Just a second of misapplication of whatever we need to do...can be the difference between...getting home...and getting hurt.

HOW MANY TIMES do I practice my swerving steering inputs while just riding along?Or tell my self..."Okay...push right,go right"...ALL THE TIME.A lot anyway.And what the heck happened in my two crashes?Totally the opposite.Why is that?Because of losing focus.Not because I didn't KNOW better.That's all I'm sharing with Meb.Focus...forget trying to 'be like someone else".....focus on his abilities and learning.He's no new guy to bikes.You can't ride street like you do track.You can...but it will get you...it's bad enough just staying focused on the street...so many unknowns.Not saying track aint dangerous...it is...very.But it is different...the limits are different IMO.

On a rise on a track...yer rollin say...145+....you go up the rise...there's yer turn ahead...you set up...nail it...perfecto....another victory...you went faster at it this time...

Now...yer out there...rollin...here comes a rise...you've ridden this deal 100 times...you gas er....hit the crest...F&^% (at 145+)...a friggin farm truck is stalled in your lane...and he's standing in the other lane outside of his truck.WTF?Instinct...or training...is it gonna really help ya...with 70 feet to go and closing?Whattaya do?...What I need to do...is cut the fast shit that gets me there in that position for one...and secondly....THINK.And KEEP THINKING.And focusing on being one with my bike...getting to know what it will and will not do..safely of course...and stop trying to race myself on the street.Go fast at times...yeah....naturally...but think as well...about the outcomes.I can't see scaring myself so badly that I'd stop riding the 14.Just by thinking about 'what if?'...maybe some....not me.I KNOW it's risk...no matter HOW much you're trained to react.That's part of the 'fun'....manuevering...shifting...turning...acting on situations.Feeling the bike.It is for me anyway.

I can't really say how all this stuff works...you know...the overriding of instincts.You practice(hoping it'll be like muscle memory)...you read...you ride....sometimes you forget.Even forget you're riding...yer head's somewhere else.I've done that.I used to think having the 14 was a ticket to blast and go faster through stuff I'd been on plenty of times.Now I can see just how lucky I've been...that there wasn't say,sand or something in one of those curves I hit at 150.You know?I've missed deer by mere feet...leaned in at 140 and all that.The higher the velocity...the more everything controllable diminishes.I HAVE to restart my riding experience again with my new bike differently.That's just me.I'm not actually 'afraid' of riding...now...but things are certainly not the same as before....I won't be doing those asinine things any more.You think you're in control....then you realize...it's one of those "OH SHIT" moments!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/18/2012 @ 9:36 PM *

I believe through focus and practice (both of which involve strategically planning and executing maneuvers in a deliberate, step by step manner), behaviors become automatic. A few weeks back we had nice weather and i was out all geared up going a little faster than I usually might on the expressway. IDK what I was doing. Looking at other vehicles, the sky....IDK?? I was not paying attention to the road as much as I should have been if I was gonna be going as fast as I was. When I finally got my eyes back where they should have been, I was entering a turn...except I had not initiated any kind of turn but the road was sure turning! It was not a difficult turn. I could make it pretty easy at over 120mph if properly executed..but it was not and I was doing 70. I shit my pants a little and then hung over the side knee out and made a steep quick bank a quarter of the way into the turn and right on track without leaving my lane. That was pure instinct. Not a real big deal but you know, if I never practiced that...I woulda at least drifted across the lane to my right and if there would have been a car there.....not good. Well it WAS not such a superhuman move but I was impressed with the automatic reaction. Few years back I would have not been up to it. Glad I was a careful beginner.

Not thinking doesn't mean dreaming. It means that you have such a mastery of your skills that you don't think about you next move, you just do it. You're so at peace that you surrender to your bike. You see the road through the eyes of the bike, the suspensions etc. Be like water my friend!

Meb…… to me it sounds like your major problem is fear and the only way to get over your fear is to get out and ride!! Just be smart and as smooth as possible the more you ride the more natural it will become!