Well when you put it that way I think I have been doing it too, naturally, push left to go right and so forth. I think maybe it was just the way in which it appeared so pronounced to me when I sat there and watched him do it that it kinda took focus off the input the rider needs to make and put it on the line I saw his front tire track around that corner. Perhaps this is a teaching technique where you exaggerate hoping most people get the jist of what your doing because they see it so pronounced and then some anal nit picker like me comes along with my mental measuring tape and gyroscope analyzing his every move and I get side tracked on specifics. LOL Because I do do the push left turn right thing religiously, lol (you just said doodoo), just not with such fair as I saw it that day. But then I had a little 750 Suzy back then. Maybe the technique was lost on me because of my little bike. Maybe I should revisit it on the 14 and see if it helps. Maybe.

I'm new to this forum, but have been riding for 40+ years. (I'm 57) Pleasantly surprized that I'm not alone in riding this kind of bike at my age. I seldom have partcipated in conversations such as this one; usually just read and move on, but hope you don't mind my adding my 0.2.

My philosophy has always been to ride offense rather than defense. I set out with the assumption that everyone is doing their best to kill me, and my only defense to that is preemptive. I'm not talking about riding fast in town unecessarily, but, for example, putting plenty of space between myself and the cars behind me when the light turns green, staying out of cages blind spots, etc., which sometimes means exceeding the posted speed limit, even if momentarily. Others have said much the same thing in this thread.

When I was young, I rode mostly in town. I was a willing particpant in the stop-light grand prix. (My 1st car was a '64 tri-power GTO, and my 1st hot-rod bike was an H-1 with an H-1R motor and whale bellies, that Dallas Kawasaki had Frankensteined together when they changed classes with their lay-down framed drag bike. Many race cars with license plates and fast bikes followed throughout my life.) I feel lucky to have survived those years, but, I know I developed essential skills that many of my riding partners over the years didn't possess, and serve me well to this day. Sideways was one of my preferred directional attitudes, so, if it happens unintentionally/in an emergency situation, it doesn't freak me out. Countersteer comes naturally. It hasn't been mentioned here, but one of the superbike/track schools would be the only place that skill set would be taught, and I know I would have been much better off to have learned it that way. I would still like to take one of those classes, I'm sure I have much I could learn.

I don't own a ZX-14 for it's exceptional fuel mileage. I do my sport riding on familiar rural two-lane, and even have specific go-to's with no cross roads, for example, for hyper-ton runs. (I"m not a knee-dragger, I ride 60% or so in the corners, make fun of my chicken strips all ya want) I realize that there remains the chance of an errant critter ruining my day, even tho I've tried to do my best to minimize the risk, but, I accept that element of risk; it comes with this territory. I don't have a death wish, but guys my age suddenly drop dead with a worn-out ticker in their Lazy-Boys.

I don't disagree with anything said in this thread; all good attitudes. I do agree that all the skill sets we can acquire, through whatever means, will prove valuable. The OP is well-intentioned, and I don't mind hearing anyone talking sense, even if they're only reminding me of what I already know. Nice to be here.

Glad to see another baby boomer in the forums. 59 and been riding since I was 16. Well, legally riding, at least.

I've heard folks in COG (Concours Owners Group) talk about offensive driving, and I keep reminding them what they do is NOT offensive driving. It is pro-active, it is alert, it involves constantly scanning for threats, and moving out of their way in advance if possible.

Offensive driving would be reckless driving. Making lane changes suddenly without signalling. Forcing others to back off their throttle to let you merge in front of them. Exceeding the speed limit.

Pretty big difference. Don't make me quote the dictionary and MSF about what "offensive driving" is.

I'm sure you don't ride offensively, just like I know how you ride because after 40+ years of riding we both are still riding, and now we are riding rocketships.

Nice to meet you, privateer. That term is a matter of symantics, I guess. I suppose I relate it to football; I'm not waiting for the trouble to come to me. I think the description of my riding philosophy made clear my methods. I wouldn't get too hung up on one word.

I don't think we see the process too differently, however, I know we each have our individual approach, and individuality is at the heart of being a motorcyclist. That individuality may include our choice of verbiage. Given the nature of the internet, I think we're all doing well when we can have a civil discourse. I don't think it a reasonable expectation for others to parrot our statements and choice of verbiage, if for no other reason as avoiding redundancy. I'm not attempting to educate other riders; I'll leave that to those who do it professionally.

In the end, if I see a person with our hair color who's been riding all his/her life, I know they must have been doing something right, and I respect them for it. Funny how the older we get, the more in touch with our mortality we are. Wreckless, I'm not. But, I'm aware that my friends and neighbors who bare witness to my various machines think I must be crazy, especially for a man my age. To each their own.

Thanks for the welcome, peace.

* Last updated by: progrocker on 8/5/2011 @ 1:29 PM *

Welcome progrocker. Age 65 here and just getting started with track riding. Taking the Yamaha Champions Riding Course end of September at Miller. Adrenaline is our friend. -bg

BG, that's awesome! Nice to meet ya, and thanks for the welcome.

I was a drag racer most of my life; found out what a rush it is to go around corners in my 40's; just don't believe in knee dragging on the street. I've seen places where water runs continuously across a road creating moss on the surface, pea gravel, unexpected decreasing radious corners, and any number of unforseen hazards that could put me into oncoming traffic. So for street excitement, hard acceleration and the occasional hyper-ton runs feed my adrenaline.

But you're doing it right, getting your rush on the track. I live very close to the Texas Motor Speedway, and we have a tight road course south of Fort Worth called the Motorsports Ranch. I'm sure that could get addictive! Could even prompt the addition of a ZX10R...Hmmmmm :) Have a blast, and how about a report back on all the fun you're having!