Sydney...

[HeWhoWas]

So, I looked around and there are no forums like this for Sydney. I just bought an '06 VTR250 and am going for my pre learner in a few weeks. I used to ride dirt bikes all the time when I was younger but I'm not so confident with the road bike. Just wondering if there's anyone on the forums here who wouldn't mind giving me a hand with the basics?

My main bane right now is cornering, I always feel unstable - and I'm riding up and down my cul de sac street, which is dead pretty much all day, so I'm not really risking anything.

[spikes]

I'd give you a hand mate but my bike is currently not finished yet. Just take corners slowly and lean.

Good tip I learnt in my pre-learners was look at where you wanna end up when cornering, unfortunately I can't put my thoughts into words so anybody else wanna try explaining for HeWhoWas?

[The Jeffster]

Hey mate, Guss01 and I have been threatening to have a ride up Mac Pass (or similar) run one weekend, your more than welcome to come along if you like. I am on my L's to so I am just learning and will be taking it slow.

[CT90]

If corners are a problem you might be doing the dirt bike thing and weighting the outside peg (leaning to the outside) when you shouldn't be.

[HeWhoWas]

I'd be up for the ride, but that's assuming that I pass my course on the 3rd of April in Clyde. Speaking of which, I'm going to check the site to see if I can find anything a bit earlier. Thanks!

Edit - Jeff, I saw in another post that you were considering bar end mirrors for your VTR? I loathe the stock mirrors with a firey passion, how'd the bar ends go? I don't want to have to replace the handlebars so the slide in ones are out of the question. Also, how do the clamp bar ends work with the accelerator? Cheers.

[The Jeffster]

Hi mate, I am changing the bars as i want a more cafe racer style. I know it's not really a cafe racer but I like that look.

So it wold be hard to get bar ends with the stock handlebars, but you can always just change the mirrors. I think any 10mm mirror will fit.

[mewnz]

Where in Sydney are you?

As far as cornering goes, gentle rolling on of the throttle, keep your upper body loose, and look through the turn (using your peripheral vision to hopefully see any hazards coming your way)

If you have somewhere that suits, try doing biiiig circles in one direction, get tighter and tighter as you get comfortable. Then do the other way.

Have a read/watch of the twist of the wrist series if you are so inclined, some valuable stuff in there

Best of luck on your learners course

Edit: Should mention, if you are after forums with more members close to you try sydneyriders.com.au and cbr250.com

[Bulla]

(1) Look where you want to go and be in gear for the corner (normally second)
(2) Tuck into the bike
(3) Take 1 asscheek off the seat
(4) Accelerate through the corner never back off the throttle whilst cornering (just ride the rear brake)
(5) Have DECENT TIRES!!! Something soft and grippy not hard and shit
(6) Keep it to the track!!! Or run the risk of bumping your hip into a curb at 60+ k's

[kenty]

(1) Look where you want to go and be in gear for the corner (normally second)
(2) Tuck into the bike
(3) Take 1 asscheek off the seat
(4) Accelerate through the corner never back off the throttle whilst cornering (just ride the rear brake)
(5) Have DECENT TIRES!!! Something soft and grippy not hard and shit
(6) Keep it to the track!!! Or run the risk of bumping your hip into a curb at 60+ k's

lol step 1 was ok everything else is too much unless your first names valentino, or casey

basically set yourself up for the turn MILO (mirror indicate look over), pull in at a comfortable speed lean the bike in, and accelerate (slowly) through the corner, its a practice thing

[spikes]

3rd april huh? my bike should be finished by then, thinking of doing a ride out to lithgow/bathurst way, there's some nice twistys through the blue mountains

I learnt prepping for corners, entering and exiting corners by following my mate who taught me alot in riding in my first days of my L's

Following another riders path of entry and exit into a corner and lean angles, etc.. really helped me with building my confidence in cornering

Give me a yell when you've got your Ls and we might be able to hit up for a ride or whatever

[Para045]

So, I looked around and there are no forums like this for Sydney.

What about Netrider, NSW Road & Trackbikes or NSW Riders?

Good to have you here but they do have forums there which may be more relevant on some issues

[HeWhoWas]

What about Netrider, NSW Road & Trackbikes or NSW Riders?

Good to have you here but they do have forums there which may be more relevant on some issues

I found NetRider briefly after posting here, but to be honest I lived in Perth for years and I've got a few friends that still linger on the boards despite selling their bikes so I opted to stay. But yeah, I'm keeping my eye out on the others as well. Plus, in a community with fewer people from the area it tends to be a bit tighter knit.

Where in Sydney are you?

Fairfield West, check back in a month or so - I'm looking for a new place.

As for the cornering, I think it's more the leaning that gets me. I feel like I'm going to drop the bike and I start to panic. Thanks for the suggestions, and the warm welcome :-)

[jaseyjase]

www.oroadsports.com

Honda JDM CBR Forums

[HeWhoWas]

Point taken. However, you won't get rid of me that easily :-P

[HeWhoWas]

So I passed my L's and I've been riding for a whole 2 days now :-)

[darkfibre]

lots of cornering advice......

(3) Take 1 asscheek off the seat

This bit is important for Bulla.
If he doesn't lift an asscheek during cornering and something unexpected happens, its possible when he shits himself his head may explode.

Sound advice really

[Eddie???]

This bit is important for Bulla.
If he doesn't lift an asscheek during cornering and something unexpected happens, its possible when he shits himself his head may explode.

Sound advice really

[HeWhoWas]

got your knee down yet?

It would appear that I'm still a big pussy when it comes to corners. I know what to do, my body just won't do it (at least not consciously).

It seems to me that the whole "Look where you want to be" idea forces you to counter steer without realising it. But I can't relax my arms and shoulders in corners and I can feel how less stable I am when I'm tense - just can't stop it (yet).

Ah well, practice makes better, at least. I also haven't dropped it though.

On another note, I have stock tyres. I'm not looking to be a stain on the road, just have a little bit of fun every now and then. Is there any point in replacing the tyres with softer ones?

Edit - After reading other VTR threads, I'm quite happy I picked up an 06 VTR with 4k on the clock for 4200.

[Skut]

^ Don't say that, she is HOOOTTT

To pitch in for the OP; can say I get the same feeling esp on right handers. Advice given to me is LET the bike take the corner, rather than fighting the bars (ie not tense in the arms) - keep looking through the corner (not at what you are worried about hitting) and stand the bike back up with a bit of throttle on the way out. From my own experience it is easier to say than do (as in trusting the bike, that is - til it becomes natural)

[Ferris]

Welcome to PSB hewhowas. Do yourself a favour and just chuck Bulla on ignore now. It'll save you a lot of time and aggravation later down the track. He's still in denial about being a completely clueless knowitall.