Laid the bike down again... very minor injuries

[applejax]

A lot of leaves came down in our area, maybe you hit one dead on on E aston. You were really close to my area, do you live in the area?

We got attacked by leaves! Tis the reason my bike hasn't left the garage in a while.

 

[SampsonNation]

Pictures!

 

[SampsonNation]

I feel like I'm struggling more than the average rider. I can obviously ride, but I can't take corners and lean very easily at anything over 40mph. I'm talking about cornering a little harder than usual. I can only slightly lean.

Maybe this hobby isn't for me. I don't know.

I really love the T-Rex bikes, but obviously they are way out of my price range.

Does anyone know of something similar for under 10k?

 

[nismos14]

Are you on stock tires? It might not be you, it might be this particular bike, or the tires...

 

[SampsonNation]

I'm on stock tires. They are pretty new actually and till have decent tread on it.

I still feel like it's me... I can't take sharp corners at normal speeds. I have a problem doing it.

 

[MistahT]

I've ridden A LOT of 250-650cc bikes in the past year, test riding for my friends a bunch. I'd say for cornering confidence, the FZ6R ranks near the bottom if not at the absolute bottom for me. I think it's the top heavy desgin of the bike and the bad tires. These tires went out from under me as well.

My buddy's Ninja 650 feels VERY light. He had me ride it home from the dealer when he had new tires put on. Pirelli Diablo. WOW! Even with a couple miles on it, the grip and confidence of those tires are amazing. I'm between those and maybe some pilot sports for my FZ come spring time.

It could also be that the FZ is just not the bike for you. I admit, on a naked GS500E or my wife's 250, I have more cornering confidence in the twisties and enjoy those bikes more than my FZ sometimes. Maybe she's not the right bike for you.

 

[JT]

Pictures!

thanks for sharing. have you seen THE CORNERING BIBLE HQ 'La biblia de las curvas' Part1 HQ.avi - YouTube

after this one watch the next 5 parts I believe

 

[SampsonNation]

I don't have a problem with counter steering. What I've noticed is, if I counter steer too hard, it just wobbles and eventually will simply just fall over...

I took the MSF course and I did fine when I first got the bike. I've been riding for a little over a year now. I still have trouble leaning and I can't seem to fix it so far.

I'm always amazed at how certain riders can carve heavily into mountains.

I'll give you an example. You know how when you come up to a sharp turn it shows you a yellow sign that is the SUGGESTED speed for cars? Of course you can take the corner in a car at the actually Posted Speed Limit. In a bike however, I find that I can not. I have to go the suggested limit or slower.

I don't know if I need a track day class or if I should test rider other bikes. I just want to get over this problem and actually carve while having fun!

I'm guessing this speed here would be about 40-45mph. It's only a guess though. I know for myself, I wouldn't be able to make my bike lean while maintaing my lane and speed of 40-45mph. Somehow though, most riders can do this with ease. If you see the corner that is behind them, that's pretty sharp, but it's not a long curve. My speed would be about 25-35mph on that corner alone.

 

[JT]

I don't have a problem with counter steering. What I've noticed is, if I counter steer too hard, it just wobbles and eventually will simply just fall over...

I took the MSF course and I did fine when I first got the bike. I've been riding for a little over a year now. I still have trouble leaning and I can't seem to fix it so far.

I'm always amazed at how certain riders can carve heavily into mountains.

I'll give you an example. You know how when you come up to a sharp turn it shows you a yellow sign that is the SUGGESTED speed for cars? Of course you can take the corner in a car at the actually Posted Speed Limit. In a bike however, I find that I can not. I have to go the suggested limit or slower.

I don't know if I need a track day class or if I should test rider other bikes. I just want to get over this problem and actually carve while having fun!

I'm guessing this speed here would be about 40-45mph. It's only a guess though. I know for myself, I wouldn't be able to make my bike lean while maintaing my lane and speed of 40-45mph. Somehow though, most riders can do this with ease. If you see the corner that is behind them, that's pretty sharp, but it's not a long curve. My speed would be about 25-35mph on that corner alone.

wow I know many riders who double the posted speed!!! im not saying that's best practice just comparing to your matching / slower than.

are you leaning off the bike at all? and if so is it in the right direction? maybe beginner track lessons will be what you need.

 

[SampsonNation]

Yes, I lean off the bike in the direction I'm turning. I don't learn too hard usually. I also feel like if I lean too much, it's past it's tipping point and will fall (usually notice a little wobble first), or simply I can't get out of the lean because I'm too far over. I might have an upper body strength issue, but honestly I just feel like I'm too far over and I can't get out of it. If you saw how far I'm leaning, it probably wouldn't even look like I'm leaning too much . I also wonder if this is especially hard for me because our bikes force you to be in an upright position.

I honestly don't know what I'm doing wrong. I wish I could get some footage on me taking a corner.


Here is a road near me. I've traveled it a few times on my bike and I believe the suggested speed is 25 on the corner, but the entire road is about 35-40mph per the post speed limit. A corner like this or sharper is difficult for me to manage if I go faster than 25-30. I know you more experienced riders can handle this at the regular speed of 40 without any ease or wobble. I want to reach that point...

 

[Riccochet]

Are you maintaining your counter steer through the turn and not trying to steer? You can create all kinds of wobble if you don't maintain the counter steer. Hell, I'll lean myself in to the turn getting half my *** off the seat and push the counter steer harder while keeping the bike more up-right. Then again, if you're going to slow and lean too much there might not be enough lateral force to right yourself when coming out of the turn.

I suggest taking a riding course. The bike can out ride you. Might just need some confidence in proper techniques.

 

[latony007]

Yes, I lean off the bike in the direction I'm turning. I don't learn too hard usually. I also feel like if I lean too much, it's past it's tipping point and will fall (usually notice a little wobble first), or simply I can't get out of the lean because I'm too far over. I might have an upper body strength issue, but honestly I just feel like I'm too far over and I can't get out of it. If you saw how far I'm leaning, it probably wouldn't even look like I'm leaning too much . I also wonder if this is especially hard for me because our bikes force you to be in an upright position.

I honestly don't know what I'm doing wrong. I wish I could get some footage on me taking a corner.


Here is a road near me. I've traveled it a few times on my bike and I believe the suggested speed is 25 on the corner, but the entire road is about 35-40mph per the post speed limit. A corner like this or sharper is difficult for me to manage if I go faster than 25-30. I know you more experienced riders can handle this at the regular speed of 40 without any ease or wobble. I want to reach that point...

yea you may be just trying to hard! Be one with the bike Obi Wan
I am by no means a Jonn Kerr but going up angeles crest highway this saturday (look it up) I am usually at least 15 mph over the posted corner speeds, when I get onto big Tujunga which doesn't have any gravel I was doing 60 through most the corners, dotn know how long you had it but your confidence will build as you ride more. I don't have a ton of other bike experience but I don't think this bike handles worse than my brothers 08 ninja 650 or my nephews 2012 street triple.

 

[SampsonNation]

Yes, I am maintaining the counter-steering. It only wobbles if I counter-steer too hard and I try to back out of a lean. I have already taken the MSF course in NJ and I passed easily. I've put 2k miles on my bike since I purchased it with 980 miles on it. :/

Seems like the few times I've tried to lean hard, the rear tire just slides out and I catch it before I dump it... Makes you freak out when that happens.

 

[Riccochet]

your tire pressures correct? 33 front 36 rear while cold? I'm on the stock tires and I can push the bike pretty hard feeling fairly confident in the tires. Granted, they're not track tires, but they dig in pretty good in the turns.

Maybe you have a bad set of tires.

 

[SampsonNation]

I think my rear tire might be around 40 psi, but yes my front is around what you suggested when cold.

I'll throw up pictures when I can.