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I agree with Greg. I think you can push the limits and not crash. Every time you slide the bike not on purpose then you have gone past the limit. doesn't mean you've crashed. Worst tire slide I ever had was 2 years ago at Grattan. I slid both tires probably 3-4ft, didn't crash. The 2 people that came underneath me said it was a good one.
LRRS Am #331
Graphic Tailor / Woodcraft / Armour Bodies / Suomy / Cycle Performance Autobody / Shorai / ChickenHawk Racing
I would say that it's part of learning. Is it essential? no. Is it part of every racer's learning? Yes.
I don't really think you learn how to slide or do other advanced riding by crashing. Mostly you can learn what stupid things NOT to do. That's about it.
LRRS Am #331
Graphic Tailor / Woodcraft / Armour Bodies / Suomy / Cycle Performance Autobody / Shorai / ChickenHawk Racing
Good discussion guys- I appreciate everyone's feedback.
Last edited by Garandman; 10-21-11 at 10:52 AM.
LRRS Am #331
Graphic Tailor / Woodcraft / Armour Bodies / Suomy / Cycle Performance Autobody / Shorai / ChickenHawk Racing
well heres an interesting FRESH point. I went down today 2minutes into the track.
it wont make me faster, it def slowed me down a bit today, but i guarantee you i will NOT forget to check tire pressure ever again!
the conclusion is yours
What I learned from crashing...
1. Don't try to turn sharper at the apex
2. If someone crash in front of you, don't try to jump their motorcycle
3. Don't try to block other riders with your brake lever
4. Don't try to pass in the grass on turn 11
5. Don't race/ride when you are completely exhausted
6. If you forget to down shift, what, roll through, don't rush it and mess up braking
7. Cold tires/cold track suck in 1a.
I can't say I got faster from any one of these but I will do my best not to repeat any of them.
Seriously though, track days should be for fun, learning body position, lines, inputs etc. Not how to crash.
I'd agree with this. You can be really skilled and fast on track days and going your own pace and learning all the skills. But to be competitive in a race against other skilled racers you need to have something more han skills and experience you need to have guts. The ability to push yourself to the very limits and the focus to pull ahead. 5000 track days will not help you if your attitude is "I will not crash".
I think a willingness to push yourself is needed. The actual crashing usually hurts confidance and happens so fast that you can't analyze what really went wrong.
-Pete LRRS/CCS #81 - ECK Racing, TonysTrackDays
GMD Computrack Boston | Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Phoenix Graphics | Woodcraft | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media
The Garage: '03 Tuono | '06 SV650
and I fail to see how crashing means you are competitive in a race. crashing=going backwards=not being competitive
LRRS Am #331
Graphic Tailor / Woodcraft / Armour Bodies / Suomy / Cycle Performance Autobody / Shorai / ChickenHawk Racing
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factoryeffex
....I've read these posts, and there are a lot of good points. In my experience, most crashes happen most when riders are not able to properly anticipate the result of a given action. This next statement sounds a little more frightening to put in practice than it really is, but the best riders I know all have lots of "almost" crashes all the time. There are guys on this forum who definitely know what I'm talking about.
When these guys mess up, it's by design. When they practice, they analyze where there is margin left and then work to get rid of it. In the process, they make guesses on how far to go.....experienced guys always go little bites at a time. Eventually they step over the edge, by a small amount. Since it is planned, there is really no stress, no panic, they just allow the bike to collect itself and 95% of the time it comes back to them.
So, is crashing required? No. However, racers (who are less patient than track day riders) often make bigger changes per step and will step over the line by too big a margin. Lord knows I hit the deck plenty when I was impatiently working to get to the next level in the 90's.
The biggest thing riders need to avoid crashing is proper "mechanics". Body position and bike inputs should all be adjusted to accomplish two things: maximize grip and maximize feedback. The skills that you learn as you ride around the track should allow you to feel the bike "talking" back to you...letting you know how close you are to the edge. You don't have to be a Moto GP star to get this feedback, but there are certain things that every rider must do. It takes time to learn and there are people out there who can help you learn it.
Do you need to crash?......depends on how patient you are......
Last edited by Woodcraft; 03-16-12 at 07:24 AM.