Perfect info! I cant count how many times I Have tried to power my way through technical situations and physically paid the price, when "finesse" is what was needed. Now when I ride, I try to be one with the bike. No dualism allowed!

Thanks for sharing this.
[b]From:[/b] "'Ateam Consulting' ateam@... [DSN_KLR650]" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>
[b]To:[/b] Buddy Eckles ; "
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com" dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com>; mark ward
[b]Sent:[/b] Saturday, November 29, 2014 10:57 PM
[b]Subject:[/b] [DSN_KLR650] Ateams 4 Building Blocks of Zen Riding
Observed trials is the foundation of all motor sports. The basic building blocks of a solid foundation in trials and all motor sports is this: Clutch control Throttle control Brake control Balance Bernie Shribers Trials bible says that it only takes 7 years to develop adequate throttle control. Clutch control; the more clutch actuation the better, it s part of the 4 basic building blocks. Braking; the rear brake controls your speed the front brake stops you. In road racing it s all backwards. But the rear brake is always applied, the front brake is used to stop, to modulate to control traction and ,,,,,,, assist in balance. Think of the car going down a hill. At the bottom of the hill is a raised set of railroad tracks. Then there is a incline, an uphill on the other side of the tracks. Most people apply the brakes as the near the bottom of the hill. Compressing the suspension so that the coffee cup hits the wind shield. The crossing is rough at best. A moto rider approaches the tracks, down shifts and applies a bit of front & rear brakes. This loads the bike up or compresses the suspension. As the front tire makes contact with the rise in the tracks the moto rider then releases the brakes and also unloads the body while crossing the tracks. Allowing full range of suspension travel. As the tracks are crossed (like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich) the incline is in front. However your still going fast, you absorbed the bumps, you opened the knees, you allowed the bike to move under you while maintaining balance. Then as you accelerate, your ass is down low you push down the pegs and twist the glorious throttle. then you allow the bike to catch up to your body and you allow the stallion to run under you while settling in with pressure and throttle; you look to where you want to go. There is nothing in your mind but the field of vision, the crawling of time, the slow motion feel as you leave behind the noise, dust and ciaos. The next rut, turn, rock approaches but quickly vanishes as the next obstacle requires your attention. You are alive! Balance is the true first building block in the foundation of life. Balance your diet, your schedule, your commitments, your time, your check book. Balance is everything on the bike. If I had one tattoo it would simply be balance . [u]I have so many scars I don t need no stinking tattoo; scars are like tattoo s but come with a better story. [/u] The 4 basic principals in moto sports is the above, balance, throttle, braking and clutch. When all are applied together in harmony, in accord to balance; the Zen like state of synchronicity, the drummer in the band who has his eyes closed, the cadence while riding is achieved and time is stopped. Oh such simple joy. Moto Nirvana is when one is applying the 4 laws of moto riding. The state in which enlightenment is yours. Some say it s magic. Some say it s a killer buzz. Take your pig KLR out into a dirt lot. Start riding circles, as tight as you can, bend the knee's, open the elbows, use your clutch and brakes, feel the rhythm and flow of the bike and the body. Keep your chin up, look where you go not where you are. Now do figure 8 s, around and around. Relax your body, be a ballerina, be smooth, in your mind make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with your body and bike. A peanut butter & jelly sandwich is a beautiful thing, it s so simple, so pure, it s a building block of childhood. So is your riding. One must always ride with a purpose, make all turns count, pressure, torsion, flexing, moving, flowing. You want to blow away your 6th sense? Go ride a circle in a parking lot blind folded. Propreoseptic overload (
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23073629). Like walking blind in a dark room feeling for the light switch. You know your close, your finger can feel it but yet to make contact. You will be sore the next day, all in first gear. I have had Multistrada s, 800 Tigers, Sport Bikes a and 1200 GSA chase me on my old KLR on a mountain twisty. I apply part Mick Andrews, Kenny Roberts, Doug Demoko, Steve McQueen and Thierry Michaud in my riding kit. They are amazed the KLR can do so well. It s not the bike it s the rider. The point is the about equipment: the bigger rotors, the Thermobob, the Rotella and the 680 bore kit, valves/engine, the foot pegs and the suspension, the exhaust and the risers; they all are part of your bag of tools. But all the tools in real world do not make you a carpenter or a mechanic. Rider skill overcomes all other obstacles. The skill is one playing the piano or the sax and the drums, the instrument is just used as a tool. The KLR is our tool. Final thought, go ride with practice in mind, look for nasty alleys or streams, dirt, rocks and sand, hill climbs and snow; challenge yourself outside the routine of riding. Then address the performance of the bike after you have mastered the 4 building blocks of motorcycle riding: Brake, balance, clutch & throttle. The Zen of riding. And; whatever we do on our moto bike, understand that for me and maybe you that when I ride, even my demons are happy. Happy Trails - Ateam #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 -- #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mkp { border:1px solid #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:10px 0;padding:0 10px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mkp hr { border:1px solid #d8d8d8;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mkp #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441hd { color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:700;line-height:122%;margin:10px 0;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mkp #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ads { margin-bottom:10px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mkp .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ad { padding:0 0;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mkp .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ad p { margin:0;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mkp .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ad a { color:#0000ff;text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-sponsor #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-lc { font-family:Arial;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-sponsor #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-lc #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441hd { margin:10px 0px;font-weight:700;font-size:78%;line-height:122%;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-sponsor #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-lc .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ad { margin-bottom:10px;padding:0 0;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441actions { font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;padding:10px 0;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441activity { background-color:#e0ecee;float:left;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10px;padding:10px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441activity span { font-weight:700;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441activity span:first-child { text-transform:uppercase;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441activity span a { color:#5085b6;text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441activity span span { color:#ff7900;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441activity span .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441underline { text-decoration:underline;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441attach { clear:both;display:table;font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;padding:10px 0;width:400px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441attach div a { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441attach img { border:none;padding-right:5px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441attach label { display:block;margin-bottom:5px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441attach label a { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 blockquote { margin:0 0 0 4px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441bold { font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;font-weight:700;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441bold a { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 dd.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441last p a { font-family:Verdana;font-weight:700;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 dd.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441last p span { margin-right:10px;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:700;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 dd.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441last p span.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441yshortcuts { margin-right:0;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 div.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441attach-table div div a { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 div.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441attach-table { width:400px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 div.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441file-title a, #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 div.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441file-title a:active, #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 div.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441file-title a:hover, #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 div.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441file-title a:visited { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 div.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441photo-title a, #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 div.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441photo-title a:active, #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 div.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441photo-title a:hover, #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 div.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441photo-title a:visited { text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 div#ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mlmsg #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-msg p a span.ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441yshortcuts { font-family:Verdana;font-size:10px;font-weight:normal;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441green { color:#628c2a;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441MsoNormal { margin:0 0 0 0;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 o { font-size:0;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441photos div { float:left;width:72px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441photos div div { border:1px solid #666666;height:62px;overflow:hidden;width:62px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441photos div label { color:#666666;font-size:10px;overflow:hidden;text-align:center;white-space:nowrap;width:64px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441reco-category { font-size:77%;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441reco-desc { font-size:77%;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 .ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441replbq { margin:4px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-actbar div a:first-child { margin-right:2px;padding-right:5px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mlmsg { font-size:13px;font-family:Arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mlmsg table { font-size:inherit;font:100%;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mlmsg select, #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 input, #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 textarea { font:99% Arial, Helvetica, clean, sans-serif;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mlmsg pre, #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 code { font:115% monospace;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mlmsg * { line-height:1.22em;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-mlmsg #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441logo { padding-bottom:10px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-msg p a { font-family:Verdana;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-msg p#ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441attach-count span { color:#1E66AE;font-weight:700;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-reco #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441reco-head { color:#ff7900;font-weight:700;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-reco { margin-bottom:20px;padding:0px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-sponsor #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ov li a { font-size:130%;text-decoration:none;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-sponsor #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ov li { font-size:77%;list-style-type:square;padding:6px 0;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-sponsor #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ov ul { margin:0;padding:0 0 0 8px;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-text { font-family:Georgia;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-text p { margin:0 0 1em 0;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-text tt { font-size:120%;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441 #ygrps-yiv-365310288yiv1893949441ygrp-vital ul li:last-child { border-right:none !important;} #ygrps-yiv-365310288