ocala national forest- anyone?

[David_Mat_King@email.msn.com]

Okay being a new rider, I have a question about turning. I have taken the MSF rider course and that answered most questions. However, on the way home yesterday, I had to go through some residential neighborhoods and noticed I was having trouble making it around some of the 90 degree turns. In one left turn, I swung waaay wide and almost hit the curb. I was unsure how I should have recovered. Should I just go slower or should I have attempted to lean the bike more? Thanks for any tips, David

[MERK]

> Okay being a new rider, I have a question about turning. I have > taken the MSF rider course and that answered most questions. > However, on the way home yesterday, I had to go through some > residential neighborhoods and noticed I was having trouble making it > around some of the 90 degree turns. In one left turn, I swung waaay > wide and almost hit the curb. I was unsure how I should have > recovered. Should I just go slower or should I have attempted to > lean the bike more? > > Thanks for any tips, > > David

Being a new rider, you probably should have been traveling slower to begin with. Take it slow and easy as long as it takes to get yourself feeling secure in your abilities. Ideally, you would have done you braking prior to the corner, then be accelerating into the curve. When I was learning,(78) I experimented with cornering clearance and lean angle by going round and round a empty parking lot. I remember being astounded at how far I could lean that baby over before the tires slid. Nailing the brakes when leaning in to a curve ain`t the greatest idea as it has a tendency to stand the bike up, so if you find yourself in that kind of situation, best idea is lean`er some more...and be thankful for all that clearance on the KLR! MERK!.........Deeds Speak!! merk26@...

[Peter Dahlheimer, MD]

don't look at the curb. DON'T look at the curb. look exactly where you want to go. you'll lean the right amount almost automatically.

> -----Original Message----- > From: David_Mat_King@... [mailto:David_Mat_King@...] > Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2001 9:14 AM > To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [DSN_klr650] NKLR Riding Question > > > Okay being a new rider, I have a question about turning. I have > taken the MSF rider course and that answered most questions. > However, on the way home yesterday, I had to go through some > residential neighborhoods and noticed I was having trouble making it > around some of the 90 degree turns. In one left turn, I swung waaay > wide and almost hit the curb. I was unsure how I should have > recovered. Should I just go slower or should I have attempted to > lean the bike more? > > Thanks for any tips, > > David > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ >

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[Jim Hoffman]

Did they cover counter steering? You know...the old turn right, go left. You didn't mention how fast you were going but I doubt that was the problem. You were proboly looking at the curb and that's where you ended up. Did they cover "you go where you look"? Maybe it's best you find a big parking lot and just cruise around in circles, figure 8's, etc. and then practice stopping on landmarks you've picked out (like stains, chips etc). When you feel ready for the streets again, maybe try some country roads at first until you get the hang of things. At the very least, call your MSF Instructor an discuss this problem! Good luck to you.

>From: David_Mat_King@... >To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com >Subject: [DSN_klr650] NKLR Riding Question >Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 15:13:49 -0000 > >Okay being a new rider, I have a question about turning. I have >taken the MSF rider course and that answered most questions. >However, on the way home yesterday, I had to go through some >residential neighborhoods and noticed I was having trouble making it >around some of the 90 degree turns. In one left turn, I swung waaay >wide and almost hit the curb. I was unsure how I should have >recovered. Should I just go slower or should I have attempted to >lean the bike more? > >Thanks for any tips, > >David > > >Checkout Dual Sport News at >http://www.dualsportnews.com >Be part of the Adventure! > >Visit the KLR650 archives at >http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > >Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com >Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com >Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

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[David_Mat_King@email.msn.com]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Jim Hoffman" wrote:

> Did they cover counter steering? You know...the old turn right, go

left.

> You didn't mention how fast you were going but I doubt that was the

problem.

> You were proboly looking at the curb and that's where you ended

up. Did

> they cover "you go where you look"? Maybe it's best you find a big

parking Yes they did cover these techniques. I will practice as you suggest. I went out again today on back roads and stuff and didn't have any problems with cornering. I think what may have happened is I drove the 35 miles home at speeds of 60-70 and when I got onto the residential roads, I was still moving at a good clip, not realizing how fast I was going. Not to imply that I was doing 60 on the residential streets of course, but I probably hit that first left turn way too fast. When riding the bike on the freeway at 60, it just doesn't really feel like I am moving that fast. Is that normal? Thanks, David King

[Ted Palmer]

David_Mat_King@... wrote: [...]

> When riding the bike on the freeway at 60, it just doesn't really > feel like I am moving that fast. Is that normal?

If you do it long enough. That's why little one-cop speed-trap towns do so much traffic fine business. Mister_T Melbourne Australia

[k650dsn@aol.com]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Ted Palmer wrote:

> David_Mat_King@e... wrote: > [...] > > When riding the bike on the freeway at 60, it just doesn't really > > feel like I am moving that fast. Is that normal? > > If you do it long enough. > That's why little one-cop speed-trap towns do so much traffic fine > business. > > Mister_T > Melbourne Australia

Coming back from the Canyonlands Motor Classic last year, I was doing long stretches at 100+mph (on my ZRX1100). When I would slow to 80, I felt like I was in a school zone. Speed really screws up your perception and you really have to be aware of that, because your brakes don't get any better the faster you ride. Gino

[West Hovland]

> Okay being a new rider, I have a question about turning. I have > taken the MSF rider course and that answered most questions. > However, on the way home yesterday, I had to go through some > residential neighborhoods and noticed I was having trouble making it > around some of the 90 degree turns. In one left turn, I swung waaay > wide and almost hit the curb. I was unsure how I should have > recovered. Should I just go slower or should I have attempted to > lean the bike more?

Yes to both. Remember what they taught you about counter-steering?.... use it, practice it, have it become second nature. You are riding the motorcycle, don't let it take you for the ride. If choosing an entrance speed and steering ( notice... I didn't say "leaning") through the corner in a nice smooth line doesn't get easier after a few weeks/months... park the bike and put a "for sale" sign on it. I'm not "trying" to be mean (it comes naturally) it's just that after many years of being an MSF instructor, I saw to many people come through that had no business riding motorcycles. They are just going to hurt themselves and drive my insurance rates up. Heck, we all see people that shouldn't be driving four wheels... being on two is even more complicated. West [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[John Cairns]

'David_Mat_King@... wrote:'

> Okay being a new rider, I have a question about turning. I have > taken the MSF rider course and that answered most questions. > However, on the way home yesterday, I had to go through some > residential neighborhoods and noticed I was having trouble making it > around some of the 90 degree turns. In one left turn, I swung waaay > wide and almost hit the curb. I was unsure how I should have > recovered. Should I just go slower or should I have attempted to > lean the bike more?

Both. Since you are a new rider you should just plan on slowing down alot more before you enter a turn. Esp. on a KLR, which has a fairly 'high' center of gravity, it won't feel as comfortable for turning until you get used to it. Keep in mind that a significant precentage of accidents for cars and motorcycles occur when the rider has fewer than 6 months riding time. Its a good idea to be very cautious until you get the hang of it! One rule of thumb that almost always works is to slow to the 'speed limit' (usually 25 in residential areas) before you attempt to take a turn. Of course you also need to be aware of environmental conditions that might require you to slow more. As you get more used to your KLR you will find it easier to lean way into the turn, and don't worry about it, the KLR has great handling and will allow you to turn sharply once you are comfortable. John

> > Thanks for any tips, > > David > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >

-- John Cairns john@... 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510582097494459228...

[David_Mat_King@email.msn.com]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "West Hovland" wrote:

> I'm not "trying" to be mean (it comes naturally) it's just that

after many years of being an MSF instructor, I saw to many people come through that had no business riding motorcycles. They are just going to hurt themselves and drive my insurance rates up. Heck, we all see people that shouldn't be driving four wheels... being on two is even more complicated.

> > West

Nope not too mean! But hey we've all got to start somewhere right? I don't believe I'm "that guy" but honestly if I still have trouble with that in a couple of weeks, I will sell it. David