ocala national forest- anyone?

DSN_KLR650
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RM
Posts: 1977
Joined: Tue May 09, 2000 7:20 pm

nklr riding question

Post by RM » Mon Oct 15, 2001 2:05 pm

On Sun, 14 Oct 2001 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?
I guarantee that you were looking the wrong way or your money back. Don't look at the outer curb that you don't want to hit. Look at where you want to be and the bike will follow. Sign up for an MSF class, ASAP. RM
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Mark
Posts: 653
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:03 pm

nklr riding question

Post by Mark » Mon Oct 15, 2001 2:45 pm

At 5:57 PM +0000 10/15/01, David_Mat_King@... wrote:
>--- 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.
Aw c'mon... it ain't that hard. Unless you're lazy-eyed and have inner ear problems, you should catch on quick. Mark B2 A2 A3
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Devon Jarvis
Posts: 2322
Joined: Thu May 10, 2001 9:41 am

nklr riding question

Post by Devon Jarvis » Mon Oct 15, 2001 3:29 pm

The MSF basic class supposedly teaches you a lot of skills, important things like using the front brakes properly (I didn't take the beginner class, but did the experienced rider course two years ago). As I understand it, you don't get into 3rd gear during the entire class. There are a LOT of important skills that they can't teach you in a weekend. Things like proper observation of traffic, road conditions, current hazards, prediction of potential hazards etc. If someone was coming around the corner at the same time as your cornering trouble, you probably would have had an accident. I suggest going to a large, brightly lit parking lot at night (or empty stadium parking lot in the day) with a more experienced rider. Learn to look where you want to go, learn to smoothly brake and downshift in a straight line BEFORE a corner, while looking out for traffic and observing your line through the turn. Then very gently accelerate through the turn. One thing that a lot of bikes do is try to stand up when you apply the brakes in a curve. So you begin to get a little wide, you get scared and apply the brakes, at which point the bike goes REALLY wide. The same thing happend to a lesser extent if you coast through turn on a closed throttle. KLR650's in particular turn much better on the gas. Devon A15 RM wrote:
> > On Sun, 14 Oct 2001 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? > > I guarantee that you were looking the wrong way or your money back. Don't > look at the outer curb that you don't want to hit. Look at where you want > to be and the bike will follow. > > Sign up for an MSF class, ASAP. > > RM > > 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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Multifunction-ES@Bigfoot.com
Posts: 79
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2000 4:51 pm

nklr riding question

Post by Multifunction-ES@Bigfoot.com » Mon Oct 15, 2001 5:25 pm

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., David_Mat_King@e... 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?
David, Lots of tips here, and all good ones. I would echo the comment of practicing in the parking lot. I went to a large parking lot and rode in circles (Round and Round), accelerating while turning, braking while turning, increasing/decreasing the radius of the turn. I got lots of funny stares, but I learned pretty fast what my bike wanted to do in turning circumstances and how to cope with it. My only recommendation is, one that has already been mentioned, "Go slower until you are more comfortable with the bike." Ride Safe, Ed Snow 2001 KLR650 "Zoom Zoom"
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West Hovland
Posts: 426
Joined: Thu May 17, 2001 7:13 pm

nklr riding question

Post by West Hovland » Mon Oct 15, 2001 6:57 pm

--- 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
Thanks for being honest and understanding David... West [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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InWoods13@aol.com
Posts: 543
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2000 5:18 pm

nklr riding question

Post by InWoods13@aol.com » Mon Oct 15, 2001 7:15 pm

In a message dated 10/15/01 12:05:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time, john@... writes: > 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 >> All good stuff John, I'd only add to what the MSF folks have no doubt already preached to you David. That is to look (turn your head) in the direction that you want to go, and Don't fixate on the problem, (curb, sand, roadkill) but on the solution (clean exit). Practice counter steering, and the effects of your position (up on the tank, or more back) on the seat, the effects of loading the outside peg (that's a big one for traction), and applying knee pressure to the tank...when turning. I learn something new about turning (on road) every day. No substitute for practice. Slow in/fast out. Think Kenny Roberts said that. Scott A14 "thunderdog" Sorrento, Fl
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