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[albitz]

Considering where you live Tunnie, if I were you I would go and do a track day or two at Silverstone. You can use their bikes, not your sort of bike I know but thats besides the point.
You would imo build more confidence in one day there than a year riding on the road. You would learn so much about what level of grip you have available for cornering on a bike and how late and hard you can brake if you have to which can all be very useful on the roads if you get yourself into a sticky situation.

[tunnie]

thats not a bad idea that, just taken a quick look:

All riders must provide their own helmet, boots, gloves and motorcycle leathers (a minimum of 2-piece zip-together where the zip is 360 degrees around the waist). Helmets can usually be hired on the day but are subject to availability. All clothing must be free from holes, splits or other apparent damage.

I have gortex gear, only my gloves are leather, so would need to invest in some leathers i think before i would do a course  :-/

Also trousers seen better days, they got some rips in from my DAS course. 

Think best option is some tutoring by h21 

[albitz]

Im surprised they dont hire out leathers tbh. :-/.......might be worth getting some secondhand from fleabay just so you can dip your toe in the (trackday) water.

[tunnie]

Im surprised they dont hire out leathers tbh. :-/.......might be worth getting some secondhand from fleabay just so you can dip your toe in the (trackday) water.

Doubt they hire them out, just imagine the dry-cleaning bill 

[feeutfo]

which ever you feel happiest imo Tunnie, its confidence and experience you need.

But i'll bet you a fair bit of money, those corners where you "over cooked it" ...? you didnt over cook the corner, you just think you did. Let the brakes off and turn the bike, lean it over. Easy to say i know, but thats exactly the confidence you need.

Ime i rider can spend years on the road, trained or otherwise, and not get it. But put them on a track or air field or any bit of open space and with a bit of performance coaching you can double the performance envelope of your machine in a morning.

Road riding is a differant disiplin, and training for it often misses the vital part of the bikes performance as its diluted by dealing with traffic obsticals and situations, as it should be, it will keep you alive.

But riding a bike is a personal thing and not everyone wants the same enjoy ment from it. Even so i personally think eveyone should do some sort of track work or performance only training, then your even more set for what the road can throw at you.

Food for thought perhaps?

Anyway, i'm sure with H21's experience you have evrything to gain.

[albitz]

Entirely agree Chris. Its very rare for any modern bike (even a beemer) to be ridden beyond the limit of its capabilities on a public road. Its almost always the rider running out of talent/bottle/confidence in the middle of a bend which causes problems. If Tunnie had a day on the track I have little doubt that his knowledge of grip levels of tyres/possible cornering speeds/braking distances etc would be multiplied many times in the space of a few hours.

[hotel21]

I have no problem with trackdays and learning limits of adhesion etc, absolutely none.  It does inspire confidence in road grip and your own cornering abilities but that comes with a price.

Unless you are intent on only using a bike on a track, it is very easy to transfer track habits onto the road.  No, its not just the ex cop biker in me (although, probably does play some part  ) but when you introduce traffic coming in the opposite direction, half the width of the available road, tar reinstatements, adverse camber, pedestrians, tractors and muck etc etc etc, thats where real world experience plays a more vital part.

You can be as fast as fck on the track but be a real liability to yourself and others on the real road.

And that is from riders who have done a basic one day bikesafe after doing regular trackdays, thinking they were invincible.

Ultimately, each to their own.   

[hotel21]

The reason for the big disks on the front is that they can lift the back wheel off the ground - not much point in having back brakes then!!!

I only use the rear brake in the wet to keep the back behind the  front and for hill starts.

I happen to disagree with "the system" when it says to brake and block change later instead of dropping down through the gears.  Reason:  you are presuming that no "event" occurs during your speed adjustment phase that might require an unforeseen change of plan!  Or put differently; you are not "always in the right gear at the right time" which was an old maxim.

Certainly worked/still works for me.  Depends on your understanding/application of the assorted phases, I suppose.

Its the fact that we are all different that makes the world interesting,  suppose.   

[tunnie]

not forgetting the crap condition of the roads around my way now, snow has destroyed large sections, making it 'interesting' in some sections

[Chris_H]

not forgetting the crap condition of the roads around my way now, snow has destroyed large sections, making it 'interesting' in some sections

Went out today and had to stand up on the pegs to cope with the "terrain" on the old A11!

[TheBoy]

Fortunately she didn't need the car today, so I didn't need the bike.  Glad, as the wind was bloomin' cold today. Brrrrr!

[feeutfo]

not forgetting the crap condition of the roads around my way now, snow has destroyed large sections, making it 'interesting' in some sections

Went out today and had to stand up on the pegs to cope with the "terrain" on the old A11!

you need the Tunsters GS, loads of suspension travel.

That reminds me, off road experience, something i never got round to on a bike. On the bucket list. 

[tunnie]

not forgetting the crap condition of the roads around my way now, snow has destroyed large sections, making it 'interesting' in some sections

Went out today and had to stand up on the pegs to cope with the "terrain" on the old A11!

you need the Tunsters GS, loads of suspension travel.

That reminds me, off road experience, something i never got round to on a bike. On the bucket list. 

Do some courses up the road, i'll find the link. Reasonable prices, and looked like a good day out 

And ohhh yes GS is a nice soft and smooooooth  ride  8-)

[tunnie]

Fortunately she didn't need the car today, so I didn't need the bike.  Glad, as the wind was bloomin' cold today. Brrrrr!

You want some of those gay heated grips then

[Hannah Judes Dad]

My old VFR 800 had linked brakes but it didn't matter which way you operated them as either the brake lever or pedal would operate both front and rear at the same time.I was always taught to use front first and then rear.The only time this differed was if you were turning/manouvering at slow spped then use the rear to control the speed of the bike as it is less aggressive.I have also found it useful to use the rear only if going into a corner a little too quickly as it stops the chance of coming off.I did a Bikesafe course with Lincolnshire Police and it was well worth the money.