A lack of confidence can really suck. I found out today that the guy from work who followed me down to Poole yesterday nearly wiped out following me through a bend. He was too embarrassed (!) to tell me until today. I noticed he'd dropped back but thought he was waiting for his girlfriend.

I didn't know he "can't do right-handers"! He was only saved by his ABS and the little run-off there was available (the verge). My crime was to know the road and give it a bit of gas on the straight beforehand. I slowed down and cruised through the bend but he wasn't close enough to see this and tried to take it 30mph quicker

Lessons learned all round. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if he'd seriously hurt himself 'cos I didn't show him a bit of consideration on a road he didn't know, even though he blames himself for not reading the road properly and showing off a bit.

You also ride an STT don't you .. ?

Its definitely me and not the bike!!

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”

Not last night, I was wobbling around on an 80's monster with worn tyres and "period" suspension and brakes

STT= SLOW TO TURN

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Do you want it right or right now ?

Git

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”

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I intend to live forever.....................................so far, so good!

me and the mrs are prob gonna have the bikes out tomorrow Ash if you fancy a gentle ride out? will be in the afternoon/early evening if you fancy it.

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

Ash / all

Some good advice so far...

Here's my contribution:-

http://www.dynamike.net/CyberC/RideIt.htm (just think of your Buell as a virtual "Harley")

It was written ages ago (when I still owned a "proper" Buell)

I hope Keith Code doesn't sue Paul Lewis for stealing his ideas

good point,when i started racing a mate said to think about my breathing,keep it regular and don't hold your breath ,it thought he was having a joke till i realized i held my breath from the 200 m breaking board at paddoch hill (brands Hatch)till the bottom of the hill

Some excellent advice on these posts Ash, I'm sure you'll sort it eventually. Reading through your original post it struck me that part of your issue was the perception that your tyres simply wouldn't grip. Gunter hit the nail on the head for me when he talked about a bicycle. -Get one, thrash it around a bit, lay it over into bends and be amazed how far you can lean one over without any hint of the tyres giving way. If they do, you'll be going slower and won't worry too much about the paintwork! (Wear a lid and gloves of course!)

This may just give you a bit more confidence in the physics of rubber on tarmac, hopefully you'll be able to translate that up to the XB with its infinitely better grip and tyre technology?

Just a thought, and good luck mate!

Si.

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I may have Alzheimer's, but at least I don't have Alzheimer's.

best thing for cornering is to get laid and then take the bike for a ride, I'm usually so relaxed the bike just takes care of itself.

seriously just chill out and enjoy, do a few track days which will soon improve your cornering lines etc.

Don't need your knees out, when did you see the classic riders look like puppets, Hailwood, Ago, Surtees etc

Seems my post has mysteriously disappreared again. Can't be arsed to write is all over again suffice to say under Jn.1 M27, double roundabout, great curves, good confidence builder.

Thats the one I crashed and fractured my spine on ..

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”

Hmm... in that case...


Fixed that for you.

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Good in straight lines
2001 X1 "The Tart's Handbag"
2001 FZS1000 "The Fridge"