2023/7/7 (Fri)
This time, it’s been a while since we’ve had a small group
“Sporty Ride Challenge”
Last time, we started to understand the relationship between the movement of the front suspension and turning.
Today, let’s try turning while keeping the movement of the front suspension in mind! .
Orientation
The instructor for this class is a Scrambler rider who helped us out on our last technical ride.
This is only my second time, but I feel a sense of familiarity with him because I met him at the dealership.
There were eight students in the class.
There were a few familiar faces among the students.
This was the only class that day, so we were told we could use the entire course.
The final course slalom is apparently extra-large.
I’m looking forward to it!
Warming up
Recently, I’ve been warming up from the back, but this time, there weren’t many people, so I got a special seat at the front!
I finally figured it out!The meaning of constant speed S-curve driving
After a quick drive to check the vehicle,
it’s time to warm up using the S-curve course.
Drive slowly at a constant speed on the S-curve course.
I finally figured it out recently!
The meaning of constant speed driving.
This constant speed is quite difficult if you try to maintain a constant speed seriously.
When you start to turn,
the cornering resistance increases,
so your speed drops.
You open the throttle just a little to make up for that resistance.
This subtle throttle operation is difficult!
After the turn, there is a short straight line.
If you keep the throttle pressed down,
you will accelerate,
so you release the throttle,
but it’s difficult to release the throttle in a way that makes
it hard!
Obviously, if you release the throttle,
the engine brake will be applied,
so delicate operation down to the millimeter is required.
This throttle operation is useful when you turn in 1st gear without completely reducing the rotation.
Is this what they call a partial state?
If you can achieve this,
you can maintain the best RPMs,
so turns that previously started slowly at low RPMs in 2nd gear
can now start sharply while keeping the RPMs high in 1st gear!
In the second half, as I got used to it,
I drove in 1st gear!
Lean out, lean in
You drive in an S-curve by leaning out and leaning in, but I’m not good at either.
I don’t really know the trick.
I think I should do a bit of preparation beforehand.
Sometimes I’m told to “drive lean out!”
Advanced drivers also drive with one hand.
Braking
This time, there was no targeted braking, only continuous braking.
Personally, this is the best way to relax the body.
In the second half, I also tried driving with one hand.
My brake touch became a bit squishy (lol)
Turns
This time, before the usual J-turn,
we had them create a course where they would turn while braking while keeping the bike leaned.
The layout was like an irregular offset slalom.
I love the feeling of braking while leaning the bike,
slowing down,
and making the turn radius smaller.
I enjoyed this practice.
J-turn
This is the usual turn around one pylon, but the entrance is blocked off by a small pylon.
It’s connected to the previous practice of braking while leaning the bike.
If you’re not good at J-turns, I think you’ll be able to visualize it now.
Adjusting with the rear brakes
I’d often heard that you can control speed with the rear brakes, but honestly I didn’t understand it.
This time, I tried various things to deal with overspeeding, such as adjusting the strength of the rear brakes and delaying the release point of the front brakes.
I discovered that I could control the arc of the turn by operating the brakes, even while I was turning!
Pylon Slalom
Well, it’s time for the pylon slalom that makes you want to run away.
That’s right.
I bought some boots, so I’m going to try them on here.
Straight Pylon Slalom
In this straight pylon slalom, we will do each operation carefully.
First, practice timing with third gear and rear brake.
Next, practice smooth acceleration from partial in second gear.
Since there are only a few people, you can practice repeatedly.
Finally, be aware of the front tire.
This is a review of the feeling you were getting last time.
Even with the rear brake, the front suspension compresses, so imagine pressing down on the front tire in accordance with that movement.
Oh! It feels strange.
It’s like it’s moving…
The front tire moves from side to side which is great!
Huh! Seriously!!
I had never really paid attention to the front tire before,
so it was a new discovery and a new sensation.
It reminded me of the feeling you get when making a short turn on skis,
with the skis never lifting off the snow.
Offset Slalom
I also made a discovery this time with the offset slalom.
Actually, my unfamiliar boots were causing me to drag the rear brake.
I realized that the reason I felt it was so easy to turn was because of the rear brake.
I quickly changed into my regular shoes and resumed riding!
If you drag the rear brake harder and longer than ever before, you’ll spin around!
This was a new discovery for me.
Oh, I’ll give you a harsh review of the boots another time (lol)
Figure of eight
When there are a small number of people, the running time is about twice as long,
so we go to the figure of eight as a way to take a break,
but it doesn’t really serve as a break.
Try it in 1st gear.
Seriously?
When a partial is done well, it starts off sharply, but when it fails, it’s like a rodeo!
You can do it!
Well, it was done (^o^)
It became possible to use 1st gear.
Course Slalom
With this good flow, we went to course slalom, but the course layout was completely different,
so it was a fun course,
so I enjoyed it more than practiced it (^_^;)
From the start, I swung into 1st gear, then 2nd!
Pull a little,
and brake while leaning to the left!
So much fun!
Unlikely, I would have to wait patiently for the turn,
but today the course was so fun that I didn’t care!
Summary
I feel like if I can use the rear brake more,
the range of riding will increase.
I feel like I can hold down the front tire not only with the front brake,
but also with the rear brake.
I guess that’s what I learned this time?
Also,
After the lesson,
the instructor said that I don’t have any strange habits in my riding,
so I think I still have room to improve.
He said he was talking about this with an advanced rider who joined us today.
I’m so happy.
