how much of the bikes ability do you think you can use?

Originally Posted by northwind

Gaz, that's most of the reason I'm planning to do the IAM course... I know the theory but can't get it into practice too well.

I self-timed myself to a 74 second last time I was up at Knockhill, but it was pretty wet See what happens next time I'm there in the dry.

me 2, (the IAM bit)


i suppose this thread has taught me one thing . . . . that where i think the bikes limits lay are no-where near the real limits of the bike.

On a good day 100%.... but normally about 60% so I went for 80%. All depends on my mood, I ride better when I'm a bit wound up or when I'm following someone. The good flowing days seem to get less and less now, but maybe thats just the weather.

[BillyC]

Bit of a loaded question...

I put 90%

... mainly because I use all the tyre right up to the edges, I use just about all the rev range, I accellerate hard when safe to do so, I brake hard when necessary and safe to do so.

I don't go silly on the bike, and I don't ride at 90% of my ability... that would be unsafe. I don't think using your bikes ability is about screaming around corners with your knee down etc - as in part that's down your own style and ability - not the bike's.

Originally Posted by BillyC

Bit of a loaded question...

I put 90%

... mainly because I use all the tyre right up to the edges, I use just about all the rev range, I accellerate hard when safe to do so, I brake hard when necessary and safe to do so.

I don't go silly on the bike, and I don't ride at 90% of my ability... that would be unsafe. I don't think using your bikes ability is about screaming around corners with your knee down etc - as in part that's down your own style and ability - not the bike's.

thats how i was thinking when i put 90.
aslo i was assuming that it was safe to do so, and conditions were superb.

Even on a road I know well I'd say about 60% of the SV's ability, on a road I don't I'd say 40%. I concentrate mostly on reading the road and getting the right lines rather than trying to crank it over or power hard out of corners. I'm sure the bike could handle tons more lean and speed mid-corner and loads more throttle coming out of corners but I'm still learning.

I've been quite happy with my pace (especially after only 8k miles) when I've gone out with the Ecosse Posse, usually at the back but never left for dust......

I think its very hard if not nearly impossible for any rider regardless of ability to take a bike to the absolute limit on the open road, and if they can they should swap the lights for a numberboard so they can see just how slow they really are ... those that do try to ride that way usually end up in wooden crates, a few of my good friends included


So i put 50% or less......even though I am no slouch on a bike.

I answered the question as it was put "how much of the bikes ability do you think you can use?"
I said 60%, because I think that is all I'm capable of making use of.
I've pushed it all the way on power, alot of way round over round a corner and stopped bloody quickly, but a bike is more than the sum of it's parts.
The whole package works together, and I don't think I can make anywhere near full use of the whole thing, all together.

And I'm talking about the bike here, not how I ride on the road/track or where I do it, purely what I am capable of on the bike.

See, we are talking about the SV. The SV is very limited in its's capabilities in it's stock form. I never got anywhere near the YZF's capabilities and I rode that as hard as I have ridden my SV. The same goes for my CBR 6. So I think I am just, in saying that I have ridden it to 100% of it's capabilities. If the suspension were to be upgraded to something sensible then I very much doubt I would come close. At least not on a public road. On a track I would give it a damn good go.

I don't know where the 100% point is so I don't know how close I am to it

I just ride to 100% ( or less) of my abilities and that's good enough for me

i ride my bike as hard as feel it safe to do so in the conditions im not gonna ride m bike at 110% past a school or built up area but in back lanes etc i will use all of the bikes ability i voted 90% purely because i can slide the bike about drag my knee corner fast gee a fair move on through lanes etc wheelie ( where apropriate) and controll mishaps on my bike.

but there is 1 or 2 things i can improve on (well probebly alot more the 1 or 2)

i think the reason i can ride my bike as i can is due to the fact i have alwaays had to be faster harder and smoother due to the fact i was riding with 600 - 750s on my 125 and now ride with the likes of busas blads and cbrs on my sv it does make u a very confident (maybe very cockie) rider

its the way i like to ride every ones entitled to there own oppinion and i know people dont ike my riding or riding style but each to there own if everybody rode the same there wouldnt be much of a moto gp race would it !!

Gricey