Corner Audience

No Worries · 06-30-2008, 01:51 AM

I ride by myself most of the time. Today I rode up Lookout Mountain and was on my way down. I got behind a car, but they were nice enough to pull over and let me by. So I felt pretty good as I approached the upper switchbacks.

I downshifted before the first corner and leaned. I went around and accelerated down to the next switchback. I have the stock exhaust, but a modified airbox with the lid taken off. My Suzuki actually makes louder intake noises than exhaust.

At the apex of the next switchback, about 15 sportbikes had pulled over. Most of the riders were off their bikes. When they heard my bike accelerating, they all looked up at me. So I'm zooming down right at them. Fast. One mistake by me and I would wipe out everyone of their bikes. The bad thing is I'm looking at their bikes instead of picking my line.

Now I've taken these corners a zillion times. In the rain, in the snow, with gravel on the road, and in front of and behind other sportbikes. But with all those riders watching me, I started getting a little nervous and started thinking about what I was going to do instead of doing it automatically.

But I brake smoothly, do a perfect downshift, give a nod to the riders, lean off the bike, look into the turn, and accelerate smartly out of the corner. Whew! I wonder if they also gave a sigh of relief that I didn't crash into them.

t-homo · 06-30-2008, 02:19 AM

Good thing you didn't because insurance would have hated you and made you hate them right back. Good job on making it through ok though.

Trip · 06-30-2008, 08:57 AM

Corner audiences are normal at the gap, I don't even notice people sitting in them anymore.

OneSickPsycho · 06-30-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trip

Corner audiences are normal at the gap, I don't even notice people sitting in them anymore.

I was so focused going through there that I would only see them as I approached a turn for like a half a second... sometimes... I pretty much ignored them...

ceo012384 · 06-30-2008, 03:19 PM

I notice corner audiences at the track sometimes... there are grandstands in turn 3/10 and turn 6 at NH. Also... at the end of the main straight people will be lined up to go out for the session after yours in your last few laps.

The only time it fucked me up was when one of the instructors took the beginner group out to a turn to watch our group and I saw them and totally blew the apex. We laughed about it afterwards.

Now it doesn't bother me anymore.

Smittie61984 · 07-01-2008, 08:47 PM

I like to powerslide and leave a blackie while folding each one of their kickstands with my rear tire to get a dominoes effect. Everytime I do it they are pumping their fists in joy.

ceo012384 · 07-02-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smittie61984

I like to powerslide and leave a blackie while folding each one of their kickstands with my rear tire to get a dominoes effect. Everytime I do it they are pumping their fists in joy.

06-30-2008, 01:51 AM	#1
No Worries Keyboard Racer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mile High City Moto: Old Superbikes Posts: 1,016	Corner Audience I ride by myself most of the time. Today I rode up Lookout Mountain and was on my way down. I got behind a car, but they were nice enough to pull over and let me by. So I felt pretty good as I approached the upper switchbacks. I downshifted before the first corner and leaned. I went around and accelerated down to the next switchback. I have the stock exhaust, but a modified airbox with the lid taken off. My Suzuki actually makes louder intake noises than exhaust. At the apex of the next switchback, about 15 sportbikes had pulled over. Most of the riders were off their bikes. When they heard my bike accelerating, they all looked up at me. So I'm zooming down right at them. Fast. One mistake by me and I would wipe out everyone of their bikes. The bad thing is I'm looking at their bikes instead of picking my line. Now I've taken these corners a zillion times. In the rain, in the snow, with gravel on the road, and in front of and behind other sportbikes. But with all those riders watching me, I started getting a little nervous and started thinking about what I was going to do instead of doing it automatically. But I brake smoothly, do a perfect downshift, give a nod to the riders, lean off the bike, look into the turn, and accelerate smartly out of the corner. Whew! I wonder if they also gave a sigh of relief that I didn't crash into them.

06-30-2008, 03:19 PM	#5
ceo012384 Pompous Prick Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MA Moto: 06 R6 (race), 04 CRF Tard (race) Posts: 3,040	I notice corner audiences at the track sometimes... there are grandstands in turn 3/10 and turn 6 at NH. Also... at the end of the main straight people will be lined up to go out for the session after yours in your last few laps. The only time it fucked me up was when one of the instructors took the beginner group out to a turn to watch our group and I saw them and totally blew the apex. We laughed about it afterwards. Now it doesn't bother me anymore. __________________ LRRS/CCS #123 Boston Moto Dunlop Woodcraft 35 Motorsports Sidi Pit Bull K&N Filters

07-01-2008, 08:47 PM	#6
Smittie61984 I give Squids a bad name Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Fly Over State Moto: 1996 CBR600 F3 (AKA the Flying Turd) Posts: 4,742	I like to powerslide and leave a blackie while folding each one of their kickstands with my rear tire to get a dominoes effect. Everytime I do it they are pumping their fists in joy. __________________ lifts - R.I.P.

06-30-2008, 02:19 AM	#2
t-homo WSB Champion Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 7,146	Good thing you didn't because insurance would have hated you and made you hate them right back. Good job on making it through ok though.