Jason the K1600 will lean over farther then you or I will ever take it.
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If you bounce you've gone to far :wow:

sorry I just couldn't pass that up as true as it is. My advice is to lean it only as far you are comfortable doing so. (I know DUH). Suffice it to say the bike will out perform most of us here, learning to trust the bike is the trick and takes time. I'm a proponent of taking classes when I want to improve, and a whole lot of small steps. It's a journey so take it slow and enjoy it,. One day you will look around and say "how did I get here, and how did I do that". A

At least I hope so

 

Riding in an "agressive" or "racing" manner isn't something one should decide to do. Instead, one desiring to utilize more of the performance a motorcycle is capable of should get instruction and practice.

Any fool can stab a throttle or twist the grip.

The real grins come from the ability to safely push you limits. Limits you understand.

It is only through a significant about of experience and pushing that the capacity to effectively deal with those instances where the poo hits the paddles, which will certainly happen.

Please take advantage of some instruction before pushing yourself. I think that it is easier to learn proper new skills with good instruction than it is to un-learn bad habits.

 

^^ that would scare me half to death..

I have no desire to ride like that.. I know our local motorcycle safety course (which I have taken and recommend everyone take, even non motorcycle riders) has an "advanced" course where you bring whatever bike you want and ride it on their track.. I just worry about dropping the GTL..

In all the years I rode the RT (and my old kawasaki zephyr before that) I never dropped it going around turns or slow speed maneuvers but even still, I need to get some wear on the GTL and rub some of the "new" off before I risk it.. But I'll probably do that in the future..

I do have the Illum floorboards on my GTL which means I have an inch less clearance and thus I'm likely more prone to scrape around turns but so far so good.. I did take one turn the other day where I juuuust felt the outside of my boot touch the ground.. no big deal as I lifted my foot a tad, problem solved.. but I did get close and in this case it's more likely due to the hump in the road and the down angle of the turn than my leaning too far..

Either way, I really have no intention of getting any lower than that.. Like I said I just like the ride but it is interesting to see what this machine can do..

 

Everything will scrape long before the bike is in trouble. Training and practice are the key. I need more of both as everytime I catch a boot or peg it scares the heck out of me, so I slow down. Need to get to the point where it is not a surprise but controlled with confidence. The human psyche resists angles over 21 degrees without training.

 

Enough to scrap angles on my pegs, which is plenty for me and used to tell me I'm far enough

 

Pegs and center stand will kindly let you know when you are over far enough the key is getting proper training on riding position to maximize the use of lean angle an center of gravity. I recommend you read the books Twist of the Wrist, Total Control, and Proficient Motorcycling. Excellent books that go into detail the physics of lean angles and body position in relation to that.


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There is an on-ramp to the highway near my house that has a sweeping right into a left into another right before you get on. I will go out of my way to hit that stretch every now and then. It's only about a third of a mile but it is a clean, smooth surface and, with luck, I can often hit it with no one dowdling along in front of me. The faster you go the more fun it is. If I could only find 40 miles of the same.
I could often drag the pegs on my Norton on this stretch. It took longer, but I was able to do it on my RT as well. Haven't had the GT long enogh to give it a try, but soon.
I guess my point is find a spot like this that you can run often and get real comfortable with. Then you can start to push the envelope a bit at a time until the pegs complain.

 

I laughed out loud when I read this. I had this same dilemma when I lived in Kansas City. The most exciting corner in the whole area was the ramp from I435 to 152 I got so good at that exit and sometimes found myself turning around to hit that corner again. Roads are much too straight for my taste in the Midwest.


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I suggest you go to the California super bike school. I took the 2 day class.
Motorcycle Riding School - California Superbike School
It helped me more than I ever thought it would. I was instructed one lesson at a time how to control the bike better than I ever thought possible. And it was an absolute blast. Rick

 

FYI... Suspension adjustment (i.e., 1-up - 2-up / Comfort -Sport mode) makes a difference in the height of the bike along with compression, which directly effects ground clearance.

 

The art and skill is in taking that turn at the same speed as the rider ahead of you (you know "the guy", flopping all over, dragging, scraping and sparking...) But with as much reserve lean as you can muster. Oh, yeah, and make it look as easy as you can.

There's always a diminishing radius turn around that corner, crud on the road, and a very surprised-looking flock of turkeys! And when you're done surviving that right turn, having soiled yourself, the road goes left THAT WAY! (Don't laugh, you've been there too!)

The riding Gods train their senses by catching flying insects with chopsticks...Any fleeting thought I may have of duplicating their prowess is always tempered by the gathered vultures flying circles above and the canyon abyss below. The machine's abilities exceed this rider's.

 

Since I have never owned a bike like this, with power, torque, and performance in every manner to do agressive riding, I decided I wanted to learn. From my younger years that I was fortuante to survive, I love scraping pegs thru corners, but since I have learned from the results of others. I bought a couple of books recommend on the forum and it is helping me to understand what this bike can do, mostly based upon my ability or lack of, thus, the education begins. Building slowly, it comes, and it's much more fun than just slingshotting into a 35 mph corner at 80 and realize not only were my cahones left at home but a brain as well.

Proificient Motorcycling by David L Hough and Total Control from Lee Parks are the two books I acquired, I like David Hough best so far. You will learn some physics, human psyche, and tecnique in this book. Would a riding school help, yes, you need to practice where you won't endanger any squirrels let alone people on the road with you. This just allows me to broaden my fun with a wider range of folks safely.

 

ive been in the pegs on both sides a few times and a whole bunch when i rode the dragon. it felt nice and stable and like i could go even more, but i wanted to see what i had on my tires after all of that before i ever took it a deeper into the lean. i figure hitting the pegs is a good place to stop

 

I'd like to congratulate Palamedes on being bold enough to ask a question that was on his mind that he knew would say he's out of his comfort zone in the corners. It's a great question and I would encourage you to push your comfort zone just a little bit at a time to find the rest of the performance you have available to you - in an emergency if no where else. You can go on you tube and see videos of guys running right off the road in turns when they had way more turning capability available to them - they just didn't use it because it wasn't something they were comfortable with.

Here's the thing that I've really learned and had driven home in my aerobatic flying. When you suddenly and unexpectedly get into a situation that's out of your comfort zone, you revert to what you have programmed and your executive decision making shuts down. If you have no or very little experience in really leaning the bike over in a turn, you'll be very unlikely to do it when your life might depend on it - you'll literally just stay upright and cross a yellow line into oncoming traffic when you might have had a ton of lean and turning available to you to use.

I used to race and rode pretty hard but got off of motorcycles for 30 years. When I got back on again, it was one of the more uncomfortable feelings I've ever had on a gas powered fun machine because I knew what the bike would do but I just didn't feel comfortable doing it. What worked for me was to finally get off for a full day or two in some twisty road country where you have a hundred opportunities per hour to push it a little farther. I guarantee you if you do that, after the 2nd day or so of some all-day corners you'll just realize that you're suddenly more comfortable at lean angles you never before considered.

My next best advice is when you're riding in a twisty bit of road, try to get in the habit of "committing" to the line and leading in to it with your inside shoulder. Just tuck your elbow in a little bit and lean your shoulder toward the mirror in the direction of the turn and keep the gas on through the turn. And most importantly! Look well up ahead and don't focus on the apex of the turn. Keep your eyes well up the road and it'll keep you smoother.

I'm far from any expert but these things helped me get more enjoyment and performance out of my sporty bike.

 

I'd like to congratulate Palamedes on being bold enough to ask a question that was on his mind that he knew would say he's out of his comfort zone in the corners.

I'm a firm believer that ego will get you killed and not asking a question because "you know it all" or because you're worried about how you'll appear to others is just dumb..

I'd much rather ask a question and maybe look a little silly or stupid than not ask a question and not have the information when I needed it..

I'm just not embarrassed about not knowing something and I'd much rather talk to a subject matter expert like some of you folks and get the information first hand then struggle through and maybe learn the wrong thing through trial and error..

Plus I assure you there are things I know that I'm an expert of that you may not, so I see it as information sharing..

As to my comfort level in curves; I don't think it's too bad.. but I do slow down in a curve when I have seen others power through.. Mostly I stay in my comfort level and ride safe..

 

The bike can take more than you can, take a good course or two or three and maybe you can push her too the edge. As Bootworks said the machine's abilities exceed this rider's.

 

I have to agree with Pitts here. As you've probably heard me say many times I'm big into practice. I spend a good three to four hours a week in a parking lot doing all kinds of exercises. Part of that is because I live on a small island and there are not roads of any length to practice on, but the main point is go over and over things until they become second nature. I'm sure this sounds mundane and boring to most, but it doesn't have to be. I carry a mess of 2" plywood squares and set up various courses, when I'm done I take a fifty mile loop of the island practicing at speed. I also attend one to two classes a year. Track days are on my list as well as the superbike school. I guess my point is there is always room for improvement, and many great riders (not meaning to include myself here) realize that and practice there technique wether on the track, in a parking lot or on familiar roads whenever possible. Wanting to get better is the first step toward getting there, so good for you for realizing that.

 

+1, Palamedes

 

My only point was that you're on a machine with considerable performance and that you're a safer rider if you expand your comfort zone nearer to those performance limits. And, I don't think you have to ride like a hooligan to build some greater comfort level.

 

Oh for sure.. this machine can way way out perform anything I can put it through..

And I certainly agree the more you know the safer you'll be.. but I don't believe in rushing that experience.. one day at a time ya know?

 

I have to agree with Pitts and share a similar experience. I learned to ride back in the mid 70's. I had some really fun bikes and spent a lot of time blasting through the SF Bay Area foothills looking for the next challenge.

Fast forward to 1998 after a 15 year layoff and looking for a new ride. The MC industry moved forward in huge leaps and bounds in that time. The capabilities of the bikes had far outstretched my capabilities, even if I was arrogant enough to think my skills hadn't deteriorated over time. It was an eye opening time in my life and it took getting in over my head early on for me to learn some humility that honestly, I never had in my 20's.

Today, living in the flatlands of Florida I find it takes me about half a day up in the mountains to get back to a comfort level that allows me to push my limits, which for me is part of the allure of motorcycling. The one thing I learned back in '98 was to slowly nudge the comfort envelope, not blast through it like I routinely did 30 years ago.

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...8467&set=a.10151052078063467.456425.262447113466&type=1&relevant_count=6&ref=nf

I would love to feel this comfortable on the k1600.

 

I have an "almost" identical photo. The only "small" difference is my kickstand is down.

 

Depends on a few factors, weather, road/traffic conditions.& how I feel on the day however I have reached the edge of the rear tyre and don't think I will try and get any further over as this would be pushing my luck I think at this angle I am having all the fun I need now I am getting on a bit plus the wife says she doesn't bounce like she once did

 

Gtl : Took it to the dragon last May. Rider pegs all scraped up. Rear Pr3 not quite to edge.

 

On mine, until the pegs drag. Unless cornering over very bumpy bits. Then the center stand can hit. Both are fairly unusual oocurances. The K does handle well. The RT does too, IMO, benefiting from its light weight and supple suspension.

 

Right, my two pen'ath is in a few lines your question is almost immpossible to answer, due to the fact that there are so many variables which would influence this query, so my basic advice would be training, one is never "Trained" or over trained. Ongoing training, and refresher training over the years, with advanced observers, who will give objective criticism (often a hard pill to swallow) of technique, or bad habits which sometimes creep in over the years will build confidence and enhance your riding pleasure, keep you healthy, and keep your insurance premiums down. Either by fewer claims or discounts offered by many insurers who are recognising the importance of encouraging further training for riders and reflect this in premium discounts. Finally there are those out there who can high wheely a K16 and probably get an elbow down, but I bet they didn't start on a K16, if speed between two points is your goal on a bike, as opposed to trick riding, back in my day there were some corners where it was best to hang off and not go too low, to achieve a bigger foot print to get back on the gas sooner onto the straight. Please burn this image into your brain it has saved me on a few occasions. In another life I was required to attend many (too many) serious or fatal road accidents involving motorcycles on bends, generally, if conditions were good, it was often the rider who failed to make the bend, not the bike. So, on those rare OMG eye popping, life in slow motion occasions training will allow you to believe you can pop out of the tube as the wave barrels over you, as you search for the vanishing point to open as you scribe the very last inch of tarmac. Life for me now is the sweetest (much) before, rather than at the limit point. Finally, some of the fastest riders I've ever met are the best on the brakes, how often does one practice emergency braking on a deserted or private road? don't leave it until a real emergency.
Keep the shiny side up and be safe.

 

Hi everyone..........I like to ride but not like Chris Pfeiffer on a GTL........really impressive...........check him out on YouTube

Ride Safe!

 

noticed it was a GT and not the GTL.