Can you ride faster and still be safe?

One example is i went on a ride with a friend on a bigger cc bike then me and i kept pulling away from him in the turns. After the ride he came up to me and said i was going way to fast and that he had almost lost control a couple of times trying to keep up with me. The truth is i wasn't riding fast, being fast is all about perception, i was riding well within my own limits and there is such a thing as "riding faster while safer" i was looking through the turns, i was getting my body off the bike, i was easy on the throttle exiting a turn, taking good lines. All these factors put together made it possible for me to ride at a pace much faster then my friend while still being well within my own limits and "within reason" of the speed limit. Physics alone going faster gives you less time to react, but speed is relative to how your brain interprets that speed. To my friend who wasn't looking though the turn it seemed like i was pushing my motorcycle to the limit. He was freezing and panicking making things feel much faster. With practice, repetition and good technique the speedometer might say your gong faster then you have in the past but in your mind it might feel like you're going even slower. So how to you go about learning going faster safer?

Studying of course! If i had to settle on one book that is a must read for any beginning rider it's Total Control by Lee Parks. This book helped me tremendously when learning some of the basics and refining the skills that could save your life out on the road. The great part about this book is it's for all types of riders, from sport bikes to Harley's. Look for a full review of Total Control in my next blog post. 

YouBoob Comments #1

So to preface i know in general 99.9% of youtube comments are full of shit/trolls/idiots/people with nothing better to do/etc. For every one comment i see that has a kernel of truth/thought/good intentions i see 10x that many with assholes. So after encountering similar comments time after time again i had to respond in some fashion. It's pointless to try and argue points on youtube but, i see so many comments of naive people who are thinking of getting into motorcycles as a hobby and take some of these bullshit comments to heart. Questions like; should i do the MSF course? I've ridden dirt bikes, should just get a 600cc? How do i counter steer? And on and on and on...  I have to take a stand!

Lets start from the beginning, this comment which was in reference to a video a guy who had been riding a Ninja 250 and borrowed his friends 600gsxr for a short ride. Needless to say he was "impressed" and liked the 600, but was glad to have groomed his skills on a less intimidating bike. Insert dumbass youboob comment here.

"did you pee your pants? The shit 250's are a joke to start out on... well not a joke for everyone (good for two to six weeks) for most everyone.... after that 600's for sure, and maybe 1000's...

I started on the 600 (thought about a 250, then realized, hey I'm not an idiot and I have skill)

Dont let people scare you away from a 600 super sport.... Its not like your going to loop it unless of course your an idiot... Practice clutch control... easy shit"

Did the guy pee his pants? I don't know for sure, but probably not. So let's give this youboober the benefit of the doubt and when he says 250's are a joke, well not a joke for everyone he specifies, but in no the less then 2 to 6 weeks you will have mastered all there is to know,. OK more benefit of the doubt maybe he means only throttle control, which depending on how much you ride in a 2 to 6 week span may be true, if you're only riding in a straight line. Twisting the throttle in a straight line doesn't take long to master at all, which is great cause otherwise nobody would be able to ride a motorcycle! But knowing when and not when to twist the throttle in a panic situation or when out on a nice twisty rode. On a 250 you have some leeway when it comes to the most common throttle mistake and that would be chopping the throttle. Which means closing and opening the throttle in a fashion that is not smooth. The more you practice being smooth the faster and better you will become at it. So yeah becoming adequate  2 to 6 weeks straight line throttle on a 250 sounds reasonable, then jump on a 600cc sport bike or 1000cc no problem right? Just for a reference, the Ninja 250 can do the 1/4 mile in 14.5 seconds and 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds, that puts most "fast" cars to shame. Next the Ninja 250 makes around 30 hp, so make the jump to any 600cc bike within the last decade makes 90 to 110 HP. 3x more… so really not a small "jump" at all. And 1000cc? 150+ HP. 

"hey I'm not an idiot and i have skill"

I love the self indulgent comment as if you tell yourself that, it must be true. Reminds me that a true wise man realizes he knows nothing. Now i don't mean that accurate self assessment isn't possible, but sometimes we all need to take a step back. What bothers me most about this thought is that someone impressionable watching these youtube videos and reading the comments will think "hey you know what i'm not stupid, so i'll be fine". Being a good motorcycle rider doesn't just mean being able to go fast, it also means looking out for future riders who are searching for some advice. 

"Don't let people scare you away from a 600 super sport"

Don't let people scare you away from a 600 ss. Well i agree everyone should be able to buy what they want, but imagine a 600cc supersport bike for what it really is, a scaple, a precision made instrument developed over many decades for 1 purpose, to go very fast. If there was an analogy i would make it would be this. If you wanted to start playing the drums would you go out buy the nicest most expensive one you can afford and say "hell i won't be able to play within 5% of it's capability cause i'm just starting out but maybe i'll grow into it with many hours of practice" that's great if you want to play drums but a drum set won't leave you crumpled and a bloody stump because you slammed on your brakes endo'd your motorcycle and slammed into oncoming traffic. Another comment i see often is "i'll get a 600 and take it easy for the first few months" The most common mistake with this logic is you don't know how much you don't know until you go out and ride. It is possible to "take it easy" but it is so much more fun to go fast on a slow bike then to go slow on a fast bike. 

"Practice clutch control…easy shit"

Finally a good tip, practice clutch control. Sounds simple enough, but make 1 slip on a 600 and blip the throttle too much and you'll be on your ass and wondering why all you see is blue. The throttle is an instrument and the only way you'll master it is practice, practice, practice. If you're practicing on something that doesnt throw you on your ass when you make a mistake you will learn 100x times faster. It's also worth mentioning that on a motorcycle you must learn to use all your limbs simotainiously either while leaning, stopping, accelerating, all the while focusing on where you want to go and everything else you need to be mindful of while riding on public roads.

Final point most of these guys who self proclaim "i started on a 600 and I'm great!" are the same guys picking gravel out of their wounds from going down with no gear (and that's the lucky ones who don't die) and the same guys that can't do a u-turn, don't know how to use the rear brake, and hold up other riders because once they hit the twisty roads they don't know how to look through a turn or hit an apex. Also the only time they go "fast" is on the freeway because that's the only place that's long enough and straight enough for them to roll on the throttle, blowing by people in their blind spots and putting other peoples lives in danger is the best way to show your "skill". 

If more riders put their ego aside, just think about why they want to ride, there would be less of a stigma around sport bikes being doner-cycles. If you ask yourself "why do i want to ride?" And the answer isn't to "look cool" or "impress my friends" but you want to ride because when you wake up in the morning and you don't look forward to the destination, but the journey getting there, well then decide what bike is right for you.

Marco Simoncelli 1987-2011

I followed MotoGP more closely this 2011 season then any season previously and Marco was a rider that i greatly admired. I've struggled through the mixed feelings surrounding his death and i think Asphalt & Rubber sumed it up best for me personally. 

FTA: Marco surely knew the dangers inherent in motorcycle racing, but he also surely did not wake up that Sunday morning believing it would be his last waking day. Much has already been said about the risks that riders accept when they line up on the starting grid, and I would echo the sentiment that it is the risk of death that adds to the thrill of each victory.

Marco was a real personality and watching him from the beginning of the 2011 season to the end was an amazing experience. My reaction in the beginning of the season to seeing his wild hair was "who the hell is this guy... Sideshow Bob?" and by the end of the season it was "Who the hell is this guy?! He's the most fun to watch!" In my circle of motorcycle buddies we even made jokes about rubbing "semon-chelly jelly" on our bikes to make them go faster, mature it's not, but you know how guys can be. I don't think i'll ever watch a MotoGP race again and not think of how well Marco could have done. 

Test Riding a 2011 Ninja 250r

The 250 Ninja will always have a place in my heart. I first started to learn how to ride on the street on my 2003 Ninja 250. I did this video for a friend and in exchange he let me ride his new 2011 Ninja 250R so definitly a fair trade! The music is from an old collection of football music i have and again i used my GoPro Hero and used only the suction up mount.

I have to admit at first glance the revamped 2008+ Ninja 250’s are a bit more pleasing to the eye, but the old Ninja definitely has charm... Even if that charm is similar to a pug. The first thing you’d notice if you ever rode the old Ninja is it was slightly more comfortable then the new one, but that’s not to say the new one isn’t, in the broad scale of sport bikes the 2008+ Ninja is quite comfy.  If you’re a rider anywhere between 5’5” to 6’2” & under 220lbs this bike will accommodate you just fine. Any heavier and you might want to look at something like a SV650/Ninja650/FZ6 etc.

So how bout the Powa?! It won’t overwhelm you, but if you’re worried about getting on the freeway this bike has no problem. For a beginner rider this bike has enough power, the Ninja250 can run the ¼ mile in 14.5 seconds so it’s no slouch and it will do 80+ mph topping out at around 110mph (depending on your weight and if you have a back wind) For a more advanced rider this bike can be an absolute blast to ride, it makes you start thinking of riding more like a chess game. Keep your speed up through corners,  master late braking (or no braking at all), plan out your passes by cars, and be wary of rolling off the throttle to quickly. One aspect i thought was exceptional was the stock brakes on the Ninja, they felt very good, a lot of feel and very easy to scrub speed off before turning.

Worthy Upgrades for the Ninja would be a jet kit and some good rubber. After that you’ll have yourself a affordable and very capable motorcycle to ride, that is also very approachable. I think a lot of riders allow their Ego to get in the way of the real reason they should be riding, to have fun! You don’t need a 1000cc fire breathing beast to enjoy riding. Chances are most the time you’d leave the 180 horse power in the garage and take the Ninja for a spin when riding around town or for some leisurely riding.

Suspect suspension? After riding a motorcycle that has a fully adjustable suspension the Ninja 250’s parts can feel a little budget. But really that’s the bike in a nutshell isn’t it? Something greater then the sum of it’s parts? The Ninja might not soak up bumps as well as other more expensive bikes but it’s defiantly capable of anything you throw at it for everyday riding.

Gas Saver? Not really, to take advantage of the Ninja you’ll be twisting that throttle regularly (which is part of the fun) and i typically saw around 45mpg with spirited riding. Because you’ll be revving this engine up to 12 grand most the time, you won’t see 65+ mpg often.

If you’re looking to master the skills of riding a motorcycle fast then get a Ninja 250r or CBR250r, there is no better platform to fine tune your skills while going faster safer. Furthermore you can’t put a price on the satisfaction of leaving a bigger cc behind while you flick the Ninja side to side through some twisties.




As a disclaimer i want to say i'm not a professional racer/stunter/reviewer. Just an average guy who's been riding street bikes for the last 4 years and have developed a passion for it.

Riding on Skaggs Spring Road

In similar fashion with my first GoPro video i did multiple rides on Skaggs Springs Road near the City of Heldsberg. Using a single GoPro camera i cut to 3 different shots in attempt to make a it look like a multiple camera ride.

I also selected a single audio track and matched the video accordingly. My pace consistency on the road wasn't perfect, but i think it turned out well. I told myself i'd do a video with just the motorcycle audio which i will do sooner or later but i couldn't help but mess around doing an intro and adding some music. 

...cherished by as many speed freaks as it is lamented by law enforcement and everyday motorist...

In the nearby town of Heldsberg has many places to cool off, do some wine tasting and relax. As for the Skaggs Spring Road itself, it is cherished by as many speed freaks as it is lamented by law enforcement and everyday motorist. With a beautiful rolling hill landscape lined by many wineries, this well paved/constructed motorway is a back road Mecca. 

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AVOID on weekends and the occasional Friday if you plan on "spirited riding" Cops have pledged to crack down on illegal racing and speeding. Article Here. From my experience local car drivers "cagers" are tolerant of motorcycle riders and will pull to the side as long as you don't pass at excessive speeds and through a blind turns.

As a disclaimer; if you do go riding on this road please be responsible. That goes for all public roads, but this one more so then others because of it's notoriety. This is a public road with driveways and double yellow lines and not a track. If you want to do a track day and you're in the area go to Infinion Raceway nestled in the hills of Sonoma. Be patient, be respectful, enjoy the ride and most of all go home in one piece.