I've been running into the jackknife situation with my wr250 right when I feel like I've hit the magic moment. I could feel the potential of it but it's way to sensitive for me to make use of it. I love that your more-steering-stop idea especially for a beginner like me. Still looking forward to your technique video tho.
Nice video! Trail braking while leaned up to full steering stop with the front fork compressed and staying compressed after removing the brakes is one of my favorite riding sensations and really very satisfying to nail. Regarding brake overheat, what are the calipers used on the Ninja and BMW? The one time I overheated my rear brake, instead of locking the caliper it lost brakes. Its the stock Nissin on the 2016 Versys 650. I just find it interesting that overheat affects brakes differently. Personally, I don't mind the rubber hoses at the rear but I'm so tempted to upgrade the front hoses as I find precision control on the front brakes helps the timing on trail braking to max steering angle. The stock brake hoses feels different in the morning practice compared to the afternoon and I have not tried a steel braided hoses yet and wonder if the upgrade is worth it since its hard to find locally.
I don't remember what the Ninja had. It was a budget bike and I think the caliper was made by Kawasaki. The BMW has Brembo. What's funny is that when the BMW rear would overheat, I would wait until it cooled (about 30 min) and it would unlock and start working normally again. But with the Ninja, it would STAY LOCKED even after cooling. I would have to remove the caliper and push the pistons back manually to reset them. The good news is that I soon figured out how to stop the overheating and it stopped being a problem but there were some frustrating moments caused by this.
Confused... I've heard some people talk about removing steering stops to increase steering radius, and I've also seen YT videos showing blocks added to decrease steering turn, as you discuss. Does this just come down to personal preference? My first thought would be that removing stops to increase steering angle would be more beneficial. But I do sometimes have an uncomfortable feeling that the front is over steering and tucking under the bike. Maybe adding blocks would prevent this? This uncomfortable feeling is usually when I'm too long on the front brake in a turn. If I get off the front brake and more on the back brake, I still get to full lock but the sensation is not uncomfortable.
Personally, I've never encountered a bike that did not have enough steering radius. I've only encountered bikes that have too much. It's definitely possible there are bikes out there in the world that don't steer enough...so you would have to remove the steer stops but like I said, I've never seen a bike like that. It sounds like you don't have the issue of not enough steering radius if you are feeling that ugly, tucking sensation when reaching full lock. I would experiment with the steer stops. Use wheel weights but without the strong glue at first; use the mild adhesive that come on the weight already. That way, if you don't like it, you can easily remove it. And you are correct: Staying on the front brake too deep into the Magic Moment can definitely give you that same kind of over rotating feel. It will make the Magic Moment happen TOO quickly and If you combine that with a steering radius that is too great, it could get ugly very fast. This is why I recommend getting off the front brake right away when you feel the bars start to turn and do the rest of your slowing with just rear brake.
@@LexcoMotoGymkhana Cool. I've drilled and tapped the stops on the bottom yoke so I now have a bolt on each side that I can screw in or out to adjust the steering lock.
It depends on both your bike and your riding style. Some people prefer tighter rotations, some people prefer larger rotation radius with more speed carried through it. If you have a small displacement engine, you are sorta forced into the second category as you need to carry your speed through the course. Reducing your steering angle is beneficial for your confidence, as Alex said in the video. If you have a larger engine which could accelerate you out of a tight rotation, you may want to cut into your steering stops to tighten your rotation radius.
You describe most of the problems I experienced when starting GYMKHANA. Even the steel braided brake line "came out" of the metal end.:-)
Cheers, mate, and thanks for watching. Your support is very appreciated :)
I've been running into the jackknife situation with my wr250 right when I feel like I've hit the magic moment. I could feel the potential of it but it's way to sensitive for me to make use of it. I love that your more-steering-stop idea especially for a beginner like me. Still looking forward to your technique video tho.
Excellent. Hope you can figure something out for your steer stops. If not, that technique video will be helpful.
Nice video! Trail braking while leaned up to full steering stop with the front fork compressed and staying compressed after removing the brakes is one of my favorite riding sensations and really very satisfying to nail.
Regarding brake overheat, what are the calipers used on the Ninja and BMW?
The one time I overheated my rear brake, instead of locking the caliper it lost brakes. Its the stock Nissin on the 2016 Versys 650. I just find it interesting that overheat affects brakes differently.
Personally, I don't mind the rubber hoses at the rear but I'm so tempted to upgrade the front hoses as I find precision control on the front brakes helps the timing on trail braking to max steering angle. The stock brake hoses feels different in the morning practice compared to the afternoon and I have not tried a steel braided hoses yet and wonder if the upgrade is worth it since its hard to find locally.
I don't remember what the Ninja had. It was a budget bike and I think the caliper was made by Kawasaki. The BMW has Brembo.
What's funny is that when the BMW rear would overheat, I would wait until it cooled (about 30 min) and it would unlock and start working normally again. But with the Ninja, it would STAY LOCKED even after cooling. I would have to remove the caliper and push the pistons back manually to reset them. The good news is that I soon figured out how to stop the overheating and it stopped being a problem but there were some frustrating moments caused by this.
Confused... I've heard some people talk about removing steering stops to increase steering radius, and I've also seen YT videos showing blocks added to decrease steering turn, as you discuss. Does this just come down to personal preference? My first thought would be that removing stops to increase steering angle would be more beneficial. But I do sometimes have an uncomfortable feeling that the front is over steering and tucking under the bike. Maybe adding blocks would prevent this?
This uncomfortable feeling is usually when I'm too long on the front brake in a turn. If I get off the front brake and more on the back brake, I still get to full lock but the sensation is not uncomfortable.
Personally, I've never encountered a bike that did not have enough steering radius. I've only encountered bikes that have too much. It's definitely possible there are bikes out there in the world that don't steer enough...so you would have to remove the steer stops but like I said, I've never seen a bike like that. It sounds like you don't have the issue of not enough steering radius if you are feeling that ugly, tucking sensation when reaching full lock. I would experiment with the steer stops. Use wheel weights but without the strong glue at first; use the mild adhesive that come on the weight already. That way, if you don't like it, you can easily remove it.
And you are correct: Staying on the front brake too deep into the Magic Moment can definitely give you that same kind of over rotating feel. It will make the Magic Moment happen TOO quickly and If you combine that with a steering radius that is too great, it could get ugly very fast. This is why I recommend getting off the front brake right away when you feel the bars start to turn and do the rest of your slowing with just rear brake.
@@LexcoMotoGymkhana Cool. I've drilled and tapped the stops on the bottom yoke so I now have a bolt on each side that I can screw in or out to adjust the steering lock.
Very cool solution. Hope it works out :)
It depends on both your bike and your riding style. Some people prefer tighter rotations, some people prefer larger rotation radius with more speed carried through it. If you have a small displacement engine, you are sorta forced into the second category as you need to carry your speed through the course. Reducing your steering angle is beneficial for your confidence, as Alex said in the video.
If you have a larger engine which could accelerate you out of a tight rotation, you may want to cut into your steering stops to tighten your rotation radius.