getting accustomed to high speeds

[AwwsChwA]

I think I'm sort of a backwards learner. I learned how to corner and maneuver first. And, since the R6 is my first sport bike (and the two bikes I owned before that were old 1980's "sport tourers" and topped out around 110), I never got into really high speeds. So, my question is this...

How did yall get used to the high speed? By high speed I mean 120+. I've gotten quite used to the bike up to that speed, but after 120 I no longer feel like I'm in total control, I feel like if something were to happen I wouldn't necessarily be able to react in time.

Where's the "safest" to start exposing myself to higher speeds and get a feel for the bike in that mode? Anyone been able to hit 140+ on a race track before braking into a turn after the main straight? Perhaps a long straight stretch of highway? Where did yall learn?

[Nas19320]

Go to the track, it will be the safest place. Start slowly and gradually build up your reaction time.

[SDr6]

not really a good place to get comfortable except for the track.. although when I lived in SD I was known to hit 130+ on the 52 at night and early in the morning ont the 805 (lucky I didn't hurt myself)

[MrCLoWnY]

Yeah, hit the track.. If you go to Cali Speedway there is a long straight wher eyou can hit 150+ .... I think it will be perfect for you...

[AwwsChwA]

Originally Posted by MrCLoWnY

Yeah, hit the track.. If you go to Cali Speedway there is a long straight wher eyou can hit 150+ .... I think it will be perfect for you...

Good deal, sounds like I'm off to CA Speedway

[ChampionR6-476]

track is a must....look further ahead on your line than you normally would....it will slow your vision down as you will see things sooner.

[darksaleen281]

yeah the trick to feeling comfortable at high speeds is to look further ahead. in some sense, it makes u feel like ur going slower than you really are. The best place to get some practice would be the track, but don't forget about the upcoming turn on the straight haha. I was at the track a couple years back when some noob didn't slow down at the end of the straight and ran right in front of me and into the wall... lol!

[drtymex]

^^^ OUCH

I've hit an indicated 170mph at roebling road right after turn 9 into the long straight and after a while, you kinda develop looking way ahead to slow things down.

The back stretch at jennings after turn 1 use to scare the shit out of me when hitting triple digits especially coming into kink 2. (There's a reason why they call that section "liter eater" ). But, then you develop that habit of focusing way ahead and SLOWING down the track while at the same time keeping that throttle pinned. Weird at first, but it's something that really is vital to be fast and "safe" at the same time.

track is a must....look further ahead on your line than you normally would....it will slow your vision down as you will see things sooner.

^^^Right on the money and no need to do it on the highway or the streets for that matter.

[CephasGT]

For me, it wasn't feeling comfortable at the higher speed ranges, it was learning how to handle the bike way up there. How the brakes feel, how hard the steering gets, how much delay there seems to be between when you steer and when you start turning (vs at 60 mph). It's not just about going fast down a straight, that's the easy part. It's about learning to lean it over at 120 and trust the bike to do what it was made to. Turn 1 at Putnam Park has helped me immensely with that (145 mph by the time you see your braking marker, then hard on the binders down to 70-80 for the right hander... faster if you have more balls than I do).

[jdoggg1]

There's nothing like the track - it's a friggin huuuge rush to drag your knee through a long sweeper doin 110mph...