Fear of chicken strips...

When i was younger, my family used to go to the mountains. One of things my mom loved doing while up there was to jump in the car and just drive around "deer spotting." I hated that part of the vacation...but I think it was do to my penchant to get motion sick. So, this is something that I never really did on my own. Well, the past 2 Sundays proved to be an exception. I hoped on my bike and just took a ride. Not caring where I went and was mighty surprised on where I ended up.

I'm fairly inexperienced compared to many of the riders on here. I'm just hitting the 9 month mark of owning my F2, but when I bought it, it wouldn't run, so I didn't really start riding until the end last season. Yesterday, I came to the realization, that I will always have chicken strips.

So, why do I fear having them, if I accept that I always will have them?

I fear them because it's just a sign that I will not know the full limits of me and my bike. Which means that I may not be able to properly predict the most appropriate maneuver to avoid a crash.

Add that to my list of fears.

i have em right now... the roads are still covered in salt/sand.. im not willing to lay her over that far with all those variables on the road right now. .
 
good post

forget the chicken strips, ride your comfortable ride.  they are by no means an indication of skill or capabilities.  there are many variables that equate to the size of unused portion of the tire on a bike. 
 
although it is a reference as to how far you have leaned the tire, that is only a reference that cant even be used bike to bike, or even same bike with different tires.  example:  a set of pilot powers you can take all the way to the edge very easily, but on the same bike, same speed, same road, but with a set of Pirelli DCIII, you will still have not reached the edge of the tire. this is due to the tire profiles.  also, bike geometry, body positioning, and a few other things will effect the amount of edge tire used.
 
but, throw all that out, and the bottom line is if you dont have any strips, you have been reaching the tires limits, and that means you dont have any room for emergencies.....thats bad. 
 
If your concerned about your abilities, or confidence to lean the bike over in case of emergency manuevers, (which is good) take it to a secure enviroment, like the track.    In just your day to day riding, just keep riding, and remember your bike has alot more in it than you ever think.   
 
I read somewhere recently, if you have enough traction to brake, then you have enough traction to take the corner.

Great posts in here!!

quote:

ORIGINAL: krash
 

I read somewhere recently, if you have enough traction to brake, then you have enough traction to take the corner.

 
love it..

Get ya ass off the seat and the bike does the rest... if your going around a right turn, hang your right ass cheek off the seat a little bit. The bike will be a lot more responsive to turning/leaning in case of an emergency.. dont worry about the chicken strips

ride within your limits...

Shiny side up, rubber side down

Yeah, I can take a turn hanging off the bike and it stays relatively straight up, or I can push it all the way over and it will lean like a mofo.  just depends on how you ride.  not to mention, grinding down strips non-track is not always a possibility or the best idea.

If you haven't read it yet, "Twist Of The Wrist vol. 2" is a great read for performance riding on the street...
 
May sound like an oxy moron, lol, it's geared towards racers but damn near everything in the book transfers to street riding.
 
Be safe.

It's pretty silly to equate a trackside phenomena with your own personal street aptitude. That's like saying, 'man, I'm so bummed that I can't achieve full opposite lock drifting my M3 into the neighborhood...'

There's no other type of motorcyclist beside sport riders that hang their 'worth' on such a false indicator. Touring guys don't do it. Cruisers don't do it. Nobody but the adrenalin junks try to look for depth in something literally superficial. For cripe's sakes woo, staying upright and returning home in one piece is the true test.

Get a track bike if you really want to know who you are...fear where fear is due, my friend. 

quote:

ORIGINAL: OKIEZAC

quote:

ORIGINAL: krash


I read somewhere recently, if you have enough traction to brake, then you have enough traction to take the corner.

love it..

 
+1

I came home from riding around one day (wasn't really trying to ride hard) and found that they were gone. I was surprised and wondered where on earth I got so low to the point where there wasn't a trace of a strip to be found. So one day, yours too will be gone.......and you'll sit there, baffled, trying to figure out when and where.

But when people compare chicken strips as a "riding skill-o-meter", well, that's just ridiculous. The lack of chicken strips simply means one of two things............

1. You leaned your bike aggressively through a corner a few times.

-or-

2. You have had far too many "OH S**T!" moments while riding..........(and I'm willing to bet this is the #1 reason for the majority of people)

Great posts in here for sure.

Just reiterating everyone's points...chicken strips mean nothing to show skill. I'd be scared to see if my chicken strips are gone, to be honest. That just means I'd be at the limit of my tires and any more angle...well, let's just leave it at that :)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Blue Fox

I came home from riding around one day (wasn't really trying to ride hard) and found that they were gone. I was surprised and wondered where on earth I got so low to the point where there wasn't a trace of a strip to be found. So one day, yours too will be gone.......and you'll sit there, baffled, trying to figure out when and where.

But when people compare chicken strips as a "riding skill-o-meter", well, that's just ridiculous. The lack of chicken strips simply means one of two things............

1. You leaned your bike aggressively through a corner a few times.

-or-

2. You have had far too many "OH S**T!" moments while riding..........(and I'm willing to bet this is the #1 reason for the majority of people)

 
I'll add to this list:
 
3. Possibility your body positioning can use some improving.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SpiritRR

It's pretty silly to equate a trackside phenomena with your own personal street aptitude. That's like saying, 'man, I'm so bummed that I can't achieve full opposite lock drifting my M3 into the neighborhood...'

There's no other type of motorcyclist beside sport riders that hang their 'worth' on such a false indicator. Touring guys don't do it. Cruisers don't do it. Nobody but the adrenalin junks try to look for depth in something literally superficial. For cripe's sakes woo, staying upright and returning home in one piece is the true test.

Get a track bike if you really want to know who you are...fear where fear is due, my friend. 

I guess, what I'm trying to say....isn't that I want to push the extreme...on the contrary...I want to get to the point, where I feel confident to maneuver my bike around unforseen consequences... Can I make it if I tighten the turn?  Do I try to straighten and brake, then turn and risk entering oncoming traffic...That person doesn't see me...can I make that lane of escape.

When braking, it's good to know how quickly you can stop. In terms of Maneuvering, it's good to know that I have x amount to go before I hit a limit.

Although track days sound fun...I doubt I'll get around to doing one. Just cruising around is enough for me. But, Spirit, your point is heard and well taken. Thank you.

quote:

ORIGINAL: woo545


I want to maneuver my bike around unforseen consequences...

Well that's entirely different. And I assume you mean circumstances--because ultimately your goal should be to always have the same, happy 'consequence' of skillful driving: post-ride, one-piece, home-driveway glory.

Exactly the same as a committed relationship. I'll wager twenty dollars that you've felt this exact way about a girl--right before you got to know her. Then, after you spent enough time marking and adjusting the limits, the two of you together could face almost anything.
 

quote:

ORIGINAL: woo545


Can I make it...Do I try

What other way to know but doing?

I've gone through several sets of street tires where they are worn mainly in the center. They still have some chicken strips on them because if they never saw a track, they didn't get the workout. I don't ride that aggressively on the street. That's crazy.
 
To learn the capabilities of you and your bike, you should do a track day. The techniques and confidence gained will transfer to the street and make you a better rider (and yes, it's a lot of fun). And if the local kids really want to look and compare, the tires I use on a trackday have no strips at the end of the day. My toe sliders and knee pucks get some wear, too.
 
Knowing that in an emergency on the street I can make my bike do some pretty awesome manuevers is well worth the cost of a trackday.

1st.   Why are they called chicken strips.

2nd.   There is no place to "ride" where I'm at so I'll never know what a lean turn is.

Chicken strip definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_strips_%28motorcycle_tires%29

quote:

I fear them because it's just a sign that I will not know the full limits of me and my bike.

 
On a clean rode, you won't be able to outride your bike. With that said, as time goes by, you will have less and less chicken strips without trying or making it a goal.  I am sure if it were your goal, on the right clean road they would be gone in 2 or 3 passes. Don't give them another thought.

I have never had them....... Well until I moved to Michigan? I would just enjoy your riding and not worry about what other people think.

i remember after i first got my drivers license, i would take my car to a slick blacktop parking lot after it rained. I figured that would be the worst condition (besides ice) that i could place myself in if i had to make an emergency manuver. I learned a lot about the side loads i could endure before my tires would lose grip. i encourage everyone to do that.
 
Same goes with a bike. I took it to a parking lot and did the same thing. If you skid while leaning on a bike, then you've got to fork over money for damages, so you have to be careful. I've done it a few times on my bike, and was amazed by the fact that my bike could outperform myself.

if you dont ride on the track, then you'll probably always have them, driving that aggressive on the streets is just crazy with all the debris that are on the roads.....

This is a great post, there are many good points here! I too would agree with reading Twist Of The Wrist vol. 2 also, to learn from the principals of riding and become more educated. Ride within your limits and enjoy your time, try not to worry what other people think and always respect your bike. If you want to know the feeling of going faster, leaning the bike over more, etc please do it on the track. I sold my 929 a few years back and bought my F4i and half of my friends said I was crazy, didn't understand it, they said I was "downgrading". I was starting to ride a bit smarter for the street and wanted to be more comfortable. I do more of what I would call a sport/touring kind of riding now, I get on it a little here and there but always want to be safe and be able to ride another day. It's important to keep all things in perspective... Is this because I'm 33 now? Is it because I have kids? Is it because I have seen friends lay their bikes down in front of me or slide off the road hurting themselves and totaling their bikes? Is it because even when my best friend was trying to be careful he was hit by a guy running a red light and was flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore and spent over a year at Johns Hopkins and has had I don't know how many surgeries? YES TO ALL OF THESE. I have been riding on the street for apx 18 years and seen lots of things as many others on here have as well. This is a great forum to see so many people taking the time to come forward with their wisdom and experience to help guide another rider. Your at 9 months of riding now which is great, keep it up! I listen to everyone, from someone who has been riding a month to the old timers who have been riding decades as there is always more to learn. Since your posting here and asking honest questions it sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders, keep it that way and have fun.