What are your limits taking on ramps? | GTAMotorcycle.com

What are your limits taking on ramps?

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zx636

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I only started track days this season, only been 3 times including FAST school. It had dramatically improve my turns and lean. Prior to track experience, I admit, I am pretty pathetic, usually going on and off ramps at the recommended limit (30 or 60 km/hr) or even slower sometimes. Now, depending on road condition, I take it normally 15 to 30 above limit but feel I could go a lot quicker since I had done it much faster on the track.

That's the scary part.... I am tempted to test a higher speed but I am fully aware the danger and dire consequences. As of only a few days, there was already a fellow rider died on the Bayview ramps. I don't know the rider but a friend knew him and said he is a very experience rider with
track experience, definitely much more than me.

Wanted to hear from experience riders especially those who do track regularly, perhaps those who took a tumble on the street and probably know a lot more from experiencing first hand.... What are your limits on ramps?? You can probably take it much faster on track but what do you use to gauge that limit on the street?

Right now, I take it up to 30 above limit and still feel quite safe but you never know, perhaps it may still be too much, especially cold days, cold tires and debris on road.
 
It varies per person but there are two factors that I think matter the most:

#1. Survival reactions. This is greatly dependent on the person but you don't want to be going so fast that you're pushing into survival mode. There isn't any run off on many ramps if you decide to target fixate or freeze your arms.

#2. Traction. Ramps are not race tracks. I've had a raccoon jump out on me mid corner. There's also the occasional panic inducing cop parked by the clover. If you use too much traction for cornering, you won't have any left for "O ****" moments.

I haven't tracked but am planning to and watch amateur camera videos. From what I've watched, tracks have very few blind turns so picking a turn point in relation to the apex is much easier. On many ramps, the entire turn is blind. A lot of the ramps also feature a decreasing radius, forcing you to initiate a second turn point if you turned too early.

...and for the record, I do not take any ramp at above the recommended speed in yellow :cool:
 
-D- said:
Don't do it.:cool:
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What he said lol. I'm a hypocrite for saying that since I do ramps quite a bit and I do it sometimes stupid fast. If you're comfortable taking it 30 above posted speed continue to do that pace and maybe up it by 5 km/hr the next round until you feel comfortable. You should only ride 70 percent on the street.

If you want to do ramps make sure it's warm enough like 20 degrees and up and go slow your first rounds to test the road if there's any dirt/sand/gravel.
 
zx636 said:
I only started track days this season, only been 3 times including FAST school. It had dramatically improve my turns and lean. Prior to track experience, I admit, I am pretty pathetic, usually going on and off ramps at the recommended limit (30 or 60 km/hr) or even slower sometimes. Now, depending on road condition, I take it normally 15 to 30 above limit but feel I could go a lot quicker since I had done it much faster on the track.

That's the scary part.... I am tempted to test a higher speed but I am fully aware the danger and dire consequences. As of only a few days, there was already a fellow rider died on the Bayview ramps. I don't know the rider but a friend knew him and said he is a very experience rider with
track experience, definitely much more than me.

Wanted to hear from experience riders especially those who do track regularly, perhaps those who took a tumble on the street and probably know a lot more from experiencing first hand.... What are your limits on ramps?? You can probably take it much faster on track but what do you use to gauge that limit on the street?

Right now, I take it up to 30 above limit and still feel quite safe but you never know, perhaps it may still be too much, especially cold days, cold tires and debris on road.
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If your asking then you probably already know your pushing your limits.

What others limits are is non relevant as they aren't riding for you.

If you read the fallen riders from Aug you will see a thread about someone who took at ramp at 190 and his arm was ripped off and he died a few days later.

As a rider who has been down and suffered from the road rash, and the cost to repair the bike it simply is not worth it. Just so you can say wow I took that ramp 40Km above the recommended limit.
 
I wont lie ive done em at speeds that could have landed me a seized bike and license for a week.

Don't go that nuts any more but ones i know with no guard rails and a nice runoff i'll still occasionally do at decent pace
 
mstram said:
http://www.stevemunden.com/leanangle.html

Sqrt(14.9 * turn-radius) = Max Speed under Ideal conditions. This assumes "u"= 1, an optimistic value for street tires.

As Steve writes though, DON'T try that speed on the street !

The value of that equation is that you can go on googleEarth, measure the radius of ramp, and see what the max theoretical speed is. So you'll know that driving at that speed or higher is suicidal.

It's also of course possible to use that method on the race tracks from g.e. and see what speeds are possible. u=1.2 might be valid for race slicks.
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uhm who is Steve?:confused:
 
laydee said:
What he said lol. I'm a hypocrite for saying that since I do ramps quite a bit and I do it sometimes stupid fast. If you're comfortable taking it 30 above posted speed continue to do that pace and maybe up it by 5 km/hr the next round until you feel comfortable. You should only ride 70 percent on the street.

If you want to do ramps make sure it's warm enough like 20 degrees and up and go slow your first rounds to test the road if there's any dirt/sand/gravel.
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You are confusing me.
I thought we are supposed to ride at 100% attention and ability.
Your 70% leaves 30% of hazard.
 
Why not just leave it on the track? You already know you can do it way better out there.
 
If its something u wanna do just approach it cautiously. I would usually do an on ramp "loop" from ramp to ramp. A couple slow passes at non rush hour times to check for debris and then slowly go faster and faster. Don't go with a group as they may push u more than u feel comfortable with.

Ie. take ramp at 50 km, then 55, then 60 etc. obviously ur not gonna be looking at ur speedo but be aware. And like others have posted you can get in some serious trouble (physically) doing on ramps. Imagine a low side right infront of a truck. If its worth it to you, giver. You can hit good ramps at ridiculous speeds but know that if u mess up, hit gravel/sand, or a stray raccoon runs out infront of you, you're gonna have a bad time.

FYI yes thats my leg in the picture below, and yes those are steel toed boots.
 
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Usually I'll hit them between 1.5-2x the yellow
 
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