View Full Version : I'm lame at cornering in the wet
OK - in the dry I love cornering - quite happy that the bike will stick to the road as it should.
In the wet however, I'm just not confident enough, and I reckon I'm probably holding up cars momentarily at T-junctions (especially on green lights).
On the very cold mornings where I'm watching for ice, I'm taking it properly slow...
Just how much can I lean on a corner in the wet?
I've only had the SV for 3 months (was on a CBR125 before that for 4-5 months). My K8 Sport is standard in the tyre department
Better to be safe than sorry mate just take it easy u will get gradually better don't try n push urself it will come, oh and the standard tyres are said to be crap but prob but I wouldn't know.
yorkie_chris
10-01-09, 05:36 PM
Better to be safe than sorry mate just take it easy u will get gradually better don't try n push urself it will come
+1
Just try to relax with it, there is no easy way to learn how to know how much grip there it other than by slowly increasing confidence untill you have a few "moments"
pencil shavings
10-01-09, 05:37 PM
Ice is horrid, do not play with it.
In the wet I was so timmid untill one day I had to make an evasive manover, flng the bike on its side and it stuck. I guess its just confidance and good tyres.
But better to be safe than sorry, you dont get bonus points for riding above your ability and ending up on your a$$!!
+1
Just try to relax with it, there is no easy way to learn how to know how much grip there it other than by slowly increasing confidence untill you have a few "moments"
+1. Jump in at the deep end & it will bite you on the rear!
silent11
10-01-09, 05:42 PM
i could also be because you have in the back of your mind that you have a nice new k8 and scared of dropping it, which everyone has
just take it easy no use risking it
I'm the same, only had my SV 3 weeks. Went out today, overtook a load of cars on a dual carrigeway and they were all stuck behind me when I got to a twisty bit.
Starting to get a bit more confident now, trying to get used to "countersteering"
I am on the standard tyres and they seem to squirm about a bit on uneven roads.
skeetly
10-01-09, 05:46 PM
I dont like the wet either but tonight I had to hlep a guy get his aprilia's exhaust back on.
Meant going back to see what was wrong, dashing off for nuts and bolts and spanners coming back etc etc.
Suddenly found myself fair walloping along on the same roads I had been timid on before..
Mr Speirs
10-01-09, 06:09 PM
The tyres I got with my bike were standard and whilst in the dry they were fine they gave me no confidence in the wet.
The difference getting aftermarket tyres was amazing and really sorted it out for me.
dont take the risk, take it slow, in this weather it does not matter too much about the tires, they are all cold and if there is ice, does not matter how sticky yr tire is, it will still spin
+1 to the above advice. With time comes the feel, with the feel comes confidence. The wet's never going to be as much fun as warm clean dry tarmac, though. For me it's usually just a case of completing the journey safely.
Dicky Ticker
10-01-09, 06:33 PM
As has been already said tyres remain cold in this weather therefore aren't as sticky but the one thing I will add is make sure you have them at the correct pressure.
When your tyres get hot the pressure creeps up a little,so in cold weather it is important to check them regularly due to not having the slight increase in pressure
which would compensate for a slight drop under normal circumstances.
Tyre pressure makes a LOT of difference to how your bike handles
davepreston
10-01-09, 07:00 PM
i started slowly for first 2 months ,tried to keep up on the twisties with a mate £350 damage , 2 months later bit more confident same road i use every day icey this time tried to take corner as normal £450, havent tried to push it since and wow im gettin better slowly and i can have a social life as well ( can afford it now ).
im not as quick as my mates but hell i have fun and they have to hang around for me ( boring for them but i can pay for the brews) trust me extra time saves lots of cash try an iam course cheap and saves insurance, wheely school for a laugh and a track day or two to quicken up ( which i could of done if i hadnt to fix the bike)
hine sight is a bitch :)
jumjum_0214
10-01-09, 08:51 PM
I'm the same, only had my SV 3 weeks. Went out today, overtook a load of cars on a dual carrigeway and they were all stuck behind me when I got to a twisty bit.
Starting to get a bit more confident now, trying to get used to "countersteering"
I am on the standard tyres and they seem to squirm about a bit on uneven roads.
I was exactly like this 12 months ago. Just keep riding the bike and confidence will come. Just take it steady mate ;)
I've been riding about 3 months now, so similar to yourself schofs.
Have you looked at the suspension set up? I adjusted the preload on the forks to stop it diving so much and this helped me a fair bit.
I find that most of my issues were psychological as I'm in no rush to ruin the bike. I think it was almost because it was wet I was expecting it to slide so I was feeling every vibration etc a lot more simply because I was looking for it!
I think it will only come with time and experience so I wouldn't really try and push yourself.
northwind
11-01-09, 12:08 AM
I've gone rubbish in the wet lately... That whole vicious circle of lack of confidence, which caused me to tense up and slow down, which caused me to lose smoothness in the corners, which caused me to lose more confidence :rolleyes: But I think I've figured out the cause, the front tyre had weird uneven wear which I think was causing the bike some issues at moderate lean. So I just replaced it, and I'm hoping that'll help.
At the end of the day I'd sooner be slow than sliding ;)
Red Herring
11-01-09, 06:07 PM
Like everybody has said just take it easy and build some confidence, but remember that just because you managed such and such a corner at a given speed today it doesn't mean you can take the same corner at the same speed tomorrow. Just try and develop a bit of "feel" for the front, try not to put to much weight through the bars, and whatever you do stay smooth.
As far as tyres are concerned I use an Avon Pro-Rain on the front in the wet, but at this time of year you can leave it on all the time. The SV is so easy on front tyres it's not a problem.
Also schofs unless, as has already bin said, its ice/diesel/manholecover or youve really overcooked it then the tyres usually let you know theyre unhappy with a little slip or two. This then has an amazing effect with two results: the ol buttocks tighten up and u slow down - easy really! :mrgreen:
dizzyblonde
11-01-09, 07:39 PM
Patience young padawan;). No need for knee down manouvres at this time of year, or at any other time of the year. Bring on your confidence in the bike before playing stuntman.
Some folk say I ride like an old woman, and to be fair I don't really care. I ride in my own way, I feel safe around corners in the wet and dry, because I am at one with my SV:cool: On occasions I get the heebeegeebees on tight turns, unknown corners....and anyone that doesn't at some time or another is talking complete cobblers. I aren't embarrassed by saying I ride slow and don;t get my knee down...yes my chicken strips are huge, but I usually ride all year to and from work at stupid o clock in the morning when its dark cold, frosty wet..blah blah. The only time I don't opt for he bike is when the back yards frozen..then I know I'd be stupid to get it out, and would end up on my **** just getting a bike down the ramp.!
Although at this time of year you need to be on your guard for frozen bits etc, just take a calm and measured approach. Chill out and relax, being tense and thinking too much about the conditions can be a danger in itself
....or indeed right now, as I've been very lazy of late..i'm getting old and prefer the warm sofa:-D and don't need to go to work:cool:
OK - in the dry I love cornering - quite happy that the bike will stick to the road as it should.
In the wet however, I'm just not confident enough,
You and probably around 70% of the biking community.
MattCollins
13-01-09, 03:25 PM
Dizzyblonde gets the prize for the best answer so far. I'd like to add to the chill out and relax part. I believe that it was said but not in as many words... Stay loose, release the death grip on the bars and guide the bike. It'll look after itself fairly well and do what you tell it, but the death grip might tell it to lay down and slide down the road.
Tyre pressures where mentioned earlier on. I typically run tyre pressures at or near maximum except when it gets really wet when I will run minimum tyre pressures. <- Too long riding DS bikes on and off road. FWIW, A DS or SM can be quite a lot of fun (read confidence inspiring) in lousy conditions if a second bike can be justified.
Cheers
You and probably around 70% of the biking community.
Who are these elusive 30% you talk of ? :???:
dizzyblonde
13-01-09, 03:39 PM
Dizzyblonde gets the prize for the best answer so far.
awww *kicks floor shyly* thankyou:p
I've just been out on my first run of the year, not been out since way before xmas. I was deeply chilled out ...in more ways than one...lol
It was bloody freezing on the ends of my fingers, I rode for 20 miles or so with my thumb gripping the bars and the resrt of my fingers wiggling around in the air to get the feeling back!! Loads of diesel and greasy blobs all over the place and over the tops was pretty frosty in places, but i felt very relaxed in deed, but I know the black SV gives me a hell of a lot of confidence........all i have been saying to myself is weeeeeeeeee:smt040
On occasions I get the heebeegeebees on tight turns, unknown corners....and anyone that doesn't at some time or another is talking complete cobblers.
I only get that when I'm not concentrating properly, and balls up a corner. I wouldn't call it heebeegeebees though, with me, it's more "this is going to be expensive" and plan what to do with the bike, then lots of profanities.
Yup, I'm still guilty of making a c*ck up of it though.
The more you push the more likely you are to c*ck it up. 10 fold in the wet/cold.
You ain't gonna earn any browny points for bravery, unless your on a race track, which you aren't. Best be safe than sorry and take it easy in this weather imo, just try and loosen up as people have said. Are you really that fussed that your holding cars up in this weather?, they'd be more peed off if you were to bin it and the plod had to shut the road.
Having been in exactly the same situation very recently, all I can say is try to relax and not tense up.
Slow is Smooth
Smooth is Fast
:-D
They'd be more peed off if you were to bin it and the plod had to shut the road.
I was just about to say that :)
Alpinestarhero
13-01-09, 03:57 PM
I found that miles in the rain made me relax more. Just keep everything smooth, dont be afraid to use the front brake but be progressive you know? And if it helps, hang off a bit. Theres a section on my commute that is very shiny when wet, and as I accelerate away and lean over to the left, I hang off like a loon. I use this tactic when exiting roundabouts when coing onto motorway slip-roads....I'm pretty sure it saved myself from a nasty accident a while back when the rear spun up. Hanging off (if dont right) means you arn't holding the bars too tight, so if the bike slides then it sorts itself out, rather than you holding it back. Hanging off dosnt mean you are going fast, it just means your moving your weight about in order to maximise grip
I found that miles in the rain made me relax more. Just keep everything smooth, dont be afraid to use the front brake but be progressive you know? And if it helps, hang off a bit. Theres a section on my commute that is very shiny when wet, and as I accelerate away and lean over to the left, I hang off like a loon. I use this tactic when exiting roundabouts when coing onto motorway slip-roads....I'm pretty sure it saved myself from a nasty accident a while back when the rear spun up. Hanging off (if dont right) means you arn't holding the bars too tight, so if the bike slides then it sorts itself out, rather than you holding it back. Hanging off dosnt mean you are going fast, it just means your moving your weight about in order to maximise grip
+1 for leaning off more if it looks very slippery. Major confidence booster (for me anyway).
I hang off the bike more in the wet also, keeps the bike more upright so less chance of it slip out from under you
Hey, I've been riding for a number of years now, wet or dry and must say that mood comes into play as well. Sometimes everything sort of gels out and you're king of the road, the next day you stink and hold everybody up. Taking more stops to a destination does it for me (when I'm touring, 'cause locally nowhere's that far). I'm saying this because the first couple of miles are always the hardest, the longer you go the more you relax (the thing to expire to, as the wisest here already mentioned). Oh and don't look immediately in front of you but look as far as you can, it's a mind thing, if it's looking further away you feel slower so relax more.
dizzyblonde
13-01-09, 04:26 PM
Slow is Smooth
Smooth is Fast
:-D
isn't just the truth. Theres so many times I've been out on a ride with whoever, and off they go all guns blazing...I wave and go see ya. Then they are sat there at a lights and i just coast up and get in front of them. Not just with mates but other road users, white van man today rushing off ahead and at every turn I just coasted up behind him, and I never changed my speed, he did ... a lot
There's so many times I've been out on a ride with whoever, and off they go all guns blazing...I wave and go see ya. Then they are sat there at a lights and i just coast up and get in front of them.
Such a good observation. Quite true this especially from Sunday riders.
So I go out in the rain today just to try and get a confidence booster.
Went to pull away from a junction, (minor road onto major road) which is a bit of a hillstart dont give it enough powere, realise I have missed my gap in the traffic so yank on the brakes, then it all goes terribly wrong and I am on the floor. :(
Luckily I wasn't really moving and managed to "lower" the bike to the floor gently rather than acatually drop it and the only damage is a slight scuff to the mirror.
Still, done my confidence the world of good!!! :rolleyes:
plowsie
13-01-09, 04:38 PM
get some Avon Storms :D
Dillusional :smt040
Only joking, I just can't ride with my Storms.
I hang off the bike more in the wet also, keeps the bike more upright so less chance of it slip out from under you
what exactly do you mean by hang off the bike?
dizzyblonde
13-01-09, 04:45 PM
Dillusional :smt040
.
:smt019
do you have any? should have :-)
I only have em cause they don;t have Azaros anymore.....boy oh boy do they stick to a wet road like a fly to fly paper:cheers:
timwilky
13-01-09, 04:45 PM
corning in the rain is so simple, get in the car and drive round.
I have not ridden my bike for near on 3 months now. It is sat in the garage. I do not do rain, ice, snow. Dislike fog etc. fair weather biker I be, and proud of it.
yorkie_chris
13-01-09, 04:45 PM
Lean your body into a corner so the bike is more upright
plowsie
13-01-09, 04:48 PM
:smt019
do you have any? should have :-)
I only have em cause they don;t have Azaros anymore.....boy oh boy do they stick to a wet road like a fly to fly paper:cheers:
I do and wasn't as keen as i was on Pilot sports and Conti Road Attacks.
Slide your ar5e off the seat a little in the direction of the bend your taking and move your body over in that direction as well. makes the combined weight of the rider and the bike shift over in the direction of travel thus helping you round the corner but without having to lean the bike over as far as you would if you were sat on it normally.
edit; in responce to arcdef's question
dizzyblonde
13-01-09, 04:50 PM
Such a good observation. Quite true this especially from Sunday riders.
Its true, and its not cause they are waiting there for me either. :p
They just go and do that cartwheel show off riding style, overtaking everything in sight and doing some dodgy looking manouvres, and i don't. I may over take a little when I want, and when safe, but half the time i just catch them up and think, ''what on earth was the point in all that?''
I don't feel the need to show off. I can;t understand all this knee down nonsense either, but then I'm a girl and ride like one too....apparently;-)
corning in the rain is so simple, get in the car and drive round.
I have not ridden my bike for near on 3 months now. It is sat in the garage. I do not do rain, ice, snow. Dislike fog etc. fair weather biker I be, and proud of it.
So you did, what, 5 miles last year? :p
captainsmelly
13-01-09, 05:03 PM
So I go out in the rain today just to try and get a confidence booster.
Went to pull away from a junction, (minor road onto major road) which is a bit of a hillstart dont give it enough powere, realise I have missed my gap in the traffic so yank on the brakes, then it all goes terribly wrong and I am on the floor. :(
Luckily I wasn't really moving and managed to "lower" the bike to the floor gently rather than acatually drop it and the only damage is a slight scuff to the mirror.
Still, done my confidence the world of good!!! :rolleyes:
Whoops!
MattCollins
13-01-09, 05:57 PM
Hey Dizzy, don't go knocking the ladies with "I'm just a girl routine". I think women have a better instinct for self preservation - ie are much less likely to do something stupid. You'll still be riding when some of the "lads" are a long forgotten smudge on the road.
Speaking of overtaking in the wet. Road trains (3 trailers) in the Top End are nearly impossible to get around when it is raining. They pick up every drop of water and hurl it into the air. The consolation is a nice dry road and 65mph is not so bad.
I had a near miss a couple of years ago. A truck coming towards me was throwing up the usual wall of water. As I was passing the truck, I spotted the lights of another truck on my side that was just starting an attempt to overtake. I fairly yanked it off the road to avoid being a smudge on the front of a Volvo. He copped a bollocking over the UHF for sticking his nose out in that $hit without at least getting a go, no go from the guy in front of him... Just one of those little demonstrations that hazards can come from both directions.
Cheers
dizzyblonde
13-01-09, 06:26 PM
Hey Dizzy, don't go knocking the ladies with "I'm just a girl routine". I think women have a better instinct for self preservation - ie are much less likely to do something stupid. You'll still be riding when some of the "lads" are a long forgotten smudge on the road.
Well I always say, that I'm a mum first, a biker second. I've been riding for five years now. I love long haul riding as it really pushes my stamina. But if I don't want to go anywhere i just don't go, if my minds not up to it, then its not worth it. It is my only mode of transport so I have to be on form. If I feel crappy And i'm out with folk, I'll tell them, no point putting them at risk as well.
The only thing I have kicked myself is when I was ill in September and my mind was in a whole different place. I came off down my street, and it was all my fault as well as a little wet on road. Its the only time I've come off in five years, Its taken me a while to get over that, but i'm back to the same old wy again.
And yes, things in other directions, I made a couple of folks poop their pants in Scotland with a dodgy uphill overtake with a caravan last year. As I decided to commit to overtaking ( higher geared bike a bit slower on the uptake, on the gear change) the van it decided to quicken up slightly, so it left me less room to get in for the car coming hurtling down the road with its lights blaring, it did give me a bit of a brown trouser moment, but I don;t usually get caught out overtaking, its rare, as I only usually do it when theres nowt there, or is safe.
I don't feel the need to show off. I can't understand all this knee down nonsense either, but then I'm a girl and ride like one too... apparently;-)
Hey if girls ride more sensibly than power to you.
I ride like a girl most of the time but every once in a while I'm the spitfire pilot hunting down the next Meschersmit 109 ...erm car/bike up front vvrrrrrooooommmmm! :D
Alpinestarhero
14-01-09, 11:42 AM
what exactly do you mean by hang off the bike?
You see how colin edwards rides? how he hangs off in the corners?
just like that.
Don't have to poke your knee out, but the body weight shift helps
dizzyblonde
14-01-09, 01:40 PM
Hey if girls ride more sensibly than power to you.
I ride like a girl most of the time but every once in a while I'm the spitfire pilot hunting down the next Meschersmit 109 ...erm car/bike up front vvrrrrrooooommmmm! :D
well just cause i'm sensible slow mo lou don't mean in my head i think I'm flying 'airwolf' when I'm flying past 'the baddies' ;)
well just cause i'm sensible slow mo lou don't mean in my head i think I'm flying 'airwolf' when I'm flying past 'the baddies' ;)
Hehe! we're more of the same then! Look out...at two o'clock...
yorkie_chris
14-01-09, 01:55 PM
Come on warmer weather. Can't wait to be able to ride at pace again and not worry about grip everywhere rather than sight lines.
Come on warmer weather. Can't wait to be able to ride at pace again and not worry about grip everywhere rather than sight lines.
+1
that and the fact that when you get dozy bints pulling out right in front of you like I had this morning:mad: will mean emergency braking manuvours will be a lot easier.
MattCollins
14-01-09, 04:42 PM
<gloats> Managed to find the time for a quick squirt (200km loop) through the Adelaide Hills today... No rain, no ice, temp in the 30's, beautiful day... probably a bit warm for you lot, but I am a cold blooded critter who sets the AC at 32... Real knee dragger country if that is your thing on smooth, twisty and well know riders roads - careful, insurers know them too. Got passed by a couple of alphabet soup 1000's (or something - didn't get a good look, they were too fast) like I was standing still, but hey I was having too much fun without the adrenalin.
You lot can have your $hitty weather.:p:p
DanAbnormal
14-01-09, 05:45 PM
Ride to your own limits and comfort zone mate, there is no hard and fast rule in situation x, lean x amount. I am not very confident in the wet either, better to be safe and upright than cocky and sliding along on my balls!
Not really sure how my balls come into but, meh!
<gloats> Managed to find the time for a quick squirt (200km loop) through the Adelaide Hills today... No rain, no ice, temp in the 30's, beautiful day... probably a bit warm for you lot, but I am a cold blooded critter who sets the AC at 32... Real knee dragger country if that is your thing on smooth, twisty and well know riders roads - careful, insurers know them too. Got passed by a couple of alphabet soup 1000's (or something - didn't get a good look, they were too fast) like I was standing still, but hey I was having too much fun without the adrenalin.
You lot can have your $hitty weather.:p:p
Burn him.
:batman:
yorkie_chris
14-01-09, 06:40 PM
Ban him, then burn him!
jimmy-james
14-01-09, 08:48 PM
Wet weather makes you appreciate the good dry days at least. I'm so bad in the wet/cold i'm not bothering anymore as i cant seem to relax and its not fun.
<gloats> Managed to find the time for a quick squirt (200km loop) through the Adelaide Hills today... No rain, no ice, temp in the 30's, beautiful day... probably a bit warm for you lot, but I am a cold blooded critter who sets the AC at 32... Real knee dragger country if that is your thing on smooth, twisty and well know riders roads - careful, insurers know them too. Got passed by a couple of alphabet soup 1000's (or something - didn't get a good look, they were too fast) like I was standing still, but hey I was having too much fun without the adrenalin.
You lot can have your $hitty weather.:p:p
Must be real dry up there, even here in Malta it's wet and miserable so for once I share your grief guys ...and yeah lets ban him :)
vardypeeps
15-01-09, 01:25 PM
Don't do it. Just stay upright and save the leaning for dry roads
MattCollins
15-01-09, 03:21 PM
Must be real dry up there, even here in Malta it's wet and miserable so for once I share your grief guys ...and yeah lets ban him :)
South Australia is usually considered "down there". :) It is the middle of summer. At home it has been raining almost everyday for the past 4 weeks with temperatures still in the 30's. The only all weather road to the east coast within 1000 miles disappeared into a hole (~5km of it) a few weeks ago making it a huge detour to go anywhere by road.
chakraist
15-01-09, 04:53 PM
I've loosened up having come back home where I know all the roads and the corners, had the back sliding a few times on corner exit and just ignored it, it's great fun!
madness
21-01-09, 05:33 PM
Being a novice biker at this time of year is sh*te!!
Took my bike for an MOT today and only rode about 4 miles in total. The roads were so slippery, I was really nervous. I'm know that if I was in the car I would have driven much quicker.
Roll on summer!!
Being a novice biker at this time of year is sh*te!!
Took my bike for an MOT today and only rode about 4 miles in total. The roads were so slippery, I was really nervous. I'm know that if I was in the car I would have driven much quicker.
Roll on summer!!
Comparing a bike to a car in terms of cornering ability and security in poor conditions isn't useful. If you drive something half-quick it will take you some time to become quicker on an SV than you are in that in the dry, never mind in poor conditions!
In the cold and wet it simply isn't worth trying that hard on a bike. When it looks slippery I leave a much larger margin for safety on the bike than I do in the car.
MattCollins
22-01-09, 05:40 PM
Limits of adhesion are similarly reduced for a car, but most drivers are too stupid to realise that. The only real difference is that the consequences for a bike are more serious...
ThEGr33k
22-01-09, 05:46 PM
Probably said before (not read all the thread lots of it) My opinion:
Dont push it in the wet and the Cold, especially this time of the year. Even in the dry this time of year! Its mental how easy the tyre's can just let go. I got my bike wheel spinning coming out of a slight turn at 30mph in 3rd which was interesting but not a good idea.
So basically ride like a pansy imo and dont worry about cars too much.
In the summer though when there is less carp on the road (salt and grease and ice and general ming) then the wet shouldnt be much of an issue. just watch for Diesel.
Take care and dont bother pushing it. ;)
gettin2dizzy
22-01-09, 05:57 PM
Agree with that gr33k. I took my bike out for a drive on Christmas day (the only time I've been on a bike since September :( ) and it was spinning the rear whilst accelerating in 4th ... on a motorway!
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