My god i'm useless at..

[steveo]

Going round roundabouts or slow corners.

Been riding for about a month now and i haven't had a great deal of time to practice with my normal ride being from clapham to the city. The question is this, at what speed do you stop turning the bike as you would a pedal bike and just lean. As I was coming round the elephant and castle this morning i glanced at the speedo and it was showing about 20mph. At this speed i felt like i was turning the bike rather than leaning it, is this right or should i be leaning it over?

[Itching 2 go]

to be honest you need to stop looking at the speedo and start feeling the bike. there is no rule to say turn the handle bar this much at this speed just do what feels right. if you are feeling like you are gonna fall over because of your lean angle likly hood is your going to slow so either speed up or pick the bike up a little. if you think you are running wide then use a bit of counter steer to drop the bike in further which will tighten your line or slow down a bit.

The best advice i can actually give you is take a ride in the country. take a couple of hours to ride some twisty quiet roads and you will become more in tune with the bike. you will take a while b4 it becomes second nature and after 5 yrs i am still pitching the bike in too low for my speed occasionally but you learn how to deal with it and it will not be a problem just take your time and dont expect to learn how to ride fast and safe in a week. it takes months to become competant and years to become fast + smooth whilst remaining safe. take your time

[zx6man]

I reckon at that speed you are on the limit of turning as opposed to countersteering. Suppose it depends on the situation you are in also. It will come more naturally with more practice.

[Itching 2 go]

I reckon at that speed you are on the limit of turning as opposed to countersteering. Suppose it depends on the situation you are in also. It will come more naturally with more practice. not to mention it depends on the corner. hairpin or long sweeper

[steveo]

ok, cheers for the advice guys and practice i will. Intend to book myself onto one of those advanced courses in the spring sometime as well as coming on a few rideouts to see what others are doing. Incidentally i only had a quick look at the speedo this morning so i could write this post! :lol:

[Itching 2 go]

dude i wasnt avin a pop just makin a suggestion.

[steveo]

Yeah i know that, just mentioned it in case you thought every corner i went round my eyes were fixated on the speedo instead of the road which would cause a few, er, issues! :lol: :lol:

Cheers for the tips, appreciated. :thumbsup:

[Itching 2 go]

no problem dude, it looks like there are quite a few newb's joining the forum, i feel a ride out happening with some more experianced riders and newbs, lol should be fun

[Roo]

Steveo,

I passed in March this year so I only have a little more experience than you, suggest you do not try and take the roundabouts at the Elephant took quickly as plod will be watching (if that is your route!?). I went on a Bike Safe day run by the Met and I learnt a huge amount in a day. They run them from Hayes near Bromley or from the Ace Cafe on the N Circ so you neither are too far. I will do another in Spring (the Ace this time). It only costs about £20 so really good value too. Cant remember the link but look it up on Google.

[ArtyLady]

As has been mentioned a few times before on the forum - you could always join your local IAM motorcyle group - costs in the region of £30 for the year to join and you go out with observers who train you up (at your own pace) to advanced test level.

Its the only thing that kept me riding - I think I would have given up a long while before now if I hadnt joined. My riding has improved so much that I thoroughly enjoy it now whereas before I used to s***t meself every roundabout, turning, bend etc :roll: :lol:

hoping to take advanced test next spring - Ive only been riding 2 years btw. :D

[Stig]

Yeah i know that, just mentioned it in case you thought every corner i went round my eyes were fixated on the speedo instead of the road which would cause a few, er, issues! :lol: :lol:

Cheers for the tips, appreciated. :thumbsup:

I can vouch for that. A long time ago I used to own a CBR 6, I went round this particular corner "hundreds of times". I knew if was a very fast corner but never actually knew how fast I was going round it. One time I decided to look down and check the speedo "just to see", it read 90, by the time I looked up it was to late to turn, I crashed. :oops: :oops: I survived with minor bruisng and cuts, the bike however didn't fair so well :( :( :( :(

[Wiltshire7]

I can vouch for that. A long time ago I used to own a CBR 6, I went round this particular corner "hundreds of times". I knew if was a very fast corner but never actually knew how fast I was going round it. One time I decided to look down and check the speedo "just to see", it read 90, by the time I looked up it was to late to turn, I crashed. I survived with minor bruisng and cuts, the bike however didn't fair so well

thats quite a tragic story! might be a bit late, but sorry to hear of that mate! lol

[Jabba]

I can vouch for that. A long time ago I used to own a CBR 6, I went round this particular corner "hundreds of times". I knew if was a very fast corner but never actually knew how fast I was going round it. One time I decided to look down and check the speedo "just to see", it read 90, by the time I looked up it was to late to turn, I crashed. I survived with minor bruisng and cuts, the bike however didn't fair so well

thats quite a tragic story! might be a bit late, but sorry to hear of that mate! lol

Aye - the classic "look where you're going, don't go where you're looking" moment. And trashing a lovely Honda, too :cry: Never mind - at least it wasn't a Hornet :lol:

[Stig]

I can vouch for that. A long time ago I used to own a CBR 6, I went round this particular corner "hundreds of times". I knew if was a very fast corner but never actually knew how fast I was going round it. One time I decided to look down and check the speedo "just to see", it read 90, by the time I looked up it was to late to turn, I crashed. I survived with minor bruisng and cuts, the bike however didn't fair so well

thats quite a tragic story! might be a bit late, but sorry to hear of that mate! lol

Aye - the classic "look where you're going, don't go where you're looking" moment. And trashing a lovely Honda, too :cry: Never mind - at least it wasn't a Hornet :lol:

Hell no..........
























..........I wouldn't be seen dead on a Hairnet :wink: :D :D :D :D

[Warren]

i am very interested at taking the iam route of things.

yeah - what id like, it a performance comp thingy so i can have a look after the bends how fast i was going

[Jabba]

..........I wouldn't be seen dead on on one of those magnificent, good-looking, superbly powerful, fine handling yet totally reliable Hornets :wink: :D :D :D :D

:D

[kjames]

i have the same problem with a roundabout near my home in uxbridge.. all the others i've come across i seem to 'lean' around if that makes sense, yet this one i seem very upright and seem to be steering round.

is one of those with quite a steep camber, so if your going straight over you go over the camber drop down and then come back over the other side.

i have to go over this roundabout every day, so if anyone wants to accept a £5 bet that i drop my bike here :)

k

[Jelster]

i have the same problem with a roundabout near my home in uxbridge.. all the others i've come across i seem to 'lean' around if that makes sense, yet this one i seem very upright and seem to be steering round.

is one of those with quite a steep camber, so if your going straight over you go over the camber drop down and then come back over the other side.

i have to go over this roundabout every day, so if anyone wants to accept a £5 bet that i drop my bike here :)

k

You must be close to me, which roundabout you talking about (not the one by the Crooked Billet (A412) by any chance ?)

Drop me a PM and I'll be more than happy to meet up and show yu how to fall off, I'm good on roundabouts me.... (NOT)......


Seriously, if you want to meet for an hour or two, drop me a PM, I'm only in West Drayton...

.

[kjames]

jelster
i'd love to meet up, but it'll have to wait until i've passed my full test. I couldn't embarass you by turning up for a ride out on my scooter :shock:
it would be like going drinking with your little brother following behind.

the roundabout i'm talking about is the one at the top of the high street near the KFC and the council offices.

i live just down off cowley rd, so not far apart at all. so you can show me how to fall off spring \ summer when i get my BIG bike

karl

[Shooter]

a little tip - it may help and is worth you trying.

Keep your eyes (chin) up - look ahead and through the corner. (Trust the bike to negotiate the road)

When I got back on a bike ( about 15,000kms and a year ago) I was a bit wobbly through roundabouts and corners when travelling a bit slowish. Found I was looking down at the road just in front of the wheel. Sorted now and it becomes a good skill for developing smooth cornering when you crank it up a bit.

Practise a bit in a parking lot through the cones,

[aej]

lovely Honda

Now there's a non sequitur for this forum.

[Kate]

lovely Honda

Now there's a non sequitur for this forum.
Nowt wrong with Honda, well, I can only speak for the 4 wheeled variety.

[Itching 2 go]

lovely Honda

Now there's a non sequitur for this forum.
Nowt wrong with Honda, well, I can only speak for the 4 wheeled variety.would you be a hairdresser by anychance?