Does faster cornering come with experience?

[svrob]

As a new rider I still feel that I slow down too much for bends and corners but only after I've come out the other side of them do I think I could have gone round them considerably quicker! So my question is, does this just get better with confidence which is gained from more riding or is it a skill that I can learn? If other riders have experienced similar feelings, how long did it take or what did you do to improve your cornering?

Thanks

[Steve H]

Nah, just go out and buy the latest Supersports bike and you will be transformed into Valentino Rossi.
Well that seems to be what a lot of people think will happen! ;)

[Baph]

My personal view on this... don't change your riding style at all!

It's sooooooOOOOoooo much safer to go slow into a corner, then speed up, than it is to do things the other way around!!

When you KNOW the corner, then you can work on your line a little more, maximise vision around the corner by sitting wide, and get on the power sooner, cranking the bike over more.

In like a pussy cat, out like a tiger... get it right, and you'll be running just as fast as the more experienced folks in a matter of minutes, ask Alpinestarhero ;)

[the_lone_wolf]

yes, is the short answer

i'm still green with bikes but my cornering has improved massively since i took a couple of simple steps:

1. adjust your suspension to suit your weight, there are a number of sites with guides and it really makes the bike feel planted, for me on a K6 SVS i left the rear preload alone and dropped the front forks one softer, i weigh 11st and the roads are pretty bumpy around here

2. grip with your knees, relax your arms, bend your elbows, if you lean do it slightly forwards and into the bend, look where you want to go and try to do the whole corner with the throttle open, if you let it close the suspension geometry changes and upsets the balance of the bike

that's about the extent of my experience on the subject, but the more you practice the more natural it becomes. the worst thing i was doing was gripping the bars tightly, if you hit a bump mid corner the bike has to turn the bars a little to compensate, if you grip them loosely, just enough to hold the throttle open, the bike will steer itself and feel much better

edit: agree with baph, tis better to go in too slow than too fast, but my advice was based on cornering speeds where little old ladies were catching me up mid corner:grin:

[weazelz]

in a word, yes

take it slow to start with, concentrate on being smooth & the speed will come naturally (with time)

slow is smooth & smooth is fast :-)

[MiniMatt]

Experience of the corner in question or experience in general? Overal, experience in general will improve your corner speed, but in particular, experience of any given corner will improve speed on that corner.

Experience in general teaches you things like:
Counter steering - the biggy (imho)
Getting clues about where the road is going (following the arc of streetlights, hedgerows etc)
Learning to use the vanishing point (is this corner tightening or opening?)

I tend to ride pretty slow into corners I don't know, yep it feels a bit "darn it, could have done that quicker" but I guess it allows you more reaction room for the unexpected pheasant/man hole cover on the racing line and the like.

If you want to get technical then the the Keith Code "Twist of the Wrist" books are very good on cornering, I'm fairly sure these books have formed the basis for a lot of advanced training.

[Tomcat]

as Baph says, but I will just add. IF you do go into the corner too quick, you could end up tarmac decoration, but before you panic, try not to front brake, and just bank the bitch over ..... she can take it, and hopefully this will give you a chance to get round. Then, DON'T DO IT AGAIN!!!!

[the_lone_wolf]

+1, but I will just add. IF you do go into the corner too quick, you could end up tarmac decoration, but before you panic, try not to front brake, and just bank the bitch over ..... she can take it, and hopefully this will give you a chance to get round. Then, DON'T DO IT AGAIN!!!!
ah yes, the famous buttock clench cornering technique...

only done it once or twice, can't recommend it, the urge to brake is massive and it requires a lot of willpower not to do so:smt103

[Baph]

as Baph says, but I will just add. IF you do go into the corner too quick, you could end up tarmac decoration, but before you panic, try not to front brake, and just bank the bitch over ..... she can take it, and hopefully this will give you a chance to get round. Then, DON'T DO IT AGAIN!!!!
Get this, I was talking to a BMW rider just before the MIGTs rideout who said he goes touring on his beemer. Fair enough. He was supprised that I live in North Wales & have a small plate & a loud can (I think I mentionned him on the MIGTs ride).

It was when he advised using the front brake mid bend "because it'll dig in, that's what the tyre is there for" that I walked away laughing at him. Front brake mid bend will do one of two things:
1) Stand the bike up. You'd better be on a VERY wide road, or a race track with plenty of run off for this to happen.
2) Lowside the bike.

If you NEED to scrub speed mid bend, LIGHTLY use the rear, as that encourages the bike to turn in more. Too much though & the back end will step out.

[MiniMatt]

It was when he advised using the front brake mid bend "because it'll dig in, that's what the tyre is there for" that I walked away laughing at him.

Good god :( The trouble is he probably spouts that **** gravy at everyone he meets, and unfortunately some poor sods probably take it on board. Depending on how long he's been doing it, he's probably directly accountable for the deaths of several. People die because of tossers like that :(

[fizzwheel]

In short yes it does.

4 things to concentrate on

1. Your speed should be correct for the corner and you should be in the right gear to drive the bike out of the corner on the throttle before you get into the corner as well.

2. Turn your head and look through the corner to the exit of the corner.

3. Dont go through the corner with the throttle shut or the clutch in.

4. Think about your road position, chose a position that gives you the best view through the corner.

Basically you want to get your road position, corner speed and gear correct before you start to turn, you want the suspension of the bike working to help you turn and soak up the bumps rather than loading it up with big handfuls of brake and or throttle.

That old adage slow in fast out is what you want to be working towards. Remember relax, take your time, and work on those lines and your technique, and one day you'll be as quick as Amarko5

[Dave The Rave]

I second Bath's points. Generally you will get faster with more miles behind your belt. No substitute for that (IMHO). Don't forget what may seem slow/quick to you may seems too quick/too slow to others.

I personally do not break in the corner. it's asking for troubles. Front break (as Bath said) will either make you go wide or lowside the bike (non of those is something you want to do on the roads with traffic!). Back well ... I think that the risk of highside is to big for me to take but it can sure work for others. Try to have a slightly possitive throttle all the way through the corner.

I tend to go faster around corners I know, as I would immagine most people do anyway. But not always. I love the roads around Buxton but I tend to go slower into blind bends even so I know them quite well. There are so many sheep on the roads there and I had some nasty "brown trousers, underwear and seat moments before).

[Baph]

Bath? You been using the spell checker?? :lol:

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Front brake mid bend will do one of two things:
1) Stand the bike up. You'd better be on a VERY wide road, or a race track with plenty of run off for this to happen.
2) Lowside the bike.

Certainly that's the likely result of a novice on an SV, and I'd agree that it's wise to warn them as such as you say.

But it's not always the case though.

[Mogs]

4. Think about your road position, chose a position that gives you the best view through the corner.

All very true Fizz, but for a left hander this position is over to the right, but this puts you directly in the line of the oncomming corner cutter, you need not only to be able to see round the bend, but you must give yourself time to react to what you see.

[Dave The Rave]

Bath? You been using the spell checker?? :lol:

Sorry mate. Just too busy multitasking and I am real sh1te at it!

[stuartyboy]

1. adjust your suspension to suit your weight,

Leave your suspension well alone!!!! Your suspension will settle by doing what Fizzwheel is saying.

Get confident with the bike first and get plenty of miles under your belt before even thinking about touching it. Unless you know what to expect with sussy adjustment it's just something to confuse you. Chances are you'll never notice the difference.

Fizzwheel, baph etc are all right. Slow in fast out.

Here's an extra tip for you. Once you've set your speed and riding thru - mentally say "relax, relax, relax"

EDIT: Tip - use the limit point and make sure you can stop in the distance you can see.

All very true Fizz, but for a left hander this position is over to the right, but this puts you directly in the line of the oncomming corner cutter, you need not only to be able to see round the bend, but you must give yourself time to react to what you see.

Bang on. Be prepared to give up position for cars cutting the corner.

[fizzwheel]

EDIT: Tip - use the limit point and make sure you can stop in the distance you can see.

First thing I had drummed into me by my dad when I started driving and then I had it drummed into me again when I started riding.

Bang on. Be prepared to give up position for cars cutting the corner.

Agreed, also watch for other bikers doing the same thing. Especially on popular "bike" roads.

[stuartyboy]

If you NEED to scrub speed mid bend, LIGHTLY use the rear, as that encourages the bike to turn in more. Too much though & the back end will step out.
Advanced stuff Baph for someone with limited miles. Banking more (countersteering) does the same thing. The circumf of the tyre is decreased and slows you down and turns the bike quicker.

[21QUEST]

Certainly that's the likely result of a novice on an SV, and I'd agree that it's wise to warn them as such as you say.

But it's not always the case though.

+1


Ben

[svrob]

Good advice, please keep it coming.

I sometimes think I should be looking to lean the bike more but I feel comfortable as I am and it may make me nervous/jumpy to take it further. Don't get me wrong I'm not slowing to pushbike speeds or anything like that:o .


I'm used to driving performance cars so try never to brake in the corner having been used to gettinfg ti set before the corner and power thru.

What is counter steering, tried to read up on it but I still don't think I've got it?

Do track days help or should they be left until you've honed your road skills?

Thanks

[the_lone_wolf]

Leave your suspension well alone!!!! Your suspension will settle by doing what Fizzwheel is saying.

you want the suspension of the bike working to help you turn and soak up the bumps rather than loading it up with big handfuls of brake and or throttle.

having altered my own suspension to suit me i can say that if you're suspension is set up incorrectly it can't absorb the bumps in the road surface properly, the bike will feel wrong, skittish or wallowy, all sapping confidence and taking concentration away from actually navigating the turn in the first place

perhaps i should have added a caveat of "if you are aware it will change the handling" - although it's blindingly obvious that to drastically change your suspension and then go into corners in full attack mode before finding out whether the settings affect the handling the wrong way is a stupid thing to do - provided you don't act like a total moron you'll never lose control simply because you made minor adjustments

clearly suspension tweaks can't cure poor technique, but why you would try to improve your technique on a bike that isn't happy in the corners in the first place is beyond me:confused:

[Baph]

What is counter steering, tried to read up on it but I still don't think I've got it?

On a bike, you counter steer naturally at anything above 20mph. This is passive though, and people (me included) like active countersteering.

This is basically that if you push the left bar forwards, the wheel will turn to the right, and the bike will fall to the left naturally. Some people pull on the bars, some push, personally, I push.

[fizzwheel]

but why you would try to improve your technique on a bike that isn't happy in the corners in the first place is beyond me:confused:

To make the most of what you've got. To ride it better.

IMHO yes springs and oil do make a difference but I'm not convinced that its a big a difference as sometimes its made out to be. I think alot of the perceived difference is because you've put new oil into an old bike that kid of thing. Also it can also be in the riders head, rather than the bike being radically better to ride.

I've ridden standard and re-sprung SV's and to be honest I can't hardly tell the difference, yes there is a difference but you dont feel it till your pushing the bike hard into corners. I never really began to feel that I was pushing the bike hard to its limit and maybe beyond mine till I'd clocked up nearly 20K's worth of milleage on my SV.

As a novice rider you might not feel the difference. I'm still of the opinion that when you start riding, learning the correct technique for cornering and braking, is going to reap bigger rewards than throwing money at your bike upgrading x, y, z is.


IMHO

[stuartyboy]

having altered my own suspension to suit me i can say that if you're suspension is set up incorrectly it can't absorb the bumps in the road surface properly, the bike will feel wrong, skittish or wallowy, all sapping confidence and taking concentration away from actually navigating the turn in the first place


I notice you said earlier that you made the front preload 1 ring softer and the bike is now planted. So your bike is basically stock?

You're 11 stone so there's no way a 1 ring front preload adjustment would transform an SV like you are saying above. Your SV will still bounce like it always has because there are no damping circuits on your bike.That's a placebo effect you're experiencing.

Damping slows or increases - pointy SVs don't have rebound or compression so you can't dial this out.

What Fizzwheel is saying about the suspension is "settling" it for the corner.

If you go into a corner, brake, shut off the throttle then start your turn then your front end has all the weight making the rear lighter. If you give a bit of throttle (1-2 mm is all it takes) just before your turn then you squat the rear and take the weight off the front. This balances your suspension for the bend and is more stable through the corner.

IMO if you have limited miles and you are fannying around with suspension (even on an SV) then you're wasting your time. Learn about the way the bike dives under braking and squats under acceleration. Once you have this sussed then start to adjust your suspension to fine tune your cornering.

[sinbad]

I was just like you, and I still am to an extent. I don't think being overcautious is anything to be ashamed of. Just pick the where and the when to try going faster very carefully. Never attack a new (to you) road at your own limit, and be very very careful around blind corners.
Once you've had time on the bike it will feel much more under your control, so don't hurry it.

[Baph]

Damping slows or increases the spring rate - SVs don't have preload or compression so you can't dial this out.

Wrong. SV's (pointy's specifically) only have preload. Other than that, carry on.

[stuartyboy]

Wrong. SV's (pointy's specifically) only have preload. Other than that, carry on.

You got in too quick there Baph. Noticed my typo and was about to edit! lol

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Damping slows or increases the spring rate - SVs don't have preload or compression so you can't dial this out...

...IMO if you have limited miles and you are fannying around with suspension (even on an SV) then you're wasting your time. Learn about the way the bike dives under braking and squats under acceleration. Once you have this sussed then start to adjust your suspension to fine tune your cornering.

Absolute rubbish.

Not only do you not have any clue what terms you're using actually mean, to say that adjusting suspension for novies is a waste of time is complete and utter ********, even on the SV.

[stuartyboy]

Absolute rubbish.

Not only do you not have any clue what terms you're using actually mean, to say that adjusting suspension for novies is a waste of time is complete and utter ********, even on the SV.

Oh really?

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Really. Damping has nothing to do with spring rate, nor does preload.

As for suspension, try unwinding the rear preload and trying taking a pillion.

[stuartyboy]

Really. Damping has nothing to do with spring rate, nor does preload.

As for suspension, try unwinding the rear preload and trying taking a pillion.

If you looked up you'll notice I noticed I made a ****in typo and went back to correct it as soon as I realised.:smt098

[the_lone_wolf]

To make the most of what you've got. To ride it better.

IMHO yes springs and oil do make a difference but I'm not convinced that its a big a difference as sometimes its made out to be. I think alot of the perceived difference is because you've put new oil into an old bike that kid of thing. Also it can also be in the riders head, rather than the bike being radically better to ride.

I've ridden standard and re-sprung SV's and to be honest I can't hardly tell the difference, yes there is a difference but you dont feel it till your pushing the bike hard into corners. I never really began to feel that I was pushing the bike hard to its limit and maybe beyond mine till I'd clocked up nearly 20K's worth of milleage on my SV.

As a novice rider you might not feel the difference. I'm still of the opinion that when you start riding, learning the correct technique for cornering and braking, is going to reap bigger rewards than throwing money at your bike upgrading x, y, z is.


IMHO
fizz, i was only suggesting that people play with the settings they've got on the stock bike, a full fork upgrade is overkill like you say but surely using the little bit of adjustment suzuki give the SV is better than nothing? i agree that you'll not get better by upgrading your bike, or buying a "better" one, but if it's free then take advantage... you'd adjust the seat and mirrors when you get in a new car so why not set up your bike to suit your weight?

stuart, seeing as we're unlikely to change one another's opinions, there's little point in me engaging with you, your opinion is your own, feel free to have it, but i don't think you're right saying adjusting your suspension is a waste of time, even for novice riders...

i sussed how the bike dives and squats within a few days of picking up the SV, i know exactly what fizzwheel is saying about settling the bike before cornering, and that wasn't what i was reffering to in my previous posts. Even if your bike is level and smooth if you hit a bump mid-corner having just the preload misadjusted will make the bike feel wrong, simple as, if adjusting your suspension was pointless no manufacturer would be adding weight and expense by putting it on their bikes

anyways, no doubt you'll have a lot more to say:smt062

[fizzwheel]

Even if your bike is level and smooth if you hit a bump mid-corner having just the preload misadjusted will make the bike feel wrong

Umh... OK I see what you're saying and I agree with you, but ( theres always one isnt there )

Even on the GSXR with all kinds of adjustment and much better front all over all, If I hit a bump mid corner its still going to unsettle the bike and frequently it does. I think my bike to me feels pretty well setup I've certainly got not complaints, it feels planted and gives good feedback, but a bump is a bump and it still gets upset from time to time.

What I mean is that if you learn to corner better, faster, smoother you'll have a lot more in reserve in order to get you out of those kind of situation, rather than perhaps relying on the bike to get you out of it. Suspension setup IMHO is always compromised to some degree, you're never going to get a bike with a "perfect setup" its not achievable.

Settling the bike with the throttle and driving through the corner is what I always try to achieve. I'm relying on me to set the bike up for the corner rather than relying on the bike getting me round or trusting that the suspension is perfect, if you get what I mean.

[Steve H]

If you looked up you'll notice I noticed I made a ****in typo and went back to correct it as soon as I realised.:smt098

Stuartyboy, Hey, Don't take it personally. You will find that Flamin Squirrel is one
of the ,shall we say, more opinionated members of the Forum. I have had a few 'run ins' with him and its best to leave it at someones own opinion, and move on. :smt056
After all, its only a Forum.

[Mogs]

SVRob

You can't go far wrong by joining the IAM

http://www.iam.org.uk/eshop/membershipshop/sfl.htm

They aren't the slipper and pipe brigade that many believe, you'll get v. good advice. Now's the time to do it before you pick up bad habits.

[stuartyboy]

stuart, seeing as we're unlikely to change one another's opinions, there's little point in me engaging with you, your opinion is your own, feel free to have it, but i don't think you're right saying adjusting your suspension is a waste of time, even for novice riders...

Can you tell us where the benefits are then?

They don't let you adjust the suspension when you're learning after all.

Not all novices are the same so throwing suspension settings into the mix before they've had a chance to get to know the bike is a waste of time "in my opinion".

For example - what if the novice set his front preload wrongly and it bottomed out going into a bend at too fast a speed?

Fizzwheel has said it already. Stick with what you have and get to know it first.

[Tomcat]

Experience is the key to faster cornering. Surely the standard set up on a bike, is the standard because it is standard for the standard rider, as a novice, then standard is good! So why start changing it until you become non-standard!!


Well it amused me, and made perfect sense :D

[Baph]

They don't let you adjust the suspension when you're learning after all.

The training school that did my DAS must be pretty damned unique then!! :lol:

But then, I had the same bike for about a week (either 4 or 5 days) and no-one was using that bike whilst I wasn't on it. So first day was setting the bike up for my weight etc.

EDIT: Tomcat, I wouldn't say the standard setup is for a standard rider, I'd say it's for the average japanese rider (short ar*es).

[stuartyboy]

The training school that did my DAS must be pretty damned unique then!! :lol:

I stand corrected:rolleyes: They didn't at mine.

Feckit - I'm away out for a ride!

You lot can chat amongst yourselves

[kwak zzr]

talking to a friend of mine today who has a tl1000s he says adjusting the suspension settings on my sv will make a world of difference, personally i never touch the spring settings basically because i dont know what i'm doing.
id say cornering speed does come from 80-90% experience but i can be tweaked alittle by suspension adjustments. i now plan to go on a stretch of favorite road armed with a screw driver and plenty of spare time.

[the_lone_wolf]

Umh... OK I see what you're saying and I agree with you, but ( theres always one isnt there )

oh there's always one, i agree with everything your post said, i always try and drive through corners, takes some time after driving a car for years and being able to brake deep into the corner to maintain your momentum. a bump will always affect the bike to some degree, but if the bike is suited to the riders weight and style it'll affect the bike and rider less than one without


why would they let you tailor a learner bike to one person's weight? the GS500 felt like it'd been round the block a few times and would get ridden by several people in one day, so what would be the point... if you were on your own bike i'm sure any decent school would let you adjust your bike so long as they knew that you knew what you were doing. regardless, you'd never approach the speeds in the corners while you were learning where you would start to feel if the suspension was set up correctly...

with a novice setting their preload well off and then caning it into a corner causing them to crash, that's Darwinian theory at work, as i said before only a total moron would do something like that and they would be equally as likely to wipe themselves out with a mis-timed overtaking manoeuvre.

as for the benefits, when you've done it you know what they are;)

ding ding, round three:smt062

[oldjack]

To answer your original question : in my case yes, I've been commuting on the same roads for nearly 4 years and there's one corner which I used to take at 40 thinking "I'm sure I could do that faster", now I do it at 55 without batting an eye, nothing has changed but experience.

Oh, I do it on an SV now, I forgot!

[The Doctor]

Nah, just go out and buy the latest Supersports bike and you will be transformed into Valentino Rossi.
Well that seems to be what a lot of people think will happen! ;)

Please a no!!!! No you all a buya supersports a bike. I be outta da job for a sure!

[seedy100]

without a doubt, in my case, the anwser is - yes.

For example;
There is a scary corner that nearly had me off several times during my first weeks on the bike.
or
There is a fantastic corner that i look forward to reaching with a clear road i front of me.

The only difference is the two years of experiance between these two thoughts about the same corner. (and about 30 mph)

[Ed]

Few points:

1. Braking while banked over will almost certainly result in a lowside. Me, badly broken pelvis, Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, June 7 - June 11 2004. Bloody painful it was, DO NOT DO IT.
2. Everyone should follow Peter Henry or Luckypants on a twisty road. Peter and Mike put me to shame. I wish you could all see them. You'd all learn a lot.

[Baph]

Few points:

1. Braking while banked over will almost certainly result in a lowside. Me, badly broken pelvis, Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, June 7 - June 11 2004. Bloody painful it was, DO NOT DO IT.
2. Everyone should follow Peter Henry or Luckypants on a twisty road. Peter and Mike put me to shame. I wish you could all see them. You'd all learn a lot.

Point 1. I hit the front brake coming round a roundabout this morning. I was doing about 40mph when I pulled the brake. I only used it LIGHTLY though to stand the bike up. Experience. I wouldn't recommend someone that's just passed DAS do this!

Point 2. I'll throw Petevtwin650 into that as well. I've seen Luckypants & Pete ride, but not PH. Or did you mean Pete & not PH??

[the_lone_wolf]

braking in corners is something i still can't get my head around, on my cbt the "head" instructor towed the line that using the front brake in any sort of corner would instantly cause the earth to implode, killing all the kittens, but i've been riding push bikes for years and have always used plenty of front brake deep into corners and have never come off because of it. what is it about a motorcycle that makes it so much more likely to go wrong?

btw before i get set upon i don't think we should all be flying into corners on the front brake, i'm just curious as to how and why it's such an issue with motorcycles specifically...

[Steve H]

Please a no!!!! No you all a buya supersports a bike. I be outta da job for a sure!

True. I understand that Casey Stoner rode bikes about as well as me until he
had a go on a Fireblade. ;) ;)

[Flamin_Squirrel]

braking in corners is something i still can't get my head around, on my cbt the "head" instructor towed the line that using the front brake in any sort of corner would instantly cause the earth to implode, killing all the kittens, but i've been riding push bikes for years and have always used plenty of front brake deep into corners and have never come off because of it. what is it about a motorcycle that makes it so much more likely to go wrong?

btw before i get set upon i don't think we should all be flying into corners on the front brake, i'm just curious as to how and why it's such an issue with motorcycles specifically...

I guess on push bikes you're not stopping as quick and not as heavy, so alot less force on the front tyre? Not really sure.

There are good reasons for telling novices to avoid the brakes in the corner which have already been touched apon - if you're not sure what you're doing, you may well crash.

[Baph]

As F_S pretty much...

On a push bike, the bike is lighter, you're (generally) travelling slower, and braking less than you would be on a motorbike.

THe motorbike being heavier, faster, and harder on the brakes (better brakes for a start!!) has more forces through the front wheel. Doesn't necessarily mean that the earth will implode, but you're at higher risk of an off.

[the_lone_wolf]

Doesn't necessarily mean that the earth will implode, but you're at higher risk of an off.
sounds like the very reasonable advice the instructor i actually went out riding with gave me. i would have thought a heavier bike, more force would have given an appropriate response from the tyre by giving more grip:confused:

edit: it would be interesting to see comparatively how quickly a sportsbike and an ATB with proper disk brakes would stop from 30mph, i don't know who i'd put my money on but i have a suspicion...

[21QUEST]

I.........

IMO if you have limited miles and you are fannying around with suspension (even on an SV) then you're wasting your time. Learn about the way the bike dives under braking and squats under acceleration. Once you have this sussed then start to adjust your suspension to fine tune your cornering.

I agree with Stuartyboy .

Anyone here aver rode bikes like CG, GS500, scooters etc. How do you set those up then?
Especially in the early stages of riding life, the problem(more often than not) is the pilot and not the equipment.

Regards braking in a corner, braking in a corner will NOT necessarily make you crash BUT It is advanced technique.

Road surface, camber, angle of lean, bike characteristics(more so suspension)etc all has to be taken into consideration in other to be able to apply this advance technique correctly.

I am slow but either by design or necessity, a few advanced techniques have been added to my armoury which can be ussed in a multitude of situations. They are applied as when necessary. The more options you have, the greater your chances of making good a potentially bad situation

I tend not to give out riding advice as it's easy for people to misunderstand or even for one come across as sounding like a "riding god".

As someone already mentioned, best thing is to seek some training from IAM etc. Other than that just stay slow for the moment and build up. It will come and there is always somene else faster than another.



Ben

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Anyone here aver rode bikes like CG, GS500, scooters etc. How do you set those up then?
Especially in the early stages of riding life, the problem(more often than not) is the pilot and not the equipment.

Well for a start they are less powerful and slower than the likes of the SV.

But while I'd agree getting more experience rather than better equipment, especially to start with, that doesn't mean to say that better equipment won't be noticed by a someone with limited experience, or help inspire confidence. Therefore, I can't agree with the comment that it's a waste of time for a novice to set the bike up to make it as easy to ride as they can.

[Tomcat]

Well for a start they are less powerful and slower than the likes of the SV.

But while I'd agree getting more experience rather than better equipment, especially to start with, that doesn't mean to say that better equipment won't be noticed by a someone with limited experience, or help inspire confidence. Therefore, I can't agree with the comment that it's a waste of time for a novice to set the bike up to make it as easy to ride as they can.

believe me the guy on his ninja didnt think that our old gs500 (2 up!) was slow ..... its in the riding! The sparks coming off the centre stand said it all!!

We had a ball showing him its about the rider (s) not the bike! That said, a well balanced/maintained bike is essential. But for a novice to start 'tweaking' would be risky business tho IMHO

[Flamin_Squirrel]

.... its in the riding!

Never said otherwise. Whats the point in handicapping yourself though?

[Tomcat]

Never said otherwise. Whats the point in handicapping yourself though?

agreed, so long as you know what your doing ;)

[K]

I think the answer here is "Get a FireBlade" as it does every things so well it's a great teacher. ;)

Kinda kidding there by the way.

But only kinda - having confidence in your bike lends itself to confidence in yourself.
Some (like myself) have the mindset that the bike is way better than my abilities so I have supreme confidence in it - I just need to learn what it has to teach. I've never altered anything 'structural' about any bike I've owned/ridden - it's been a moot point.

But, for some they need to be inspired to have confidence in their bike - so having someone else (who knows what they are doing) look at 'structural' changes like the suspension, can help to achieve this.
Yeah, it may have a real effect - or it may be so minimal it's only a placebo effect...

... but if the end result is that the rider gains confidence in their machine, and therefore gains more confidence in thier riding, furthering their abilities, then it's all to the good.

Prior to the North/South run I had a few nerves about riding in the wet at pace simply because I'd never taken the bike out in the rain with my new tyres. As soon as it chucked down I had the little mantra going of "Mr Metzeler knows better than you" and promptly was prooved correct. The tyres were fine and I hardly slowed.
Other's may need to have read pages of technical specs and testimonials before having full confidence in a similar situation. It's horses for courses really.


What all the above geriatric rambling kinda of means is: Yes, faster cornering will come with experience - but also with confidence.
You must first examine the type of person you are, and how you best learn, before deciding on a course of action that will best gain you confidence.

Time in the saddle on your own.
Time in the saddle with others whose opinions you can respect.
Technical tweaking.
Structured instruction - be it trackdays or on the road with IAM.

All are tools at your disposal, use as you feel best. You'll get there in the end, and as long as you do it to your own comfort then all's good.
Enjoyment's why we ride after all, isn't it?

[lukemillar]

Do you have to go fast to enjoy yourself?? Surely the purpose of riding a motorcycle (beyond as a means of transport) is for fun! At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you are scrapping knees or have 3 inch chicken strips - enjoying yourself is what counts. Providing you are riding safely of course :wink: