Re: Cornering technique
 

In which case I wouldn't spend money on a training course.......at this stage at least.

I go into a corner the same as Luckypants described. A friend from the IAM suggested that first start going into corners with lower speeds but keep the throttle steady and with practice higher speeds will come

Re: Cornering technique
 

One of the best peices of advice I have heard to date on a biking forum....:thumbsup:

Re: Cornering technique
 

The only thing that hasn't been said is to corner on a positive throttle. Lots of slow cornering riders brake into a corner and accelerate out as you would do in a car. EDIT: yes it has, I missed luckypants post

This creates fork dive under braking into the corner with all the weight over the front. Then the weight transfers to the back mid corner as the rear squats under the acceleration. Completely upsets the bike.

Do all your braking in advance of the corner, then open your throttle again and set you corner speed before tipping in. Drive through the bend on a positive throttle (ie: bike just pulling) and accelerate away harder as the bend starts to open up. This keeps the load off the front forks and balances weight distribution between front and back wheels. 'Cos the bike feels happier, you feel happier and corner quicker.

Then find an empty industrial estate or business park with roundabouts on a dry Sunday morning and practice your lean. Circle continuously opening your throttle a tiny bit more every second or third revolution, and lean a bit further, thus increasing you speed. It's amazing how far you can lean.

I wouldn't worry too much about shifting weight and leaning off and stuff until you've got the confidence to crank the bike over and wear off your chicken strips, this thread seems to have gone that way. You can learn this later. Try not to counter lean though (lean the opposite way to the corner), sitting still and leaning the same angle as the bike is perfectly acceptable whilst still building your confidence. You have to walk before you can run.

Re: Cornering technique
 

Ed - I did a couple of days with a RoSPA instructor for exactly the same reason (im not fast now mind, but im better than I was!).

He took me to some out of the way twisties, made me do a run of it and back to the carpark at the other end. Gave me some tips, vanishing points, etc. Made me do it again, noticed the improvements. Back to the carpark, then told me about pushing pegs, another run up and down, etc. We did this for about an hour just to work out the techniques and by the end of it I was going more than fast enough :mrgreen:.

After that we went for a ride to put everything into practice properly. It was in my opinion worth the investment every bit as much as, a lid, gloves, race can etc. Just think of it as an shiny bit :)

One more note on the subject A little throttle as soon as you lean the bike over (not much, just enough to be positive and unload the front) into the corner is good, but don't open it too much otherwise your be in the Tony Elias camp going sideways.

Once you do that you can progressively add more to get out of the corner, etc. Im sure your build up slowly but in case other people are reading, DO THIS SLOWLY AND PROGRESSIVELY, otherwise you will also be sideways.

Dan

Re: Cornering technique
 

Now for something completely different (well not really..)


Giving throttle out of a corner, if the back starts to slip, what should your reaction be?

Re: Cornering technique
 

Ride home and change your trousers? :D

Re: Cornering technique
 

Steer into the skid...




... or is that with my MG? ;)

Re: Cornering technique
 

I might be from Halifax, but I'm not Mr Smudge :p

Re: Cornering technique
 

I think most reactions are the same. Sharp increase in heart rate, roll off throttle. Outcomes maybe different but generally 3 expected categories I would think:

- bike grips and you carry on
- bike grips and you highside
- bike doesnt grip and you end up sitting on the road thinking sh*t what happened there.

Personally I have never experienced it on a road bike - dirt bikes it is a lot of fun and a great way to play with your balance and grip in these situations.

Re: Cornering technique
 

That middle one is the one to avoid really innit, tends to be expensive :p