Learning to corner.

[Dave20046]

I've noticed a few threads recently on people getting pegs down and getting knee down, which yeah I think it's cool and I'd like to be able to do it but I think more importantly I want to learnt the limits of my bike and be able to corner faster (and safer) than most. I have the 33bhp restrictors in and I've promised myself that I'm not taking them out until I can throw around my bike faster than most people on a full power bike.
So have any of you got any tips? I'd be quite interested to hear from the more expert among the .org too.
I know a trackday would help no end and I'd be tempted when I have the money but is it worth it on a restricted bike?
I had a brand new tyre on yesterday (my first day on the sv) I'll upload a picture of my chicken line for you all to see in a bit ...

Originally Posted by Dave20046

.
I know a trackday would help no end and I'd be tempted when I have the money but is it worth it on a restricted bike?
...

you cant do a track day on a 33bhp licence.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by neio79

you cant do a track day on a 33bhp licence.

I know I just mean is it worth it?
Another problem is I only have one mate who rides and he's way too busy to go out (think I've only ever gone out a couple of times since I've known him) but it was some of the best corners I've everdone as when you see someone else do it you know it's possible.

[fizzwheel]

First off. I'm an average rider. There are peeps faster than me, there are peeps slower than me. I've never done a track day I'd like to though.

I dont necessarily think doing a trackday is necessary in order to learn to corner. Although it does help to do it in a controller environment, i.e. no cars, everybody going the same way, lots of run off area.

Theres some basics that if you practice will allow you to explore the potential of your SV.

The most important is to look where you want the bike to go. Dont look at that 1ft or 2ft of tarmac in front of your front wheel, look down the road and look where you want the bike to go. Dont target fixate or look at one fixed point, you'll go straight to it.

Turn your head, your head weighs alot, if you turn / move your head you'll then naturally turn your shoulders to. Weight helps the bike turn.

Brake in a straight line, set your speed before you enter the corner, dont brake halfway round it. If you do have to brake, use the back brake, using the front will see the bike sit up and you'll run straight on.

Forward planning and observation, look at the road ahead, where does it go, look for hedge rows, telegraph poles the white line, all these things can help you read the road ahead, if you can plan ahead. That way you can react to things before you get to them and use those indicators to see if the corner tightens or opens out.

Once you have the bike turned keep the throttle constant, it helps balance the bike on the suspension, which means the tyres can do there job and grip.

Read the vanishing point. If the vanishing point is coming towards you. I.e. you cant see much of the corner, its tightening up. If you can see your view expanding away to the horizon its opening out. Once you hit the apex or middle of the corner and the vanishing point moves away from you, then you can gently and progressively wind the throttle on and drive the bike forward. If you have got your entry speed and gear right on the SV 5000rpm is a good point to drive the bike forward from, but also you have engine braking at this point so you can use that the fine tune your approach speed to.

Be smooth with the throttle no big movements, just small corrections all the time. Big inputs to the controls unsettle the bike on the suspension which means it cant do its job as well.

Try and stay relaxed on the bike, grip with your knees and try and keep your arms loose so you can flap your elbows about.

Its just practice, pick one thing and practice it till you do it all the time and then move onto the next. Biggest improvements I found came from. Turning my head and looking where I wanted to go and learning to read the road properly so I could plan ahead and react to things well in advance rather than constantly trying to work out what on earth was going on as I came across them at the last minute.

I'm not an instructor so dont take what I've written as gospel. IAM, Bikesafe or more training is the way to go if you're not sure. But what I've written helped me loads.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by neio79

you cant do a track day on a 33bhp licence.

More research needed there fella. It's one trackday firm who don't allow 33brake, another one does. Can't remember which does and doesn't though!

Also I'd say observation is more important than knowing absolute limits, it is fair to say though with any half decent tyre you can lean it untill things scrape without any problem. I'd say read motorcycle roadcraft then get out and ride.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

More research needed there fella. It's one trackday firm who don't allow 33brake, another one does. Can't remember which does and doesn't though!

.

As far as i have seen no track or company allows 33. My local track is not part of a large track day company but still wont allow 33hp. Be good if you can fine the one that does for all the restricted people on here.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by neio79

you cant do a track day on a 33bhp licence.

oops I read that as can

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

More research needed there fella. It's one trackday firm who don't allow 33brake, another one does. Can't remember which does and doesn't though!

Also I'd say observation is more important than knowing absolute limits, it is fair to say though with any half decent tyre you can lean it untill things scrape without any problem. I'd say read motorcycle roadcraft then get out and ride.

Motorcycle wuh? Is that like the bible of riding? *scuttles off to find motorcycle roadcraft*

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

First off. I'm an average rider. There are peeps faster than me, there are peeps slower than me. I've never done a track day I'd like to though.

I dont necessarily think doing a trackday is necessary in order to learn to corner. Although it does help to do it in a controller environment, i.e. no cars, everybody going the same way, lots of run off area.

Theres some basics that if you practice will allow you to explore the potential of your SV.

The most important is to look where you want the bike to go. Dont look at that 1ft or 2ft of tarmac in front of your front wheel, look down the road and look where you want the bike to go. Dont target fixate or look at one fixed point, you'll go straight to it.

Turn your head, your head weighs alot, if you turn / move your head you'll then naturally turn your shoulders to. Weight helps the bike turn.

Brake in a straight line, set your speed before you enter the corner, dont brake halfway round it. If you do have to brake, use the back brake, using the front will see the bike sit up and you'll run straight on.

Forward planning and observation, look at the road ahead, where does it go, look for hedge rows, telegraph poles the white line, all these things can help you read the road ahead, if you can plan ahead. That way you can react to things before you get to them and use those indicators to see if the corner tightens or opens out.

Once you have the bike turned keep the throttle constant, it helps balance the bike on the suspension, which means the tyres can do there job and grip.

Read the vanishing point. If the vanishing point is coming towards you. I.e. you cant see much of the corner, its tightening up. If you can see your view expanding away to the horizon its opening out. Once you hit the apex or middle of the corner and the vanishing point moves away from you, then you can gently and progressively wind the throttle on and drive the bike forward. If you have got your entry speed and gear right on the SV 5000rpm is a good point to drive the bike forward from, but also you have engine braking at this point so you can use that the fine tune your approach speed to.

Be smooth with the throttle no big movements, just small corrections all the time. Big inputs to the controls unsettle the bike on the suspension which means it cant do its job as well.

Try and stay relaxed on the bike, grip with your knees and try and keep your arms loose so you can flap your elbows about.

Its just practice, pick one thing and practice it till you do it all the time and then move onto the next. Biggest improvements I found came from. Turning my head and looking where I wanted to go and learning to read the road properly so I could plan ahead and react to things well in advance rather than constantly trying to work out what on earth was going on as I came across them at the last minute.

I'm not an instructor so dont take what I've written as gospel. IAM, Bikesafe or more training is the way to go if you're not sure. But what I've written helped me loads.

Cheers fizz another quality post.
Good info, there some I already knew which is know reinforced into my skull and a lot more I've took on board. Time to practise! Thanks


Oh and I had wondered about what's a decent rev range to be in a corner at thanks for that

Originally Posted by Dave20046

Motorcycle wuh? Is that like the bible of riding? *scuttles off to find motorcycle roadcraft*

Police riders handbook - available from all bad bookstores. All about the obs and forward planning.