Roundabouts and corners

[Geodude]

Just wanted a bit of advice as i havent been riding that long and feel that my riding skills on roundabouts and corners are not that good and i tend to be a bit slow. I have been told that its because i ride very upright and dont lean enough. Is this a case of the more you do it the better you get?

[Red Herring]

Yes.

I know that's not very helpful is it....

Just take it easy and it will soon all come together.

[Red Herring]

ps, I forgot to say, you might need a bigger bike!

[Spiderman]

pmsl, re bigger bike.

Yeh it will come with time mate. There is a section of fast dual carriageway on my commute. Its a 50 and when i first got the bike i was just about able to do the nice sweeping right hander bit of it as 40, now i giggle when i routinely do it at 70 when the road is clear.

A trackday is also a good way to learn your lean angles mate. Go in a novice group, follow someone who corners well and just tip in when they do and you'll be surprised how easy and "natural" it feels as opposed to the "effort" you feel you currently make in corners.

All good things come to those who wait...and practice.

We've all been through this when we started biking. As everybody says, it's about experience. Get plenty of miles under your belt and you will improve. Try to stay relaxed and make sure your eyes are looking where you want to go and not at the kerb. Don't worry about being slow through the bends and don't be pressured into riding them faster than you're comfortable with. As Spiderman said, some track based riding is helpful.

[BanannaMan]

Originally Posted by madness

We've all been through this when we started biking. As everybody says, it's about experience. Get plenty of miles under your belt and you will improve. Try to stay relaxed and make sure your eyes are looking where you want to go and not at the kerb. Don't worry about being slow through the bends and don't be pressured into riding them faster than you're comfortable with. As Spiderman said, some track based riding is helpful.

+1
True words of wisdom.

Riding with others on the street can educational as well once you are a bit more comfortable on the bike..
Watch how other riders lean and the lines they take through the bends.
Just keep in mind what madness said about not being pressured into riding any faster than you are comfortable with.
Tis' always better to let the others go than to crash.
They'll be waiting for you at the next stop.

[keith_d]

I'm a relative newbie (passed in Feb) so I'm still not leaning as much as the 'fast' riders. But, it definitely gets easier with practice.

As other posters suggested, concentrate on looking through the bend and take it easy until you can see you have a clear exit.

If you want the bike to lean a little further, apply a little pressure to the handlebar on the inside of the bend (countersteering). This moves the wheels out from underneath you so you lean over further and needs to be balanced by a spot more throttle so you don't just fall on your ar$e.

HTH,

Keith.

[dizzyblonde]

I'm crap at roundabouts.....usually when I'm loaded up to the eyeballs on the back. I know a certain person on here that could go round and round the roundabout 6 times waiting for me to go round once!

Ok exaggeration, but you get the jist....the more you go round them the easier it gets. Simplez

[Geodude]

Cheers to you all for the advice again, practice and more practice it is for me then.

Remember the key rule, where your eyes are, the bike will take you