Cornering technique

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Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

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?

This a good thread, my problem is I tend to be too slow heading into corners so my entry speed is way too slow, when I should be going a lot faster.

This is something I need to work on when it gets warmer, any suggestions on how to improve my entry speed and hold through the corners?

If my back end went, I would roll the throttle off let settle and apply power again.

[fizzwheel]

The other thing I found useful was everynow and again some of the bike magazine have articles that cover how to corner better etc etc. They are usually well thought out and well explained ( well better than my gibberings anyway ) I learnt alot of tips just by reading those.

I think I can speak for us all and say that thats what your reaction should be.

When it actually happened to me, however, the reaction was more "whats going on - oh poo" *closes throttle* *tyre grips* low speed highside (about 10mph), break gear lever, call AA, complain like buggery when hand defrosts and you realise you've hurt that too.

My insurer really loved me the next day, but they did pitch for it at the end of the year to their credit.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by bluethunder

any suggestions on how to improve my entry speed and hold through the corners?

Yeah dont brake so hard before turning in I used to that alot when i first started riding and also when I changed from the SV to the GSXR as the GSXR brakess are much better.

Its just learning to read the road, practice, experience and confidence. My advice would be to ride a section of twistys you know well and each time you ride it just brake a little bit later or dont use so much brake power, keep repeating it over a few runs and you'll find your confidence will improve. Do it on a warm summer day with heat in your tyres, slippy winter roads are'nt really the best way to learn this stuff.

Also learn to read the road better, look at the white lines, the hedgerow, telegraph poles etc as you approach a corner it'll give you an idea of how sharp the corner is and then you can use that to judge how much to brake.

Again just take it steady and dont try and make radically changes in big steps, a little at a time is best IMHO.

Again don't take what I post as gospel I'm not a riding god. Just try some of it for yourself and then you'll find out what does and doesnt work for you as everybody learns / thinks / rides in a different way.

Ed you need to come back over and spend a couple of days riding with me on your fave...the Ronda Road. We'd soon have you in shape.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

You need to go into / round a bend on a neutral or slightly accelerating throttle (you know this I'm sure) before opening her up as the bend opens.

Cornering on a neutral throttle is probably the most unstable way to go round a corner. A neutral throttle allows the bike to move around on it's chasis.

Negative or positive throttle is the way into and out of corners.

One thing I found a few weeks back was to grip more with my knees (on the tank) than grip the handlebars with my hands so much...this seemd to quicken up the steering and make everything alot smoother. Takes a while to do it intuitivly though, i can only do it on corners i know at the moment

Matt

Ed, just get on more rideouts with some faster riders and watch the lines and braking etc. Have a word with the odd one to ride behind you and provide constructive crticism. And listen.


.....failing the above, just get out on the bike more and your confidence and speed will come. Find a set of twisties that you can ride and ride again and practice. DO NOT OVER RIDE THE BIKE too much beyond your comfort zone, pushing the envolope is one thing, falling off is another.

In the dry I generally hang off like a gibbon, in the wet I am upright and cautious. Maybe over cautious. I would say road riding you probably don't want to be commiting yourself 100% anyway (says dangerous dan!) as it helps to leave margin for error and unexpected happenings. Do one of those rider improvement days, I've heard they are awesome for learning fast cornering.

Sorry not muhc help.