I'm lame at cornering in the wet

Originally Posted by schofs

OK - in the dry I love cornering - quite happy that the bike will stick to the road as it should.

In the wet however, I'm just not confident enough,

You and probably around 70% of the biking community.

Dizzyblonde gets the prize for the best answer so far. I'd like to add to the chill out and relax part. I believe that it was said but not in as many words... Stay loose, release the death grip on the bars and guide the bike. It'll look after itself fairly well and do what you tell it, but the death grip might tell it to lay down and slide down the road.

Tyre pressures where mentioned earlier on. I typically run tyre pressures at or near maximum except when it gets really wet when I will run minimum tyre pressures. <- Too long riding DS bikes on and off road. FWIW, A DS or SM can be quite a lot of fun (read confidence inspiring) in lousy conditions if a second bike can be justified.

Cheers

[Stu]

Originally Posted by BigApe

You and probably around 70% of the biking community.

Who are these elusive 30% you talk of ?

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by MattCo

Dizzyblonde gets the prize for the best answer so far.

awww *kicks floor shyly* thankyou
I've just been out on my first run of the year, not been out since way before xmas. I was deeply chilled out ...in more ways than one...lol
It was bloody freezing on the ends of my fingers, I rode for 20 miles or so with my thumb gripping the bars and the resrt of my fingers wiggling around in the air to get the feeling back!! Loads of diesel and greasy blobs all over the place and over the tops was pretty frosty in places, but i felt very relaxed in deed, but I know the black SV gives me a hell of a lot of confidence........all i have been saying to myself is weeeeeeeeee

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

On occasions I get the heebeegeebees on tight turns, unknown corners....and anyone that doesn't at some time or another is talking complete cobblers.

I only get that when I'm not concentrating properly, and balls up a corner. I wouldn't call it heebeegeebees though, with me, it's more "this is going to be expensive" and plan what to do with the bike, then lots of profanities.

Yup, I'm still guilty of making a c*ck up of it though.

The more you push the more likely you are to c*ck it up. 10 fold in the wet/cold.

[rowdy]

You ain't gonna earn any browny points for bravery, unless your on a race track, which you aren't. Best be safe than sorry and take it easy in this weather imo, just try and loosen up as people have said. Are you really that fussed that your holding cars up in this weather?, they'd be more peed off if you were to bin it and the plod had to shut the road.

Having been in exactly the same situation very recently, all I can say is try to relax and not tense up.

Slow is Smooth
Smooth is Fast

Originally Posted by rowdy

They'd be more peed off if you were to bin it and the plod had to shut the road.

I was just about to say that

I found that miles in the rain made me relax more. Just keep everything smooth, dont be afraid to use the front brake but be progressive you know? And if it helps, hang off a bit. Theres a section on my commute that is very shiny when wet, and as I accelerate away and lean over to the left, I hang off like a loon. I use this tactic when exiting roundabouts when coing onto motorway slip-roads....I'm pretty sure it saved myself from a nasty accident a while back when the rear spun up. Hanging off (if dont right) means you arn't holding the bars too tight, so if the bike slides then it sorts itself out, rather than you holding it back. Hanging off dosnt mean you are going fast, it just means your moving your weight about in order to maximise grip

Originally Posted by alpinestarhero

I found that miles in the rain made me relax more. Just keep everything smooth, dont be afraid to use the front brake but be progressive you know? And if it helps, hang off a bit. Theres a section on my commute that is very shiny when wet, and as I accelerate away and lean over to the left, I hang off like a loon. I use this tactic when exiting roundabouts when coing onto motorway slip-roads....I'm pretty sure it saved myself from a nasty accident a while back when the rear spun up. Hanging off (if dont right) means you arn't holding the bars too tight, so if the bike slides then it sorts itself out, rather than you holding it back. Hanging off dosnt mean you are going fast, it just means your moving your weight about in order to maximise grip

+1 for leaning off more if it looks very slippery. Major confidence booster (for me anyway).