Cornering Confidence

[mattSV]

Tim

The best two things that I have ever done to give me cornering confidence have been:-

1) Change the OE tyres - I always felt that the stock tyres felt as if the front was going to wash out - I have Metz Z6s on my SV1000 now and they are a superb combination of grip and wear

2) Do a Bikesafe day - I did one with Hants Police 3 years ago, and will probably do a refresh this year. I spent a day riding with a copper - I was on my 650, he was on a CBR600. We rode the A32, 272, 31 and all the good roads inbetween! I learnt a hell of a lot about position, speed, gears, accelerating/braking, reading the road etc. The emphasis was about how to get the most of your bike on the road, whilst reducing the risk of causing any damage to yourself or others. Cost for this year is £65 and well worth it IMHO - see here for more info:-

http://www.bikesafe.co.uk/Bikesafe/B...hampshire.html

HTH

Matt

Originally Posted by Sudoxe

How true, i've been passed by everything going, from 50cc scotters to a Goldwing* . Ride within the limits you are happy with and push them slowly.

*In different situations, scooters in traffic, im sure they must be shouting banzi!

Dan

I wouldn't feel bad about the Goldwing, I have passed lots of bikes on mine.

Echo all the above. I would add just one thing - do lots and lots and lots of miles. Don't worry about speed, especially in the winter; just let constant road time give you confidence so when the good weather comes you'll be ready to push yourself a little further. don't worry about the bike, it'll take everything you can throw at it, and more.

Originally Posted by Patch

What will you feel when the tyres have passed their limit of traction? Tarmac and it bloody hurts.

Take it steady, it is cold, the roads are cold and the tyres are not yet going to be working efficiently.

Above all never compare yourself with other bikes when riding, you need to ride within yourself, don't worry with experience of your new bike you'll explore more of its potential. Never underestimate the fact that too many bikers are killed on bikes the bought "just a few weeks ago". It takes time to get to know a new bike don't rush it

Good advice, and it would be both prudent and sensible to remember it .

I nearly killed myself within two weeks of getting my SV, it's so easy to get carried away and out of your depth. It's surprising how long it takes to really become a proficient and capable rider, so simply take it easy and learn a lit little bit at a time.


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Originally Posted by Gidders

Echo all the above. I would add just one thing - do lots and lots and lots of miles. Don't worry about speed, especially in the winter; just let constant road time give you confidence so when the good weather comes you'll be ready to push yourself a little further. don't worry about the bike, it'll take everything you can throw at it, and more.

Totally agree with this, it also helped me to go out with some and follow there lines through corners, as long as they go and a resonable speed for you not have to worry about what your doin. Even now i follow fizz most of the time and use his lines as a guide. Plus i know that if he has got round a certain corner at a certain speed i should be able to do it as well. Just make sure you follow some one you completely trust and is aware of your relative lack of experience and the fact you are still learning.

Hi All

Thanks for all your comments. I will be taking it easy and letting my confidence grow. For those interested I have added my location to my profile, which is Waterlooville. I work in the North Porstmouth area not to far from Cosham, hence the M275 at lunchtime.

The Poole run sounds interesting. I will have to stick with the stock tyres for now. The previous owner did 5500 miles on the bike and they are hardly worn!

I haven't ridden it today and I'm getting withdrawl symptoms.

kind regards
Tim

I'm fortunate enough to have a bike instructor who is a mate and we go for rides quite often. He has a Blackbird and I thought I would never be ale to keep up but it's all about mind over matter. If you are scared then you will tense up, look at the road surface and fixate on something in front of the bike. If you look deep into the corner as far as you can see (where you want to go) then you will find you can corner much quicker/safer. Also it halps to select the correct gear for the corner, this takes a little experience but it will soon come. Get all your braking done before you lean and then accelerate through the bend. It will all come with more road time but maybe a few advanced lessons is a good way to go if you want to get your skills up quicker.

Dan

[mattSV]

sv_dan wrote

and then accelerate through the bend

assuming that the vanishing point is extending

[timwilky]

Tim

From a fellow Tim, My first posts on this forum were a plea for help with my cornering as I had not ridden for 22 years and need help.

What I subsequently learnt was

Look through the bend, avoid target fixation or you end up in what you are looking at.

Countersteering is a difficult methodology to describe, but it does get you through the bends cleaner. I will leave it to someone more gifted in the science to explain.

Other than that plan your route through a bend. The SV can help as it is so forgiving of poor gear selection. Reduce speed in and accelerate out. Know your position and hitting the accelerator on the apex can catapault you out making the who thing look effortless.

It will come with time and road miles. So enjoy getting them and ride safe. don't feel compelled to exceed your abilities. ride with some experienced riders but avoid the balls out variety as their ego evetually puts them into the hedge

I am intrigued about your comment that the stock tyres have done 5000 miles and hardly worn. Most tyres are end of life by then, so I guess thay have been replaced with stock. Bikes that have clocked up motorway miles tend to suffer from a squaring of the profile which can make cornering "interesting"

Just picking up on Timwilky's comment about the tyres.

I'm_a_newbie - Although the tyres may appear to have plenty of tread on them the chances are the tyre will have lost its profile and squared off. (Although At 5500 I would expect them to be pretty bald anyway)

Are you sure that they are the factory fit tyres and that the previous owner hasn't just replaced them with the same. ?