Cornering Confidence

Originally Posted by tricky

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

Nope, they are the original tyres never changed them. I was quite surprised how well they have lasted too.

OK, then, here's my poor attempt at explaining how to counter steer (rather than what it is). Copied from another thread.

When leaning into a corner shift your upper body slightly towards the inside handle bar - the transferrance of weight will automatically make you countersteer slightly.

It can help to actually drop your outside shoulder slightly too. This is probably a really bad description - but if taking a left-hander = keep your head upright, pull you right shoulder down towards your left hip slightly whilst shifting your left shoulder towards the inside of the corner.
Don't worry about conciously applying pressure on either of the bars - let your weight do it for you.

It's kind of a movement!

Once that feels more natural then you can actually think about applying pressure onto the inside bar - then pushing down on the inside peg too.

What is it - basically it's actively steering in opposition to the way you want to go! Yeah - go figure.

Originally Posted by Mutley

Nope, they are the original tyres never changed them. I was quite surprised how well they have lasted too.

I've done over 8K and am still on the original tyres.

B:B:.....You failed to take in to account the affects of inflation since your threpenny bit was in circulation mate! Nothing at all to do with my own personal wealth! :P :P :P

[Biker Biggles]

Inflation?Pah!
That's what happens to my ego when I graduate from the thruppenny bit to turning on a sixpence.

You should take a look at 'Twist of the Wrist' by Keith Code or something similar. It is a really good read and explains so much about riding that can be applied to both the track and the road. He talks about what makes the bike happy through corners and what doesn't. It doesn't matter how fast you are going the principles are the same.

Hi,
don't know if it's been mentioned previously but the biggest thing that helped me early on was a mate suggesting to get it all sorted before a corner/bend.

ie basically sort your gears/brakes/position then you should'nt need to unsettle the bike while'st leaning, gives you more confidence, I do this. You can then concentrate on getting a good line & pile on more speed each time you ride through.

[21QUEST]

My view on such question is whilst there have been very good stuff posted 'Ignore all the Internet advanced lessons'.

It's easy to get yourself in a bit of a state trying to take it all in. Be relaxed in the meantime and try and get some more tuition from a professional. Most riding schools should be able to provide that.

Cheers
Ben

Originally Posted by mattSV

sv_dan wrote

assuming that the vanishing point is extending

I neglected this subtle nuance and managed to spectacularly bodge a decreasing radius turn, resulting in me running wide, shooting across the oncoming lane and hitting (thankfully) a mud bank, rather than trees/oncoming trucks, etc.

Take it easy, you'll get better with practice. As people have said Metzler Z6s make a huge amount of difference, as does a sunny dry day, good road surface and you being more relaxed.

I would just add, that after riding with a couple of mates yesterday, make sure that when you practice your cornering that:

a) You know the road, and

b) The surface is good.

Yesterday I was left behind by a Speed Triple and a Tuono on some back lanes through Surry where the surface was terrible. So bad in fact that I couldn't even go fast in a straight line, the FireBlades suspension was just too hard. In bends the bike would run wide and at one point it even started to lose grip.

So, make sure you have a decent surface to start with, poor tarmac will make the whole thing much worse.

.