Straightening up out of a corner
 

Sorry if this has been covered a gazillion times, i've had a search and had no luck. It's something that's been bugging me with my riding and I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong.

When coming out of a corner, I'm quite apprehensive about when I can put 'more' power down to get going again. I know that's quite vague and subjective but I worry that if I don't sit the bike up before giving the bike much throttle it'll slip out from under me. Hopefully new tyres will sort some of this confidence out (tyres currently look like they belong on a car they're that square) but it's led to a tendancy for me to counter-steer (fairly aggressively) my bike BACK upright out of a corner to get myself sitting up again and I wondered if this was good practise or not?

Bear in mind I'm still a fairly inexperienced rider so any advice is welcome :)

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

This is not the time of year to be testing.
Generally speaking; as soon as I start picking it up I apply more throttle, however -don't take advice from me!

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

cF, I'm pretty inexperienced too, so I'll be watching this thread to see what the others say, but I find that putting down more power at the point I'm looking to get the bike back up actually helps the bike sit up.

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

You don't have to have the bike upright to apply power, unless it's very slippery, I wouldn't be countersteering on the exit just to get the bike upright

The key isn't how much you're leant over but how smoothly you apply the power- the trick is to apply it smoothly so that the back squats and pushes the tyre into the road, getting this right will result in a much smoother riding style and with smoothness comes speed

If you're inexperienced I'd say you're probably nowhere near the limit, but going out looking for the limit on the road will almost certainly end badly

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

Exactly my thoughts, don't want to push myself till I crash, just want to find the best way to get myself going again! Sounds like I'm doing it a bit wrong right now though :s

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

Leave it for now, don't concentrate on trying to go faster, concentrate on making your riding smoother, you'll end up being faster as a result and you won't be a liability pushing beyond your limits:cool:

Then when it warms up get yourself booked on a trackday, if you're looking to find the limits be prepared to come off a few times but you'll learn a whole lot more than you will on the road

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

If you go in slow and controlled, and learn how to do that first, after a while you'll learn how to come out of a corner quicker without even trying.

I'm not one to recommend track days...I bought the bikes to ride on the road, therefore I'll learn my skill on the road. Personal choice, can't see the appeal, especially if you are new to bikes.

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

try one of these training days:

http://www.bikeskillsacademy.com/

master your bike's handling at 5mph and speed will come naturally ;)

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

Apparently, you want to be using the limit point as a guide to speeding up/slowing down for corners. The rare occasions I get it right (like throttle blipping!) it is really good! Progressive, fast riding; no scares, nice and smooth. Usually it's in too fast and then brake hard and lose momentum, or power on too early and have to lose a little when I realise the corner continues... What usually works is when I give up caring about pushing it, and TRY to be smooth with everything. Brakes, throttle, turning in, overtaking, filtering.

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

If your tyres are squared off .. change them ..... and all will become clear ...

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

learn to read the road. Look for the vanishing point I.e what you can see, when the vanishing point is moving away from you I.e the corner is opening out and your view of what is in front of you is expanding then that is the time to roll the throttle on gently and smoothly does it no big handfulls. Only apply the throttle when you know you won't have to roll it off, so roll it on and drive the bike out of the corner, 5000 rpm is a good place to be to do this. Remeber look where you want the bike to go so look through the corner at the exit of it.

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

+1 am Fizzmeister

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

+1 the limits of visibility and picking up visual information is FAR more important for safe and rapid road riding than the absolute limits of grip.

But, all you need to do is pick up the throttle earlier by the sounds of it. Turn in with a slight amount of gas on, it settles the bike nicely, then as you can see the exit is clear gently wind it on. Just look at your exit and the bike will sit itself up as you accelerate out.

Be smooth with the throttle, get your toes up on the pegs and relax your arms. Grip the tank with your knees. If you are weighting the bars, duck footed with your nuts on the tank then the bike will feel numb.

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

If you're on a decent dry road and the tyre is warm, you'll have trouble getting it to slip at all unless you're using some crappy chinese remould.

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

+1 to Fizz and YC. This time of year though you only want a smidge of throttle until its upright.

For me I'm back on the throttle to 'catch' the bike just before max lean, only a smidge but enough to stop it falling any further then wind it on as appropriate to the road/corner.

How many rpms depends on corner and conditions, fwiw if attempting any kind of speed I go in with lots of revs in slippery conditions[1], its more responsive and should it step out it hits the limiter before it gets too sideways. :) I recommend as a newbie not trying that though, 4-5k is prime on the SV.

Druid

[1] I've had some very fun wet rides.

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

usualy just after or on the apex (depending on corner) but only in the dry usualy keep the throttle nutral in the wet or adding just abit of power... but im no expert

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

Actually, that is an advanced cornering technique! If the OP is picking the bike up, then rolling on the gas - not so great. However, controlled pickup and roll-on can be benefical. :)

Pickup drill:

Note. This is not really a novice thing. If you're a muppet and highside trying - not my fault! :wink:

You should be slowly rolling on the gas as soon as possible in the corner. As you start to pick the bike up, consciously countersteer to bring the bike more upright WHILE rolling on the gas at the same time but don't stop hanging off the bike i.e keep your weight to the inside.

Biggest fear on rolling on the gas on the corner exit is losing traction and highsiding. By actively picking the bike up, you are ready to catch the slide if it occurs. You also get much better drive out. After a certain point, you won't lose the rear-end anymore but will Gary McCoy it out of the corner instead! :wink:

Ok - most people won't get that extreme/aggressive with the throttle, but still applying the technique can give you more confidence and drive exiting a corner.

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

+1 with Luke. If you never learn to ride with a square tyre in the greasy winter months then you'll never be able to ride efficiently in the winter months on a squared off tyre (or in other words, the real world :) ). I'm not an advocate of putting learning off until you have a nice dry day. If you do, you'll be learning to ride on a nice dry day! You can't learn how to ride in the wet when its dry or in the cold when it's hot.

The only thing to add to Luke post I can think of is to let your bum move over first as you counter steer. That way the bike returns to upright sooner and your body follows it. So, from leant over you countersteer and the bike starts to rise, you hinge in the middle and your bike moves to vertical taking your but cheeks with it and your body follows. That way your bike is as vertical as possible at all times. Oh and Be smooth.

C

Re: Straightening up out of a corner
 

Best advice possible.

I had problems getting into corners when I was starting riding, and former member Baph told me to go in like a pussy cat, out like a tiger. The idea is that if you go in slow, the bike remains composed and settled, allowing you to gently feed on power. As you feed on the power, the bike will sit itself up :) smooth and progressive is the key

See: Dani Pedrosa, he does this so obviously