Tips and Cornering Advice.
 

NOTE: I'm requesting the advice not giving it

A little bit more about myself...
In brief I can't corner for s**t!

If you cant be bothered to read then skip the next paragraph.

If you can be bothered then read this-->

You lot will be able to write my biography before long. Anyways here goes, I used to ride a DT to work a couple of days a week for about a year, good for close control crap in the corners because I had chunky tyres on as I did like to do a bit of Green Laning, but this meant I cornered either slowly or sideways. After that year I requested to take a 4 day restricted access course but after a series of random factors ended up on an ER-5 taking the Direct Access course. On passing the test I reviewed certain bikes and apparently the SV is the best reccomended bike for your first. I'd been sensible with my first choice of the DT this was recomended as the best learner bike and it paid off. Following suit I bought the SV now for the last year I've used that to get to work, unfortunatly (in a way) I live just off one of the motorway and work just off the other.

So basically, before passing I didnt have the tyres or the power to corner properly. Now I've got both but I very rarely actually use it in corners. with summer coming I'd like to learn how to do it properly not knee down eye watering riding just to be compitent at taking a series of bends.

I know about counter stearing and I in the wet the DT woulds drift but other than that any tips or even any places that the yorkshire lot can reccomend to be able to get some practice in would be fantastic.

Cheers all and appolgies for another long post, but I figure if I ask anybody then you lot have got to be the best to be asking.

Re: Tips and Cornering Advice.
 

stay wide until you can see the exit (ie: hang to the left on a right hander) - unless it compromises your safety, such as hugging the verge on a bend with a junction on the LHS

between corners use the first third of the distance to accelerate and the rest to slow down and anticipate the next corner, finish braking before you start turning, and try to maintain slight positive throttle thourghout the turn until you see the exit, where you apply power to accelerate out of the corner

if you end up going in too hot don't touch the brakes, it's the most common cause of motorcyclist fatalities, entering a corner too fast, grabbing a handful and either washing out into a lamp post, or sitting the bike up and riding into a lampost, use countersteering to turn harder, there's almost certainly enough tyre left to get you round the corner, you just need to trust the bike

a couple of requently repeated phrases:

1. in like a pussy cat, out like a tiger
2. don't try to ride faster, try to ride smoother, and you'll ride faster naturally

Re: Tips and Cornering Advice.
 

OK some things to try

1. Look where you want the bike to go, dont look at the tarmac 2ft in front of your front wheel.

2. Use things like hedges, telegraph wires, the white line, to tell you what the road is doing, the early you can work out how sharp the corner is or which way a sequence of bends is going, the earlier you can set your line and corner speed. Basically give yourself as much advance warning as you can get about what is coming towards you.

3. Ride a bit slower, sounds daft, but it works. If you ride a bit slower again you can work out whats coming towards you and prepare for it.

4. Brake in a straight line before the corner, get into to a gear that allows you to hold 4000 - 5000rpm as you drive the bike nicely out of the corner from that point.

5. Whats the vanishing point doing, is it coming towards you i.e is the corner getting sharper, or is it moving away to the horizon i.e. is ther corner opening out to expand your field of vision towards the horizon. This will let you work out whether you should be slowing or accelerating.

6. Forget about counter steering for now. Its something to bear in mind, but work on the basics for now.

Pick one thing off that list, and the practise it by riding up and down a section of road you know well.

I'm not and instructor so dont take what I write as gospel, but those are all things that helped me. If you're really struggling get some more training, bikesafe, or consider IAM.

HTH

Re: Tips and Cornering Advice.
 

I like going down twisty roads I know and practice not using any brakes. Good for getting your speed into corners right and improving your corner speed and getting you driving through and out on the throttle, I find. In other words it gets you thinking about the corner earlier ,missing out the rattling down the straights and banging on the anchors and trickling through the bend.

"Torquey" V-Twins are great for it cos they pull from nothing so you can use just one or two gears and still be satisfying.

Take it easy no rush. You never stop learning/ "getting better".

Do a 150-200 mile run out in the sticks by yourself.

:)

Re: Tips and Cornering Advice.
 

I know some roads matt :) what days are you free on? we can go for a spin to some of my favorite roads up towards scamonden damn/nont sarah's etc.... always nice and quiet, and when I passed my test, I used to ride the route then turn around and do it again... sometimes as many as 8 times lol. I just love that particular route :D

Give us a shout if you fancy it (only 20 mins away :))

Re: Tips and Cornering Advice.
 

oh and as for advice in the meantime, practice what everyone above has said and it'll come with time. I generally stick out wide on the approach to a corner so I can get a good view of the road ahead, I've never had my knee down and I'm not bothered to be honest, but I do transfer my body weight a little bit to keep in balance with the bike.

Looking as far ahead as possible... over hedges, where do streetlamps bend way off in the distance etc... if there's no clues as to where the road's going, then slow down until you can see through the bend.

Have you ever been to the peak district? I'm itching to get over there when the weather's good, so if you fancy it one time, we can go for a bimble along the snake pass all nice & steady to build your confidence a little?

Re: Tips and Cornering Advice.
 

let us know when you do the peak district paul, tis my turf :cool:

Re: Tips and Cornering Advice.
 

my turf dave, but you are welcome to visit :razz:

i usually go through huddersfield, upto holme moss, down to the woodhead pass(?) then over the other side of the valley and down to glossop, turn left... voila! snake pass.

If I'm feeling enthusiastic, I'll come back over the strines moor (unlisted roads) but it's a bit bumpy!

Re: Tips and Cornering Advice.
 

Neutral throttle is a godsend. I find the bike more maneuverable in a corner if the throttle is at a neutral position.

Re: Tips and Cornering Advice.
 

matt i have a couple of e-books on this subject that someone sent me a while ago but they are on my work computer, i "work":-) from home wednesdays so ill end them tomorrow chap