Downhill twisties

Something the usual advanced riding books don't cover.

How are you supposed to ride down steep tight downhill corners?

In hilly places its not uncommon to decend twisty consecutive left and right handers on a 1 in 3 at 30 mph or less. I have one on my "scenic route" commute to work which decends about a mile from Carluke to Crossford into the Clyde Valley, and I feel like I've made a mess of it every time.

You can't use the throttle to balance the bike as you normally would in a corner. How do you get the bike to feel balanced an flow nicely down the hill? I always feel I've got the front tyre doing all the work, and it wouldn't take much for it to slide away from me. The bike's dynamics are all upset like a thrupennybitted corner. On a light bike like the SV the back brake locks up and drags rather than slowing the bike down, so you end up using the front which makes the weight over the front worse.

Any advanced riders out there who've got an opinion?
Is there any better way to deal with it?

Do you use much engine braking? I find it easier to let the engine braking take care of most of it - which is nice with a twin.

[DarrenSV650S]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Something the usual advanced riding books don't cover.

How are you supposed to ride down steep tight downhill corners?

In hilly places its not uncommon to decend twisty consecutive left and right handers on a 1 in 3 at 30 mph or less. I have one on my "scenic route" commute to work which decends about a mile from Carluke to Crossford into the Clyde Valley, and I feel like I've made a mess of it every time.

You can't use the throttle to balance the bike as you normally would in a corner. How do you get the bike to feel balanced an flow nicely down the hill? I always feel I've got the front tyre doing all the work, and it wouldn't take much for it to slide away from me. The bike's dynamics are all upset like a thrupennybitted corner. On a light bike like the SV the back brake locks up and drags rather than slowing the bike down, so you end up using the front which makes the weight over the front worse.

Any advanced riders out there who've got an opinion?
Is there any better way to deal with it?

Very good point. I know exactly what you mean. When I was doing the downhill twisties in the Alps I had this problem and ended up using a really low gear and keeping the revs high. It did work but the bike wasn't very happy about it afterwards.

Try dragging the back brake, that is not throttling off and applying rear brake but holding a constant throttle and apply the rear brake against it, we hey it does not lock but stabilises the bike.

Originally Posted by Beenz

Try dragging the back brake, that is not throttling off and applying rear brake but holding a constant throttle and apply the rear brake against it, we hey it does not lock but stabilises the bike.

I suppose you have to keep in mind that your brake fluid might not appreciate that for extended periods, so use sparingly or you might find the pedal gets softer and softer

Originally Posted by sinbad

I suppose you have to keep in mind that your brake fluid might not appreciate that for extended periods, so use sparingly or you might find the pedal gets softer and softer

Yep. I had a spectacular crash on a mountain bike as a lad after dragging the back brake down a prolonged (about 7 minute) descent and when I got to the bottom and really needed it, it didn't work at all.

I tend to use a lower gear and rely on engine braking, but I must admit, sharp bends down steep hills are one of the things I'm least happy about with my riding too.

Originally Posted by sinbad

I suppose you have to keep in mind that your brake fluid might not appreciate that for extended periods, so use sparingly or you might find the pedal gets softer and softer

It's only done to steady the bike when leaning or starting to lean when you feels it's starting to get away from you. Otherwise general us of the brakes applies when upright. Should be nothing to worry about in this case. Even Porlock hill should not cause a problem.

Just like driving a car down a steep hill you need to use a low gear to keep it under control and, on a bike, minimise the load on the front tyre. As far as the corners are concerned you can have the same effect as cornering on the level but with a negative camber to the road. The laws of physics apply, you just won't be able to corner as fast.