Getting back your bottle

Most of it Daimo is confidence and experience. As was said only use the brak if you need it. Concentrate on getting your entry speed (ooer!) correct that way you will not need to brake in the corner but will accelerate through it and induce more lean and bigger smiles!

Where are you based? We could always go out for some rides if you're not too far away.

Dan

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Daimo

Oh yeah, i understand braking while corning is a bad idea, but minimal braking?

I have no confidence in the back brake, it just doesn't work all that good imo. Inspires no confidence.

The roads i was using is fully open, you can see ever corner from all points so you can judge where the line is well.

Its just they are long progressive corners, and the more i worked on the line and brake, the slower i got through the corners ending up at a snails pace. That meant theres no way i could really get the bike over.

Having flatspots (motorway riding) doesn't help either as tipping it in doesn't feel smooth.

It'll come in time, need more practice RIDING instead of commuting

My back brake was like that when I first got he SV the more I used it the more I got used to how it felt. It might be that the rear caliper has got bit stiff or is seizing up over winter. Take it off and give it a good clean or get a mechanic to check if for you if you dont know what you are doing with it. You'd be surprised just how effective a dab of rear brake is.

If you've got your corner entry speed right you wont need to brake in the corner. You can use the throttle to hold your speed steady and then use it drive you out of the corner once you have passed the Apex of the bend. Remeber the SV has alot of engine braking so you can just roll the thorttle off to slow yourself a little as well as braking for the next bend in a sequence of bends.

Squared off tyres wont help though.

Just take it steady and slowly and let the bike flow through the bends rather than trying to control its speed all the time with the brakes. Go through the whole sequence of corners at a slower speed and see how it feels. Someobdy once said to me to go faster you must first go slow.

Its just practice and confidence. Wait a few more weeks for the roads to warm up properly and you'll find with some more heat in your tyres you'll build your confidence up.

Some very good advice there, but all makes perfect sense.

I may go on the roads again on the way home tonight and have another play, but this time at a slower overall pace. I'll work on the lines and entry then, cheers

Dan, thanks, im in Kent so a bit far Im really hoping to get to a few of the meets this year though. Just got to get the fairing re-sprayed.

Here's my 2p's worth, I'm getting back into riding after my accident too.

Front brake - don't grab it, you'll come off. However, if you need to come upright in a hurry then you can 'tap' the front brake and that will bring you upright. However, when I discussed this with a riding instructor, its not something thats actually easy to do, its far easier to try and then come off rather than get it right. I've done it in an emergency and it did work.

This may sound daft, but what gear are you in? Try being in a lower gear and using the throttle to control your speed through the corner rather than the brakes.

Ok, going to go out on a limb here...

I've used the front brake hard in corners on my scooter and bicycle. I've still managed to steer by "counter-counter"(?) steering. Basically to turn left, I brake hard on the front and push hard on the right bar. I'm I just dreaming this? On some slippery surfaces I've felt the front slip a bit doing this, but it still seems to work.

Needless to say, I've not managed to do this on the SV.

hi intresting post, i find i lose confidence on right handers as i fear my head will be taken off by oncomming traffic, how can i combat this, ive tryed using the far right of the road but that has usally got bits of gravel and all sorts. also being so far over that side seems to leave far less margin for error as i found my sv tends to lose its line quite easily, ive found myself leaning in to the left handers and in to the right handers that i can see ahead but the blind right handers i find my self leaning to the left and counter stearing to the right is u get my drift kinda like a off road style, i dont have any trouble with roundabouts tho my boots are nearly worn away!

As an advanced rider they teach you to move to the left on right handers but be mindful of the road surface. I know what you mean about margin for error but this is usually just your mind knowing that you have less room so you are more wary of it. If you;re looking deep into the corner though you should be fine, just don't stare at the kerb or you'll end up in it.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Because they are more skilled riders than us mere mortals. Also the suspension is better on a Moto GP bike.

and the track doesn't have potholes or oil on it

Daimo...

You might have little confidance in your back brake but oddly that should give the confidance to be willing to "trail" it a little if required for the reducing apex bends.

Crucial here is smoothness and not trying to push the pedal to the floor!


As mentioned by the folks, positioning and approach speed are 90% of navigating any bend, with the type of bend your having problems with try letting yourself drop the bike in to the initial bend later than you normally do and give yourself as wide an entry position as possible.

If you get to the point that more lean is needed then if you force yourself to continue looking where you want to go and not at what you migh hit......simply lean a touch more with your upper body...this will in itself provide a little more counter steer without you realising it.

Dont be concerned about rolling off the gas,just gently apply a touch of rear brake.

Good luck and let us all know if you notice any improvement.

Good tips from Peter, he sent them to me a while back and I have been practising them. Far from perfect, but much improved.

As for the front brake - - wish I'd known and acted on that before 7 June 2004