When the brakes are not strong enough, use a bush...

[flymo]

Originally Posted by mototech

just a suggestion but i think you would benefit grately from a novice trackday to get mroe acustomed to cornering on your bike.

+1 The bike was nowhere close to being 'setup' for those bends. The first one could have been taken no bother, likely the car distracted you. If you dont lean it down though it wont turn. Problem is is that if you hesitate without commiting then you are eating up the distance to the corner.

On the second one, I was wondering if you even moved the bars to be honest. If it was loose gravel though then you are asking for trouble.

Get some practice on a track before you hurt yourself.

Hmm I know this is going to sound really defensive, but it's not meant to be in anyway, shape or form. I just find it hard that people are judging my cornering techniques on a video that I don't even lean on. I knew all 3 times I was going to run wide but I didn't know by how much. The last thing I wanted to do was lean over the bike while braking.

What I'll do tomorrow is I'll upload the video of me, earlier in that day on the road of bones. Then I'll then be a lot happier if you still all said that I still need to lean the bike because at least you have something proper to judge.

[flymo]

Originally Posted by Seggons

Hmm I know this is going to sound really defensive, but it's not meant to be in anyway, shape or form. I just find it hard that people are judging my cornering techniques on a video that I don't even lean on. I knew all 3 times I was going to run wide but I didn't know by how much. The last thing I wanted to do was lean over the bike while braking.

What I'll do tomorrow is I'll upload the video of me, earlier in that day on the road of bones. Then I'll then be a lot happier if you still all said that I still need to lean the bike because at least you have something proper to judge.

Not meaning to sound negative either, just constructive. From what you've just said its like you've decided that the bike wont go around the bend before you got there, thats partly why you might go straight on. On that first corner you would have easily made it, and at a much higher speed too believe me.

You can corner on the brakes, just not hard on the brakes. In the case of corner number 1 you were obviously lucky because you had run off to get away with it. However, you need to decide when to turn in. Once decided ease off the brakes and lean it over. 99% of the time the bike will take the corner no problem, its teh rider that decides it cant.

[yorkie_chris]

Whoops...

More practice and maybe read up on some observation tehniques, did seem like you were looking ahead rather than round. I was pretty bad for this, that and not putting any power on round corners which just unsettled it.

That and just keep reminding yourself "the bike's faster than me"

Also if you're going to run wide, then surely if it's a wall rather than a nice cuddly hedge, you're better off going into it at an angle...

I've seen someone go in far too hot before and end up with the tyre on the kerb and that's the only thing that's kept them out of a ditch.

Suppose it's better IMO to fight it out and try get round than bottle it and slam the anchors on.

Definately get yourself on a few trackdays or start doing some advanced riding. You were going easily slow enough to make the corners but as it has pointed out already your helmet kept looking forward and not through the bend. Fair play for sticking the video up though. DOH!!!

Tut,tut Seggons.

Most of us have done that I'm sure.

I think you're better than that.

Another tip is always be in a low enough gear to allow you to accelerate smoothly but also give you some engine braking should you need to back off. I appreciate you have a restricted bike so the rev range is limited. Also the rear brake, used carefully, will tighten up your line. But you've got to be attacking the bend first.

Also always be wary of following a bike, as they may know the road intimately and even if they are on a CG125, local knowledge can be worth a 100 bhp, and you could end up in serious doo doo.

Look forward to riding with you again.

Take care.

I agree with the above. Your technique might be okay, but your judgment of the corners in that video is your downfall. In the last incident you stop just off the edge of the road, there's no possible way you were going too fast for it. I'd say the same goes for the first one, and possibly the second, but I think you hit something which upset you there and you certainly left the road with more speed than in the other 2.

It's rather fundamental stuff, reading the road and having confidence in the machine. Slow right down till you get those skills back (if you haven't already).

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by petevtwin650

Another tip is always be in a low enough gear to allow you to accelerate smoothly but also give you some engine braking should you need to back off. I appreciate you have a restricted bike so the rev range is limited. Also the rear brake, used carefully, will tighten up your line. But you've got to be attacking the bend first.

You still get decent engine braking high up, just not a lot of torque. Best power is probably about 6 to 7krpm, ride it like a 2stroke and keep it there.

Meh, most have posted about ability and suggestions but the first thing that struck me was the honesty and sheer balls of putting it up there, not only that, pointing it out to a forum of friends. everyone has bad days and with any luck it will help others, the notes made on the video were handy I thought. anyway, glad you made it out unscathed each time and good on you for putting it up there.
PS
I did expect to hear a heck of a lot of swearing with the bush incident, either going into or whilst pulling out (anyone sniggering now get your mind out of the gutter :P)

Well kudos for putting up that video. My advice is simple:

1) Never try to keep up with somebody, just ride at your own pace.

2) You were going plenty slow enough to get round those bends, you just lack the confidence to tip it in. As someone pointed out, the last one you almost stop still on the road! This shows that you bottled out well before the bend and just sat it up. Get some quiet alone time riding, and practice going round corners and leaning going a bit quicker each time. The bike will grip, at the moment it is your mind that is making you crash.