Cornering issues

[Farab]

Went out for a ride last night and tonight. My cornering just does not feel right lately. I feel I am going faster around corners, I want to lean the bike down more, but feel I can't due to the rear feeling "unsteady" or shakey. Evertime I want to go harder around a corner, the back just feels dodgey, unsteady. As a result I have about 5mm worth of chicken strips on the rear wheel. When cornering, I follow the apex and lean in with my elbow, etc. Am I doing something wrong or is there something wrong with the bike's setup, tires pumped too hard or suspension to soft?

[scracha]

Ask Tom, he's the resident cornering expert on this forum and can tell you all about how he gets pegs, knees and even elbows down whilst cornering.

Oh...my tip for you is to put lots of weight on the bars.

[RantyDave]

Oh...my tip for you is to put lots of weight on the bars.
Likewise, with my bike it helps the turn in to put some weight near the front - and leaning on the bars a bit is a good way of doing that.

I can suggest you just muck about with tyre pressures a bit and see what difference it makes. Too low on the back and it'll feel like arse. A fat arse, to be precise. Too much and it feels a bit skittery. If the bike is porpoising round corners - bouncing from front to back to front - then you definitely need to get some more damping from somewhere.

Dave

[Bullitt]

How long have you been riding for?

On all the group rides Ive been on Ive been one of the slowest at cornering, even compared to guys on cruisers etc. Not anything to do with my bike being bad though, I just dont have the confidence yet to put it anywhere near its limit. But Im not panicing, itll come with abit more practice.

I see you have a 250, if you havnt done much riding yet it would make sense your not wearing out knee sliders yet...

[cowpoos]

Went out for a ride last night and tonight. My cornering just does not feel right lately. I feel I am going faster around corners, I want to lean the bike down more, but feel I can't due to the rear feeling "unsteady" or shakey. Evertime I want to go harder around a corner, the back just feels dodgey, unsteady. As a result I have about 5mm worth of chicken strips on the rear wheel. When cornering, I follow the apex and lean in with my elbow, etc. Am I doing something wrong or is there something wrong with the bike's setup, tires pumped too hard or suspension to soft?
check you rear wheel bearings....cush drive...and chain adjusters...and tyre pressure...

once your done that and everythings sweet...take her to a bike shop and get a mechanic to check to see if your rear shock ain't poked...if alls well...then take some riding advice on...but it don't sound like anything more than a mechanical isusse to me...

[carver]

Hey im no expert, but make sure your not putting any weight on the bars - keep it all on the pegs and a little on the seat/tank. Thats a big contributer to unsteadiness during corners. Try and weight the outside peg more as well.

Make sure your tire pressures are spot on - one or two psi can make a big diference.

No knowledge around suspension setup but plenty of people on here would know.

Hope that helps.

your right about not being a expert!
i find the same thing,,once your really over it can feel a little unsteady...
my thoughts however would be the wear on the tire, and squaring off...i find this makes a big difference
my 6n still has about 5mm front and back..thanks to sportmax's

[discotex]

Went out for a ride last night and tonight. My cornering just does not feel right lately. I feel I am going faster around corners, I want to lean the bike down more, but feel I can't due to the rear feeling "unsteady" or shakey. Evertime I want to go harder around a corner, the back just feels dodgey, unsteady. As a result I have about 5mm worth of chicken strips on the rear wheel. When cornering, I follow the apex and lean in with my elbow, etc. Am I doing something wrong or is there something wrong with the bike's setup, tires pumped too hard or suspension to soft?

In my experience the VTR doesn't exactly love being hard over. When I had one as a loaner I found the rear a bit squidgy (for lack of a better term).

It sounds like you're hitting the same thing. My guess is the rear shock is a bit soft as my ZXR was similar when the preload was way too soft. Crank up the preload a notch at a time and see if that helps.

I'd be less concerned about the size of your chicken strips and more about your exit speed. If you're cornering well (with your weight on the inside of the bike) you will need far less lean angle to turn the same rate. That means bigger chicken strips but more speed and more grip.

Another thing might be that you're coasting through the corner. Make you you have the throttle cracked open a tiny bit. It really helps get the tyres and suspension in their "zone".

[wingnutt]

gidday,

check the bike over first, tires have correct pressure, and also rear suspension setting, it may be too soft or too hard, you will probably need to test the settings, altthough generally a softer suspension setting can make the bike wallow a bit at speed into corners.

going fast into corners, and feeling tentative doing it, is recipie for things going badly wrong, back off a bit, until you're confidence returns. generally your speed, braking, and line should be all set before you enter the corner, the bike should have some acceleration on, thoughout the turn. the line idealy should 'square' the corner. have a look here:
http://www.rideforever.co.nz/ride_smart/control_cornering.html

good luck,

Robbie

[NighthawkNZ]

As a result I have about 5mm worth of chicken strips on the rear wheel.

Chicken strips aren't a bad thing, it means you have someting in reserve if needed ... having something in reserve is good for the day that you do actually over cook that corner...

Anyway I would check and play with the suspension, tire pressure. I would also maybe check the wheel bearings and even steering head bearings.


In my experience the VTR doesn't exactly love being hard over. When I had one as a loaner I found the rear a bit squidgy (for lack of a better term).

I have accidently scrapped my knee on a vtr 250... and it can happily be thrown or flicked about... I know it was accidental because I was only wearing jeans at the time (the missus didn't find it funny at the time :doh: it was her test ride. ) the VTR250 is a very forgiving bike with a pretty solid sub frame etc.

Golden rule for corning... "slow in fast out"

[Shadows]

A gradual change in the way your bike feels going around corners sounds like it could be tyre wear to me. A flattening profile in the centre of the tread means the bike will tip in less and less smoothly, which can give unnerving feedback to the rider. Is the tread in the centre a whole heap shallower than near the edge? If so then get some new tyres and you'll probably find that your problem goes away.

[Farab]

HI All, thanks for the all the advice, much appretiated. I adjusted the tire pressure front and back to 225 kPa.
Went out today, felt crap in the beginning, but much better about halfway through.
For those that asked - tire wear is still pretty good and even, no flat spots,etc. Does the tire compound harden up with age though?? I bought the bike with these tires on, I have no idea how old they are.

I am going through all the motions 9/10 (sometimes I still stuff up with a crap approach, etc.) Usually I have it in the lowest gear possible, push in the direction of the corner - countersteer, lean in with my elbow, and accelerate, looking at the apex/exit/where I want to be.

Just for the record: I am not attempting to knee scrape - I am attempting to corner well: pushing myself to take a corner at the optimum/fastest speed. I agree with discotex, having my weight (bumcheek of to one side) on the inside of the corner does not require a greater lean angle - feels quite good cornering this way.
Will have the wheel bearings and shock checked though - bike still feels a bit "sqiggley" at times

[Farab]

From http://www.rideforever.co.nz/ride_smart/control_cornering.html

"Cornering at safe speeds is easier to live with if you're riding a powerful bike, because acceleration helps regain cruising speed quickly once you're through. Low-powered bikes create the temptation to carry more corner speed than is necessary. If you've been travelling at high speeds along a straight section of road, slow down more than you think."

I have encountered this - during cornering I feel underpowered - wanting to accelerate more...

[Bonez]

From http://www.rideforever.co.nz/ride_smart/control_cornering.html

"Cornering at safe speeds is easier to live with if you're riding a powerful bike, because acceleration helps regain cruising speed quickly once you're through. Low-powered bikes create the temptation to carry more corner speed than is necessary. If you've been travelling at high speeds along a straight section of road, slow down more than you think."

I have encountered this - during cornering I feel underpowered - wanting to accelerate more...
Don't sweet it and ride at a pace you feel comfortable with. Sounds like you're doing alright.

5mm chicken stips are better than running out of rubber like I do on my GB400 quite often.

[discotex]

I have accidently scrapped my knee on a vtr 250... and it can happily be thrown or flicked about... I know it was accidental because I was only wearing jeans at the time (the missus didn't find it funny at the time :doh: it was her test ride. ) the VTR250 is a very forgiving bike with a pretty solid sub frame etc.

Golden rule for corning... "slow in fast out"

LOL nasty! I don't doubt that the VTR has jean shredding potential. It certainly flicks around plenty well. I meant it didn't feel it tracked as smoothly once lent over but it's not unstable or anything like that. The feeling was just very similar to how my ZXR felt with soft suspension so thought that might be useful info.

Totally agree with "slow in, fast out". My riding got a whole lot better and quicker once I stopped attacking corners.

[NighthawkNZ]

LOL nasty! I don't doubt that the VTR has jean shredding potential. It certainly flicks around plenty well. I meant it didn't feel it tracked as smoothly once lent over but it's not unstable or anything like that. The feeling was just very similar to how my ZXR felt with soft suspension so thought that might be useful info.

well the one I tested (and now she owns) the the rear seems pretty good for me and her... errr suspension...:rolleyes: it does have a lot of other considerations as well... riding style, weight, extra weight being carried, corning aggressively or not, smooth riding, tyres, tyre pressure... maintenance (ie bearings etc basically all that has been suggested above...) including the raod conditions and a few other things I can't think of at present... all need to be considered for setting up your suspension...


Totally agree with "slow in, fast out". My riding got a whole lot better and quicker once I stopped attacking corners.

same here :)

[Pancakes]

Yeah you might find as your wanting to go faster thru corners your coming in faster and then rolling off the gas or letting the bike slow in the corner, better to keep the power on even if your not accellerating, to keep everything a bit more settled.

Also, if your just not "feeling it" on any given day slow down, even do the speed limit! Find a car adn sit a safe distance behind them letting them set the pace, flick your visor up and enjoy the ride. Some times it's just not happening and thats ok. Don't feel you have to keep up with anyone etc.

[jrandom]

Some times it's just not happening and thats ok. Don't feel you have to keep up with anyone etc.

+1.

Although, hmm, this is pretty much always for me.

Maybe I should try not sucking?