Cornering - what happens after the lean.

[Lurch]

Hi guys,

I've done around 10,000ks after having just getting started in motorcycles in Sept last year and am getting to the point where I will soon be upgrading to a new toy.

I'd like to know what the 'correct' technique is to tighten a corner once leaned into it. For example here's a little story:

Riding on the Rimutakas you approach a marked 30 kph bend which is mostly on the flat.

You downshift to a suitable gear that will get you through and out the other side.

You shift your shoulder and head forward a bit and left so they are just past the mirror whilst applying pressure to the inside handle bar to get the lean and corner happening.

At this point you find the corner is tightening quicker than you expect just as you reach the apex.

What bar inputs/body adjustment should you do to get further into the corner?

My instict says push (gently) more on the inside bar, is this correct?

Lurch.

[munterk6]

aah...yeah.
you sound like you know what you are doing lad...carry on :sleep:

[Lurch]

:laugh: sorry to bore. Guess all I wanted was validation.

[munterk6]

Correct....:drinkup:

[AllanB]

And use a quality engine oil. All the top race teams use good quality oils. :niceone:

[FJRider]

Don't forget to wave ...

[Solly]

Two hands....one hand.....whatever you feel comfortable with :doh:

[Lurch]

Don't forget to wave ...

Well that opens up a whole new can of worms, I mean is it acceptable to counter lean mid corner to facilitate a wave to other KBers?

:bleh:

[FJRider]

Well that opens up a whole new can of worms, I mean is it acceptable to counter lean mid corner to facilitate a wave to other KBers?

:bleh:

Only to non-Harley riders ... compulsory on sprot bikes ...

[Mystic13]

Grab a couple of books on riding technique and have a read.

"A twist of the wrist 2" by keith code

"Performance Riding Techniques: The motoGP manual" by Andy Ibbott.

etc.

But basically yep, you countersteer to pull the bike down whether you push left or pull right doesn't matter. Weight the outside peg. This is assuming you're turning left.

If you're not weighting pegs give that a go.

Usually the bike will go around the corner and you'll discover a new limit. You'd also use this to avoid hazards that are on your line that you either didn't see intially or couldn't see.

I wouldn't shift weight because you run more of a risk of unsettling the bike.

Or you could (if the road is clear) stand the bike up and go bush. lol. Although I'm not sure why that seems to be a preferred options for some riders.

[Lurch]

If you're not weighting pegs give that a go.

Thanks Mystic! I haven't paid a lot of attention to how my weight is transferred to the pegs yet, it's definitely something I'll try to be more conscious of.

I'll have to do a trip to the city library at some stage, thanks for the reading suggestions.

[davebullet]

Don't forget to keep looking to the vanishing point, even with the tightening corner, may need to look further to the left. Don't look to the opposite side of the road where you thought the corner was exiting.

[Warr]

Thanks Mystic! I haven't paid a lot of attention to how my weight is transferred to the pegs yet, it's definitely something I'll try to be more conscious of.

I'll have to do a trip to the city library at some stage, thanks for the reading suggestions.
There must be some mentors in Wellington to help you :)
Get someone to ride with you and give you some pointers

[mynameis]

Scrape your tits on the ground.

That will carry enough weight and drag around the corner ;)

[Lurch]

I certainly will Warr, I'll settle into my new (not yet chosen) bike a little once I get my full in a month and then find a few likely suspects to give me some tips.

[James Deuce]

Stop thinking so hard, it takes all the fun out of it.

[discotex]

First things first... Try to avoid being in that situation in the first place. You've almost certainly mis-read the road if you need to tighten your line mid corner.

Basically your options are more counter-steering inputs on the bars and/or move your hear more into the inside of the corner. You'll be amazed how much your line tightens when you stick your head out another 3 inches.

Do a trackday and practice in a safe environment :)

[Lurch]

Do a trackday and practice in a safe environment :)

I might if I wasn't riding a GT250R :scooter:

If I still had the RG I'd consider it. I've still got 10mm chicken strips on the Hyobag's rear (not a shinko) so it's not like I'm talking about MotoGP degrees of cornering here :msn-wink:

[EJT]

Good on you asking for validation. Better than learning the hard way. And don't let riding a Hyo put you off track days. A few on this site have done it!!

[riffer]

Most people have given good advice here. The best one of course is to read the corner right in the first place but hey, these are the takas - I've been riding them 20 years and I still can't get them right.

I've found the best bet is to push harder on the bars, lead with the shoulder and really weight that inside peg and - this one is important - make sure you're looking where you want to be ...

and above all - DON'T PANIC. You'll fuck everything up. On the takas there's another corner coming so you'll quickly find yourself out of control for that next one too. The secret to the takas is to be as smooth as you possibly can - it's not a road that likes throttle - brake - throttle.

Definitely read Twist of the Wrist. It really does help. Immensely.

[6ft5]

There must be some mentors in Wellington to help you :)
Get someone to ride with you and give you some pointers

Hey get in touch with Andrew Templeton (www.roadsafe.co.nz), he is a fabulous instructor or coach and can help you get the most out if a session.

[discotex]

I might if I wasn't riding a GT250R :scooter:

There's nothing wrong with a GT250R on the track. Sure you're not going to be in the fast groups but there's plenty of slower 250's in group 4 on a MotoTT day.

[quickbuck]

First things first... Try to avoid being in that situation in the first place. You've almost certainly mis-read the road if you need to tighten your line mid corner.

Basically your options are more counter-steering inputs on the bars and/or move your hear more into the inside of the corner. You'll be amazed how much your line tightens when you stick your head out another 3 inches.

Do a trackday and practice in a safe environment :)

This man has the best answer thus far.....

I used to shut the throttle... BAD! Very BAD! (was when I was much younger though).
Then I graduated to Pushing on the inside bar.... Bad, but sometimes necessary.

Best thing to do is prevent the situation from happening... Turn it in later, and faster!

If it does tighten on you, weight inside is good. This merely (well dramatically) moves the C of G. Last resort is to tip in in more... you may well be closer to grinding something down than you first thought...

Recommended reading: Twist of the Wrist 2, Keith Code. (Yes, another recommendation... it is THAT good!)
Now I'm off to read the other recommended book....

[caseye]

All the answers here confirm your original thoughts.Trust those instincts mate.
Ride safe always though especially on the Taka's.

[Lurch]

Hey get in touch with Andrew Templeton (www.roadsafe.co.nz), he is a fabulous instructor or coach and can help you get the most out if a session.

Lots of great replies, thx all. Did the full day option to get my BHS with Andrew last year, I will most likely go back and do one of his advanced courses some day.

[CookMySock]

I've still got 10mm chicken strips on the Hyobag's rear (not a shinko) so it's not like I'm talking about MotoGP degrees of cornering here :msn-wink:If you have your weight out, it's quite hard to get at those last 10mm on the Hyos. I scrape boot tips before I touch that last 10mm, but I stick my webbed feet out too far methinks.

Yep, always steer with the bars. Add weight-out but don't move it mid-corner unless you are well practiced at it or will jiggle the bike badly.

That said, if you get a bad fright, by all means get all the weight off the inside the bike you are able - and then grip the bars and steer the fucker.

Steve

[lankyman]

Remember target fixation too. In this sort of situation it is easy to shift you're gaze to the outer edge of the corner that you feel like you could be heading towards. Keep you're eyes fixed on you're chosen line, add a little more pressure to the inside bar, and resist that intinctly urge to grab the brakes. Like Mystic13 said, you'll probably scrape a peg and discover a new limit of you're cornering potential.

[Skyryder]

If ya gonna use racing teckniques on the road sooner or later ya gonna come to grief. However your call so if ya over cook don't think, by the time ya figured what ya gotta do it'll will be too late. Stay focussed on the v p on the bend and look where ya wanna go.


Skyryder

[James Deuce]

In amongst the admirable desire to equip a n00b with super bike riding powers, there's the very real danger of information overload. How about somebody with a brain goes for a ride with the chap in question and practices stitching the various techniques together?

[MVnut]

In amongst the admirable desire to equip a n00b with super bike riding powers, there's the very real danger of information overload. How about somebody with a brain goes for a ride with the chap in question and practices stitching the various techniques together?

Great answer:cool:

[Lurch]

In amongst the admirable desire to equip a n00b with super bike riding powers, there's the very real danger of information overload. How about somebody with a brain goes for a ride with the chap in question and practices stitching the various techniques together?

I appreciate this comment, and accept that my super powers are both limited and perhaps are at time inappropriately applied to real life driving situations.