Swerving...

[magicmonkey]

Ok, so I'm getting a bit ahead of myself here as I still need to get emergency braking sorted out properly but I'm working on that, honest!

The idea has hit me that after I've put in a few more hours practice and I'm comfortable with emergency stops I should probably find my way to a car park and practice swerves before getting out on the road properly (I know, I know, I'm being an anally retentive noob). The problem is that although there is a bit of information on t'interwebs about when to swerve, there is precious little information about how to actually do it. I'm told that it involves 2 sharp counter-steered turns but that's about as much as I can glean on the subject, could anyone shed some light on the actual 'how' of swerving?

[MSTRS:Me]

Hard to describe in mere words on a screen. You've basically said it yourself...'2 sharply executed countersteer moves'. But there's body shift and stuff, as well, that can help.
I suggest you get in touch with a Welly mentor (Deano?) and go get some face time on the bikes.

[magicmonkey]

I suggest you get in touch with a Welly mentor (Deano?) and go get some face time on the bikes.

That's probably a very good idea! I've got to say, this site is awesome for noobs

[avgas]

look where you want to go, not where you want to swerve.
Also try its about 100 times doing exactly the same thing.
Eventually it will be habit and a natural reaction.
I found it easier to learn in the grass on road tyres (no seriously) as you need less speed.

[NDORFN]

IMO the best way to learn anything is to teach yourself. Swerving for example... Visualise or look up on Youtube what a swerve consists of then try to emulate that with practise. Taking technical advice from instructors and experienced riders is always an advantage, but ultimately it should come down to you and the bike and enough practise to confidently say that you've mastered it. I like your attitude and I'd go as far as to say that if all learners were this eager to put the time and effort into developing/honing thier skills there'd be alot less accidents. I guess the only other piece of advice I have for you is to put yourself on a bike that you're not afraid to drop while practising (in a carpark of course), because if you're doing it right, you WILL drop it as you need to push yourself over the edge to know exactly where the edge is. For example, learning how far you can lean your bike before a peg or exhaust hits and levers your wheels out can only be achieved by actually doing that, round and round in circles, knee out, until THUMP... and you're lying next to your bike having with an education you can't get any other way.

[MSTRS:Me]

Nah. Finding 'the edge' doesn't work quite like that. Surfaces change and tyre temps etc all combine to make the edge a moving target.

[BMWST?]

actually athe swerve itself is not so bad....give the right bar a push and the bike will go to the right.But you then have to correct so you have to give the left bar a push while you are still leaned over to the right,then a smaller push to bring the bike back on course.You need a car park or something to practise this,but you can try very small pushes on the bars when going along the road to feel the effect of a deliberate "countersteer"

[NDORFN]

Nah. Finding 'the edge' doesn't work quite like that. Surfaces change and tyre temps etc all combine to make the edge a moving target.

It's a mental thing dummy. How many people have died because they were afraid to dig it in? How many people have died because they dug it in too far?

[p.dath]

I wouldn't worry about it quite so much. Just get out their on some quiet roads and get some riding time in. Get some basic skills to the stage where they are automatic.
By all means practice swerves as well, but things like swerving hard will become easier when you can focus more attention on them - and that happens when you don't have to focus attention on other areas because they have become automatic.

[magicmonkey]

IMO the best way to learn anything is to teach yourself. Swerving for example... Visualise or look up on Youtube what a swerve consists of then try to emulate that with practise.

And therein lies the problem, I've got an idea of what I think needs to be done in a swerve but without actually knowing the basic principles I don't want to head out with some silly fantasy in my head and try to do something impossible, I'm trying to not visualise anything until I know what I should be visalising.

You tube can be pretty helpful for a lot of things but shitty quality and tiny pictures make for missing a lot of the finer points; for-instance, I have no idea what the handlebars are doing on any of the swerve vids I've seen...

[magicmonkey]

I wouldn't worry about it quite so much. Just get out their on some quiet roads and get some riding time in. Get some basic skills to the stage where they are automatic.
By all means practice swerves as well, but things like swerving hard will become easier when you can focus more attention on them - and that happens when you don't have to focus attention on other areas because they have become automatic.

heh, at the moment I'm just stroppy because I've got a new bike and I have to spend all day at work! It seems that if I can't ride at the moment I'm thinking about riding. My boss will probably realise I haven't done anything other than read bike sites for the last week soon

[pistonbroke]

Mr Monkey ,swerving is a bit risky wear good gear

[Ixion]

.. For example, learning how far you can lean your bike before a peg or exhaust hits and levers your wheels out can only be achieved by actually doing that, round and round in circles, knee out, until THUMP... and you're lying next to your bike having with an education you can't get any other way.

That has to be one of the silliest, and potentially most dangerous "recommendations" I have ever read here .

Please, if you are a learner IGNORE IT.

God, it's almost enough to make me sign up to the Katman Foundation

[NDORFN]

And therein lies the problem, I've got an idea of what I think needs to be done in a swerve but without actually knowing the basic principles I don't want to head out with some silly fantasy in my head and try to do something impossible, I'm trying to not visualise anything until I know what I should be visalising.

You tube can be pretty helpful for a lot of things but shitty quality and tiny pictures make for missing a lot of the finer points; for-instance, I have no idea what the handlebars are doing on any of the swerve vids I've seen...

I mean visualising what happens in a swerve, as if you're watching someone else do it. And by 'what happens' I mean the bike and rider go around the obstacle. Then make it happen. Put a couple of cones down and practise. The thing is, you're on a GN250, which is in a completely different league as the bikes of most people here trying to give you advise. You DO need to know how to swerve before you do too much riding because when the need arises, if you're not the complete master of your bike, you'll just hit the brakes and it'll get messy. My last suggestion is, DO try to gather as much advice before, during and after as available, but try keep it relevant ie. In terms of the techniques riquired to control your bike, give priority to advice from other GN250 riders. There's a few on KB and there are FAQ sites and forums.

[NDORFN]

That has to be one of the silliest, and potentially most dangerous "recommendations" I have ever read here .

Please, if you are a learner IGNORE IT.

God, it's almost enough to make me sign up to the Katman Foundation

Going round and round on a 250 in a carpark... Dangerous in what way? What could happen? A broken ankle or wrist at worst. You must be the biggest pussy on KB.