how do you get smoove cornering technique?

[Gremlin]

But my view of what the terms mean.

Squaring off the corner (early apex) is where you go in wide and late and turn the corner into a sharp 90 degree turn. It works on the principle that the less time the bike is leaned over the sooner you can be on the gas and the harder you can accelerate and brake. You have to be on the opposite side of the track from the corner (or out that way). Most corners are done this way

A late apex means that your turn in starts much earlier bringing the apex forwards around the corner towards you. The result is that once you get round the corner, you then have to turn again to stop yourself running off the track. Its that double turn thats the classic for a late apex. You'll see it happening at the exit to sweepers (ruapuna is a classic). Also, watch someone like james toseland in superbikes - you will see him throw his body to the side to keep the bike upright as he does the second part of the turn.

My view on early and late is the opposite. I've always thought of the apex as being the point in a corner where you are the closest to the inside of the corner. But you can have double apexes (apexii??). Correct me if I'm wrong, but an early apex is where you touch the inside of the corner early on. Unusual, but usually used for double apexii...

A late apex is when you turn in late, and by far the best for road riding. As others have already said, you wait until you can the exit of the corner, or you can "see" the line through the corner and then you turn into the corner. Not the fastest, but much safer because it leaves room for error.

[LED]

It does only apply to your side of the road......

Holy boy.....what 2-7 said, this forum has come up several times previous when I surfed as a guest for about a year before deciding i may have enough cred/experience to make a few comments, so I apoligise there guys if my number of posts don't reflect my comments, but hells teeth this is dire....STAY ON YOUR SIDE!, and a huge caution of left handers as traffic cut the corner - especially out on back roads, if you want to use the whole road its the track for you....have a search on the site for those old threads and be safe out there!!

It's just like surfing...you're on a nice learners board, just take it easy and get some quantity in the waves rather than quality. Believe me your worse ever experience in the big 'washing machine' is nothing to coming off on the seal..........enjoy

[surfchick]

no- don't worry- i didn't think you drove straight across the road- more was thinking of it in an abstract sense. I'm a bit superstitious about keeping to my side of the centreline even in a car when I can see the road is clear. funny reading about where the best place to apex is- is a bit like asking where is the best place to put your bottom turn eh LED? although I have seen both bikes and cars shoot over the centreline when they can see its clear. Not my thing though. by the way mr led- it was mal waves here in pauanui today and real board waves last sat. bugger wrong smilie

[Gremlin]

not only should you keep to your side, but you should also keep your head inside your lane as well (ie, when cornering keep your bike more to the middle of the lane). Wouldn't want to lose your head while going round a corner...

[Motu]

Dont know who said drive on the wrong side of the road - but they should be shot - only people who are poorly trained and cant ride bikes properly need to use more than the lane they are in.

I didn't say it - but yes I do ride on the wrong side of the road as part of my smooth riding technique.The bikes I ride,the tyres I use,and the roads I ride are much more ''on the edge'' than what most here are into - to ride on knobs,on a wet road with constantly changing surfaces one has to ride very,very smoothly...braking,throttle and steering inputs are all gentle,I keep up momentium as I previously mentioned...and I cut right hand corners to the inside gutter,and as ''someone'' else mentioned,I will straighten a series of corners - apex,apex,apex.Come along for a ride one day and I'll show you how it's done...

[TwoSeven]

...... tyres I use,and the roads I ride are much more ''on the edge'' than what most here are into - to ride on knobs,on a wet road with constantly changing surfaces one has to ride very,very smoothly...braking,throttle and steering inputs are all gentle,I keep up momentium

You riding an american bike then. Must be one of them there harley machines. They take a lot of momentum building to get a ton of iron to hit 55mph

[Waylander]

You riding an american bike then. Must be one of them there harley machines. They take a lot of momentum building to get a ton of iron to hit 55mph

Nah not hard to hit 55 on a harley just hard to turn it at anything faster.

[Motu]

You riding an american bike then. Must be one of them there harley machines. They take a lot of momentum building to get a ton of iron to hit 55mph

Yeah,I'd love an XR750...my dream bike,100mph sideways...and no brakes...you don't want to slow one of those things down!

[Posh Tourer :P]

Squaring off the corner (early apex) is where you go in wide and late and turn the corner into a sharp 90 degree turn.

Ie you apex further round the corner (hence late apex)

A late apex means that your turn in starts much earlier bringing the apex forwards around the corner towards you. The result is that once you get round the corner, you then have to turn again to stop yourself running off the track.

If you turn again, thats a double apex according to me. The early apex (ie it happens earlier than a racing line - your late apex) usually means that you run wide coming out of the corner, tighten the sphincter, and hit the brakes....

If you draw a curve from the outside of the track, to the inside of the track and back out to the outside, a normal apex will be the point of where the line touches the inside curb. Very few corners require this (usually merged corners)

On the road they won't. On the track, isn't that a normal line?

Once you learn which apex to use one which corner, you then need to chuck it all in the bin and learn "sets". The basic objective is to make a straight line as possible thru multiple corners or to remove corners completely.

Heh yeah, but thats the fun part of it all

An example of merging corners is the two left handers are ruapuna before the dipper, these are taken as one sweeper apexing in the middle on the outside of the track. The result is you are able to use the gas in the dipper earlier. Its all throttle control here (from my dodgy memeory)

Err, I'd call that a double apex, in that you apex the first corner early and the second late, but I see your logic - the apex of *your* line would be on the outside. I usually talk about the apex of the corner rather than your line.

An example of a set at ruapuna would be the right hand before fulton hogan corner (square it off), slow then hold to the right (inside) side of the track, square off fulton hogan and hold the left (outside), merge the following 'race ready' corner.

By squaring off, you are doing what I would call a late apex. Great to set you up for a series of left-rights (or right-lefts) as you are already in position for the next when you leave the last. Sets like that are what motorcycling is all about.....

[magnum]

hi and welcome,best to pick an appropriate gear for the corner and excellerate thru a corner,ie in slow out fast[for a learner anyhow].