Bike positioning on the road when cornering?

**The Stranger:Me** · 22nd October 2009, 07:49

Originally Posted by Ragingrob

And would you be riding the centre line with catseyes on it?

Cars that clip corners will already be on the centre-line if not slightly in your lane.

I would definitely try to start the corner as far right as possible within my own lane, i.e. not on the centre line.

You can see cars that clip corners sooner and react sooner to avoid them if you are out to the right and looking to your vanishing point. Just the other day on the scenic drive a bus was half in my lane on a left hander. Not a problem, I was entering the corner from the RHS of the lane. I saw it well in advance thanks to my lane position. Had I been to the left I would have had a hell of a surprise.

I accept your comments on the centre line, however if you re-read the OP you will note he is advocating avoiding the RHS of the lane entirely as if this somehow frequently leads to hitting cats eyes. It doesn't, as I noted, IF you miss them by 20mm it's still a miss (that shouldn't be interpretted as saying that I am advocating that you should miss them by just 20mm). They don't suddenly move around on you. So NO I'm NOT advocating riding on the centre line, I really didn't think I conveyed that message. I did say stay within your own lane.

**Subike** · 22nd October 2009, 07:54

When it is wet the first rule of saftey is slow down,
two things to avoid, Black shinny bits, White shinny bits.
Its wet, and you are having to plan your corner to get the fastest line through it, thinking of where you must position the bike etc etc etc!
YOU RIDING TOO FAST FOR THE CONDITIONS.
You could argue all day about how to corner
how fast you can corner
the right lines for the corner
how counterstereing could have improved this because..... XYZ
But ! DB you were going too fast for the conditions, the cats eye reminded you of that.
Slow Down in the wet , and live to ride tomorrow when its dry.

**jonbuoy** · 22nd October 2009, 09:01

There's no one answer, twisty road that cages often cut over centre line - stay left, pissing down with rain follow car tyre tracks, road drying up after rain follow the dry track in the middle of the lane. Loose seal from driveway - stay right. Sunken manhole cover left or right. etc etc...Repeat. Theres no perfect line because there's no perfect road.

**Goblin** · 22nd October 2009, 09:15

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Blah blah blah... you can kiss your ass goodbye.

As you were!
Steve

Can you lick your balls too?

**The Stranger:Me** · 22nd October 2009, 14:31

Originally Posted by jonbuoy

road drying up after rain follow the dry track in the middle of the lane.

Have you ever wondered why it dries in the middle of the lane first?

**jonbuoy** · 22nd October 2009, 18:16

Originally Posted by The Stranger

Have you ever wondered why it dries in the middle of the lane first?

Yeah but not too much hot engines/exhausts?

**george formby** · 22nd October 2009, 18:39

Originally Posted by jonbuoy

There's no one answer, twisty road that cages often cut over centre line - stay left, pissing down with rain follow car tyre tracks, road drying up after rain follow the dry track in the middle of the lane. Loose seal from driveway - stay right. Sunken manhole cover left or right. etc etc...Repeat. Theres no perfect line because there's no perfect road.

Yup, the perfect line is the one that fits at the time, a good day on a good road is the ideal but most of the time it's avoiding hazards. Like cats eyes, little buggers.
I think the middle of the lane drys first because car tyres are not depositing more water on it.

**The Stranger:Me** · 22nd October 2009, 23:28

Originally Posted by jonbuoy

Yeah but not too much hot engines/exhausts?

Engine, diff and gearbox oil has over time formed a waterproof coating on the surface of the seal. Riding on the north western after a light rain you will note the all the pretty colours down the middle of the road. I avoid the centre of a motorway or busy road like the plague thanks.

**jonbuoy** · 22nd October 2009, 23:57

Originally Posted by The Stranger

Engine, diff and gearbox oil has over time formed a waterproof coating on the surface of the seal. Riding on the north western after a light rain you will note the all the pretty colours down the middle of the road. I avoid the centre of a motorway or busy road like the plague thanks.

Yeah but I've found the centre IF its dry is still stickier than the wet - horses for courses. When the centres wet its wet, over here if it hasn't rained for a few months the first downpour is a nightmare - the roads are literally foaming with oil and crud, after half hour of rain it gets washed clean and its fairly safe to ride on.

**discotex** · 23rd October 2009, 04:27

Cornering (on the road) isn't a black art. It's simple if you follow some basics.

1a. Don't aim for the apex of a corner until you can see the exit - if you can't see the exit how would you know it's really the apex?

1b. Late apex where possible anyway. It's a good habit to be in as it allows you to see more of the road ahead (to avoid cages cutting corners, pot holes, etc) and will stop you running wide on the exit of corners.

2. Start the corner from the opposite side of the lane to the direction you're turning - going left start from the right.

3. Don't cut across the white line and "straightline". Mainly 'cause going in a straight line is boring but it's also a dodgy habit.

4. On right handers aim to keep your head inside the white line. Pretend it's a wall (because one day it will become one in the form of a vehicle coming the other way)

5. Get your braking done before you enter the corner. Pick up the throttle once at the lean angle you want and slowly but surely wind it on towards the exit.

6. Keep your eyes up and looking where you want to be next not at what's just in front of you.

Obviously adjust to the conditions etc etc.

**The Stranger:Me** · 23rd October 2009, 07:14

Originally Posted by discotex

Cornering (on the road) isn't a black art. It's simple if you follow some basics.

1a. Don't aim for the apex of a corner until you can see the exit - if you can't see the exit how would you know it's really the apex?

1b. Late apex where possible anyway. It's a good habit to be in as it allows you to see more of the road ahead (to avoid cages cutting corners, pot holes, etc) and will stop you running wide on the exit of corners.

2. Start the corner from the opposite side of the lane to the direction you're turning - going left start from the right.

3. Don't cut across the white line and "straightline". Mainly 'cause going in a straight line is boring but it's also a dodgy habit.

4. On right handers aim to keep your head inside the white line. Pretend it's a wall (because one day it will become one in the form of a vehicle coming the other way)

5. Get your braking done before you enter the corner. Pick up the throttle once at the lean angle you want and slowly but surely wind it on towards the exit.

6. Keep your eyes up and looking where you want to be next not at what's just in front of you.

Obviously adjust to the conditions etc etc.

7. Avoid cats eyes.

**jimmy 2006** · 23rd October 2009, 07:49

8. keep your speed down

**Ragingrob** · 23rd October 2009, 07:53

Originally Posted by jimmy 2006

8. keep your speed down

Once you've changed direction more speed helps the turn

**ManDownUnder** · 23rd October 2009, 09:11

I avoid the centre of the lane as a general rule. As The Stranger mentioned - that's where oil etc tends to be, but just as important for me, that's where you sometimes find "stuff". Stones, shoes, bolts... god knows what.

Anything solid will be kicked out of the car wheel tracks as they pass, and migrate either to the edges of the road (most often), or sometimes to the middle.