Bike positioning on the road when cornering?

[CookMySock]

I have seen a few threads about "where to position your wheels when cornering" but not really any reasoning why. The only thing has been "keep your head and bike inside your lane."

Yesterday I got a fright mid-corner doing about 100 clicks after clipping a catseye with my front tyre. A massive uncontrolled highspeed swerve ensued, and I am fortunate to be upright.

When you are in the right-hand half lane, and in a left-hand fast sweeper, put your tyres, not the bike in the center of the right half-lane. If you position the bike in the right half-lane you will very likely clip a cats-eye with your front tyre during left-handers. The resulting WHACK and massive uncommanded swerve is highly unamusing I assure you, and apparently in the wet you can kiss your ass goodbye.

As you were!
Steve

[p.dath]

I would recommend you buy Keith Codes's books (Twist of the Wrist and Twist of the Wrist II). They are cheap, I bought them from amazon.com.

Keith Code is one of the top motorcycle instructors in the world. He runs the California Superbike School.


The short answer to your questions is - there is no one magic line. It depends on the rider, the road, the bike, and your strong and weak points.

[jetboy]

... I got a fright mid-corner doing about 100 clicks after clipping a catseye with my front tyre. A massive uncontrolled highspeed swerve ensued, and I am fortunate to be upright.


Steve

Yeah this happened to me the other day too.

From what I've read and heard from fellow bikers the best thing to do is put the tyres where the right wheels of a car would be, which (for me anyway) is most definitely the case in the rain as cars tend to get rid of most of the standing water, however I don't follow this rule to a tee as sometimes you get the massive strips of tar down this side which, I have learned through doing, can also be bloody slippery.

[george formby]

On the road positioning yourself for maximum visibility through a corner is paramount, left handers- to the right of your lane, right handers to the left of your lane. These are quick lines too, the xtra visibility can allow a higher corner speed & you can get back on the throttle earlier as the vanishing point recedes. Your line is always

[Rodney007]

I would recommend you buy Keith Codes's books (Twist of the Wrist and Twist of the Wrist II). They are cheap, I bought them from amazon.com.

yeah that book teaches you about how to ride fast on the race track not how to avoid cats eyes.

[p.dath]

yeah that book teaches you about how to ride fast on the race track not how to avoid cats eyes.

The book is track focused. I'm a road rider predominately. But I still found it very valuable.

Tracks have bumps, rough patches, and areas to avoid - just like a road. The only real difference is the speed.

It's like learning to counter steer. Initially you do it automatically, but once you understand how to do it deliberately your riding takes a big step forwards.
These books take you through the mechanics of cornering (as well). You know how to corner automatically, but once you understand the mechanics of how it works it helps take you to a new level.

So I found the knowledge very applicable.

[awa355]

All the experts talk about turning in, the 'Apex', the lift zone etc. After 40t years of riding, I still cant fathom out how they can pick the Apex of a corner that keeps on unfolding as you continue around. Many corners have a blind exit, or could be described as long curves or the corner straightens, then curves in again.

Where you can see the complete corner laid out in front of you as you approach, then sure, you can follow the dotted line remembered from a website diagram.

For me, I go in wide, ( left for a right, right for a left) follow the arc of the corner untill I see the exit then I pick my exit line.

[BMWST?]

For me, I go in wide, ( left for a right, right for a left) follow the arc of the corner untill I see the exit then I pick my exit line.

and on a unknown road thats the only sensible way to do it...

[bikemike]

I don't think I've ever ridden without thinking about where the wheels are.

I will have to think on that...

[The Stranger:Me]

I have seen a few threads about "where to position your wheels when cornering" but not really any reasoning why. The only thing has been "keep your head and bike inside your lane."

Why? - It's not rocket science steve - it helps with staying alive apparently. Occasionally other vehicles approach from an opposing direction. If you should colide with one this can be very bad for you - apparently.

[Ragingrob]

Why you would be riding so far in the middle of the road let alone trying to take a left corner there, where cars may cut the corner or ride the centre like you are, I would never know.

[The Stranger:Me]

Yesterday I got a fright mid-corner doing about 100 clicks after clipping a catseye with my front tyre. A massive uncontrolled highspeed swerve ensued, and I am fortunate to be upright.

When you are in the right-hand half lane, and in a left-hand fast sweeper, put your tyres, not the bike in the center of the right half-lane. If you position the bike in the right half-lane you will very likely clip a cats-eye with your front tyre during left-handers. The resulting WHACK and massive uncommanded swerve is highly unamusing I assure you, and apparently in the wet you can kiss your ass goodbye.

As you were!
Steve

That cats eye certainly did some serious psychological damage didn't it. So you wee'd yourself, get over it.

For fuck sake steve, it's only a cats eye. it didn't just jump out at you. you hit it. Don't hit the fucken things and it wont be a problem. There is no reason why you shouldn't be in the "right half-lane" in your scenario above. Hell if you are 20mm off of the cats eyes it's not a problem.
To say you "will very likely" hit a cats eye is just pure bullshit. These things aren't random acts - if you choose to not run over one you wont.

In all honesty, if you can't exert sufficient control over your bike to safely avoid cats eyes whilst in the right wheel track on a left bend either you or your bike needs some real SERIOUS work as this is real simple stuff. Stop trying make a big deal of it.

[The Stranger:Me]

Why you would be riding so far in the middle of the road let alone trying to take a left corner there, where cars may cut the corner or ride the centre like you are, I would never know.

Guilty. I frequently start a left bend from the right wheel track - or right on the centre line if speed dictates and conditions permit.
The right side of the lane allows you to both see and be seen better and I basically try to fit in the most open radius curve practicable into my lane.
Why not?

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

A massive uncontrolled highspeed swerve ensued, and I am fortunate to be upright.

Welcome to the real world of motorcycling...

[Ragingrob]

Guilty. I frequently start a left bend from the right wheel track - or right on the centre line if speed dictates and conditions permit.
The right side of the lane allows you to both see and be seen better and I basically try to fit in the most open radius curve practicable into my lane.
Why not?

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.