Corner Upgrade - Plea

[James Deuce]

Without diminishing the tragedy of Sam's accident, we have to decide if we want nice, straight safe roads or ones we enjoy.

What he said, plus, that series of corners is one of the few remaining ridiculously technical pieces of motorcycle training left on public roads. There are a hell of a lot of things that can be learnt from those corners, from roadcraft to bike setup.

We don't know the circumstances of Sam's accident, and probably never really will, but I personally would rather fix the average Wairarapa driver's predeliction for driving on those roads like it is their own driveway, rather than a public road. I've met my fair share of vehicles on the wrong side of the road through that area over the years.

[Clockwork]

From the descriptions given I think I know the bend that is being dicussed here. It is bloody leathal! I came upon it on a KB ride where I learned just what a slow and cautious rider I was (I'm comparing myself with self proclaimed slow riders StoneChucker & Skunk, both of these guys rode faster than me on this ride.)

I must have missed any warning sign. As I rose over the crest of the hill the road ahead seemed to transform into dirt track. I slowed, confused. Suddenly I realised that the road was bending about 90 degrees left, this had been hidden by slightly eleveated land to the left of the road. I was left with the choice of continue to break in a straight line, cross the centre line and stop on the dirt road or attempt a late dive into the bend and hope to stay on the road. The latter was probably do-able but since I could see no cars were comming I elected to do the former.

No harm done, but it fair put the wind up me.

[James Deuce]

From the descriptions given I think I know the bend that is being dicussed here. It is bloody leathal! I came upon it on a KB ride where I learned just what a slow and cautious rider I was (I'm comparing myself with self proclaimed slow riders StoneChucker & Skunk, both of these guys rode faster than me on this ride.)

I must have missed any warning sign. As I rose over the crest of the hill the road ahead seemed to transform into dirt track. I slowed, confused. Suddenly I realised that the road was bending about 90 degrees left, this had been hidden by slightly eleveated land to the left of the road. I was left with the choice of continue to break in a straight line, cross the centre line and stop on the dirt road or attempt a late dive into the bend and hope to stay on the road. The latter was probably do-able but since I could see no cars were comming I elected to do the former.

No harm done, but it fair put the wind up me.

Both corners are clearly signposted with 55km/hr advisories in both directions. They aren't lethal, they just require some care and attention, and if anyone wants to I can help with developing strategies to cope with them. There are many sightline clues from the signs, to fences, to understanding vanishing points.

[Clockwork]

Is the corner I've described not the corner in question then?

Given the fatalities that have occured on at least one of them, I'd say that it qualifies as lethal.

[James Deuce]

Is the corner I've described not the corner in question then?

Is there a bridge in the middle of the corner at the bottom of the gully?

[Clockwork]

Not that I recall.

[James Deuce]

Not that I recall.

Different corners I think.

These ones are both decreasing radius corners, with a blind downhill entry from the North approach, and a less than clear visibility entry from the South

[Lou Girardin]

Aha, now I know the corner/s, never had a problem there personally. Although I've only been through there 3 or 4 times.

[Clockwork]

I'm sure the bend to which I refer must have had a warning sign but I missed it and effectively I missed the bend too!

My feelings are that if the entrance to the dirt road were moved 20m to one side so that it was no longer in line with the start of the bend, then a row of chevron arrows could be erected across the existing entrance and remove all confusion.

[Clockwork]

Aha, now I know the corner/s, never had a problem there personally. Although I've only been through there 3 or 4 times.

I'll never have a problem there again. Once was enough!

[Rainbow Wizard]

What he said, plus, that series of corners is one of the few remaining ridiculously technical pieces of motorcycle training left on public roads. There are a hell of a lot of things that can be learnt from those corners, from roadcraft to bike setup.

It all turns up from page 89 here on the NZ Police/Police public image thread.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=8113&page=89&pp=15&highlight=public+image
OK, you may have got tired of viewing this popular thread but there's some worthy info tucked away in there and it's relevant to this thread. Think of it as Sam working his magic in absentia. Thanks Sam, RIP.