Ride smoother and safer (and get paid to do it!)

[Leseid]

The problem I have as a newb is on coming cars mid corner scare the crap out of me, even though they are a safe distance away. So to maintain newb control I've taken looking ahead to a new level by glancing further down the road if it curls into a distant view. If I see a car I know it's coming so I am much smoother through the corners. Is this recommended?

What's the smooth riding technique for steep down hill corners? I seem to be using my rear brake more down hill and leaning back more when leaning over, is this a good or bad thing?

Cheers, Euan.

[CookMySock]

It's good fun playing games with things like that. I've always done that with riding, driving, or just walking along the street - no stepping on the lines!

Corners are perfection in, perfection out. No braking, just corner. Sometimes the bike goes in the correct place, tyres go wherever, other times tyres go in the correct place and bike goes wherever.

Whatever the method, the aim is always total discpline, control, and accuracy. The outcome is "choice" - that is, I can dictate precisely what my outcome will be at any time.

I used to do the same thing flying planes - always perfection, all the numbers correct, all needles steady-state unless I intend to make a change, everything successfully predicted in advance, all failures taken as a challenge. My instructor used to frown, cross his arms, and say "hrmmm very good steven", and move onto the next exercise. hehehe.

Steve

[MSTRS:Me]

Sometimes the bike goes in the correct place, tyres go wherever, other times tyres go in the correct place and bike goes wherever.

Don't give up your day job...

[Katman]

Don't give up your day job...

But, but, but....... a licensed motorcycle instructor agreed with him..........







.......once.

[yungatart]

It's good fun playing games with things like that. I've always done that with riding, driving, or just walking along the street - no stepping on the lines!

Corners are perfection in, perfection out. No braking, just corner. Sometimes the bike goes in the correct place, tyres go wherever, other times tyres go in the correct place and bike goes wherever.

Whatever the method, the aim is always total discpline, control, and accuracy. The outcome is "choice" - that is, I can dictate precisely what my outcome will be at any time.


Steve

These two statements seem to contradict one another.

Surely, if you are in control of your bike, you determine where it goes, (as in the bike and the tyres) and if you are not in control, then, well, it probably isn't going to be pretty.

What a senseless, thoughtless post to make...honestly, I am amazed that you still can amaze me!

The whole point of the thread is to ensure safer, more enjoyable riding, your contribution does nothing to achieve either of these.

[sugilite:Me]

The problem I have as a newb is on coming cars mid corner scare the crap out of me, even though they are a safe distance away. So to maintain newb control I've taken looking ahead to a new level by glancing further down the road if it curls into a distant view. If I see a car I know it's coming so I am much smoother through the corners. Is this recommended?

What's the smooth riding technique for steep down hill corners? I seem to be using my rear brake more down hill and leaning back more when leaning over, is this a good or bad thing?

Cheers, Euan.

I hear you Euan, as a newbie one already has a lot on their plate to deal with. With most of your thought processes and sensory capacity allready being taken up with the learning process of cornering a motorcycle, a car seemingly appearing out of no where can overwhelm the remaining thought and perception processes you have left.

The action you have taken to look further ahead is commendable and recommended action, you may also want to consider what I've written below.

The first thing to do is build the space to enable your sensory perception and thought processes are not overwhelmed. I'm assuming that you have this issue more on right hand corners where you a naturally closer to a car coming the other way. This being the case, make sure you take a line that means when you are leant over, your head and shoulders are still well on your side of the centre line and you are at a speed where you can pick up the bike and alter your line if need be. When you see a car coming, sharpen your focus on it and identify the car is on a good line and speed, then consign the car to your peripheral vision (but be on alert for any changes in the cars cornering arc) and concentrate on your completion of the corner. If you notice any change in the cars cornering arc within your peripheral vision, pick the bike up immediately, do not waste time thinking about it!

Using the smooth technique downhill is more challenging, but still very do-able, you simply throttle off even sooner, change down a little sooner, and do not accelerate as hard out of the downhill corners.

Using the rear brake gently while going down hill can definitly help steady the bike. I tend to just lean naturally when riding down hill. I save the leaning forward or back for the race track where you are invariably trying to make up for the short comings of suspension and handling of the bike when pushing at 100%. This should not be a issue at all when out road riding.

[neels]

Thanks for the excellent explanation.

I had a play with this last night, lately I've been working on not completely throttling off coming into corners which had become a habit, and what you posted has added to this quite nicely. It makes riding a lot more pleasant (and probably being my passenger as well) regulating the throttle rather than on/off on the throttle and brakes. I'm not racing so I don't need to be the last of the late brakers on every corner, and having followed other riders I avoid the brakes unless I am losing a decent amount of speed because it really puts me off having a brake light come on before every corner.

Interestingly what you have said fits with the 2 things I clearly remember from when my dad was teaching me to drive - when cornering go in slow and come out fast, go in fast and come out backwards (quote from some famous racing driver), and going down hills use the same gear that you would use going up so you're not on the brakes all the way down.

[ckai]

and going down hills use the same gear that you would use going up so you're not on the brakes all the way down.

This is very good advice. Didn't think of it this way but do it instinctively anyway. Still, it's a great way to put it.

[Squiggles]

If you reduce the throttle, your bike will tighten it's line

Can you clarify this, presume you're meaning less/reduced roll on, as opposed to rolling off?

[sugilite:Me]

Can you clarify this, presume you're meaning less/reduced roll on, as opposed to rolling off?

I'm talking about once you are commited and 1/4 to 1/3 in the corner already, and you realise you need to make an alteration to the line you are already on, reducing the throttle from what it already is at that point, will put the bike on a tighter line.

I'll be away at the river fest in Levin for the weekend, so won't be back online till Monday. Have a great Weekend's riding folks

[crazyhorse]

I was taught that speed didn't always get you there faster, and the trick was to ride smooth lines and its a much nicer way to ride. And he was right.

[Squiggles]

I'm talking about once you are commited and 1/4 to 1/3 in the corner already, and you realise you need to make an alteration to the line you are already on, reducing the throttle from what it already is at that point, will put the bike on a tighter line.

I'll be away at the river fest in Levin for the weekend, so won't be back online till Monday. Have a great Weekend's riding folks

I'd argue that by backing off the throttle you're loading the front and losing stability, and that this will push you wider...

[BMWST?]

I'd argue that by backing off the throttle you're loading the front and losing stability, and that this will push you wider...

not if you are ridng within the envelope.i would envisage minimal alterations.Dont forget we are already riding with minimal throttle and brake application and within other parameters...ie lane width,available stopping distance,limits of visisbilty.The whole idea of smoothness means you arent gonna enter a corner going WAY to fast

[Squiggles]

not if you are ridng within the envelope.i would envisage minimal alterations.Dont forget we are already riding with minimal throttle and brake application and within other parameters...ie lane width,available stopping distance,limits of visisbilty.The whole idea of smoothness means you arent gonna enter a corner going WAY to fast

Is it smooth to be on and off the gas?... Even the slightest twitch off the gas tends to give that instability...

Edit: Should you find yourself going too fast (in your head at least), what will happen then?

[BMWST?]

Is it smooth to be on and off the gas?... Even the slightest twitch off the gas tends to give that instability...

Edit: Should you find yourself going too fast (in your head at least), what will happen then?

It isnt smooth to be on and off the gas,but we are human and sometimes we cant be quite as smooth as we would like .I dont envisage "chopping" the throttle just a delay in opening or from neutral to trailing.I had a couple of bikes that demanded to be ridden in this way,although it was (and is again) my style.xs 750 and k 100 demand(and r100 gs for that matter)(and reward) smooth inputs