I'm getting spooked by downhill sweepers

[Toaster]

Always good to see informative threads like this. I for one HATE downhill cornering and blind corners..... damn sheep.

[firefighter]

Okay,
First and foremost have a read of "Twist of the Wrist 2".

I believe it's a worthy book. But is it really worth $54?

[CookMySock]

on a dry road it takes a lot to low side a bike so chances are if you commit you will make the corner. high siding is far more likely so dont snap the throttle shut or a lot of bad can happen really fast.

I don't think he is going anywhere near that quick - I think it's just a confidence thing. But yeah if he is, then find a track pronto, before someone gets hurt.

Steve

[Motu]

I believe it's a worthy book. But is it really worth $54?

I've read it several times,and never paid for it.Support your local library.

[howdamnhard]

This problem is 99% in my head but it's bugging me. I'm getting rattled by sweeping downhill bends with subtly changing radius. This morning it was the hill down to the Whitford roundabout coming from Howick. The sort of bend where you can't see the exit as you go in, maybe through a wooded area. I pick a line and a speed and a gear, going down on a trailing or whiff of throttle. Then need to change the line and my instinct is to give a bit more throttle, but then I worry I'll be going too fast for what's ahead. Braking feels wrong (I'm on a bend). Changing line means I'm using up road width Going down at a crawl is wrong.
I suspect I'm over-thinking this. Should I aim for a steady speed and adjust the line, or adjust the speed?
Going uphill I'm happy - no need to brake to lose speed as I only need to shut the throttle. It's the tun on thing when going downhill that's bugging me.

Use a lower gear to control your speed with .You can then use engine braking to slow down before the corner and then apply slight throttle while going through the corner without picking up to much speed. Go in slower and try aim to be smooth. If you do go into a corner and it tightens up (decreasing radius) then try not to stiffen up and brake,rather just lean(countersteer more) in harder.Most of the time you will get through. Hitting the brakes straightens you up and will cause you to go wide .

[Tryhard]

[QUOTE=macdo;1129706944]This problem is 99% in my head but it's bugging me. I'm getting rattled by sweeping downhill bends with subtly changing radius. This morning it was the hill down to the Whitford roundabout coming from Howick.

Me too. Try West road heading for Clevedon

[hayd3n]

practice practice and when you think you've mastered it
practice some more

even top racers fuck up

[macdo]

I don't think he is going anywhere near that quick - I think it's just a confidence thing. But yeah if he is, then find a track pronto, before someone gets hurt.

Steve

Yeah - confidence mostly and I'm not pushing the speed. Advice from here plus practice will fix it. Trouble is, the boy's taken the bike out for an early ride already - at least the tyres will be warmed up when he gets back!

[davebullet]

Problem when you get scared / panic, is your learning / remembering part of the brain goes to almost zero as survival kicks in.

Instead what I do is take the corner / bend slower than my skills allow. That allows me to remember / focus on how I could have been smoother, faster etc... Do that down hill several times, each time picking on only one aspect you thought you could do better on. Don't try and do 55 improvements - just one. Implement that, then repeat for the next one. As soon as you start thinking "I can't think of any other way to get down here smoother / quicker" - then you are back to where you were and can build on it via reading, track days, advanced rider training and more practise.

For example, one of my key problems is turning in too soon. It means I chop the apex, reduce my vanishing point unnecessarily and run wide.

[quickbuck]

I believe it's a worthy book. But is it really worth $54?

Closer to $540....
But I got mine for my birthday... Thanks babe.
I don't think she paid $54 for though.... If she did, well worth it in any case...

[Mrs weekendwarrior]

i hate that whitford rd bend too... im a super wuss so just go 20km & hold up everyone!

[Sentox]

For example, one of my key problems is turning in too soon. It means I chop the apex, reduce my vanishing point unnecessarily and run wide.

An awful lot of riders have this problem, I think. It takes a lot of discipline to run consistently ride entrances. Especially on corners you can't look through entirely, where all that visible road surface is so very attractive.

[Kemet]

Have a look in this part of the forum and see if you can find someone in your neck of the woods. They are there for this reason. A Rider who wants help and advice.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/80017-Senior-Mentors

then you can contact the member who is in your region

[Okey Dokey]

Lots of good advice here. I'll just add grip the bike with your legs. squeeze the tank and support yourself with you "core" back and stomach muscles. It is easy to lean on your bars going downhill, and that can be detrimental to your steering.

Look ahead where you want to go, keep it smooth.

[The Stranger:Me]

An awful lot of riders have this problem, I think. It takes a lot of discipline to run consistently ride entrances. Especially on corners you can't look through entirely, where all that visible road surface is so very attractive.

ride? you mean wide perhaps?
But ok, bloody good thread with good advice, but I'd add one more thing that I haven't seen mentioned.

Enter wide (covered already), look to your vanishing point at all times and stay wide until you can see your exit is clear - or there is another reason to tighten your line.
Reasons (to tighten your line) may be for example an approaching vehicle, obstruction or tightening radius.
If as in the OP, the radius tightens and you have stayed wide as I say, then you are set up correctly to in effect enter the new radius from the correct point. If however you apexed the corner early then the raduis tightens, well you're shit out of luck as you're going to screw something up.