Corners - pretty simple when you think about it

**Bob** · 26th June 2004, 05:12

Ever wanted to be able to pull someone over and say "Please learn how to do that properly, for your own good as well as everyone else"? Well I wish I could have done so tonight.

Riding home tonight, sat behind a guy who, I hope, learns what he is doing pretty quickly.

He is riding a CB250, so guessing new to the game. Anyway, he approaches the bend. Given the way the speed is bleeding off, he has shut the throttle and is going to coast round the corner.

Bad enough in itself, but he leans the bike over a little... then BRAKES mid-corner!

I sat back, waited for a chance - then got round him and out of harm's way as quickly as possible.

Guessing he is a car driver that has just got into bikes - I see no end of car drivers doing the same thing every day. At least with a car the ABS, BBS and probably CBS (you can tell I don't drive a car,) kick in and save them from their own stupidity. On a bike? One of these days a move like that is going to get him into serious trouble.

**wari** · 26th June 2004, 05:30

JUst as welll he wasnt in AUckland on the bus root ...

Deisle diesle ... diesel ... (none of them look right) ... on every corner.

**El Dopa** · 26th June 2004, 07:48

So that's the wrong way to do it.

Anyone want to walk those of us who are new to this through the right way?

Wari - the 3rd one (diesel) is correct

**Firefight** · 26th June 2004, 07:51

Originally Posted by wari

JUst as welll he wasnt in AUckland on the bus root ...

Deisle diesle ... diesel ... (none of them look right) ... on every corner.

Don't know what the first two are, don't think your D8 would have run that well on them

F/F

**FROSTY:Me** · 26th June 2004, 08:32

is there such a thing as the "right ' way round a corner ?
Sure in theoery the idea is to bleed all the exess speed off in a straight line. cornering should be accellerating very lightly setting up to get maximum drive into the next straight line.
Reality varies with every corner and situation.
I know guys who take the classic wide in tight out type of line -big sweeping curves and other guys that chop a corner up into a couple of radical bites getting drive between the bites.
I guess if everyone agreed races ould be really really boring.

**SPman** · 26th June 2004, 08:42

On the road, surely the right line, is a line that enables you to smoothly progress around the corner with the minimum of drama and minimum amount of speed loss, while letting you see what is through and around the corner....

**Jackrat** · 26th June 2004, 10:02

Originally Posted by El Dopa

So that's the wrong way to do it.

Anyone want to walk those of us who are new to this through the right way?

Wari - the 3rd one (diesel) is correct

Mate it depends on your bike and the situation but the way Bob described it,the guy should have changed down and kept steady power on right through out the corner.Useing your brakes mid corner is a definate no no unless you really know what your doing.Touching your back brake will tend to drop you farther into the corner and can help in some situations but you better have practised it a few times as it can also brake the back end loose.
Hitting the front brake will stand the bike up, but again it can also dump you on your face so get into your local Fav' practice area and practice it before you do it on the road.
Where I live you take left hand corners in the center of your lane or to the left, if you go in wide you could likely meet one of the locals cutting the corner from the other direction.They ALL BLOODY DO IT.

**wkid_one** · 26th June 2004, 10:15

I just pleased with any corner that I manage to stay on the bike after

**Wenier** · 26th June 2004, 14:36

yea i reckon jus keepin steady power thru the corner so u can get onto drive as soon as your out is correct. On the road the line doesnt matter as long as u take one that doesnt cause u to brake hard mid corner.

**moko** · 26th June 2004, 14:44

Originally Posted by Jackrat

Touching your back brake will tend to drop you farther into the corner and can help in some situations but you better have practised it a few times as it can also brake the back end loose.

I always cover my back brake while cornering,been told it`s a no no by loads of people,all with years less miles and experience than me,and it`s got me out of the shit a couple of times.Like Jackrat says though it`s not the kind of thing you want to start doing straight off.
When I`m riding I position myself to see the most of the road,out to the R.H. side for left hand bends and in towards the side of the road for right handers,out in the sticks I do like Jackrat,ride so as I can see what`s coming and they can see me as far as possible,if that`s the wrong side of the road then fine,better than ending up being some Hick`s bonnet ornament.

**k14** · 26th June 2004, 14:50

Ohh, thats an accident waiting to happen.

I had a pretty shady moment last weekend, coming up to a 25km posted speed hairpin I was changing down the gears changing into 2nd just before I was about to tip it in, but for some reason it went into neutral, fuck, managed to just lean it over not panic too much and changed back into second when I was out of the corner. Could have easily run wide or paniced and braked and lost it.

When I was first riding I managed to go round the corner with the clutch in, learn't pretty quickly that is a big no no, don't know why but it does something funny to the balance of the bike. It actually feels like you speed up a little, it is fairly uncontrollable aswell.

As for braking in the middle of a corner, I never do that weather I'm on my bike or driving a car.

**wkid_one** · 26th June 2004, 15:03

Shit I do it all. Stay out wide turn in late is my predominant technique. I tend to turn in quite sharp/steep, I do cover the front brake mid corner - but only principally enuf to shave a bit of speed. Prefer to get on the power asap to level the bike out and transfer the weight to the back of the bike..

**Wenier** · 26th June 2004, 15:30

Originally Posted by k14

don't know why but it does something funny to the balance of the bike.
it is fairly uncontrollable aswell.

Im pretty sure that is because without the drive being provided the forces keeping you up off the ground when leant over like that are not all there.

And the rear brake is handy if you havent gone into a corner leant as far over as possible, as if ya start to run wide and no wut ya doin ya can tap it and make the bike tip in more for a even tighter line to get you back on course, of course if your really running wide then ya probably fukd

**marty** · 26th June 2004, 15:33

i prefer to late turn in - probably a lay-over from club car rallying (on the seal) days. different kettle for the dirt though. i found on the RS if i tried to muscle the bike it would just dip in violently. not a good look on country roads with grass enroaching the seal. i found APPLYING the front brake mid corner is the no-no. feathering it to keep the bike settled was ok though. the RS liked a little bit of rear brake to keep the suspension settled - especially on bumpy corners. not a lot, just a thought's worth.

won't be needing too much braking on the new beast though. had to put off the pick up til monday. boo hoo

**Skyryder** · 26th June 2004, 16:49

Go to http://www.msgroup.org/DISCUSS.asp

Read articles 29 and 30. He seems to know what he's on about.

Depending on speed I usualy brake during the approach and while the bike is still upright. I think it was K14 who mentioned that he hit a corner in nuetral. What happens is that without engine reves you lost traction and the bike drifted. Not a safe thing to do but in an emergency I believe that it is safer to crash down a gear than to suddenly hit the brakes. Sooner a busted gearbox than a busted body. Like most things in life we all have a slightly different way of doing things but if you have to brake on the lean and already into the bend (making a line correction) then you have hit the corner to fast.

Skyryder