My bad cornering

[Mr Merde]

19 months ago I had a fairly serious accident whilst going for a lesuirely ride in the countryside.

I went round a nice right hander at a speed that was not too fast for the corner but quite rapid (about 80 kph). Next thing I knew I was sliding down the road on my right shoulder, side of the helmet pushed hard to the tarmac and the bike on top of me.

My right arm was dead for over a month. I couldnt lift the arm at all.

Front tyre was taken out by gravel on the apex and I had gone down like lead balloon.

Back to the reason for my post.

Since then I have been very leary about right hand bends in particular and any bend in general. I've been over turning, under turning and gererally making a "DOGS BREAKFAST" of every corner.

This last week, having just bought a home in the country, I have been forced to ride the corners a little more frequently than any time in the past year.

What did I find. I have been watching the road too closely, I've been concentrating too much on the surface of the piece I am on or just about too be on. I suddenly realised that I have not been looking far enough ahead of me.

Forcing myself to look further afield when cornering and trying to concentrate on the next corner not the current one.

Lo and behold my style improved. I am getting smoother, less flustered, making less mistakes than this time last month. I have been too worried about the surface to actually ride properly.

Its little things like this that constantly keep me intersted in riding bikes. After 35 years I am still learning and improving.

Anyone out there got any tips as how to improve the enjoyment of riding then please post the tips here.

[Kflasher]

sweet dude, nice recovery, just remember complacency could take you down again.
I too improved after a long look at my riding style/ dump, funny how experience works aye...

[skidMark]

i havn't been on a sportsbike on the open road since november last year, when the vfr is sorted i'm gunna be such a n00bie!

[MSTRS:Me]

After 35 years I am still learning and improving.

...and discovering that you probably already knew the right way, but....
Good read. Go do a RRRS course - you will thank yourself.

[skelstar]

I agree, keepin gyour head up and looking through the corners is the way to go.

I find that concentrating on getting into a corner at the speed you want, and then 'attacking' the corner from there is a good way at getting faster. By not getting to the corner at a great rate of knots gives you more time to find the quickest way out.

[Krusti]

As far as looking ahead goes...Riding home from Cold Duck rally I decided to relieve the boredom of tootling along legally.

Try this, pick a line on the road and try to drive along it. First keep looking down just in front of your front tyre at the line. Very difficult to keep on track.

Now look way up the road. Keep looking at the line way ahead.

You will be amazed at the difference.

Pays not to try this on wet slippery white lines though

[onearmedbandit]

I too have found myself doing the same, concentrating too much on the road surface taking me away from concentrating on the road ahead. I realised this pretty quickly and found a lot more confidence and smoothness by looking further ahead.

[Chickadee]

RRRS course is always useful, + get a mentor to ride with you perhaps? They're good for pointing out lots of shit you forget to do!

Setting yourself up for corners, looking where you want to be, keep telling yourself in your head 'I can do this'. Practise countersteering away from corners, carparks at night (empty) are great for this.

Keeping the speed even, be in the right gear for you and the bike on corners. Try no to go too slow or too fast - or brake like buggery just before the corner as that doesn't do your confidence any favours as you'll feel (and be) less in control.

Keep going out for wee rides, & ride with folks that take corners well so you can watch how they take corners (of course riding with someone that rides at an appropriate speed too).

Good luck with getting over corners, I'm working on my cornering too - you're not alone. I've binned in two corners and I'm getting better with practise and time.

Ride safe buddy

[RantyDave]

I find that concentrating on getting into a corner at the speed you want, and then 'attacking' the corner from there is a good way at getting faster.

Agreed. It's nice to be able to go in to a corner in the right gear with just a tad of throttle on then build as you go round. Much better than having to come off the brakes and then on the throttle. Yuk yuk yuk.

Dave

[skidMark]

what are brakes?

[Babelfish]

...After 35 years I am still learning and improving....

My first tip would be to take off yer bifocals!

....by the way, great read and I could really relate to it. I did that alot, especially in built up areas and my cornering around streets was rubbish. Keeping my head up and putting some faith in the machines ability to cope with most stuff has me riding a hell of a lot smoother. Also, keeping my head up looking at the horizon improves overall balance so if I do hit slippy stuff my chances are improved (given the chance that is).

[gijoe1313]

Good to hear you've worked it out for yourself with some reflecting and putting into practice what you thought about!

Yep, back to basics it seems, but its done the trick! Maybe I should flick you my copy of Hough's Proficient Motorcycling for bedtime reading? Invaluable!

And oh yeah, you've been riding bikes almost longer than I've been alive!

[terbang]

Yup the loose stuff took me down and out your way too. The road surface is fairly critical to us riders and we need to keep an eye on it while taking in the big picture. Scanning close in while looking far enough ahead to get your lines sorted out. Tap dancing your way through an unexpected gravel patch when committed to swift bend gives us all nightmares. I use the situation or my position to determine my threats and adjust my scan, which will naturally slow me down. If I'm in the countryside on narrow rarely used roads that farmers drive tractors on, then I tend to pay a lot more attention to the surface and adjust speed accordingly (once I didn't and it cost 4 grand). Where on the motorway or road that is well marked and travelled on is less likely to be contaminated. Though I use the word 'less' rather than not.

[skelstar]

It's all about risk-management eh...

My process:
Coming up to a corner I decide where I'm likely to tip in, look through the corner while checking the road surface, waiting for the corner to open up, tip in, power out.

Edit: theres some crying and cursing too...

[ManDownUnder]

2 small words for ya.

TRACK DAY (no - really...!)