Wet cornering gear selection?

**Toast** · 2nd November 2007, 13:42

I guess that this applies to cornering in the dry when you're fairly hard on the gas and have a decent lean on too, but sticking with a wet track example:

Going around a corner in the wet with some decent lean angle, rolling the gas on, are you:

- in a hgher gear with moderate revs to keep it smooth and possibly get a bit more traction, but if it does spin, the rear wheel picks up more speed for a given engine speed; or

- in a lower gear with the engine screaming, rear end feeling a little fidgety, but if it does spin, it's more controllable

EDIT: Assumed that the corner speed in both cases is the same.

**jrandom** · 2nd November 2007, 13:50

Originally Posted by Toast

- in a lower gear with moderate revs to keep it smooth and possibly get a bit more traction, but if it does spin, the rear wheel picks up more speed for a given engine speed; or

- in a higher gear with the engine screaming, rear end feeling a little fidgety, but if it does spin, it's more controllable

You got the lower/higher around the wrong way there dude.

But, yes, higher gear all the way, particularly on a revvy bike with sensitive throttle and EFI, to minimise the likelihood of a fast loss of traction.

For me, anyway, being the rank newbie that I am. A better rider would probably get more corner pace out of the lower gear.

**Toast** · 2nd November 2007, 13:52

Originally Posted by jrandom

You got the lower/higher around the wrong way there dude.

But, yes, higher gear all the way, particularly on a revvy bike with sensitive throttle and EFI, to minimise the likelihood of a fast loss of traction.

For me, anyway, being the rank newbie that I am. A better rider would probably get more corner pace out of the lower gear.

Ah, thanks for that, fixed now.

I'm assuming a given corner speed here too, so the only variables really are the gear and the revs in that gear, for that speed

**jrandom** · 2nd November 2007, 13:56

Originally Posted by Toast

I'm assuming a given corner speed here too, so the only variables really are the gear and the revs in that gear, for that speed

It would really depend on how well one could finesse the throttle, I suppose.

Then again, I'm still nursing my sore thumb from highsiding at a wet apex after whacking on the throttle in 2nd, so I'm biased.

Fists of ham I have.

**ArcherWC** · 2nd November 2007, 14:45

I try to square the corner as much as possible, back it in, MX styles

I also tend to trail the rear brake to control wheel spin

**jrandom** · 2nd November 2007, 14:51

Originally Posted by ArcherWC

I also tend to trail the rear brake to control wheel spin

Heh, be careful when doing that on a bike that you're not familiar with. I locked up the rear of the MV yesterday coming into a 35k corner

The stream of consciousness went something like "skitter skitter sliiiiide, wtf's that, oh fuck I just locked the rear wheel, wow that brake actually works, unlike my bike, oh I suppose I should let go of it and get on the gas now..."

**Krusti** · 2nd November 2007, 15:24

Smooth, gentle and a good rythm..... works on anything wet

**Sully60** · 2nd November 2007, 15:35

Today 14:42
Toast Wet cornering gear selection?

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I - in a lower gear with the engine screaming, rear end feeling a little fidgety, but if it does spin, it's more controllable

Everytime a coconut and like Archer use the rear brake to modulate wheelspin.
Reasons and this is generalising here and not applicable to all situation, bikes, corners etc:

The higher revs usually means most bike are past peak torque and closer to the rev ceiling/limiter an easy form of traction control fitted to all bike since the beginnig of time, if the bike spins up with the revs high it'll hit the rev limiter before the wheel spins too fast and you get to far sideways.

This is going to sound shit but go play MotoGP3 on the Playstation and all the bikes behave this way. you can spin them up mid corner form the midrange but you usually highside, but if you do it form high revs they just hit the limiter and stop sliding.

This style requires you to be ready to upshift on the immediate exit of the corner so you don't bounce off the limiter trying to get your foot to the gear lever. You do have to be a little careful becuse if you exited the corner well you'l probably still be leaned over slighty when the time to make this shift. Also remember your clutch is your best friend when things get slippery, "slur" the gear shifts and don't dump the clutch (in up and downshifts)

I've tried running a gear higher and using the torque but when things let go theres a lot of tscope for things to get really sideways really quickly and in an uncontrolled manner (therefore increase the amplitude of the highslide -ouch- or have you spinning out sliding on your arse down the track before you have time to react)

The rear brake can be used to both smooth out the intial jerk from the closed throttle and retard any spin from there on.

The main thing in the rain is to stay smooth!
Just my experience anyway, hope it helps.

**t3mp0r4ry nzr** · 2nd November 2007, 15:39

Originally Posted by ArcherWC

I try to square the corner as much as possible, back it in, MX styles

I also tend to trail the rear brake to control wheel spin

backing it in in the wet. when traction is at its lowest, you want to break traction on purpose?

trailing rear brake on exit. why not just roll on slower, less distraction?

not being critical, im genuinely interested.
Kyle

**Sully60** · 2nd November 2007, 16:56

Originally Posted by t3mp0r4ry nzr

backing it in in the wet. when traction is at its lowest, you want to break traction on purpose?

trailing rear brake on exit. why not just roll on slower, less distraction?

not being critical, im genuinely interested.
Kyle

Backing in done the right way doesn't mean all the traction at the rear is gone, watch the euro guys on Motards and you'll find the rear wheel never stops turning which is why in the dry they can enter the turns sideways with the frame rails on the deck.
I don't know what Archer thinks but the more turning done by the rear before the apex means you have to do less turning with the front. Which end would you rather slide?

I found once the rear is hanging out you can actually break harder with the front and generally hit your apex's more comfortably with the front loaded up far less that you would if you'd entered the turn wheels in line. Not any faster but a little safer for spoads like me.

**Ivan** · 2nd November 2007, 17:22

I find on the RS I like the engine revving as they kick in hard into power badn that if i got the engine revving in wet smooth throttle etc the bike is good if I ride in a low rev and the bike cuts into power band whilst cranked over that would be me gone most likely.....

My Opinion

**GSVR** · 2nd November 2007, 20:29

Trying to think of times I rode in the wet and I'm sure I use the same gear as in the dry but the revs would be a bit lower because I'm going slower.
Twins have very wide torque and are probably easier than anything to ride in the wet.

A peaky twostroke would have to be the worst in all aspects except for the engine brakes. But then maybe engine braking is a good thing as it is extremely consisant more so than your rear brake so four stroke engine brakes may actually help..

**Sketchy_Racer** · 2nd November 2007, 20:35

Two strokes, white paint lines and slicks with a little bit of water SUCK ARSE! Trust me haha.

But yeah a peaky little 125 is a bit of a handful at times