Crappy cornering technique

[jrandom]

Really? Where?

Usually in 'General Bike Ravings', eh.

Oh yeah and the "who makes the ugliest bike" threads as well.

I believe it was established some while back that the ancient and honourable marque of Spagthorpe is without peer in this respect.

[jrandom]

... it is pronounced 'jason'

I've always read it as 'throatwobbler mangrove'.

[Ixion]

I believe it was established some while back that the ancient and honourable marque of Spagthorpe is without peer in this respect.

What utter nonsense. Typical, just what one would expect from an (ex?) Spagthorpe owner. What DID happen to that Spagthorpe, eh/aye/ay/a'

ANY rider knows that the illustrious Zorch, that most noble and incomparable example of glorious Elbonian technological supremacy, is definatively the world's ugliest bike.

[jrandom]

What utter nonsense. Typical, just what one would expect from an (ex?) Spagthorpe owner. What DID happen to that Spagthorpe, eh/aye/ay/a'

Some of us prefer not to list every bike we own in our KB profile, lest the lustful eyes of the light-fingered and/or the stern gaze of the law take undue note thereof.

Zorch, that most noble and incomparable example of glorious Elbonian technological supremacy...

Pfft. An entirely overrated machine; I am convinced that if the Spagthorpe Mudfloggler had not been most unjustly hampered by incompetent marketing and the unfortunate timing of the Great Shaving Cream Crisis in those critical Regency years, the ignoble brand of Zorch would have by now faded entirely from the popular consciousness.

[The Stranger:Me]

Fuck, why do we even have these stupid fucking threads?

The same reason we have any thread to talk shit and wind people up of course.

[Hitcher]

I've always read it as 'throatwobbler mangrove'.

Peasants. It is pronounced "Luxury Yacht".

[MarkH]

After reading this thread and reading up information on the internet about motorcycle riders being killed when they panic and fail to countersteer I wonder about how to be safer when riding. If I could put my thoughts out there and get some feedback from you guys that would be great.

Here goes:
When a rider panics at the appearance of an object in his/her path (like a car that pulled out) they often attempt to steer around it (e.g. turning the bars left to go left) this causes the bike to lean the other way and turn towards the object. I think that the mistake is to try to steer a bike in the first place because motorbikes/motorscooters/push bikes all steer themselves if you relax and go with what they are trying to do. The rider just needs to control the lean and let the bike steer however it likes. So if you need to suddenly veer to the left you should quickly lean the bike to the left and let it turn that way. I don't think you really need to know about countersteering because you instinctively know how to make a bike lean (ever since learning to ride a bike). I think the riders that use their bodyweight to turn (including racers) are definitely also using some bar input at the same time and I don't see how not realising they are countersteering makes any difference - the fact is that they can lean a bike quickly enough to turn as sharply as they need to and that's all that matters.

So if I ever find myself facing death and needing to turn I will need to force myself to look to an escape route and lean the bike the way it needs to go, trusting that it will turn to take that escape route I am fixating on.

This seems to fit in well with my recent experience - after almost 20 years since I last rode a motorbike I bought a scooter about 4 weeks ago. I initially found it a little tricky to smoothly and quickly turn corners, but after running up more than 2000kms I find it much easier. I just bank it over and it goes round the corner - it's not too hard when you gain a little confidence and relax a little (and don't worry about trying to steer). Now I am enjoying riding so much that I am thinking of buying another bike next year to use on the weekends while keeping my scooter for weekday commuting. Or, better yet, win lotto powerball and buy a new bike next week (the new GSX-R1000 K9 looks OK).

Does what I say make sense? Any useful comments?

[vifferman]

So if I ever find myself facing death and needing to turn I will need to force myself to look to an escape route and lean the bike the way it needs to go, trusting that it will turn to take that escape route I am fixating on.
Does what I say make sense? Any useful comments?

Yes, that's right, although sometimes a more vigorous effort may be required, like if there is something lying on the road right in your track. If you've previously practiced emergency obstacle avoidance (by for instance, swerving almost violently around some imaginary or non-harmful object on the road, while riding down a quiet street or wherever), then this helps, as you've already programmed yourself with the correct response.
Other things to practice are emergency braking (including in corners, and on wet roads). Many people don't do this, so don't learn the skills to brake hard enough, and to modulate the lever so as to avoid locking up the wheel(s). Instead, when confronted by the unexpected, they freeze up. (Been there, done that... not a pleasant experience.)

[The Stranger:Me]

Here goes:
When a rider panics at the appearance of an object in his/her path (like a car that pulled out) they often attempt to steer around it (e.g. turning the bars left to go left) this causes the bike to lean the other way and turn towards the object. I think that the mistake is to try to steer a bike in the first place because motorbikes/motorscooters/push bikes all steer themselves if you relax and go with what they are trying to do. The rider just needs to control the lean and let the bike steer however it likes. So if you need to suddenly veer to the left you should quickly lean the bike to the left and let it turn that way. I don't think you really need to know about countersteering because you instinctively know how to make a bike lean (ever since learning to ride a bike). I think the riders that use their bodyweight to turn (including racers) are definitely also using some bar input at the same time and I don't see how not realising they are countersteering makes any difference - the fact is that they can lean a bike quickly enough to turn as sharply as they need to and that's all that matters.

So if I ever find myself facing death and needing to turn I will need to force myself to look to an escape route and lean the bike the way it needs to go, trusting that it will turn to take that escape route I am fixating on.

Does what I say make sense? Any useful comments?

I seriously think you should check out my sig, NOT the stupidity part, the RRRS part.
The quickest way to effect a turn as you describe above is to use the method Big Dave shows in post 28.

[MarkH]

I seriously think you should check out my sig, NOT the stupidity part, the RRRS part.
The quickest way to effect a turn as you describe above is to use the method Big Dave shows in post 28.

3rd Sunday of October? $50? That sounds like a damn good idea!

[The Stranger:Me]

3rd Sunday of October? $50? That sounds like a damn good idea!

That's correct, 3rd Sunday in October & $50.00.
See you then.