Learning lines

[prettybillie]

Heya

I've not been riding long and have just learned that all the advice that has been given to me in the past has been incorrect . I need to learn how to corner properly - lines, breaking points blah blah blah. Can anyone help????

[homer]

yep . go and do an advanced motorcycle course .
you will lear a lot , lots you already know but dont do, and lots of new learning as well .
and you can do in a safe enviroment , on a track.

[DUCATI*HARD]

[QUOTE=prettybillie;1868636]Heya

I've not been riding long and have just learned that all the advice that has been given to me in the past has been incorrect .

What advice has been given?

[The Stranger:Me]

If it's for the road, I suggest you check out the RRRS course on the 18th of Jan.

[Katman]

If it's for the road

As Noel suggests, there's a distinct difference between road lines and racetrack lines.

[ArcherWC]

I dont believe there really is "right" lines, it depends on the bike, track/road, rider and conditions.
Just follow as many people as possible, learn from ALL of them and take from each what feels right for you.

The RRRS course would be a VERY good stating point for you

[Mr Merde]

I have been riding now for 36 years. NEver had a car licence.

I'm still learning.

A lot of things I do now subconsiously. I dont actually remeber doing them.

After a couple of "offs" in the past two years I decided to try and consiously check what I was doing. Bad habits creep in without us ever knowing.

First thing I noticed was that I was very hard on the brakes. I would scream into corners and then apply the brakes quite heavily to enable me to scrub enough spped off so as to be able to corner smoothly. Fine line here. Started being a little more aware of when and where I was braking. Practised riding distances without using the brakes at all, just throttle and clutch contro. This is scary as after so long in the saddle it took a concerted effort to keep myself from using them. Personally I now feel a lot more confident going into corners and such. Also on straighter roads I find myself giving a lot more space betwwen the preceeding vehicles and myself.

Second thing I noticed was that actually in the corners I was having difficulties in that I was overstering and under steering. Things just didnt seem smooth. What I did was follow a lot of different vehicles into corners. I watched their lines as I did so and tried to emulate these.

It is a fact that a car will out corner a motorcycle. They have more rubber on the road and therefore more grip. I followed a few cars through the twisties going to my house and positioned myself in different place in relation to the rear of the car. What did I find?

This is only personal but I found that if I take a line similar to that of the drivers side wheels I seem to get around smoother with less effort.

As I have stated this is all personal experience and I am still attempting to make my riding safer and more enjoyable everytime I get into the saddle. After 36 years I have still so much to learn or relearn.

My advice to you would be to take things easy. Dont rush. Find out what feels safe and comfortable to yourself and build upon that. In our chosen method of transport errors of judgement and mistakes can at the least be bloody painful and at the worst be fatal.


Chris

[MyGSXF:Me]

A RRRS course would be awesome for you to go to!!!!

& here's a list of your Ak mentors, give one of them a bell & book in for some quality time!

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/mentors.php?do=list

[Rodney007]

i suggest you go to a trackday, follow people lines, watch there brake lights,

careful who you listen to here, %50 of them are useless

[ManDownUnder]

RRRS - learn the "right" way - then spend time on the road with people you like riding with. Their track records should speak for themselves (i.e. rule them out if they claim to be good but fall off every 6 months...).

I agree with Archer (God it hurts to say that)... everyone has their own style in the end - but I think that develops over time. The RRRS course will give you a good starting point - after that you refine it through time in the saddle.

A trackday will help get you familiar with your bike for sure - and it's highly recommended... but after that - time on the road... nothing beats experience and that doesn't come from a book.

[discotex]

What was the advice you were given that was wrong?

Best advice I ever got for *road* riding is:

a) Do your braking before the corner. If you've picked the right entry speed there is almost no need to trail the brakes on the road. Only thing I can think of is a downhill corner and you're in the wrong gear.

b) Slow in fast out - basically a combination of a above and b below.

c) Apex as late as possible for maximum visibility and more options if the corner tightens. You want the green line in this description of late apexing.

d) Use the vanishing point - If it's moving closer the corner is tightening and vice versa.

e) And of course... Look where you want to be next.

[jrandom]

What they said.

Although I question whether it's really 'lines' that you need to learn. Being able to control your bike well enough to consistently ride the line that you consciously know to be ideal might be your sticking point.

Yes, you take different 'lines' on the track and the road, but once you are more or less at one with your motorcycle, you are free to use the huge amount of spare mental energy that gives you to pick whatever approach is safest and smoothest.

So I'd advise both attending RRRS to learn road riding techniques, and spending some time in the 'new riders' group at some trackdays to become attuned to the physics involved in riding your motorcycle in a safe and predictable environment.

Whole life balance!

[prettybillie]

i suggest you go to a trackday, follow people lines, watch there brake lights,

careful who you listen to here, %50 of them are useless

Check out my post about AMCC ART day - hmmmm need to try a different track organiser I think!!!!

[prettybillie]

[QUOTE=DUCATI*HARD;1868706]

Heya

I've not been riding long and have just learned that all the advice that has been given to me in the past has been incorrect .

What advice has been given?

Biggest crock of shit I've been told is never use the front break. WTF? I think my ex might have wanted to kill me!!!!!

[vifferman]

[quote=prettybillie;1897594]

Biggest crock of shit I've been told is never use the front break. WTF? I think my ex might have wanted to kill me!!!!!

Did he ride him a hawg?

He may have meant to "not use the front brake in the corner". But even this is misinformation. You can brake (with either brake) in a corner, as long as you don't brake hard enough to use up available grip or unsettle the bike.