cornering technique

Bubbs · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 May 2009 Karma :

Hi all,

I was hoping you guys/girls could post up some technique that you use when cornering. I don't yet have the confidence to get the bike banked over in a turn as much as i'd like. I'm using the counter steer technique consciously while entering the bend but still almost run wide, or not bank enough. Don't know what the bike will allow me to do really, which i feel is taking the potential fun out of my riding experience.

All/any suggestions are welcome?

Thank you in advance.
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Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

Just lean more.

Ride more, lean more, go faster, you'll really surprise yourself how far over you can go. But get faster and lean more GRADUALLY.

If you decide to barrel into a corner 20mph faster than usual, you'll crash.

From looking at your sig you're a fairly new rider, so it's all about practise, and learning how far you can take it. For a bench mark, on most bikes you can get the pegs to touch the floor in a corner.

And also make sure you're looking down the road at the exit of the corner, if you're concentrating on the corner too much, you'll get target fixation and find yourself in the hedge. Look through the corner and out the other side, and you'll find yourself round and out before you know it.

When you have a bit more experience a trackday would possibly help, then you can really test what the bike can do, in some safer circumstances. And once you've got your knees down, you know what you can throw at the bike.

Gaz

Bambam3 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 19 Feb 2010 Karma :

Heh, I have the same fear/problem.

Very new rider myself, only on a L-plated 125, but man it feels scary leaning around corners, to the point I initialy just slowed right down and crawled around alot of them.

Bastard in a car honking behind me earlier while I was out having a practice through some quiet twisty lanes, tight corner going downhill, made me feel a right twat, but any faster I thought I'd come off.

Spent an hour or so going through lanes anyway, just seeing what works and what doesn't leaning/turning wise and it helped alot.

Once or twice I ventured over the line by not leaning enough outta fear, but overall it helped me gain a little more confidence in the bike.

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

Might be worth checking tyre pressures. They can make a bike feel really strange!

Gaz

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

Bubbs · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 May 2009 Karma :

Rob W · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Nov 2004 Karma :

As others have said, dont think about it too much, and just LOOK exactly where you want to be going. Surprising how just making sure that you're looking properly at the exit of a corner or wherever you want to be will naturally just make you go there.

Rowey · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Karma :

Check your tire pressures are ok. Make sure the tires are nicely warmed up. Then find a big, nicely surfaced, quiet roundabout.

Keep a constant speed at medium revs and keep going around in circles (not ovals). Gradually increase the speed by a few mph each time banking the bike over further and further. Moving your arse back in the seat, moving a bum cheek off the inside of the bike and having your head 'kissing' the inside mirror will also help.

It might be an idea to stop every now and again to have a look at your chicken strips to get an idea of how far you're leaning.
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P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Ichy · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

Make sure your arms are nice and loose with bent elbows, not all tensed up and straight. Try clamping the tank with your legs. Don't try moving all over the bike until your confident with your bum planted in the seat.

Your bike is way better than you, let it do what it does best.

bacon · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jan 2009 Karma :

Go and download Keith code "Twist of the wrist 2"

I need to watch it again, its very good, and has some great cheesy story line to go with it!

Also you will prob find your road positon will have a big effect on how you will ride into corners, i did a bikesafe course in february wih the police, they focus almost entirely on road position and really does help you maintain speed through corners etc. Only costs £25 and they showed me lots of roads i didnt know about

T0MMY · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Karma :

As has been said, the bike will have far more grip than you expect if it's got even half decent tyres on it.

Circling roundabouts is definitely a good idea, you'll be surprised how far you can lean but just make sure you're smooth on the throttle.

On "real" roads just get to know a suitable stretch of NSL really well and concentrate on taking nice lines through the corners. Then build up the speed gradually to increase your lean angles.
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MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

I watched this a while ago, and found myself using the techniques mentioned in the vid without realising it.

Howling TerrorOutOfOffice · Super Spammer Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Karma :

This chap posts loads of roadriding vids. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxuN2_Z7eJI

I find myself saying 'keep out, keep out' when doing some right handers.

One of the best things about riding bikes is you never stop learning...if you want to.

Pat
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bEN_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Dec 2005 Karma :

Fuck knee down, aim higher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TjR5uQoKNQ

Thumbs Up

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TUG · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2007 Karma :

Its all aim and view for me, theres no point getting your knee down on blind bends right next to the curb.
I also counter steer alot, your head acts as a balance weight aswell, mines always right over but my seated posistion is as you would normally ride.
Slow in fast out!
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L4Isoside · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Mar 2010 Karma :

evoboy · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Aug 2009 Karma :

Just loosen up, relax and enjoy the ride.

Leaning the bike over further will come with experience. Have you had the bike long? Getting used to the bike is the first thing and as has been said, basic maintainence so you have confidence in the machine.
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R34lN1nj4 · Derestricted Danger Joined: 18 Feb 2010 Karma :

If it hasn't been mentioned before;

See if one of the lovely peeps from BCF will give you a hand in person. It's all very well taking on the advice, but sometimes if you see it put into pratice it will make it make sense better.

I suggest getting someone to follow you / you follow them and then you will see what you do differently to them.

A lot of cornering and leaning is down to confidence and experience though and that will only come with riding all the time. Get out there as much as possible and see what you feel happy doing.

A lot of the more experienced amongst us only got to where they are by having a scarey moment or ten, and it's only by realizing that you can get away with certain things that you learn more about the bike you are riding and the skill you possess.

...and as Evoboy said...

RELAX

Wink

[EDIT] I wont subject BCF to another copy of my KD by numbers picture, cos I can't find it.... [EDIT]

Smooth · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Karma :

As above, but also make sure that your bike is in good fettle. Give it a good service, set the suspension, check wheel alignment and all bearings, bushes etc. for play.

Try to be smooth and relaxed on the bike.

Before turning, press your outside knee against the tank. The turn is initiated by counter-steering, but it should be a fluid, natural, motion that is a by-product of looking far ahead and leading with your chin and torso.
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hmmmnz · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

in all my years riding. my only bit of insight is

brake before the corner, and accelerate through/out of it.

at no point during the corner let go of the gas or brake,
thats a sure way of going wide, or at worse high siding the bike..
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GSF Jamie 600 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 17 Oct 2008 Karma :

Trust your tyres Thumbs Up

that used to be my problem, i just thoughught they wouldn't stick but now i have total confidence in them, they can go suprisingly far without even a slip.

And next time you fear leaning it over to much, think of itlike this, if you lean it over to much you will probarbly low side, which is a pain in the ass and hurts but if you come off the road you'll probarbly highside and fook they hurt lol

Oh and throttle control plays a huge part in it Thumbs Up

daz_d_biker · Spanner Monkey Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Karma :

+1 on the trust your tyres thing. And if you have no faith in your tyres or are unsure if they're any good just go and buy a pair of new ones which you KNOW are good. A lot of the time it's a fear of not being able to make it around the corner which restricts your speed. Just relax and try not to think about it too much.
Also it helps if you can follow somebody that will go slightly faster than you're used to, even racers find it easier to go faster when they're following somebody faster than them.

The worst thing you can do is try and apply all of MarJay's advice all at once, because you simply will not be able to do it. (No offence to MarJay's advice- it's all good stuff!)
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metalangel · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Feb 2009 Karma :

Just relax, come in slow and go out fast, keep steady throttle through.

LOOK where you want to go, and steer the bike towards it. A bit like 'padlocking' in air combat games, where you keep your gaze fixed on your target and then maneuver your plane towards it.
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