Learning the skills to pay the bills.....

[mickfulton]

Not for the first time in my biking career I feel I need some tips. Specifically its cornering at 50-70mph, I slow down on the M Way for corners (sometimes down to 55-60) and its causing unnecessary lane changing to 'fit in' with my speed.
The problem is the room for error on a bike a nearly fuck all, if I mess up on the M Way with people behind me I'm more or less toast. How did you lot learn with out going the hard way ?

Should I be shadowing bikers I know (i.e. sum total of 0), cos most of the videos and youtube malarky seem either 'look at me I'm a big balls mofo' or 'okay retard this is the seat and here's the handle bars'?

Do the likes of Bike Safe and ROSPA do things aimed at this problem or is it just courses to 'stay safe' or ride defensively which I appreciate are very important but not my specific problem at the mo'?

Cheers guys n gals,

Mick
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Current half-cars :2004 SV650, VX535 1991
Exes: YBR 125 2007,GPZ500S 1998

[Pol Anorl]

I slow a little for corners on motorways but ive only really used the m2 theres not many on it, i don't slow to as low as that mainly to about 70
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[daemonoid]

I've not seen a motorway where the corners are tight enough to warrant slowing down, well apart from when I was doing 200kph on the autobahn a few weeks ago*. Someone will post a google map pic soon though...

I'm sure you realise it's a confidence thing, I'd recommend something that really takes you out of your comfort zone such as a bit of race training:

https://www.silverstone.co.uk/experiences/additional-experiences/Ron-Haslam-Race-School/

or even mini motos...


*I still think I bottled it rather than not possible.
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[mickfulton]

You're both right.
The corners do not warrant me slowing down, in a car I'd just maintain speed (just below 88 so I don't time travel.)
Its a confidence thing, I just picture the back wheel kicking out and me under the lorry behind.
In reality it wont actually happen but I have not seen it done close up, probably wont for a long time unless I get training. Race training is a bit extreme and way beyond my capabilities, is there any alternative ?
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Current half-cars :2004 SV650, VX535 1991
Exes: YBR 125 2007,GPZ500S 1998

[andym]

If you want to corner like the pro's... or better.... get nice and pissed off, the angrier the better.

Happened to me the day I passed my test... some effer pulled into my lane (while I was in the space), just before a roundabout and I was furious.... I do believe I could have touched the ground with my knee if I leaned it out a bit... never managed it since.

Mind you I did manage a very tight turn in a double decker bus full of passengers at 45mph.... there were quite a few passengers screaming too.

[Shaft]

[daemonoid]

[dodgydog]

The slowing down will be more hazardous than maintaining your speed I would have thought, specially if it's busy.
Why not go out very early, summertime when it's just getting light, Sunday morning when there's no traffic about, just to have a play around? It ought to build your confidence.
Plus Bike Safe could be a good idea, explain it to them and they will help.


Dog
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[Rogerborg]

Give IAM or RoSPA a go, my local IAM group is all about carrying speed through corners. One of the chaps was a track racer, not exactly pipe and slippers material.
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[G]

I have done loads of trackdays and raced too for a few years.

Not a massively fast rider on the road, but can still generally 'keep up' where needed - the IAM instructor I had must of weighed twice my weight, had a bike similarly bigger (pan vs sports 600) and was still taking corners faster than I normally would.

It does depend on the group though, I'm told - mine was a good one.

[Shaane]

I'd personally say you were causing yourself problems by thinking your going to fall off and end up under a truck. Clear your head when your riding and don't think about consequences of falling off. Maybe try a few corners you know really well without backing too much off the power and slowely it will improve your cornering confidence.
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[Bendy]

Is your bike actually handling properly?

Sounds like an odd question, but when I bent my CBR600 and was still using it, motorway corners were the place the odd handling manifested itself the worst, probably because they are long and gentle and you don't need to steer much.

It just felt nasty and did make me start slowing down for them. Once you start getting stuff like that in your head, it tends to fester. It had never bothered me before and it took a while for it to go away after I fixed the physical problem. Practice is really the only cure, I'd say try and go out on a nice dry day when the motorway is quiet-ish and just work on it.

If you don't have a problem with 'normal' corners (ie. A roads, twisties) then this is a specific thing and I'm not sure working on anything else but this will fix it.

[pinkyfloyd]

[daemonoid]

[chris-red]

I used to be the same, It is just a case of MTFU, it will come.
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[paddlesat16]

Time to give the bike a good going over, check the swingarm bearings and have a look at your rubber. Are your tyres under-inflated/over inflated. Are your forks working as they should do they have the correct amount of oil in them etc etc.

You probably find you are compensating for the bike in a big way and have been living with dodgy handling for a while or since you had the bike.

Regards
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[LeanIt]

If you don't want to do training/track days the best thing to do is go out at night/early morning and practice these corners when there is no other traffic around.

Take it carefully and gradually build/maintain your speed.

Think about your body position, I don't mean leaning off the bike, I just mean looking through the corner and leading with your shoulder while counter steering.

You'll find if you're getting it right, the bike feels 'planted' and very secure

Slowly and surely building speed on an empty road will see your confidence build very quickly

For the cost of a tank of fuel, what you got to loose?
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[mickfulton]

Cheers for the tips guys ( n gals)

Ive been out on the M8 for 3 hours today and am slowly improving. Its a case of MTFU I think.
I gave the bike a full service on Saturday so mechanically it seems sound, its the rider thats the problem.

Looking through the corner has helped, I knew I should be doing it but when my arse is going like the clappers its hard

Part of it I think is a hang over from the 125. The skinny tyres meant I had to be aware of lines in the tarmac that suck the tyres in, not really an issue on the GPZ now, causing me to look down occasionally when cornering.

Track training might be next xmas present and I'm googling IAM with my other hand as I type this Rogerborg
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Current half-cars :2004 SV650, VX535 1991
Exes: YBR 125 2007,GPZ500S 1998

[johnsmith222]

[LeanIt]

[Fizzer Thou]

[supZ]

i've read a few replies and noticed race training..

tbf id recommend a track day.

spend a day razzing around a track with no worry of hitting on coming traffic, lampposts, etc.. and you'll realise you and indeed your bike can go a lot faster/lean a lot more than you realise.

be confident in your bike.. between it and you, you are the weak link. remember that and you'll start to gain confidence in it and know it'll make it round 'that' corner.

but anyway, recommend a trackday. plenty of novice only days if you're a bit worried. you dont even have to worry about going fast, you can just go round at your own pace but trust me you'll learn loads!!

makes you realise just how much you can chuck these things around
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[Old Git Racing]

Just ride at a speed you're comfortable with, no point pushing it cos you or others think you should be going faster, especially at this time of year. So what if you back off??
Come the better weather get on a IAM course and learn a bit more.
Bet there's plenty of people on here (including me) who thought they should be 'faster' and have hurt themselves trying.
Just let it come, MTFU gradually, and in a year you'll be thinking what was all that about?

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[evoboy]

Youve got the right bike to learn the skills on for a start.

GPZ's will lean till the pegs go down and still stay on the tyre and maintain grip. Alltho they do wallow/wobble around a bit at higher speed cornering.

Make sure the tyre pressures are correct and the rear shock isnt a soggy, bouncy mess and keep going at the corner. If those 2 factors are correct then the bike WILL do it. Youve just got to overcome the mindset your in
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