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ThunderGuts |
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ThunderGuts World Chat Champion
Joined: 13 Nov 2018 Karma :
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Posted: 11:10 - 18 Feb 2019 Post subject: Descending steep hills (with bends!) |
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Morning all,
So I have done my background reading on this but it still feels a little counter-intuitive . . . how does everyone tackle descending steep (e.g. 10%+) roads where there are tight turns on it?
General advice seems to be to slow down as much as possible before the corner then apply positive throttle through the bend to keep the bike settled, but on really steep roads this seems crazy as to get positive throttle (and I realise it only needs to be a tiny bit) initiates very fast acceleration due to the gradient at a time that really I want to be maintaining a really slow speed. This is even more of an issue where a series of tight/hairpins are linked up with little space between them. I have tended towards using a low gear and engine braking to generally control descent speed, with a dab of front brake as needed (but obviously not on the bends themselves).
This situation is often exacerbated by the fact that mountain area roads tend to have worn/scabby surfaces which don't exactly inspire trust!
Cheers ____________________ TG. |
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Skudd |
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Skudd Super Spammer
Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Karma :
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 12:03 - 18 Feb 2019 Post subject: |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha wrote: | Skudd wrote: | I usually is engine baring |
same |
A new concept to me. Engine braking is useful though. Low gear.
More back brake, and only a little front - I find on the Fazer the rear brake will overheat a bit if I use it exclusively on steep downhills on a day riding the mountain passes.
Sit back in the seat a bit too, almost leaning back. As usual, relax, don't tense up.
On those mountain roads, you need to be going slow enough to pick your line carefully between the crap washed out onto the road, and be ready for anywhere it gets particularly bad, so you don't want speed. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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MarJay |
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MarJay But it's British!
Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :
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ThunderGuts |
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ThunderGuts World Chat Champion
Joined: 13 Nov 2018 Karma :
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 14:25 - 18 Feb 2019 Post subject: |
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Depending on the gradient, engine braking alone isn't always enough with my bike (IL4), so it's necessary to use a combination of the two. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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Hong Kong Phooey |
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Hong Kong Phooey World Chat Champion
Joined: 30 Apr 2016 Karma :
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stinkwheel |
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stinkwheel Bovine Proctologist
Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 21:16 - 18 Feb 2019 Post subject: |
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Ghost run. All line up in a row at the top. Engines off. You are allowed three pushes with your feet then it's feet up and last one to the bottom is a sheep shagger. Kudos for first down and furthest travelled before rolling to a halt.
Do that on the Rattagan pass with half a dozen other bikes a few times and you'll learn how to descend like a madman. The look on car drivers faces as they get overtaken by multiple, totally silent sportsbikes with the riders tucked in behind the fairing is worth the effort.
More seriously, learn to use both brakes while cornering. It is not the instadeath move most people think it is. Generally people who do are taking too much weight through the bars and not enough through their legs which makes them sit the bike up when they brake.
I thought it was what bikes did for a long time myself until I got one with really long travel, very well damped suspension. It taught me that you CAN brake while leaned over without the bike sitting up providing you don't feed in adverse steering input. In fact, the braking will cause fork dive, sharpening the rake angle and causing the bike to turn in even more. Remember, legs and arse are for taking your weight, handlebars are for steering.
Obviously, don't practice this for the first time on a 10% gradient and do be aware that the more combined braking and cornering force you put through the tyre, the more likely it is to lose traction. ____________________ “Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles. |
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flearider |
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flearider Nova Slayer
Joined: 16 Oct 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 23:46 - 18 Feb 2019 Post subject: |
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MAKE SURE YOUR BUTT PLUG IS INSTALLED AND JUST RIDE IT OUT WITH A SMILE |
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Courier265 |
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Courier265 World Chat Champion
Joined: 01 Oct 2017 Karma :
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ThunderGuts |
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ThunderGuts World Chat Champion
Joined: 13 Nov 2018 Karma :
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Posted: 09:28 - 19 Feb 2019 Post subject: |
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Thanks all, appreciate the input. ____________________ TG. |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 5 years, 61 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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