Cornering like a pro

[Whosthedaddy]

I have recently passed my bike bike test and bought a Kawasaki ZXR750 as my first bike.

I am having a real problem turning the damn bike at any speeds! I learnt on a ER5 with no problems, is it confidence to lean the bike or a problem with a sports bike set up?

Any suggestions on how to start cornering like a pro?

[T1z3R]

welcome to the neighbourhood

i'm certainly no pro but would guess its to do with confidence rather than your bike.

i know for sure that i'd wait till the conditions were better before i worried about that TBH

good luck
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duck my sick!

[.....]

Try searching for "counter steering"

[G]

It's probably confidence and getting used to a new bike.

They are pretty differently styled bikes, so while the sports bike should be able to go round corners faster, the difference in feel may make it feel 'wrong' initially.

As with everything in riding bikes fast, get quicker slowly - just try increasing your speed only a little bit at a time.

Given time, I'm sure you'll get used to it.

[Whosthedaddy]

Thanks for the replies, cannot wait for a nice "sunny" winters day to go for a ride

[Barry_M2]

Good choice!

What does it feel like when you corner, do it feel like a strugle to get it leant over?

I had this problem with mine when I first too it out. Went straight to a garage and checked the tyre pressures, both were well out. 22psi front and 28 rear, when it should be 36/42. Check your pressure!

[The Old Geeza]

[mchaggis]

Find a nicely surfaced twisty road without much traffic and good visibility through the corners*, and ride it again and again, pushing harder each time, eventually you will feel when the tyres are both sliding towards the outside of the corner, then you can't go any faster without them losing grip completely.

*A rare thing I know, but they do exist, old little roads running parallel to major new routes are good, as are a lot of the roads running around all over the Peak District and rural Scotland.

I'm not guilty if anyone lowsides trying to explore the limits of traction in dodgy conditions.
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[moog]

I think it's 90% confidence and 10% variables (tyre pressure, tyre choice, tread, and factors that affect grip such as conditions, speed, surface etc). In your position I'd be tempted to put the miles in and actually get used to the bike under normal riding first before starting to explore it's limits. Learn to walk before you run is a much used cliche I know, but I feel it's apt here. Whatever you choose to do though, have fun and stay safe.
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[craigs23]

ZXRs aren't the lightest bikes to turn either - a friend of mine gets a good workout when hussling down the backroads trying to keep up with our 400s.

[Annabella]

Move around a bit more...

Until I started taking the mickey out of Shaun and his tendancy to hang off the boke when going around even the most tame of radius corners I would never have felt as smooth around corners.
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[Teaman]

take the steering lock off,,






well everyone else has already mentioned the counter steer bit
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[loply]

Did you have somebody more experienced test ride the bike before you bought it?

Just in case there is a problem with the tires being squared off or the forks being bent or somesuch.

Might just be in your mind though.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[jonnay]

I got my knee down for the first time, the other day Had a sunny day so I just decided to go out and try it. Well pleased about that.

I'd say do what I did, lap round and round a BIG roundabout (not in rush-hour though, I did it at about 1pm when it was quiet), and just hang off it and feel it go. I wasn't actually expecing to knee down, but I heard that hanging off makes it more steady and less likely to slip, so give that a try

If nothing else, this should give you a bit of confidence in your machine - it has to me.

Watch out if its a 2 lane roundabout though, as I found out - there's a BIG dip between the lanes, which my front wheel kept finding itself in. Scary as feck when that happened the first time
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::'04 Yamaha Jog:: || ::'01 Honda NSR:: || ::'00 Suzuki Swift:: || ::'89 Swift GTi:: || ::'96 Swift Poverty Spec:: || ::'92 Swift GTi::

[riichy]

[jonnay]

Respect to the council for keeping one roundy clear

Seriously though, it wasn't slipping at all, road surface is really good on this one particular roundabout. Just gotta watch out, because two of the run-offs from the main A road to West Cornwall run onto it.

It also goes through a tunnel, which is a bonus (tunnels are fun )

Jon
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::'04 Yamaha Jog:: || ::'01 Honda NSR:: || ::'00 Suzuki Swift:: || ::'89 Swift GTi:: || ::'96 Swift Poverty Spec:: || ::'92 Swift GTi::

[cliff]

Ive had kneedown on a ped in the snow. And my zxr a few times in the pissing rain. Its all about confidence and hanging off.
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[riichy]

[Barry_M2]

[distortion]

Trackdays should help you - not exactly the time of year for it. But when the weather picks up I reckon there well worth doing

[Groove]

I had my knee down on my ZXR, pitty i had left the bike and was sliding along the ground at the time....
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|| Past: 1991 Kawasaki ZXR 250 ~ 2003 Honda CBR 600 F Sport ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1999 Yamaha R1 ~ 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R J ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1998 Honda VTR1000F Firestorm ~ K1 GSXR 600 Track bike ~ K6 GSXR 1000 ~ 2006 Speed Triple 1050 || Current: 2005 R1 https://www.adrucore.co.uk

[Whosthedaddy]

Cheers guys and gals for the suggestions.

Unfortunately after attempting to ride a little more aggressively and flick the bike into a corner, the damn thing broke down. It ended up in a lay-by. It took me an hour to walk back home to get my car! Just hope no bastard gypos have nicked it!

[Groove]

How did it break down?
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|| Past: 1991 Kawasaki ZXR 250 ~ 2003 Honda CBR 600 F Sport ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1999 Yamaha R1 ~ 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R J ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1998 Honda VTR1000F Firestorm ~ K1 GSXR 600 Track bike ~ K6 GSXR 1000 ~ 2006 Speed Triple 1050 || Current: 2005 R1 https://www.adrucore.co.uk

[Whosthedaddy]

After a couple of horrendous backfires in the fast lane at 70mph, all engine and electrical power went!

[Gazdaman]

Hope you sort the bike out ok.

But you just need to get used to your new bike. They're very different to an ER-5, the more sport orientated bike will need a different approach.

I'm still finding it very weird on my Bandit, whereas I could hustle my old XJ600 around as quick as any of the guys I ride with.

Get quicker slowly, and it may help to wait for some dryer days, I really hate winter and the slime that encompanies it.

Gaz