Steering 'speed' / time

[Smooth]

In Twist of the Wrist II there is a chapter on the time elapsed to flick the bike to one side. The quicker you turn the less lean angle needed.

It suggests that if a top racer is a '10', the average rider is a '3-4' -presumably taking 3 times longer than the top racer to get the bike turned.

IIRC there's an anecdote about Eddie Lawson(?) actually bending his bars during a race.

Obviously, on the road, this is not necessary, but the theory stands.

Taking a good line, flicking it in and getting on the gas might not feel the same as a smooth arcing turn, but it is probably safer and more effective.

I don't think I can steer particularly quickly though.

How quickly do you reckon you steer?
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TDM850

[ms51ves3]

Slow

[Barry_M2]

[Dazbo666]

As said above, as fast or as slow as I need.... but I still consider myself to be a relatively slow rider, which means that I rarely need to flip it over really quickly.

Think I'll have to go over that info again, just out of interest - it's been a few years (probably pre-DAS) since I last went thru it.
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[Frost]

Very very slowly. I tend to turn into corners as slowly as i possibly can. I will throw a bike around if it's to avoid a twat pulling out in front or something but day to day i never do.

I think that chapter is reffering to direction change in the context of going from a left hander into a right. In this situation being able to turn to the right quicker will allow you a better entry into the right hander. Being able to do this really well requires a bike to be a bit more top heavy and shorter, making it more unstable but quicker to respond. Its one of the things rossi did with first the honda, then the yamaha. You can still see now that he is the fastest on parts of a track with sharp direction changes.

[Smooth]

[.....]

I'd be careful about applying some race techniques on the road.

I suspect things like reading the road, vanishng point etc will make for quicker, safer cornering rather than how quickly you can flop a bike onto its side.

[Smooth]

[Kickstart]

[Smooth]

Again, I agree. You certainly wouldn't want to be turning sharply on poor surfaces.

[Kickstart]

[Frost]

[Smooth]

I think we may be talking about the same thing.

What are the different lines showing above?


I generally approach 'wide' (good view of the exit), mark a quick-ish turn-in and head for the exit, apexing after the mid-point, not exiting wide (safer).

I aim to follow the balanced throttle method (bike or car)

Not a good picture, but it illustrates the concept
https://www-static.shell.com/static/global/images/general/motorcycle/rt_corner_apex_321.jpg
Article

I generally follow the amber line, but the fast steering would lend itself to something closer to the red line, although not cutting the corner. Something approaching The Red line might be suitable on a corner (usually left hander) with good visibility.

Are you suggesting that the brown line is good?

We all know power rangers with 'fast bikes' who don't have the experience or knowledge to ride them well, but that it irrelevant.
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TDM850

[Frost]

Sorry i'm colour blind.
The line in that diagram labelled as Wrong is closest to the one i take. The middle line is what i take if i know the corner. Not such a problem on a right hander like the picture shows, but on a left hander all your going to see is hedge until your out of the corner.
The one labeled as 'racing line' looks about as safe as jumping out of a window

[Smooth]

The red line would be very dangerous into on-coming traffic .

As you can see from the lines though, if you turn quickly then the remainder of the corner is 'straighter' than if you 'arc' through the bend.

Obviously, visibility is the main concern. If you can't see you don't go in head-first on a wing and a prayer.
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TDM850

[G]

[Smooth]