Leaning
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,056
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From: Milton Mills NH
Leaning
Dont want to start a long boring thread or get into a pissing contest.
Been reading up on leaning, one author suggest's lean in turn, other author suggest counter leaning as in counter steering.
Just out of curiosity, what do you folks do and what does your passenger do?
Note: been on two wheels 50+ yrs, just wonder what my fellow riders do.
Thanks
Been reading up on leaning, one author suggest's lean in turn, other author suggest counter leaning as in counter steering.
Just out of curiosity, what do you folks do and what does your passenger do?
Note: been on two wheels 50+ yrs, just wonder what my fellow riders do.
Thanks
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 155
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
I just stay on the seat keeping the angle of my spine on the center line and perpendicular to the motorcycle. I just do it without thinking, learned that way, and unless I'm road racing (don't do that much anymore) I don't hike my butt around trying to gain a weight advantage. Just not necessary.
I tell all my passengers to sit straight up on the bike same as me and when we make a left turn or corner look over my left shoulder and when we make a right turn or corner look over my right shoulder. Have ridden with two daughters, my wife, and a dozen or so others and never had a problem with that strategy.
I tell all my passengers to sit straight up on the bike same as me and when we make a left turn or corner look over my left shoulder and when we make a right turn or corner look over my right shoulder. Have ridden with two daughters, my wife, and a dozen or so others and never had a problem with that strategy.
Last edited by bigwave916; Mar 9, 2016 at 02:51 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,809
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From: UK
The bike needs to lean to turn.
Counter steering starts it leaning over and thus turning. Counter steering is NOT leaning in the opposite direction to the turn!
You need to counter steer - not to try to lean to turn it. It will lean over by itself if you steer it right...
Test it this way. Ride in a straight line and lean your body one way or the other and see how far it steers as you lean over.
Then do the same again but keep your body in line with the bike and counter steer. See how much further it steers this way.
Eventually, there will be a combination of shifting your body weight inside or outside the centreline of the bike depending on what you are trying to accomplish and what speed you are moving at, but getting counter steering nailed will be the best thing you can do for your riding skills - otherwise you will basically be fighting the bike around corners.
Other good things to learn are braking skills and to make sure to keep accelerating around and out of corners.
Just my $0.02.
Counter steering starts it leaning over and thus turning. Counter steering is NOT leaning in the opposite direction to the turn!
You need to counter steer - not to try to lean to turn it. It will lean over by itself if you steer it right...
Test it this way. Ride in a straight line and lean your body one way or the other and see how far it steers as you lean over.
Then do the same again but keep your body in line with the bike and counter steer. See how much further it steers this way.
Eventually, there will be a combination of shifting your body weight inside or outside the centreline of the bike depending on what you are trying to accomplish and what speed you are moving at, but getting counter steering nailed will be the best thing you can do for your riding skills - otherwise you will basically be fighting the bike around corners.
Other good things to learn are braking skills and to make sure to keep accelerating around and out of corners.
Just my $0.02.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 488
From: Central California
I started leaning into the curve after reading Lee Parks and Keith Code. On my Triumph Bonneville at least. "try to touch the inside grip with your nose."
Thrilling for sure! At least till you're out hot-doggin' in the foothills and a coyote jumps DIRECTLY out in front while in mid turn.
However, the CG of the Triumph is much higher that my Softail Deluxe. Being lighter it also responds to body position. The Deluxe seems to act better with a bit of counter lean. For the most part, it's heft doesn't seem to be severely influenced by my 170lb body weight.
I'm not gonna argue with it. I just give it what it wants. I never win those arguments anyway
Thrilling for sure! At least till you're out hot-doggin' in the foothills and a coyote jumps DIRECTLY out in front while in mid turn.
However, the CG of the Triumph is much higher that my Softail Deluxe. Being lighter it also responds to body position. The Deluxe seems to act better with a bit of counter lean. For the most part, it's heft doesn't seem to be severely influenced by my 170lb body weight.
I'm not gonna argue with it. I just give it what it wants. I never win those arguments anyway
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 34
From: NC/SC
You got far more riding experience than I got but I will try to add my experience FWIW.
I use the shift-body-weight technique. Due to the limited lean angle of my bike (lowered 2" in the rear and 1" in front) to me, leaning into the curves always includes a "pre-leaning" step which basically is to judge how far the curve is and move my but* forward from seat bucket (almost sitting on the seat nose) and losen my grip to the handlebars.
Once approaching the curve, I shift my body to the side and into the curve while applying pressure on the handlebar grip on the side of the turn (i.e. press left handlebar when making left turn in the curve). Again I try not to lean my bike too much due to the limited lean angle but shifting my weight moves the COG to balance the bike.
I do look like riding in a very weird posture almost hanging off the bike while doing this (as one of my friends told me
), but hey it works making 70mph peg/exhaust scrapping turns in the mountain twisties.
I use the shift-body-weight technique. Due to the limited lean angle of my bike (lowered 2" in the rear and 1" in front) to me, leaning into the curves always includes a "pre-leaning" step which basically is to judge how far the curve is and move my but* forward from seat bucket (almost sitting on the seat nose) and losen my grip to the handlebars.
Once approaching the curve, I shift my body to the side and into the curve while applying pressure on the handlebar grip on the side of the turn (i.e. press left handlebar when making left turn in the curve). Again I try not to lean my bike too much due to the limited lean angle but shifting my weight moves the COG to balance the bike.
I do look like riding in a very weird posture almost hanging off the bike while doing this (as one of my friends told me
), but hey it works making 70mph peg/exhaust scrapping turns in the mountain twisties.
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: SE Louisiana
ME, too! I've honestly never heard of "counter leaning", but I just ride...
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Milton Mills NH
I am never too old to learn, just because I have done something one way, does not mean I am not open to new ways. I asked the question to learn what other riders are doing.
I may not stray from my techniques, and I may try something new to me.
I may not stray from my techniques, and I may try something new to me.
