Proper cornering thread...
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
RE: Proper cornering thread...
not to sound like a know it all but i've done mostly sport bike ridingand we did the twisty road thing most every weekend as well as attend a few track days. i knew what my bikes could do and how far over i could safely lean. i've had my harley about a month now and not that i am trying to be a speed demon but i am still a little nervous because i do not know how far i can push it / lean it. i scrap the floorboards at least once or twice per ride and i don't mind scrapping something but justdon't want to flick it too far / tooquicklyand raise the back wheel off the ground.[&:] i know i just need to (continue) to take it easy unil i get to know the bike a little better to gain confidence. i still pucker a bit everytime i hear something scrape - mainly because it catches me off guard;but i love to lean the bike over.
there are lots of good performance riding books out there - several mentioned above. "sport riding technique" and "total control" are a couplegood ones as well- most if not all the techiques are are applicable to cruiser riding as well. also do a google ao keith code (twist of the wrist fame). he has a pretty good web site with lots of technique / advice as well. i like the proficient motorcycling series as well - lots of good advicenot just cornering but how tosurvive the mean (and often unpredictable) streets.
one piece of advice i was given that helps me is: "Don't ride faster than you can see". unless you can see around the corner / curve, you never know what is waiting for you. you may be ok 999 times but that one time that something unpeneratable (or slippery) can ruin your whole ride, day, or life. don't dwell on it just ride smart.
gw
there are lots of good performance riding books out there - several mentioned above. "sport riding technique" and "total control" are a couplegood ones as well- most if not all the techiques are are applicable to cruiser riding as well. also do a google ao keith code (twist of the wrist fame). he has a pretty good web site with lots of technique / advice as well. i like the proficient motorcycling series as well - lots of good advicenot just cornering but how tosurvive the mean (and often unpredictable) streets.
one piece of advice i was given that helps me is: "Don't ride faster than you can see". unless you can see around the corner / curve, you never know what is waiting for you. you may be ok 999 times but that one time that something unpeneratable (or slippery) can ruin your whole ride, day, or life. don't dwell on it just ride smart.
gw
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Proper cornering thread...
ORIGINAL: garydogwood
one piece of advice i was given that helps me is: "Don't ride faster than you can see". unless you can see around the corner / curve, you never know what is waiting for you. you may be ok 999 times but that one time that something unpeneratable (or slippery) can ruin your whole ride, day, or life. don't dwell on it just ride smart.
gw
one piece of advice i was given that helps me is: "Don't ride faster than you can see". unless you can see around the corner / curve, you never know what is waiting for you. you may be ok 999 times but that one time that something unpeneratable (or slippery) can ruin your whole ride, day, or life. don't dwell on it just ride smart.
gw
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 0
From: East Central Illinois
RE: Proper cornering thread...
Counter steer and look all the way through the corner. If you look at were you want to be and not in front of you, you will automatically adjust your trajectory without even thinking about it.
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
RE: Proper cornering thread...
I read 2 of the books mentioned by lbjohnson1. But I had learned to ride like an insane person on my rice rocket long before reading those. THAT'S RIGHT I'M YOUR DADDY...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 20,955
Likes: 19,053
From: The Wasteland
RE: Proper cornering thread...
ORIGINAL: garydogwood
not to sound like a know it all but i've done mostly sport bike ridingand we did the twisty road thing most every weekend as well as attend a few track days. i knew what my bikes could do and how far over i could safely lean. i've had my harley about a month now and not that i am trying to be a speed demon but i am still a little nervous because i do not know how far i can push it / lean it. i scrap the floorboards at least once or twice per ride and i don't mind scrapping something but justdon't want to flick it too far / tooquicklyand raise the back wheel off the ground.[&:] i know i just need to (continue) to take it easy unil i get to know the bike a little better to gain confidence. i still pucker a bit everytime i hear something scrape - mainly because it catches me off guard;but i love to lean the bike over.
there are lots of good performance riding books out there - several mentioned above. "sport riding technique" and "total control" are a couplegood ones as well- most if not all the techiques are are applicable to cruiser riding as well. also do a google ao keith code (twist of the wrist fame). he has a pretty good web site with lots of technique / advice as well. i like the proficient motorcycling series as well - lots of good advicenot just cornering but how tosurvive the mean (and often unpredictable) streets.
one piece of advice i was given that helps me is: "Don't ride faster than you can see". unless you can see around the corner / curve, you never know what is waiting for you. you may be ok 999 times but that one time that something unpeneratable (or slippery) can ruin your whole ride, day, or life. don't dwell on it just ride smart.
gw
not to sound like a know it all but i've done mostly sport bike ridingand we did the twisty road thing most every weekend as well as attend a few track days. i knew what my bikes could do and how far over i could safely lean. i've had my harley about a month now and not that i am trying to be a speed demon but i am still a little nervous because i do not know how far i can push it / lean it. i scrap the floorboards at least once or twice per ride and i don't mind scrapping something but justdon't want to flick it too far / tooquicklyand raise the back wheel off the ground.[&:] i know i just need to (continue) to take it easy unil i get to know the bike a little better to gain confidence. i still pucker a bit everytime i hear something scrape - mainly because it catches me off guard;but i love to lean the bike over.
there are lots of good performance riding books out there - several mentioned above. "sport riding technique" and "total control" are a couplegood ones as well- most if not all the techiques are are applicable to cruiser riding as well. also do a google ao keith code (twist of the wrist fame). he has a pretty good web site with lots of technique / advice as well. i like the proficient motorcycling series as well - lots of good advicenot just cornering but how tosurvive the mean (and often unpredictable) streets.
one piece of advice i was given that helps me is: "Don't ride faster than you can see". unless you can see around the corner / curve, you never know what is waiting for you. you may be ok 999 times but that one time that something unpeneratable (or slippery) can ruin your whole ride, day, or life. don't dwell on it just ride smart.
gw
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: The South
RE: Proper cornering thread...
ORIGINAL: boe1971200
When you start scraping parts, that is telling you that you better not lean much further. A buddy and I were in my back yard talking bikes one day and the subject of scraping the pegs came up. On a whim we pulled my bike out of the shed, and I had him hold the bike and lean it over until the peg hit the ground. Has anyone ever done this? Because I will tell you this, when your peg is hitting the ground, there is VERY VERY little tread actually touching the road. Try it sometime and see for yourself. You will be surprised.
When you start scraping parts, that is telling you that you better not lean much further. A buddy and I were in my back yard talking bikes one day and the subject of scraping the pegs came up. On a whim we pulled my bike out of the shed, and I had him hold the bike and lean it over until the peg hit the ground. Has anyone ever done this? Because I will tell you this, when your peg is hitting the ground, there is VERY VERY little tread actually touching the road. Try it sometime and see for yourself. You will be surprised.
This gentlemen has a very small amount of rubber touching the asphalt, and he's doing well over 100mph. However, all of the weight of he and the bike are on the tire, causing friction, causing grip. Don't be fooled by the knee; any of the sportbike guys that have already replied can confirm it's just there for feel. The physics behind this cornering and your cornering are the same.
example:
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Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 44,848
Likes: 3
From: South of Utica New York
RE: Proper cornering thread...
in heavy cross wind lean it a bit into the wind, just like you turn a airplane into the wind with the rudder.
Alot of the stuff you lean in getting your pilots lic makes you a better rider. The bike has an advantage, if the motor stops you can just coast to a stop instead of looking for a field or a road to put her down on
Alot of the stuff you lean in getting your pilots lic makes you a better rider. The bike has an advantage, if the motor stops you can just coast to a stop instead of looking for a field or a road to put her down on
