Proper cornering thread...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 0
From: Central Virginia
RE: Proper cornering thread...
Speed, rider skill, road surface, bike geometry, tires, braking all must be considered for safe cornering.
Do your braking BEFORE entering the curve. If you brake while in the curve, you are taking away from the friction of the tires, which diminishes their ability of hold to the road. For instance, lets use the arbitrary number 100. This number is shared by both friction and braking. Going into a curve safely without braking in the curve allows friction (tires) the entire 100. Braking takes away from tire friction. Hard braking because you entered the curve too hot might take away so much tire friction that you will low side in the curve. (Letting off on the throttle causes braking (engine braking) to occur as well)
Keeping a little throttle on allows for maximun tire friction (whatever that happens to be on any particular day/road surface), and rolling on some throttle midway actually works to 'lift' the bike up a tad, reducing the chance of scraping anything.
Do your braking BEFORE entering the curve. If you brake while in the curve, you are taking away from the friction of the tires, which diminishes their ability of hold to the road. For instance, lets use the arbitrary number 100. This number is shared by both friction and braking. Going into a curve safely without braking in the curve allows friction (tires) the entire 100. Braking takes away from tire friction. Hard braking because you entered the curve too hot might take away so much tire friction that you will low side in the curve. (Letting off on the throttle causes braking (engine braking) to occur as well)
Keeping a little throttle on allows for maximun tire friction (whatever that happens to be on any particular day/road surface), and rolling on some throttle midway actually works to 'lift' the bike up a tad, reducing the chance of scraping anything.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
RE: Proper cornering thread...
I love those winding roads,but will always ride it through before letting it all hang out.We have lots of those roads here in the NorthEast,and most of them have my paint and metal filings from the lower parts of my bikes.You are right though,some of the riders should not be attempting such roads.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 641
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Proper cornering thread...
ORIGINAL: Flatlander
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.
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.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
RE: Proper cornering thread...
I focus on pointing not just my eyes but my CHIN into the exit of the curve and also press the handgrip, this sets the bikeinto the proper trajectory very nicely.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
RE: Proper cornering thread...
I ride the same in the wind and the calm! I always try to straighten out the curves and only ride fast enough to react to what I can see. If with a group I try to follow the person 2 or three bikes in front of me and use them as a guide to the corner and wheter its a decreasing radius or not.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 786
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
RE: Proper cornering thread...
Well, I don't know about the rest of you people, but I just love riding WAY too fast for the curves, up in these NM mountains! If I'm lucky I can hit some gravel, and fly right off the road!!! Then, as I am soaring thru the air,I feel TRULY free! Like an EAGLE! Ya know, man and machine, grabbin' air!!! Of course, the pine trees hurt, but only for a little while. The BIKE landing on me is what REALLY hurts!!! LMMFAO!!!!
I've never done that, but I think this needs to be said.
Seriously, PRACTICE the limitations of you and your machine. Then, decrease your limitations by a good measure, and ride in confidence.
You can use the limits of your bike in an emergency situation. Like Dirty Harry said... You know the rest.
No matter how many years ya been riding, each new bike has a learning curve. Take your time with it. But ALWAYS train and learn new stuff.
All my years on bikes and I find that I am constantly teaching myself new things.
DON'T be the person with ONE year of experience who has repeated it 20-30+ years in a row...
I've never done that, but I think this needs to be said.
Seriously, PRACTICE the limitations of you and your machine. Then, decrease your limitations by a good measure, and ride in confidence.
You can use the limits of your bike in an emergency situation. Like Dirty Harry said... You know the rest.
No matter how many years ya been riding, each new bike has a learning curve. Take your time with it. But ALWAYS train and learn new stuff.
All my years on bikes and I find that I am constantly teaching myself new things.
DON'T be the person with ONE year of experience who has repeated it 20-30+ years in a row...
Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 596
Likes: 7
From: Illinois
RE: Proper cornering thread...
I lovetaking curves fast. My old honda 750four was great for that. I would use every bit of tread on the tire, dragging my knee and everything,lol.
I was very suprised, though, that my street bob can take corners and lean much better than my 1200 roadster did. I used to scrape all the time on the roadster, and have'nt scraped once on the bob, ...yet.
I was very suprised, though, that my street bob can take corners and lean much better than my 1200 roadster did. I used to scrape all the time on the roadster, and have'nt scraped once on the bob, ...yet.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 891
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Proper cornering thread...
I'm convinced most people get into curve trouble by trying to lean their way around the curve, instead of counter steering. And, I'm an expert--I did it wrong for 45 years. Leaning works great if you go in slow enough. But if you go in a little too fast or something unexpected happens, then it won't give you enough control to cut the corner tighter.
If you think you understand it all, you are dangerous. If you think it is perfectly natural, you are wrong. If you think it comes with experience, youare wrong. I didn't really get the basic idea until I SAW someone else do it. Now I practice it constantly to keep from reverting back to the old, natural feeling lean.
If you think you understand it all, you are dangerous. If you think it is perfectly natural, you are wrong. If you think it comes with experience, youare wrong. I didn't really get the basic idea until I SAW someone else do it. Now I practice it constantly to keep from reverting back to the old, natural feeling lean.