Proper cornering thread...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 6
From: Greenfield, Massachusetts
RE: Proper cornering thread...
"Keep your knees against the tank: flopping knees shift the center of gravity and can affect the handling of the bike" ........... Either these people never rode a Sportster (with the 3.3 gal tank)or are built VERY different from me. My knees came nowhere near the tank on the 883 I just traded in ,and they do not on the Nightster either. That is one thing I had to get used to when I went from Intruder 800 to the 883 because that HAD been taught in the MSF course, to keep your knees against the tank. Hmmmm.........[/align]
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,095
Likes: 0
From: clearwater, fl
RE: Proper cornering thread...
ORIGINAL: wfochris
Worry less about the amount of tire touching the ground, and more about the weight on said tire. The danger of hard parts touching is that the weight comes off the tire and onto the peg, muffler, etc. lowering the grip and allowing you to slide.
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:
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:
the forces of the bike standing compared to a bike in a lean is totaly differant. lets just say there is a wet spot in front of him. with the force of the bike going right and he hits that wet spot. he will slide right and then crash. simple physics
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,860
Likes: 32,737
From: King George, VA
RE: Proper cornering thread...
ORIGINAL: boe1971200
[/quote]
Actually, just leaning the bike over to see where it scrapes doesn't give ya an accurate lean/scrape point. Your weight on the bike will have some effect in that. Your weight will push the bike lower to the ground a bit so your scrape point will be with a little less lean.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 0
From: Crown Point, IN
RE: Proper cornering thread...
ORIGINAL: Perch
I have to laugh at the following statement every time I hear/read it:
"Keep your knees against the tank: flopping knees shift the center of gravity and can affect the handling of the bike" ........... Either these people never rode a Sportster (with the 3.3 gal tank)or are built VERY different from me. My knees came nowhere near the tank on the 883 I just traded in ,and they do not on the Nightster either. That is one thing I had to get used to when I went from Intruder 800 to the 883 because that HAD been taught in the MSF course, to keep your knees against the tank. Hmmmm.........[/align]
"Keep your knees against the tank: flopping knees shift the center of gravity and can affect the handling of the bike" ........... Either these people never rode a Sportster (with the 3.3 gal tank)or are built VERY different from me. My knees came nowhere near the tank on the 883 I just traded in ,and they do not on the Nightster either. That is one thing I had to get used to when I went from Intruder 800 to the 883 because that HAD been taught in the MSF course, to keep your knees against the tank. Hmmmm.........[/align]
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
RE: Proper cornering thread...
1) Slow - Get all of your braking done before leaning the bike over.
2) Look - Keep your head/eyes up looking far through the turn
3) Press - Press Left / Lean Left / Go Left or Press Right / Lean Right / Go Right
4) Roll - Roll on the throttle as you exit the curve
2) Look - Keep your head/eyes up looking far through the turn
3) Press - Press Left / Lean Left / Go Left or Press Right / Lean Right / Go Right
4) Roll - Roll on the throttle as you exit the curve
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 6
From: Greenfield, Massachusetts
RE: Proper cornering thread...
ORIGINAL: Speedkingnick
[/quote]
Actually I DID ... it was pre-coffee and mid-"rush to get to work but want to check the forum and dash off a quick answer" mode ... At first I was confused (pre-coffee) thinking " WTF- just like when you search and get totally irrelevant listings" , thenthe light went on! Gave me my first smile and chuckle of the day. But the off-to-work rush mode kicked in.[&o]
Banned
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 197
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From:
RE: Proper cornering thread...
Wow this is a great thread... lots of great thought provoking input... coming from a bicycle racing career it's great to compare the differences and similarities between the two. Mountain bike racing/riding is not so disimilar from motorcycle riding but man it takes a lot more knowledge and practice to corner a motorcycle! But I have noticed a natural progression and level of comfort coming from my bicycle handling skills and even vice versa.
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