I can tell when someone has got their skills down by looking at where they are looking. If they are still looking down anywhere in a curve instead of around the curve, they suck unless the road has ******* painted on it. Same thing with going down the road. Everyone I ride with that has been riding forever not only watches the road but they are constantly watching everything. Hard to explain but I call it relaxed riding with total concentration and situation awareness.

 

Other than practicing your countersteer, you may need to relax a bit also. Sounds like you may tense up going into a turn and have a tendancy to push with your feet.

 

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is if necessary slow down before entering the curve, accelerate through the curve. At least maintain speed through the curve, slowing down mid curve can cause the bike to "dive" in to the corner.

 

 

First make sure U'r not going too fast for the curve and as said above on a sweeping curve to the right I pull on my left grip, she'll go less or more pending on how much I pull.

 

As a few posters have said, practice counter-steer, relax, set yourself up for entering the curve, throttle back slightly as you start your counter-steer into the curve,look as far ahead (turn your head in the direction you want to go) as possible to where you are going, keep a steady throttle in the curve and when exiting, throttle up. Throttling back in the curve will take you deeper into the curve, throttling up while in the curve will send you towards the outside. The throttle up while exiting will automatically help your bike to stand up by the time you are exiting the curve.
Practice LOTS in the twisties.

 

nocturnalnature. How is that Blackline treating you? I just ordered one....my first Harley? Is there anything I should know about my first ride on that hog?

Dumpster

 

Go take an MSF course. It could save your life. Self taught riders are statistically more likely to get into accidents.

 

I agree with this completely, but I'd like to add that your seating position, or "ergonomics" do play a significant part in how your body applies the above in practise, and practice is what it is all about. With forwards you do actually change your own C of G and the bike's as well and you'll find you'll have to adjust your own body motions to work with the changed C of G. For some this comes naturally, others have to work at it a little.

When I changed to forwards I "felt" like the bike got to a certain lean angle then just wanted to keep going, when in reality the lean angles and physics hadn't really changed, just my body weight and the way it was distributed. Take it easy and you'll get it sorted out. And as stated above, keep your eyes up and looking through the corner, do this above everything else and you'll find you stop thinking about lean angles and really start enjoying your ride.

As also stated, take a course, even if it's a refresher you'll learn something new and useful.