trouble with twisties
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13
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From:
trouble with twisties
Hi Folks,
Fairly newbie question here. I just started riding a few months ago (after the mfs course) and bought my sporty one month ago. I have probably put 1200 miles on motorcycles. So here is my question. I still tend to get tense on twisty roads at highway speeds. I am sure that a lot of this is psychological - the same set of turns at 45 give me no worries at all - at 60 suddenly I start to tense up. I has gradually gotten better, and I am far better on the HD (much smoother ride than my old virago.)
I know I am still a beginner, but I'd love to get on any road and have no worries. I will of course always be careful, but I want to feel at 60 the way I do at 40. Can you give me your personal experience on how long this took each of you?
Steve
Fairly newbie question here. I just started riding a few months ago (after the mfs course) and bought my sporty one month ago. I have probably put 1200 miles on motorcycles. So here is my question. I still tend to get tense on twisty roads at highway speeds. I am sure that a lot of this is psychological - the same set of turns at 45 give me no worries at all - at 60 suddenly I start to tense up. I has gradually gotten better, and I am far better on the HD (much smoother ride than my old virago.)
I know I am still a beginner, but I'd love to get on any road and have no worries. I will of course always be careful, but I want to feel at 60 the way I do at 40. Can you give me your personal experience on how long this took each of you?
Steve
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 980
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, Florida
RE: trouble with twisties
Not sure I'll ever feel all that comfortable doing corners at 60 than I do at 40. Of course it depends a lot on the road and how well I know the corners. Just remember (really important), look where you want to go, not where you don't want to.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,096
Likes: 5
From: Indiana
RE: trouble with twisties
Well, there should always be some worries.........people get to confident and bad things tend to happen.
As far as getting into the turns more and faster......that is just going to take practice, get to know the bike and probably the turns as well. I can do alot of turns faster this year than I did last year. I still do not try to get to crazy, I am no hurry to die!!!! You gotta just maintain the speed your the most comfortable with, if you are getting abit worried into a turn then it does become a mental thing and you'll probably over or, under compensate the turn and down you go. HD's are in my mind a kick back and go type of bike and not as much a twistie record breaking bike, though twisties are fun and some of the best riding in the country are pretty twistie I like to go at the pace I know I can handle without worring, just have fun.
As far as getting into the turns more and faster......that is just going to take practice, get to know the bike and probably the turns as well. I can do alot of turns faster this year than I did last year. I still do not try to get to crazy, I am no hurry to die!!!! You gotta just maintain the speed your the most comfortable with, if you are getting abit worried into a turn then it does become a mental thing and you'll probably over or, under compensate the turn and down you go. HD's are in my mind a kick back and go type of bike and not as much a twistie record breaking bike, though twisties are fun and some of the best riding in the country are pretty twistie I like to go at the pace I know I can handle without worring, just have fun.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
RE: trouble with twisties
Speed on windy roads is what it is. I am not about my speed....anymore. Don't push yourself beyond what you are comfortable with unless you are willing to pay the price. Some may argue that you may not improve then, so be it. I used to ride rice rockets at high speeds on windy roads very often, and I did have to push myself to improve, but there was always that chance of crashing. It did happen once or twice as well. So think about this before pushing yourself to the limit. The only "safe" place for speed is the racetrack in my opinion. If you have not had any motorcycle accidents in the past you will quickly learn that the amount of damage that can be retained by people as well as bikes. This is a judgemet call on your part. One thing I know for sure is riding a motorcycle on a windy road is nothing at all like driving a car. I had to learn from those that came before me and it tooka while. The bottom line for me is that I didn't buy a Harley for speed. I bought it to cruise, and that is what I intend to do. Good luck.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,351
Likes: 4
From:
RE: trouble with twisties
I tend to just lean and flow. Not sure really, I don't think that I have ever thought about it. I have been on two wheels for nearly 40 years so it just seems natural. Almost like I cant do anything but take the corner a certain way. I think if you are feeling a bit like you are not in control in the turn then maybe you are going too fast but I cannot be certain. Some turns in twisties can only be taken at just a certain speed or slower depending on the bike, the rider, and road conditions. It is a good thing that you are feeling uncomfortable in my book. That is your warning sign that you may be going in too fast. I would have to see and drive the road you speak of in order to give a better answer. By all means if this is the case, do not push it too far or you may end up seeing what riding enduro is all about. Maybe have a more experienced rider take the road and give you some feedback? Just a thought.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13
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From:
RE: trouble with twisties
Thanks folks - there is no question that I am not driving excessively fast - we're talking the speed limit - 55 on a parkway road that at places is fairly windy. I see experienced riders (HD riders) taking this road at 60-65 all the time. I have no desire to go much faster on this road - I just would love that easy flowing feeling I have at 40 mph.
Guess it will just take time (sure hope so) and practice. I'd love more opinions...
Steve
Guess it will just take time (sure hope so) and practice. I'd love more opinions...
Steve
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,704
Likes: 95
From:
RE: trouble with twisties
Smart advice.
I agree. One of the things I enjoy doing, and it takes a while to get good enough, is that if the sign for the turn says 30 or 35 I can still do it at 45-50 if I know the turn.
Try a few things:
Learn a road and try to get to the speed you want on that road. This way, you'll know which corners are comfortable at 50, which at 40, which at 30. Then try to step each up a few mph and see if you're still comfortable.
Don't try to carry 40 into a turn that you think you'll be comfortable at 40. Come in at 35, accelerate if you're comfortable to 40. It's much easier to add speed in a turn than to take off speed in a turn. Bike wisdom says the first time you brake and steer at the same time will also be the last. This isn't always true, but is true if you brake hard.
Try to take turns to make yourself comfortable which you can see all the way around the turn. That way, you won't be surprised at the radius changes.
Have you learned to countersteer? Some steer by leaning the bike, others by countersteering. That is pushing out on the right handlebar to turn right. While typically not as smooth as leaning, it's more direct and you'll be sure you'll turn sharply. If you haven't dont this, it can make you more comfortable because its very sure turn.
Follow a rider you trust (tell him/her you're doing this so they stay at a good speed for you) down a windy road. Keep up with the rider in front of you. This way, you'll be sure it's at a speed you can get around and it may cause you to learn to lean a bit more than you have before. (make sure they are comparable bikes, you probably shouldn't be following a Sporty with an Electra-Glide).
I agree. One of the things I enjoy doing, and it takes a while to get good enough, is that if the sign for the turn says 30 or 35 I can still do it at 45-50 if I know the turn.
Try a few things:
Learn a road and try to get to the speed you want on that road. This way, you'll know which corners are comfortable at 50, which at 40, which at 30. Then try to step each up a few mph and see if you're still comfortable.
Don't try to carry 40 into a turn that you think you'll be comfortable at 40. Come in at 35, accelerate if you're comfortable to 40. It's much easier to add speed in a turn than to take off speed in a turn. Bike wisdom says the first time you brake and steer at the same time will also be the last. This isn't always true, but is true if you brake hard.
Try to take turns to make yourself comfortable which you can see all the way around the turn. That way, you won't be surprised at the radius changes.
Have you learned to countersteer? Some steer by leaning the bike, others by countersteering. That is pushing out on the right handlebar to turn right. While typically not as smooth as leaning, it's more direct and you'll be sure you'll turn sharply. If you haven't dont this, it can make you more comfortable because its very sure turn.
Follow a rider you trust (tell him/her you're doing this so they stay at a good speed for you) down a windy road. Keep up with the rider in front of you. This way, you'll be sure it's at a speed you can get around and it may cause you to learn to lean a bit more than you have before. (make sure they are comparable bikes, you probably shouldn't be following a Sporty with an Electra-Glide).
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: trouble with twisties
Don't be over anxious to become an experienced rider. Only time and miles can do that for you. Enjoy the ride getting there. Continue your quest and eventually you will become more and more comfortable in different situations. Get in too much of a hurry and you could become a statistic and you don't want that.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,371
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From:
RE: trouble with twisties
Dont be afraid to lean the bike more at faster speeds. It will take more lean to get the bike to turn at 60 then at 40 on the same turn. Turn the bars in the oposite direction. As the bike leans I like to move my weight away from the turn slightly(the direction you are turning the bars). The bike seems to handle better with the (slight) weight leaned away from the turn then into the turn. Then I press the bike down with the handle bar more if I need more turning. When the road straightens out, turn the bars back the other way (with the turn you are exiting) and the bike will slight back up straight, move weight back in the middle of the seat. If I lean with the bike I feel like I am over leaning and will turn to sharp. Try differnt ways until you find a style that you feel most comortable.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 921
Likes: 0
From: Alamogordo, NM
RE: trouble with twisties
The longer you ride, the more you will get the feel for it and you'll be able to safely navigate it. Just don't push it and get hurt. I blow through things now without a second thought...and they scared the crap out of me when I first started riding. There will come a day when all of this will be a faded memory for the most part. Though even once you are comfortable, every now and then, you'll take a curve too hot and have what I term an "Oh S**T Moment"...where you struggle to correct for coming into it too fast (and then thank God ya made it through.)
A group of us did 200 miles today up in the Rocky Mountains and it was my day to lead. When we stopped for gas, they were jagging me. The one guy said: "Boy, you fly like a bat out of hell now that you have that bike compared to your other ones." The Sporty really does handle well in the twisties once you get used to it (and riding.)
Hang in there...it will come.
A group of us did 200 miles today up in the Rocky Mountains and it was my day to lead. When we stopped for gas, they were jagging me. The one guy said: "Boy, you fly like a bat out of hell now that you have that bike compared to your other ones." The Sporty really does handle well in the twisties once you get used to it (and riding.)
Hang in there...it will come.