Need some pointers for the twisties
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 321
Likes: 1
From: St. Louis Mo
Look thru the curves. Gives you a better line.
The bike can corner better than you think.
Allow for unexpected crap around a blind corner.
Speed recommendations signs are conservative but informative.
Cruiser bikes are not sport bikes.
Slow down when uncomfortable with group speed etc.
Experience will come. It would be nice to be around when it arrives.
The bike can corner better than you think.
Allow for unexpected crap around a blind corner.
Speed recommendations signs are conservative but informative.
Cruiser bikes are not sport bikes.
Slow down when uncomfortable with group speed etc.
Experience will come. It would be nice to be around when it arrives.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 4
From: Johnson City TN U.S.A.
I'll give you some of our on-track tips...
1) Keep your weight on the front wheel, do not let it get light.
2) Never panic.
3) Learn to keep two fingers on the front brake lever at all times.
4) Do not use the front brake in a turn by itself, square off your braking evenly.
5) Watch for and always expect things that may make you slip. i.e. You can not see anti-freeze.
6) Always remember if you do get thrown from the bike the laws of nature unfortunately mean that if you passed the bike it's coming up right behind you. Get out of the way of your own bike if you can, your body will do much better without the secondary crash.
1) Keep your weight on the front wheel, do not let it get light.
2) Never panic.
3) Learn to keep two fingers on the front brake lever at all times.
4) Do not use the front brake in a turn by itself, square off your braking evenly.
5) Watch for and always expect things that may make you slip. i.e. You can not see anti-freeze.
6) Always remember if you do get thrown from the bike the laws of nature unfortunately mean that if you passed the bike it's coming up right behind you. Get out of the way of your own bike if you can, your body will do much better without the secondary crash.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
At the risk of saying the same thing that everyone else is saying, you are showing good sense (it's not "common" sense--it's becoming increasingly rare). I LOVE to ride the twisties and consider myself a very proficient rider, but bombing through a blind curve is a good way to end up a statistic. It's not the curve itself that concerns me but other vehicles coming the other way. I encounter lots of sports cars that like to take those roads too fast and can't stay in their lane. Last weekend on my ride in the mountains I slowed entering a blind S-turn and as I came around met a semi (that shouldn't have been on that road but was) that was blocking 80% of my lane in order to negotiate the turn. If I had sped around the curve at the speed that the Road King (and I) could easily take it, I would have had a real challenge (maybe an insurmountable challenge) avoiding the trailer. As it was I was able to move far to the right and get around with no issues.
I am amazed at the people that say that they negotiate a turn by staring at a GPS. With all due respect, focusing on something other than the road seems like really bad advice.
Ride your own ride.
I am amazed at the people that say that they negotiate a turn by staring at a GPS. With all due respect, focusing on something other than the road seems like really bad advice.
Ride your own ride.
Last edited by TKDKurt; Jun 3, 2012 at 11:08 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 234
Likes: 1
From: southern california
+1 on playing the 3k rpm range for twisties
+1 on using the rear brake if you've got too much speed
+1 on looking thru the turn, not where you don't want to go
and, something i use from the old speed bike days - if you're not feeling the turn
or stiffen because you think you're going too fast, pull or point your knee out toward the turn and drop your elbow on the same side. so if you suddenly find a sharp turn to the right, pull your right knee out toward the turn, and drop your right elbow. the bike will follow.
+1 on using the rear brake if you've got too much speed
+1 on looking thru the turn, not where you don't want to go
and, something i use from the old speed bike days - if you're not feeling the turn
or stiffen because you think you're going too fast, pull or point your knee out toward the turn and drop your elbow on the same side. so if you suddenly find a sharp turn to the right, pull your right knee out toward the turn, and drop your right elbow. the bike will follow.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 365
Likes: 9
From: KENTUCKY
RELAX! Make sure your "light"on the bars. Have a very relaxed upper body...elbows floppy...the turns and all day riding will be easier. I highly recommend Twist of the Wrist 2 by Keith Code, on DVD and in paperback. Get both.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,334
Likes: 17
From: Rosamond, Cali
The very first post hit it--set your speed prior to the corner. In Cali, every curve of any severity has a posted speed. Use that as your guide. What's not reflected there are the surface conditions, e.g., sand, rocks which could further require you to reduce speed.
You should accelerate out of turns. Acceleration extends the forks and sets the bike's geometry back where the suspension can do its work (with the front forks compressed the bike will not handle as well).
I took a racing school and I recommend it to everyone (I did Keith Code's California Superbike School, Level I). I ride (and corner) completely differently after being taught by Mr. Code and his staff.
Alan
You should accelerate out of turns. Acceleration extends the forks and sets the bike's geometry back where the suspension can do its work (with the front forks compressed the bike will not handle as well).
I took a racing school and I recommend it to everyone (I did Keith Code's California Superbike School, Level I). I ride (and corner) completely differently after being taught by Mr. Code and his staff.
Alan
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 130
Likes: 9
From: NorCal
you DONT want pressure on the bars. plant your outside knee up against the bike prior to entering the turn. it only takes enough pressure of pushing with one finger. try it, youll be amazed. it doesnt take much to even get these big touring bikes to handle fine with STOCK suspension. dont go wasting thousands of dollars thinking its the suspension.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom
Verdad Gallardo
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public
Verdad Gallardo
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
Trying to ride fast through a BLIND turn pulls real hard on my pucker string. If you are using everything your tires can give you and THEN find a rock, sand or an oil slick on the road there is no reserve traction to slow or weave and very little time to think about it. If you recognize the danger of over driving your headlights at night, this is exactly the same thing: over driving your line of sight.
Many years ago I went on a group ride with several guys from the office. In the group were 2 testosterone poisoned maniacs always trying to out do the others. They had long disappeared in the distance ahead of me when I came around one sharp, blind bend in the road and there was one of them in the ditch. As I slowed to find a place to turn around to help him out, I passed the other one, just a little farther down the road, but in the same ditch. They were lucky, only some minor damage to the scooters and no damage to themselves. Now, at 67 years old, I know that broken and bent parts are an avoidable expense and it takes a Loooong time to heal up the road rash.
No matter how it looks in the movies, the stunt guys practice over and over again until they get a particular stunt just right. If you are on an UNFAMILIAR piece of road, you are trying the "stunt" for the first time. Sure, you could get it faster and smoother with practice, but you are going around that curve once, not 20 times. Practice, take a course, be the best you can be but don't have unrealistic expectations. Enjoy the ride.
Many years ago I went on a group ride with several guys from the office. In the group were 2 testosterone poisoned maniacs always trying to out do the others. They had long disappeared in the distance ahead of me when I came around one sharp, blind bend in the road and there was one of them in the ditch. As I slowed to find a place to turn around to help him out, I passed the other one, just a little farther down the road, but in the same ditch. They were lucky, only some minor damage to the scooters and no damage to themselves. Now, at 67 years old, I know that broken and bent parts are an avoidable expense and it takes a Loooong time to heal up the road rash.
No matter how it looks in the movies, the stunt guys practice over and over again until they get a particular stunt just right. If you are on an UNFAMILIAR piece of road, you are trying the "stunt" for the first time. Sure, you could get it faster and smoother with practice, but you are going around that curve once, not 20 times. Practice, take a course, be the best you can be but don't have unrealistic expectations. Enjoy the ride.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 806
Likes: 1
From: Carquinez Straights - Northern CA
You can never tell what's around the next curve or hill, exercising caution will let you ride longer. The public roads are not race tracks like some seem to think. Why take the chance of going faster and killing someone other than yourself. Faster doesn't make you a better biker. Don't feel embarrassed if you can't keep up with some reckless buddies trying to show off. Let them show off on a race track if they need to. Just continue to be yourself and you'll get as good as you feel comfortable with.
You seem to be the kinda of rider I'd feel comfortable to ride with.
You seem to be the kinda of rider I'd feel comfortable to ride with.
If you feel you are feeling pushed to go faster by fellow riders or cars behind you, give them a low hand gesture (not that kind) to slow down. If they are fellow group riders, discuss your comfort levels before taking to the road. That's what makes good riding partners.
Here in CA, there is a lot of road crack seal (tar) that is very slippery when going into corners, especialy on the rural mountain and foothill roads. These will pucker you up!
Be safe!
Last edited by Mickey D; Jun 3, 2012 at 11:55 AM.