Hints for cornering?

jay48

If you're having trouble cornering , as was said , it's down to a combination of vision , positioning and throttle control . Go to an instructor and get some lessons .
Motox will get you used to bike control and the bike getting loose but will do nothing to help you get around a corner on the road .

rat_race

Lyle Lanley wrote: »

Trust the bike, if you take it too fast countersteering will drop you down further and take you around.

I love Sean nos wrote: »

I haven't figured out countersteering yet. I know that it exists, but I don't know how to do it yet. I'm wary of jerking the bars too quickly.

cantdecide wrote: »

I know at least one rider that doesn't counter steer and favours basically leaning/ falling into the corners.

Esel wrote: »

Countersteering.!

Always amazed/confused when people talk about counter-steering like it is some sort amazing hard-to-master alternative way to go around corners!

It really should be explained in an IBT without fail though, because as is obvious, too many people don't know they're doing it. Anyone travelling faster than about 15KMH while going around almost any bend, is counter-steering...

OP: take your bike to a carpark, and while going about 30/40KMH, counter-steer...push the bar right & and forward to go right, or left and forward to go left. You'll see you can change direction and lean over very quickly and safely...

Just try it out; you're not going to fall off as long as you have momentum. And note that this is the way to take bends, it isn't an alternative or some emergency-only manoeuvre: it's the only way.

Wonda-Boy

I honestly think people get confused when people say "Push or Pull" the handle bars!

We are taking the slightest "Tip or Nudge" to make the bike lean, it really is a very very small adjustment. It even applies to push bikes which no doubt you have been doing since a kid.

Airliner

Are you on the heavy side, have you any preload adjustment on the rear shock(s)? If the answer to both is yes try adding more preload to the rear. It changes the bike geometry by lifting the back end and you should find it easier to turn in. Adding preload does not make your suspension stiffer, lots of people think it does, that is the function of damping which may/may not be adjustable on your bike. Setting SAG should be the first thing every rider does on getting a new bike if you have preload adjustable suspension.

I love Sean nos

Airliner wrote: »

Are you on the heavy side

Oy!

Hotblack Desiato

Whatever about cornering, you sure have your ctrl-c ctrl-v technique down, Wonda

"tires" Uhuh.

Maybe just post the link next time.

Wonda-Boy

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Whatever about cornering, you sure have your ctrl-c ctrl-v technique down, Wonda

"tires" Uhuh.

Maybe just post the link next time.

The link had loads of stuff not pertinent to the topic, so I took the stuff that did. But great contribution all the same thanx.

Zipppy

Airliner wrote:

Are you on the heavy side, have you any preload adjustment on the rear shock(s)? If the answer to both is yes try adding more preload to the rear. It changes the bike geometry by lifting the back end and you should find it easier to turn in. Adding preload does not make your suspension stiffer, lots of people think it does, that is the function of damping which may/may not be adjustable on your bike. Setting SAG should be the first thing every rider does on getting a new bike if you have preload adjustable suspension.

Airliner wrote:

Are you on the heavy side, have you any preload adjustment on the rear shock(s)? If the answer to both is yes try adding more preload to the rear. It changes the bike geometry by lifting the back end and you should find it easier to turn in. Adding preload does not make your suspension stiffer, lots of people think it does, that is the function of damping which may/may not be adjustable on your bike. Setting SAG should be the first thing every rider does on getting a new bike if you have preload adjustable suspension.

Excellent post...

slavetothegrind

good advice here and fair play Paulw for posting that!

I think we all did that once!

When i was starting out a friend of mine, an ex-road racer, brought me out and made me deliberately slide on the front wheel to get used to it so i wouldn't panic. On a slippery sloping road with wet leaves, at a slow pace he made me jam on and feel the skid and live with it.

Was great because it was not too long afterwards i came over a crest in wicklow to see a 90 degree right turn and i piled on the front anchor into a skid but i didn't panic and turned in releasing the brake and trusting the bike to make the bend. Not sure if i would have had the ability without having felt that before.

I'm no great pilot trust me, but i am better for the tuition i got .

Ride within your comfort zone lads!

If i tried to keep up with that mate i would be dead. He used to make a show of people and him two up on a 1200 bandit!!!!!

I love Sean nos

Airliner wrote: »

Are you on the heavy side, have you any preload adjustment on the rear shock(s)? If the answer to both is yes try adding more preload to the rear. It changes the bike geometry by lifting the back end and you should find it easier to turn in. Adding preload does not make your suspension stiffer, lots of people think it does, that is the function of damping which may/may not be adjustable on your bike. Setting SAG should be the first thing every rider does on getting a new bike if you have preload adjustable suspension.

Just checked the manual for the FZ6 and pages 3-14 and 3-15 talk about adjusting the preload. I'll take a look under the seat tomorrow, see which one of the seven available settings is in use and maybe try a different one.

I was using countersteering before, but not consciously. After reading the posts here and watching some YouTube stuff, I tried it out last week on the spin into work. Was interesting testing it out on a straight on the Swords - Ashbourne road that morning, making the bike weave slightly. It has improved my cornering I think, knowing that pushing the right bar slightly tightens my turn to the right and vice versa.

Now I think my cornering problem has changed. Now I think I'm entering corners too slow. I slow either using the brakes or the engine, but then I've possibly slowed too much and it takes me a moment to accelerate back to the speed I want to be taking the corner at.

I'll keep practicing.

Esel

Be sure you are in the right gear (for exit) before entering the corner. Use the vanishing point (limit point) technique. Learn to read the road ahead from physical objects - trees, poles, ditches etc.

Do to have a copy of Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider's Handbook? ( TSO. ISBN 9780117081888 )

If not, I recommend it.

The_Chap

I love Sean nos wrote: »

Just checked the manual for the FZ6 and pages 3-14 and 3-15 talk about adjusting the preload. I'll take a look under the seat tomorrow, see which one of the seven available settings is in use and maybe try a different one.

I was using countersteering before, but not consciously. After reading the posts here and watching some YouTube stuff, I tried it out last week on the spin into work. Was interesting testing it out on a straight on the Swords - Ashbourne road that morning, making the bike weave slightly. It has improved my cornering I think, knowing that pushing the right bar slightly tightens my turn to the right and vice versa.

Now I think my cornering problem has changed. Now I think I'm entering corners too slow. I slow either using the brakes or the engine, but then I've possibly slowed too much and it takes me a moment to accelerate back to the speed I want to be taking the corner at.

I'll keep practicing.

Better to enter too slow than too fast!

zubair

As above, better to enter too slow. Slow in fast out, if you catch yourself too slow in a bend just get on the power earlier and possibly a little harder and you should still exit at a similar speed. This will also get you to a similar lean angle too but it will be more gradual. You should eventually gain confidence in entering a little faster even if you had initially been misjudging your entry speed.

Remember a good road position will give you more information and so you can judge the corner better. Go on youtube and watch any motorbike video.... to see poor road positioning

I'm sure someone mentioned tyre pressure already but this is something I always check and can make the world of difference. I know I mentioned it before but it would also be well worth meeting the lads for a spin as you'll learn loads and have fun.

Wonda-Boy

As you get to know your bike (engine and handling) you will become more accustomed to cornering. Just dont rush it, it will all click together eventually.