| 2002 Ozark Roundup |
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| Swami's Top 10 Cornering Tips |
| 1. If you are inexperienced in riding on twisted asphalt, tell the group lead and move to the back of the group to remove any pressure to ride faster than your abilities. Nothing screws up a group ride faster than someone going to the hospital. 2. The ability to read a corner as you approach it critical, learn to focus on where the exit is not the path directly in front of your bike. This is a skill that you will have to practice over and over...it is not instinctive. Remember, before you lean, look for the exit! 3. I'm coming into this corner too fast!! Don't panic,any bike with an average rider can successfully make a corner 10-15 mph above the posted speed of a turn. Am I telling you to take the corner at that speed? Of course not. Point is,if you find yourself coming into a corner at a speed slightly higher than the sign, relax,and setup the corner quickly. The bike and you will make the corner. Everyone and I mean everyone has done this before. 4. Learn to setup tight corners with the same technique,move to the opposite side of the lane for the best angle. Put your body in an aggressive riding position moving closer to the handlebars. Feather the downshifts, especially a 2/3 gear downshift. Don't over downshift, most corners will be a single downshift, tight ones will be two,in slow succession allowing the engine braking to reduce the speed coming into the corner. Most riders are better at left corners than right, so keep that in mind and compensate for the tight right-handers! 5. Braking in a turn can only accomplish two things, cause your wheels to lose traction or reduce your lean angle (your ability to turn), do not brake while you are leaning unless you like the look of road rash on your backside. 6. Any corner has three speeds: the entry, the apex, and the exit. Of these three, judging the proper entry speed is the most important. Of these three, the entry speed should be the SLOWEST. 7. Blind corners, especially with blind apexes, are made even more difficult so go in at a slower speed than normal and anticipate. 8. There are two methods to put a bike into a lean: countersteering and weight shift. Both are effective and can be used together. However, the bike will respond quicker to countersteering. It really is an easy technique to learn. BTW, leaning-in is required to INCREASE the lean angle while in a corner. 9. Do not simply follow a lead bike into a corner following his line and speed, he may be a better rider or he may be coming in too hot. Always go through YOUR setup routine, what's my gear? my current speed? the speed of the corner? setup the angle, aggressive riding position, brake/downshift to get proper entry speed, look for the exit, that's your line, ok now execute! 10. The first time you drag a footpeg or a piece of chrome in a corner, your heart will practically jump through your chest. Chrome preservation instincts will kick in and you will think, hit the brakes. Relax and ride out the corner, remember rule #5 braking is a BAD thing! Think of your scratched chrome as something you can brag about. 11. Wax-on...wax-off uh rather Roll-on - Roll-off that throttle! The emphasiis here is develop a smooth transition of your speed, work at developing a rhythm to cornering. Any joe-rocket wannabe can hammer out of a corner...just to hit the brakes unnecessarily hard in the next corner. Traction is significantly improved through using a gradual roll-on and roll-off of the throttle, as opposed to harsh acceleration or deceleration. (contributed by progressman) Progressman also suggests reading : Proficient Motorcycling The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well by David L. Hough Bowtie Press ISBN: 1-889540-53-6 |
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