To the bikers....

Scort

Scort

Scort

Soldato
Joined
28 Feb 2006
Posts
5,117
Location
No longer riding an Italian
..... any tips on cornering guys and gals?

I have always thought that my counter-steering on the ZX felt as if it was doing hardly anything, and a couple of times I got it into my head that I had pushed far enough, but wasn't steering enough; resulting in some very dodgey cornering.

When I was on my DAS course, I found it very easy to corner on the 600 Bandit I rode, but the angle of the bars on the ZX make it feel totally different. I was also taught to 'let the bike do the work', which meant sitting upright in turns.

Anyhow, I was determined to work on my cornering today and have spent 3-4 hours just riding around my hometown and have found that using a combination of leaning my body + counter-steering works wonders; it also make corners addictive.

So, anyone got any tips on taking corners on a sports/super bike?

Cheers,
Scort.
 
Only bikes I've ridden that needed any form of counter steer were an old ZX10 and a mates firestorm, but they were dodgy ill handling barges. Anything else I've ridden was a just a case of shifting my body weight, tipping it in and looking through the corner, just remember you go where you look.

Fog
 
If your pushing it, always counter steer it's a great technique. Although very baffling till you get used to it.

Never ever ever touch the brakes in the corner, unless your going to crash anyway. As soon as you hit those brakes you start heading in a straight line.
 
ok so I ride a scooter Piaggio B125... theres a corner where I live that I take (every day) at about 60-65 miles an hour and if I didn't counter steer on that I'd come out of it too wide and in the wrong lane (there are others I take with counter steer just for practice). When I counter steer I find my self opposing the lean of the bike slightly so I can push the opposite side bar to the corner away thus counter steering in control, it does feel really awkward but as I said with out it I'd be taking that particular corner at about 40.

The only time I touch brakes is on a real tight corner is a light touch to the rear to rev higher using the engine and counter steering to hold me up, thats what my CBT instructor told me to do dunno if its right though but it seems to work.
 
AcidHell2 said:
Never ever ever touch the brakes in the corner, unless your going to crash anyway. As soon as you hit those brakes you start heading in a straight line.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with using the rear mid-corner, or even trailing it all the way through, certainly helps stabilise my bros when (attempting to) go for it. Have a read of 'twist of the wrist 2' by Keith code which is all about very fast track riding, not to say that is what you want to be doing on the road, but you can use the techniques to get what you want out of the bike :)
 
Make sure you keep the power on (steady) in a corner, if you snap the throttle closed you're basically putting on the brakes and you'll run wide.

Never sit upright unless you're going in a straight line, the last time someone had thought of that on the back of my bike I nearly drove through a crash barrier, because it wouldnt lean over, it may be scary leaning at first, but you get used to it (that OMG I'm going to fall over feeling)

ALWAYS look where you are going to go, never fix your eyes on one point you'll get distracted.

Use your front brakes and leave the rear well alone, unless you are going WAY too fast.
 
Most important thing I think is your entry speed, ensure your not going too fast for the bed or you are going to be hurting.
You allways counter steer a motorcycle, however conciously doing it help a lot during bends.
Dont sit bolt upright in a turn, hunker down abit and lean into the turn (hanging off if you so wish, this improves stability and also keeps a bigger patch of rubber on the ground, useful in the wet) make sure you are relaxed and not tense in any way.
It also helps to grip the tank with your knees.

Otherwise its the usual look where you want to go and refrain from useing the brakes mid-turn unless its an emergancy.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys.

I find counter-steering quite natural, it just feels a lot different on the ZX that's all, but having a 'play' today really helped; I feel far more confident leaning the bike over now, even managed to take some more off the chicken strips ;)

Rode to Weymouth the other weekend with a mate, there's a sharp (180°) bend before you hit it - not sure of the area but the bend is marked with one of those speed advisory signs - 15 mph.

Anyway, I made the mistake of going for the front brake, after feeling I was running wide - for a split second before I realized the mistake and switched to the back; the bike started to straighten itself.

On the way back home I managed to mess the same corner up, this time I was off the brakes, but in 3rd (thought it was 2nd) and didn't push the left bar enough, so I ended up running almost to the center line :(

Anyway, with some of the tips above and more practice, maybe I'll actually get around it properly ;)

Scort.
 
Handling the bike, whether counter-steering or not, should come naturally after some practice. One thing you should always put concious effort into using and improving is the limit point. When you get it right, you'll always be going into corners at the correct speed and looking at the right place for hazards. Google it, or pick up one of any number of books (the police rider's handbook is always good).
 
Another thing, trust you tyres.
You have to have convidence in leaning over, as in your last post you mention you allmost messed up the same bend twice.
Instead of reaching for the brake which could land you in more trouble, try leaning it more and you will most likely make the corner.
This can also lead to getting your knee down, not reccomended on the roads but it looks and feels great.
 
Right not so much here about how to take a corner as everyone has pretty much described that to you however i do have a little bit on positioning. After reading parts of Roadcraft (The Police riders handbook) and doing a nice free Bikesafe ride. Your position on the road while cornering can be very important as to not only how easy the corner is but also giving you the abilitiy to see further ahead.

When following a Right hand corner, you want to be positioned on the left hand side of the road, not only does this give you more road space to make the corner but you can now see more of the way through or perhaps all the way, the same but in opposite is what you need to do for Left hand corners. All this sounds like obvious and basic ideas, but you'll be suprised what it can add to your riding!
 
I learnt from riding with more experienced riders, always much easier watching and copying someone else :p
Also might sound silly but from watching these dvd's that come with some of the bike mags you can see a lot of nice techniques.

As Said Practice makes perfect :D
 
Thanks guys.

I feel a lot happier about leaning into the corners now, just need to practice more and make sure that I stick to the correct road positions and things, but I think I’d be able to take “that corner” a lot cleaner now :)

Cheers,
Scort.
 
mr jamez said:
Nothing wrong with using the rear mid-corner, or even trailing it all the way through, certainly helps stabilise my bros when (attempting to) go for it. Have a read of 'twist of the wrist 2' by Keith code which is all about very fast track riding, not to say that is what you want to be doing on the road, but you can use the techniques to get what you want out of the bike :)
Click to expand...

yes there are very advanced techniques that you can use braking, also techniques that use both braking and throttle at the same time, it should never be needed on the road. Even counter steering takes you way past legal speeds. al though can be used at safe speeds.
 
i used to work at brands, and i was very impressed with the californian superbike school when they used to run there, i know they now do more at silverstone. these guys are very good and do improve noticably the clients riding in a day, teaching things like correct line, seating, speed, ballance and how to read the road and corner effectavly. I am recently ack on a bike after nearly 10 years off one and as soon as i can get the time will be making a booking!
 
a.hay said:
A third here! :D
Click to expand...

Woo Hoo!!!

Never bothered mentioning my new bike on here, thought it would fall on deaf ears.

Anyways, spill the beans, what version have you got and what mods so far?

OT - reading between the lines in your posts it sounds like you've only recently passed your test? I'd probably concentrate more on getting some miles under my belt, reading the conditions around you and getting used to the bike than worrying about how quickly I can get round x corner. Try a few riding/race schools for the more advanced stuff under the guidance of experts. Less likely to get run over by a truck that way :D.

Fog
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom