| Author | Message | ||
     Citified |
The other day I was out bummin around and decided to hit some crooked roads. well, I hit a hard left and noticed I was coming in a little hot. I thought oh crap, as I started to drift to the outside. Then I remembered some advice given to me "fight the urge to hit the brakes and lean in more". well, I just dropped it, my knee hit the ground and I spit right around the corner. What a rush, scraped my pants a little but I felt good. I have more confidence in my self now. thanks to who ever gave that advice.  | ||
| Buellman39 |
Did you have to go home and change your underwear?  | ||
| Hogs |
LoL | ||
| Norrisperformance |
I did that years ago, but I stayed on the brakes it was a very bad day. Think God for leathers! GOOD JOB! | ||
| Blackxb9 |
I'm a little shy about that too. I just started riding about a year ago and I still don't know how much I can lean the bike around a turn before it kicks out. I have great tires, and excellent road conditions but I find myself backing off and braking before the turn instead of leaning in and sailing around the turn. I have yet to experience the supreme handling capabilities of my bike due to my own insecurities. | ||
| Got1nut |
time is on your side | ||
| Cataract2 |
Black, I have a tendency to do the same. Just give it time. Better to be safe than flying off the road. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"I did that years ago, but I stayed on the brakes it was a very bad day." Uh, yeah. That happened to me too.  | ||
| Wheelsleaning |
My track day a few weeks ago taught some of that. Still didn't push it as much as I should have though. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
^ Exactly, 2 words, Track Day! Will learn more about yourself and your ride more in one day on the track than you could within a season or more on the street. | ||
| Jlnance |
I find myself backing off and braking before the turn instead of leaning in and sailing around the turn. Nothing wrong with that. It's when you brake during the turn that things get interesting. | ||
| Martin |
Three things might help, here. First, try riding a quiet, bendy road you know well WITHOUT brakes. That will teach you to be at a good speed, in the correct gear on entry. Buell engine-braking can be a considerable help, here. Apply a small amount of positive throttle through the mid-bend to stabilise the bike Secondly, practice good lines into the bend. By that I don't mean the racing lane but rather the one that gives the best vision through the bend. So on a left hander keep out to the right until you can see the exit, then apex and gassit. Thirdly, LOOK UP. Don't concentrate on the apex as you pass it or the exit curb. If you look up and out of the corner, that is where you will go. Practice your braking so that you let the front off fractionally before the rear, using that as a balance against the throttle to stop the bike pitching up and down. Be smooth as you can and you will be quicker, but only ever ride at a pace you are happy with. Yes, a race track is a good place to practice all this, especially if you emphasise to the organisers that it is road skills that you seek. The tutors will appreciate the opportunity to teach something a bit different. I have a lot to thank Shoei for, myself. | ||
| Vikingdave |
I always use this simple rule when entering a corner...prior to flicking her over if my tires have enough grip to slow down, then they have enough grip to make the turn. My greatest advise which is borrowed from the ultimate racing movie 'Faster'..."if you want to go faster, take it to the track!"  | ||
| Bcordb3 |
" my knee hit the ground and I spit right around the corner." How is your knee? I trust you were wearing leathers with knee pucks. | ||
| Along4theride |
The first advice I was given on a bike when hitting the twisties in N Georgia was "Lean or Die" It has come in very handy and saved my arse several times. | ||
| Blackxb9 |
Thanks for the pointers. You guys are great. I will just play it safe until my confidence and abilities grow with time. Until then I will break before the turns and coast around the twisties. | ||
| Along4theride |
You don't want to 'coast' around a twisty. You don't have as much control in a corner coasting as you do if you're accelerating a little. You want to accelerate a bit, if even just a slight amount. The increasing speed 'sticks' you to the pavement and gives you a bit more control going through the corner. I'm not saying kick it, just pick a speed a little slower than you can take the corner when you enter it, giving yourself room to accelerate through it.  | ||
| Glitch |
Power out! Repeat! | ||
| Martin |
Lean over Look Up Little Gas Live | ||
| Opto |
I like braking into the corner hard, selecting the gear for exit while braking hard and leaned over (boot can touch ground on left handers while downshifting) then ease the clutch out and power out and do it all smoothly. There is no room for not being smooth when going hard. So if you're not having a good day, don't push it. Also don't have the rear end set too hard or the bike will get squirelly and try to toss you esp if you hit a hole at a bad time. My 2c, couldn't help myself, and all of the above with pillion. So many people on this board say brake before a turn, then go round it, meaning don't brake as you actually enter the turn and are still heading for the apex. I just don't get it, sorry! | ||
| Emscityx |
For cars, braking as you enter (but not during) the turn is called "trail braking", and is just an alternate technique. | ||
| Gaz |
You want to be braking for the corner then while dropping it in you need to be releasing the brake and sqeezing on the throttle. Smooth transition from brake thru cruise to accelerating out of corner. Track day is the place to learn. Just progress at your own pace though. | ||
| 12r |
It helps if you look as far ahead as you can. You can't do much about the road right in front of you, but if you look where the left and right hand sides of the road meet, you'll avoid target fixation. As the convergence point moves towards you, slow down, then as it appears to move away from you, get on the gas. The Buell stands up real hard if you brake while cornering; just keep those fingers off the brake lever and lean into it - move your body to the inside if you're not happy with the angle. A touch of rear brake helps if you're a little hot going in. And at all times, smooth, smooth, smooth. Ride safe. | ||
| Ortegakid |
Go to the track,learn to drag your knee,you will save your life if it becomes second nature! Am amazed at my friends that do not use their knee at all,like the old days,scares the be%$#$ out of me!, I can't do it! Best place to learn is a skid pad, you can go as fast or slow as you need, no one is coming at you, and usually every one is going the same way! |
