| Author | Message | ||
     Midknyte |
Last year, I picked up and read "Total Control". Read it twice, and read it again this year. Good book. This year, I picked up "A Twist of the Wrist". Reading it now. Better book. Twist is already helping me, in identifying some [of my] classic *Survival Reactions. Taking smooth sweepers at speed without becomming overwhelmed. etc. Something always seems to be missing though from the texts. Maybe I'm looking too hard for it (and overlooking it). Maybe I should just think of it in minature terms - compared to other turning advices.... I could use some advice / commentary on plain ol' 90 degree turns at / from 30 mph regular street speeds. How much should I slow down? How fast should ever expect to approach and make the turn and consider myself profficient? Upgrading from my old bike to my new has done a lot to make me forget what I thought I knew... Edumacate me? Thanks. | ||
| M1combat |
The first thing I would mention is that you ought to leave a large portion of your $10 for things like oil, bumps and painted lines. Depending on the corner... I would say that if you're talking about a four lane w/ a turning lane and you're taking a left from the turning lane... 70 or so? If you're talking a residential area where it's two lanes... Probably 60 or so? I recommend finding other areas to have fun though. Cages are hard  . | ||
| Bomber |
It's impossible to come up with even a general rule of thumb -- is the corner on or off camber? is there spooge in the lane? are your tires warm or cold? are there lil kids around? is it asphalt or fresh concrete? how wide are the lanes? you ae proficient when you feel that way (everyone's level of proficiency is different, and varies day to day) Contact IL HDD for there advanced riders class in late June -- although the books have great value (I own and read them often), there's no experience that can touch a good class/trackday | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Simply stating a 90 degree turn is meaningless. We need more paramaters such as M1 is mentioning before being able to give you advice. But ultimately, it comes down to what YOU feel comfortable with. In Barcelona I saw 90 degree turns that you would be very lucky to pull off above 20 miles an hour (knee down on the inside curbing, full lean and hope you don't go wide), and then come back home and see some 90 degree turns that are like sweepers. A book you might find more informative with regards to street riding, Sport Riding Techniques by Nick Ienatsch. His information is aimed more at street riding and the things you need to be more aware of then being aimed for track riding. | ||
| Jeremyh |
i just keep getting a little more aggressive everyday on my normal turns, i am sure sooner or later i will find out what the limit is. | ||
| Midknyte |
I will readily admit that I think I'm over-analyzing things... The general feel of the text of starting slow and comfortable and working from there is evident and agreeable. Guess I just caught myself postulating again... | ||
| Roadsurfr |
Please consider this: On the street there are no corner workers, there is no ambulance waiting, and getting run over by a semi would probably hurt a lot. Butch | ||
| Jlnance |
I will readily admit that I think I'm over-analyzing things... Maby you are, but I have the same question you do.  People asked for more details, so I'll supply some. I'm going 45 mph and have to make a right turn onto the residential street I live on. I'll usually find myself down in 1st gear by the time I start turning. I have a feeling I should be going faster, but it's just a feeling. A related question is how should the brakes, clutch, and gears be operated for this. My typical patern is to grab the clutch, brake, and shift down. As the bike slows I'll shift down again. Then I'll let out the clutch and then get off the brakes right before I start turning. It feels "wrong" to let the clutch out with the brakes applied. But it also feels wrong when I try get off the brakes before letting the clutch out. Suggestions? | ||
| Ceejay |
And here I thought everyone on this board was doing 90 degree turns on thier back wheel  | ||
| Midknyte |
Jlnance, I can answer this much - you should not be shifting all the way down to first unless you are coming to a near stop before innitiating the turn. Our bikes have plenty of torque to carry us thru easily in 2nd, and too much so in 1st. | ||
| Midknyte |
I should note that I am not trying to say that I am having any troubles. Only that I wonder what I should expect of myself. I ask more so that I do not allow myself to doddle lest I have a cage at my 6. Someone told me that I should not expect to go any faster than I would in my car (which for me can be as slow as 10-15 mph). Makes darn good sense to in afterthought as on a bike, I've got two wheels' less of traction. Again. Just trying to coorelate experience to something I've yet to see nailed down in print. | ||
| Bomber |
again, fellers, these questions have way too many variables to answer in this forum -- it's like calling the doctor and saying, my leg hurts, what's wrong?" this is why it's not found in print -- the authors, had they been foolish enough to print speed suggestions in their books, would have been soundly caned by their publishers -- imagine the potential litigation -- "well, you're honor, the author, who is a raod racing expert, and world-renowned teacher of high-performance motorcycling, wrote that I should be able to do 45 mhp in the turn -- and yet, I still ran out of road and into the lamp post!" what you expect of yourself varies from day to day, and minute to minute, depending on your mood, road conditions, time of year, amount of experience you have on that bike/tire/road -- it's akin to attempting to model the weather -- the variables stack up rapidly if you think you are going too fast, you likely are ;-} practice, ride with more experienced riders and watch their lines and body positions, take classes, go to track days, think about what your doing (it's far more mental than physical), and your own body will warn you when you are close to your own limits (unless of course, you are suffering from massive testosterone overdose, read, you're 17) | ||
| Mikej |
I used to work with a gal in Washington state many years ago who at the time drove a little sportscar. Her belief was that she could take any corner at twice the recommended speed. She changed her beliefs one day when she found a corner that used a different math calculation and nearly wound up airborn over a cliff on a mountain pass one day. There is no shortcut for experience, there are many shortcuts to mistakes though. | ||
| M1combat |
Well... For the record... I was mostly just stating what I might try, not what someone else should try. I suppose it may have sounded like that though... In any case, MikeJ's comment pretty much sums it up. | ||
| Apex_assasian |
what bomber said....ride with some experienced riders.....your lil buell can do things you have never thought was possible....i just set my suspension to the aggressive riding settings mine has been way soft...i commute a lot....any way i thought it would be a little harsh...nope dead wrong.....even with your suspension set up a little off...it is still a fantastic handling bike...and btw i caught this new bmw in some sweepers in my area (35mph posted speed) we were doing about 70 or so in the corners....was pretty fast but smooth and well within my comfort zone...hint hint......but get this he was 2 up....could i have gone faster...yes....but it's all about being safe and riding to your abilities mike |
