Braking & cornering on a sports

[Mo-Fo]

As I may have mentioned before I'm basically learning how to ride on an R1, so I'm also learning how to ride a sports since my 1st and only bike was a 250 cruiser which I rode a little in the year I had to wait to get my R class.

I've gradually got somewhat better and more confident in the couple of months since I've had it, worked a couple of do's and dont's out myself but braking and cornering is kind of an area that I'm not satisfied with my progress so far. I'm not sure whether I'm definately doing it correctly but just lack the experience to actually do it well, or whether I'm doing something wrong. Would dearly like some input from the ppl here who also ride sporty's and know their shit.

I watched a you tube vid that said sit back in the seat and grip the tank with your knees, support yourself up with your core muscles in order to put as little weight as possible on the bars as they're there for control only, not support. I've been doing this as much as possible, it's farkin hard work but I'm working on it...

Anyway this is what happens.. I'm going along at reasonable speed and a corner is coming up, I do what the vid said, put my arse right back in the seat, kung fu death grip with the knees on the tank etc but just can't seem to stop myself from slipping forward and putting a fair bit of pressure on the bars with my hands for support. So I'm kind of coming into the corner all bunched up, heavy on the bars and just not feeling right.

So is it a case of I've got the right idea but just not doing it well yet? Or am I totally missing something from the picture?

[thro]

Brake earlier, apply throttle earlier...

[Cbr Junkie]

Get Twist of the wrist 2 either on dvd or the book and get yourself on a trackday!

[thro]

^^ whs.

i'd also add "try less hard".


seriously. if you're braking hard enough that your balls are getting squashed in the tank and you need to hold yourself up with the bars heaps, well.... you're not on the track...


brake too late/too hard and you'll have the bike all unsettled and hard to control and your corner entry speed will suffer as a result. you're also leaving yourself less in reserve in case something unexpected happens.


once you're comfortable with getting your corner entry speed and line right, then start upping the pace by braking harder and later - but until you're comfortable with getting it right, going in hot is just going to make figuring it out harder.

[filbert]

+1 relax and keep it smooth

A little forward pressure on the left bar to turn left and vice versa to turn right and then just keep your head upright and lean in with it, don't snap off the throttle and no need to wind it on just coast through.

Give it a week or two and you won't even be braking for corners when travelling at the speed limit.

It all takes time, smooth and safe first, fine tune the extra speed into it later.

[Falcore]

Screw the tensing up part an relax dude.

Go with the flow. Shifting your body around etc is only really useful if your hammering it pretty hard.

Depending on how you shift your weight you can actually make it worse really easy. Which being relatively new to bikes I would advise against.

IMHO best way to learn is go riding with some older guys* that know how to ride well. Seeing how things work in real life will open your mind.

*term guys used loosely. I know a couple of chicks that can ride very well.
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[Mo-Fo]

I've had a think and what probably makes me slide forward the most is the initial catch on the engine braking. I've read that the engine braking on the big bang R1 is a bit aggressive compared to other bikes so when I change down to help slow me I get that initial 'shove' forward. Presume the way to combat that would be to hold the downshifting off a little longer and apply smooth braking a little more.

Thank you guys, I'm taking all this advice in. Looking forward to getting out again and trying it all out, making more progress

[Falcore]

My other bit of advice is don't try. Take it slow an steady. Read my signature. Things can go bad very very easy

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[Falcore]

Another way to minimize engine braking is to be in a higher gear, or use the rear brake to help make the transition smooth.

Being rough is what will bite you hard. Litre bikes don't play nicely.

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[filbert]

Another way to minimize engine braking is to be in a higher gear, or use the rear brake to help make the transition smooth.

Being rough is what will bite you hard. Litre bikes don't play nicely.

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agreed you don't need to power out at race pace and you have plenty of torque so even if you're in 2nd or 3rd and just idle it out it will reduce the engine braking and lurching.

[Kaido]

I've had a think and what probably makes me slide forward the most is the initial catch on the engine braking. I've read that the engine braking on the big bang R1 is a bit aggressive compared to other bikes so when I change down to help slow me I get that initial 'shove' forward. Presume the way to combat that would be to hold the downshifting off a little longer and apply smooth braking a little more.

Thank you guys, I'm taking all this advice in. Looking forward to getting out again and trying it all out, making more progress

i know the r1 has a splitter clutch but do you rev match/blip the throttle on down changes?


btw how do you find the r1 at low speed corning?

[D.J]

if you want to learn how to corner safely, Racecraft is the Go

[Dark Shadow]

Ideally you need to be AT cornering speed by the time you tip in, winding the throttle from off position (assuming it's a tight corner and you've been on the brakes) slowly round as you tip in, feeling the push from behind and by the time you're half way round you want to be giving it a good dose of gas to straighten yourself up

You don't want to be on brakes tipping in, from the moment you lean over everything needs to be as smooth or linear as you can make it

[ninjaa]

Here
Home

And here
Welcome to the Motor Cycle Racing Club of WA

Nothing worse than getting it all perfect then hitting a bus

[buelllord]

I watched a you tube vid that said sit back in the seat and grip the tank with your knees, support yourself up with your core muscles in order to put as little weight as possible on the bars as they're there for control only, not support. I've been doing this as much as possible, it's farkin hard work but I'm working on it...

Anyway this is what happens.. I'm going along at reasonable speed and a corner is coming up, I do what the vid said, put my arse right back in the seat, kung fu death grip with the knees on the tank etc but just can't seem to stop myself from slipping forward and putting a fair bit of pressure on the bars with my hands for support. So I'm kind of coming into the corner all bunched up, heavy on the bars and just not feeling right.

So is it a case of I've got the right idea but just not doing it well yet? Or am I totally missing something from the picture?

Why would you sit back when cornering, I have always sat forward in the seat when cornering hard. Stop watching videos and just do what feels natural.

Nothing worse than getting it all perfect then hitting a bus

I believe you have a birthday approaching ???????????????????



buelllord

[shan]

FFS, of a cruser then onto an R1
Now questions on how do i ride it.
I do renember you posting that you have made the transition fine.
Now I am left wondering about that post.

Track days, race craft is a must.
Please , do not be a hero, even at the track ,
Steady steady up the pace,
Caution with the wrist, the bike can and will bite it you if tell it too.

Most of all , Have fun.

[shan]

i know the r1 has a splitter clutch but do you rev match/blip the throttle on down changes?


btw how do you find the r1 at low speed corning?

Slipper clutch ? splitter clutch ?
Low speed cornering feather the clutch. Revs up, ride it out. smoooooth

[filbert]

Slipper clutch ? splitter clutch ?
Low speed cornering feather the clutch. Revs up, ride it out. smoooooth

for sub speed limit riding round town you could corner with the clutch in

the problem is thinking too hard and if the OP takes all the advice from here and adds too many things at once then they won't know which one made them fall off, either get some coaching at a ride day or from a friend who rides well or just relax and get comfortable then build things up slowly from there.

[thro]

I do renember you posting that you have made the transition fine.
Now I am left wondering about that post.

You should know by now "i made the transition fine" means "i haven't stacked it yet, and i've been riding at least a week!"

[I Fancy Holidays]

Obviously your doing it wrong. Maybe try foot out?

jk

Get Twist of the wrist 2 either on dvd or the book and get yourself on a trackday!

if you want to learn how to corner safely, Racecraft is the Go

^^these!