Favorite part of cornering?

[Misti]

What is your favorite part of cornering, setting the entry speed, nailing the apex, driving out, quick turning? What is the one part of cornering that you like the most and why?

Misti

[4Raven]

just making it so smooth into the apex, while hearing a little ding ding of the guardian bell and then the crunch of it getting smushed into the blacktop a little and then the touch of the engine guard, then back up and ready to hit the next one...

Or like today...just making it look so easy....;)

[murphyshuman]

The feel of the bike compressing under you as you find the apex and add the power, like a coiled muscle releasing.

[ninjaridaz]

Right after the turn in when I'm rolling on the throttle.

[JBorg]

The feel of the bike compressing under you as you find the apex and add the power, like a coiled muscle releasing.

+1
I just love that feeling.

[DachshundUberAlles]

The momentary lightness of the pitch in.

[Stainlesstehle]

At this time of year? Simply coming out of a turn, knowing I didn't hit all the sand left from the winter.
Normally, the acceleration out, after the apex.

[Gold5th]

Not going straight :P

[RID3R]

Leaning into the turn and rolling on the throttle. That feeling is incredible!

[deadeye]

im with murphy, hanging off the fill of the springs working and the front coming up with nothing but power... Its a good thing

[TORQ]

Coming out the otherside, Wide open!

[Misti]

The feel of the bike compressing under you as you find the apex and add the power, like a coiled muscle releasing.

Sweet :) It is interesting that most people mention this part of cornering as their favorite. I asked this question on another forum too and the majority of the answers had something to do with rolling on the gas and driving out of the corner.

I'd have to say that my favorite part of cornering is the quick flick and the feeling of the knee hitting the deck and knowing that I'm on the exact line that I wanted to be on. This feeling is made even better when there is a series of corners where I can quick flick, knee down, quick flick, knee down etc. Mid Ohio corners 7,8,9 and 10 have to rank up there as my favs!

What about any parts of cornering that you don't like? Is there a specific part of cornering that you don't like or find much less appealing than others? Are these parts considered your weaker parts or just parts that you don't like?

Misti

[beginner]

When ever I'm successful increasing speed in a turn and not going wide. That's a practice goal.

[Misti]

When ever I'm successful increasing speed in a turn and not going wide. That's a practice goal.

That's a good goal to have. What are some things that might cause you to run wide in a corner?

Misti

[Rev]

My favorite part is picking the perfect line and speed and coming out exactly as I intended. If I have to let up I know I entered to fast; and if I enter to slow I loose the thrill of the big lean in. There is also that big thrill of passing the apex and rolling the throttle open and feeling the bike come back up with the roar of the engine.

As for running wide through a corer it is caused by to much entry speed and / or not enough traction. That is what I look for, the perfect corner. When I ride knowing I could not have gone faster safely and held the line I picked.

[Stainlesstehle]

GOING WIDE?
I believe this was covered extensively in another thread, not long ago.
I have to agree coming in too hot.

[Misti]

GOING WIDE?
I believe this was covered extensively in another thread, not long ago.
I have to agree coming in too hot.

Yes this was covered in another thread, one that I started but I just wanted to specifically address beginner who posted the comment as he didn't participate in the previous topic. Plus there may have been people that didn't read it :)

Coming in too hot is usually the root cause of running wide but WHY? What happens when you approach a turn too hot, what do you usually do?

Misti

[markk53]

Makes me think of that guy on the ITT tech school commercials.

What do I like best about cornering...
everything! I like everything about corners.

But I will admit a bit more partiality to sliding the rear out on a sweet pea gravel sweeper. The flat tracker influence from my much younger days. And let me tell you about cornering with V-cut screws in the tires on ice...

[rexmitchell]

Favorite part for me is throwing a knee down through the entire corner, nothing gets the adrenaline pumping than hearing the scrape! Then when exiting the turn and pegging the throttle coming out is my 2nd favorite!

[CaptCrashIdaho]

Yeah, I'm in the "there's a least favorite part?" camp.

[JBorg]

Least favorite part? How about when you come across a big pile of wood chips or sand that you didn't expect (thank you Mr. Landscaper).

[rexmitchell]

Least favorite part? How about when you come across a big pile of wood chips or sand that you didn't expect (thank you Mr. Landscaper).

How about when a UPS truck runs wide and nearly hits your head when in full lean?

[Rev]

my least favorite part is that high pucker moment. That moment when I realize I came way to hot, or realize that the corner is an increasing radius, or banked the wrong way and I've leaned until hard parts start scraping but still need more lean angle. This by far is my least favorite part. Then I get off my line, the bike starts going wide, and I have to feather the back brake, and hope I exit the corner before I reach the shoulder or low-side

[Misti]

my least favorite part is that high pucker moment. That moment when I realize I came way to hot, or realize that the corner is an increasing radius, or banked the wrong way and I've leaned until hard parts start scraping but still need more lean angle. This by far is my least favorite part. Then I get off my line, the bike starts going wide, and I have to feather the back brake, and hope I exit the corner before I reach the shoulder or low-side

Yes, this part of cornering sucks for sure and I'll bet a lot of us have had that same experience. So, here is a question for you. When you are at full lean and your knee is dragging or you are dragging hard parts and you find yourself running wide, what should you do? Is there a technique out there that can help you tighten up your line without adding lean angle?

Misti

[Gold5th]

I'm a newb, but thinking like a physics twit, i would say easing up on the throttle should help pull you in a touch tighter...

Personally I just stand the bike upright and threashold brake down to a speed that I can manage... I've done it once on a bike I thought I could handle better :P Like i said, I'm a newb, and it was the wife's bike ... not taking any chances :p

[Rev]

Misti, that is a great question. If your already too hot, hard parts are dragging, and your going wide...
1. you will not have time to stand it up and panic brake, you'll be off the road before you stop.
2. front brake will transfer to much weight off your back tire to the front causing a low side
3. letting up on the throttle can tighten your turn, but if parts are already dragging you'll low side
Thus leaving you with only two options. let up slightly on the power, and be very light on the rear brake... and pray you don't run so wide you leave the road. Or two, stand it up quick, stab both brakes just shy of locking; knowing your going to leave the road, and aim the bike away from fixed objects like trees or big rocks.

I have never entered a curve so hot that I left the road, but I sure have had my pucker moments where I wasn't sure I would make it

[Misti]

Misti, that is a great question. If your already too hot, hard parts are dragging, and your going wide...
1. you will not have time to stand it up and panic brake, you'll be off the road before you stop.
2. front brake will transfer to much weight off your back tire to the front causing a low side
3. letting up on the throttle can tighten your turn, but if parts are already dragging you'll low side
Thus leaving you with only two options. let up slightly on the power, and be very light on the rear brake... and pray you don't run so wide you leave the road. Or two, stand it up quick, stab both brakes just shy of locking; knowing your going to leave the road, and aim the bike away from fixed objects like trees or big rocks.

I have never entered a curve so hot that I left the road, but I sure have had my pucker moments where I wasn't sure I would make it

You make some good points here but there is another option that hasn't been mentioned that has a better result. If you find yourself running wide in a corner and need to tighten up your line but don't have any extra lean angle available you can lower your upper body down over the front of the bike and to the inside of the corner a bit which will help the bike kind of "hook" into the turn. This can make a difference in your line (bringing you in tighter) without adding any extra lean angle.

It all has to do with getting extra weight over the front tire. If you watch racing you can see the top guys doing this sometimes as they are exiting corners. They are already knee down on the edge of their tires and at the very edge of the track and are needing to get the bike to tighten up a little bit.

Has anyone else tried this?

Misti

[Stainlesstehle]

I can't say that I have. Call me a wimp, but I never go that hot into a corner that I couldn't get lower/tighter if needed.
When I come to an unknown corner, I just go slow and enjoy it. (maybe faster next time...)

[Tdubb]

Yeah, I'm in the "there's a least favorite part?" camp.


I'm with you, I like every bit of it, but my favorite part is when your rolling back on the throttle, and you can feel the back end wanting to break loose. That is on the edge of your tire and Hp.

You make some good points here but there is another option that hasn't been mentioned that has a better result. If you find yourself running wide in a corner and need to tighten up your line but don't have any extra lean angle available you can lower your upper body down over the front of the bike and to the inside of the corner a bit which will help the bike kind of "hook" into the turn. This can make a difference in your line (bringing you in tighter) without adding any extra lean angle.


Last time at the track I figured this out, but it was to make a pass on the inside of my favorite corner.

But I'm glad you pointed this out, because I hadn't thought about those moments where you really need the extra "hook" just to save your butt.

[Tdubb]

So are you saying it's a good idea to save that extra little bit of lean for when you really need it?

Well, I can see if your Lorenzo or Spies, you use that up on every corner, but for someone like myself that likes to ride hard, but not push the limits, thats a great buffer, to have in my back pocket for those pucker moments.

[C0D3Y]

Accelerating out of the turn, hands down.

honestly that means you executed the turn safely and you will live to see another turn so why enjoy any other part? =P

[Misti]

Last time at the track I figured this out, but it was to make a pass on the inside of my favorite corner.

But I'm glad you pointed this out, because I hadn't thought about those moments where you really need the extra "hook" just to save your butt.

Cool, that is exactly when most people use it, when they need that extra hook to tighten up their line.

So are you saying it's a good idea to save that extra little bit of lean for when you really need it?

Well, I can see if your Lorenzo or Spies, you use that up on every corner, but for someone like myself that likes to ride hard, but not push the limits, thats a great buffer, to have in my back pocket for those pucker moments.

Yup that is exactly what I'm saying is that it is better to have a little bit of reserve lean angle left over if you need it, hence the reason you want to have great BP so you can get through the corner with as little lean angle as needed for a given corner. If you are maxed out and using full lean but still need a little extra hook to tighten up your line then the best option is to lower your upper body down and forward so that you don't lean the bike right off the edge of tires and lowside.

If you are Lorenzo or Spies you are riding on the edge and using every single inch of the track so you might need to hook it each corner :)

Misti

[hijacker90]

Definitely rolling on the power when I'm through the apex.
I like riding in hot and braking hard at the last minute too,
oh yeah, and the feeling of being pushed down into the seat from the g-force.

[Sidewalk]

What is the one part of cornering that you like the most and why?

Misti

Passing

[kagebob]

Knowing that I can do it reletively fast with a skilled lean.

[chefonahonda]

Whoohoo, I need a lot more riding and practice. I am always self impressed when I can go in without braking, feel comfortable and get on the throttle on the way out but I probably do this much slower than some of you guys. Also learning how much I can really lean my 750 Phantom.

[DevRev]

What is your favorite part of cornering, setting the entry speed, nailing the apex, driving out, quick turning? What is the one part of cornering that you like the most and why?

Misti

Not falling :biggrin:

[cabreco]

Not falling :biggrin:

Ditto! Old bone break too easy.:71baldboy:

[hogcowboy]

The acceleration out of the turn and preparing for the next turn.

[DevRev]

Ditto! Old bone break too easy.:71baldboy:

In my experience, new bones break easily too ;)

[Andreas L]

Defying gravity when in the turn, accelerating out and leaning for the next one. Best of all is when the young kids see this old fart take the helmet off.

[Misti]

Passing

Passing is a good one :) That is probably one of my favorite parts too! For some people, passing comes easy while others really struggle with it. Those that have a hard time with passing often get caught behind much slower riders and can't seem to get around them easily.

Why do some people make passing look so effortless while others really struggle with it? What are the "passers" doing differently than the others?

Misti

[LWRider]

Actually, for many of us non-racers, we usually are into a turn still sitting on our butts in the saddle, body in line with the bike. In these cases, I have found even a little bit of putting your body on the inside can dramatically reduce lean for a given turn, which is usually enough to compensate for coming in a bit hot.

Cruisers should try it. Even though it is not as easy to climb over the side on a big cruiser it can save your butt. It is worth practicing in advance of need.

Cheers,

Mike

[Nine Mile Skid]

Easy - the sweet music of the high compression pistons through the supertrapp resonators echoing through the holler as I pull back on the throttle. It's Why We Fight, ennit?