Learning to ride.

[charleym3]

I've started to get a little, well, agressive in my cornering.  I've been riding off and on for 25 years.  More off than on, but that's a different story.  For instance, rather than slowing down another 5MPH to take a corner, I'm adding more counterstear and forcing the bike down into the turn.  

This brings up a side question.  When getting into the corner, do you ramain in line with the bike?  When I push the bike into the corner, my head stays nearly parallel to the street looking through the corner to the exit.  My body is somewhere between, not leaning quite as much as the bike.  Is that a normal thing or a bad thing???

Finally, How or where do I go to learn to be 1 with the bike?  Racing school?  I don't really want to race it but I'll like novice level racer controll of the bike.  I live in central NC.

[Rema1000]

If you know the corner and the condition of the road there, and it can take the speed, then you don't need to slow.  But you still need to look-lean-roll.  You need to give a little gas to get the bike to shift weight.  If you never slo down before the curve, then you'd just be speeding up more with each curve.

I'd recommend slowing before the curve, just so that you have room to apply throttle to get more traction (or break if you see that the curve isn't clear).

[pantablo]

this is me when I'm not hanging off...



You'll notice my body is inward of the bike a bit. Your body should be in line with bike at the very least and at best should be shifted slightly into turn. Turn your inside shoulder forward and into turn, shifting your weight to inside. Hope that makes sense, its late.

Head position sounds right. Bike shouldnt lean more than body, thats dirtbiek style and means you're giving up some potential traction (you're using the tire more to the edge that way). By moving your body more into the turn you effectively straighten up the bike a bit, meaning you have more traction.

[charleym3]

That makes sence.  Yeah I rode a dirt bike before I hit the street.  I'll work on it.  Thanks

[R3d]

They have an intermediate riders course here - done by the same MSF folks who do the basic course.  Also, I've heard of "track days" where novice riders can get lessons on a track.  I guess it allows you to ride more aggressively in a controlled area and get some instruction as well.