slow, look, roll, lean, roll some more?

[Rema1000]

I've had a couple of small front wheel slides lately (like, a couple of inches, then recover).  I've been thinking about the "slow look lean roll" mantra.  

Both of my little front-wheel oops'es happened when doing the initial lean into a turn, but before the roll.  For me, there's a split second after the bike leans, but before the roll transfers the weight to the back wheel (is that right?).  The first time, I was riding approaching a turn in the road, but the pavement (through the turn) was covered with a thin layer of ice.  I leaned-and-rolled, but as I started the lean, the front wheel slid a tad to the outside.  Once I rolled, the bike was securely planted on the rear wheel. Then again today, I was entering a turn with sand on the road: same deal.

One obvious solution is "don't ride on ice" .  The other is to enter sandy curves more-slowly.  But I'm wondering if it would also help to transfer weight to the rear wheel before putting the bike into a lean?  Or would that just make it worse?

[milo]

According to my understanding of physics, if a two-wheels vehicle rides over a slick surface like ice and loses traction while leaned over at all, by rights it should go down. Seriously. Leaning and ice simply don't work together, there's no technique that can reconcile them. If I was riding on ice I'd slow to near zero, take the turn bolt upright, and feather the clutch the whole way.

But then I wouldn't ride on ice. Focus on that first solution, methinks.

[wraithR1]

"The first time, I was riding approaching a turn in the road, but the pavement (through the turn) was covered with a thin layer of ice."

You're nuts!   :lol:

[scratch]

This is where you lean your body to keep the bike as upright as possible to maximize your contact patch, when going through a turn in the rain. I think the same applies. But, your question is wheather or not to get on the throttle sooner. The answer is yes, as you have experienced it yourself, the front end washes out because it is overloaded with the added turning force to slowing down. Are you snapping the bars when you turn? Try being gentler and smoother with your steering input.

[Sir Smapty]

This is where you lean your body to keep the bike as upright as possible to maximize your contact patch, when going through a turn in the rain. I think the same applies. But, your question is wheather or not to get on the throttle sooner. The answer is yes, as you have experienced it yourself, the front end washes out because it is overloaded with the added turning force to slowing down. Are you snapping the bars when you turn? Try being gentler and smoother with your steering input.

How about, try not riding on ice.  That's what they make sleds for.

[Rema1000]

Yes, I think I definitely have a pretty clear change into the lean... I thought that wad good, but as you say, it's not as smooooth a transition as it could be.

[94suzuki500]

i swerve to hit the ice, im kidding i dont really haha, ride safe. Peace

[sprint_9]

Yea that sand equals near death situations, we need a good rain to get the roads washed off up here in the tundra.  I actually just remembered a few weeks ago I was in a rather big hurry in my car and was entering an off camber turn way to fast when I hit a patch of that damn sand, off I went into some yard.  Lost the front end completly, Im so lucky I didnt bend my right front wheel.