General Twisty Riding

[icius]

I'm just looking on some general advice on getting better at twisties for a newbie.  I took the MSF course and got my license about 8 years ago, didn't own a bike until a month ago though.  So not a lot of practice.  I've been riding as much as possible for the past month.  The GS is lots of fun! 

One thing I found that surprised me a little is that if riding the posted speed limit, twisties seem pretty lame.  Hardly any lean at all, pretty uneventful.  Uneventful is certainly ok for a newbie, but I'm wondering how I can step it up just a little.  Lately I've been trying about 10mph over posted limit in the twisties.  This is sometimes fun, but still pretty vertical.  A few times I've hit increasing radius turns or came in a little too hot.  I did well and trusted the bike and just increased the lean.  I'm working really hard on rock solid throttle control in the turns as well.  No jerking, no letting off, no braking, just smooth control.

So beyond the obvious "um...just go faster stupid", does anyone have a good method for stepping up the twisties a bit.

It also occurs to me that if you are dragging pegs on this bike in a turn you must be way, way over the limit.  Not that I'm a stickler for the speed limit by any measure, but wow.

How hot do all of you take the turns?

[werase643]

posted as in the yellow/black diamond sign....

double it and subtract 10

a 10 mph corner....is a 10 mph corner

[icius]

Yes I was thinking of the yellow/black diamond signs.

So if it says 30mph go for 50?

Can't say I've seen many posted 10mph turns around here 

[ducati_nolan]

I've dragged pects with bald stock tires, so if you had some decent rubbers on the thing, you wouldn't be way over the limit for the bike. Of course if you hit a patch of gravel orsand, you'll pretty much go down for sure if you're dragging pegs (no matter what you ride). The most imprtant thing to do in the twisties, is practicing doing everything really smoothly, and then gradually increase your speed. Once you crash, slow down by about 5 or 10 MPH and you should be going the correct speed for some exiting riding with a safety buffer 

[deathlucky]

i normaly double the recomended speed on bends (only if i know them)
try taking it as sharp as possible
try different tyers i personaly think the stock tyres are abit shaZam!
try better suspension you should be able to lean it down a hell of alot more if you do

[Cal Price]

Ride within your own limitations, you will get better and get more enjoyment as your ability grows. There is no substitute for practice only practice practice practice.

I rather enjoy riding twistees at night, you have the advantage of seeing oncoming headlights a lot further off but you still need to keep your wits about you.

[deathlucky]

riding at night in the twists dam im not to game to do that at night to often because of the dam kangaroos that like to hope on the roads at night but you guys dont ge that i guess

[Affschnozel]

Check tire pressure before your ride , look through the corner not at it , if you can't see what's behind the corner slow down,
there could be stopped traffic on the other side , increase visibility and radius through corner by steping to the outermost part of the lane (e.g. for right corner move to the left of your lane even step out of it if there's no oncoming traffic)
be relaxed stick to your ability and don't rush , take it gradually and have fun!
Ahh and by hanging a bit to the side of the corner you can decrease the lean angle while increasing
the area of the contact patch with the road surface,but that's when you'll feel much comfortable with the bike

[dgyver]

Take it to the track. But then others could always use the parts.

[silver_rider]

My suggestion is not to bother modifying your bike just yet. In the stock form it can do much more than you can. Remember your MSF course, practice being smooth, look where you want to go and remember push steering. You will notice after a while that you can do more and still feel comfortable. It will take a lot of practice to be able to push your stock bike to its limit.

Stay safe and have lots of fun.

Cheers,
Doug.

[l3uddha]

Check tire pressure before your ride , look through the corner not at it , if you can't see what's behind the corner slow down,
there could be stopped traffic on the other side , increase visibility and radius through corner by steping to the outermost part of the lane (e.g. for right corner move to the left of your lane even step out of it if there's no oncoming traffic)
be relaxed stick to your ability and don't rush , take it gradually and have fun!
Ahh and by hanging a bit to the side of the corner you can decrease the lean angle while increasing
the area of the contact patch with the road surface,but that's when you'll feel much comfortable with the bike

you cant get any definitive number to stick to, everybody is different; every ROAD is different. just find a place you're comftorable with; one that you dont have to worry about cars pulling out in front of you around the next bend, and learn the turns. take it slow at first and remember where those dercreasing radius turns are located so you dont hit them too fast the next time around. then, go through a bit faster.

dont even look at the speedometer.

[wildbill]

riding at night in the twists dam im not to game to do that at night to often because of the dam kangaroos that like to hope on the roads at night but you guys dont ge that i guess

Haha . We may not have to deal with kangeroos in the states here but i never wanna see the day when a deer gets caught in line of my lights. They freeze up and your dead if you don't avoid them.

[MrDan]

posted as in the yellow/black diamond sign....

double it and subtract 10

a 10 mph corner....is a 10 mph corner

I like that ... stretches of the DC beltway are 50 (from 55).  Can I just print this and bring it along for when I get pulled over doing 90? 

hehe -j/k ..  interesting way to think about it .. i'll try it on the back roads this weekend.

[MrDan]

riding at night in the twists dam im not to game to do that at night to often because of the dam kangaroos that like to hope on the roads at night but you guys dont ge that i guess

Haha . We may not have to deal with kangeroos in the states here but i never wanna see the day when a deer gets caught in line of my lights. They freeze up and your dead if you don't avoid them.

Out riding last fall, my buddy did a stoppie to avoid a mother and baby that walked out in the middle of the road and did the whole tharn thing.

I was far enough back that I could stop with plenty of room but my bud about had a heart attack.

[scratch]

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=046836f5c9788bde6c3910624168e40d&threadid=162143

In addition, you need to get familiar with a road.  Having decreasing radius turns sneak up on you will bite you eventually.  Racers go slow to go fast.  Learn the road @ the speed limit.  Add 5mph the next time you ride that road, remember where you have to slow down.  Add another 5mph the next time, and remember where you have to slow down.  Eventually, you learn your limits @ what speeds you can take some turns.

[RVertigo]

Well, if you need to haul ass around a corner to make it fun, then you may just want to hit the track...

Twisties are not just about leaning as far as you can...  They are about form, touring a new area, riding with little or no traffic, little or no stop lights, little or no stop signs, chilling out in the country, etc...



I think someone already said something about riding at night...  If you're looking for the "thrill" of it...  Riding at night can be down-right terrifying at times.  But, a MAJOR word of CAUTION!!!  Deer and other creatures come out at night...  The chances of finding an animal in the middle of the road at night are MUCH higher.  It's also harder to spot road hazards at night.  That little pothole, oil slick, or bit of gravel is gonna be a lot harder to see.

When riding at night, speed is a totally different thing...  In a corner, it's MUCH easier to overrun your headlight, since it pretty much points the wrong way...  Remember to work your brights!!!


Another thing you can do is "Hold a line" when riding...  Meaning...  Stick to the inside or outside of the road, as if you're riding in formation with other riders.  Don't cut the apex off the corners...  This makes some corners MUCH harder and can get you into some trouble on the road, so you still gotta be careful when you're riding like this.


And... As always...  Keep looking for better roads.  Ask around on "local" forums, use http://maps.google.com, and talk to riders in your area.

Good luck...   Stay safe...   

[vtlion]

posted as in the yellow/black diamond sign....

double it and subtract 10

a 10 mph corner....is a 10 mph corner

So if you come upon a 5 mph corner you have to take it at a dead stop?

[MrDan]

posted as in the yellow/black diamond sign....

double it and subtract 10

a 10 mph corner....is a 10 mph corner

So if you come upon a 5 mph corner you have to take it at a dead stop?

nooo ... in reverse 

[werase643]

I have never seen one below 10....have you?

[yamahonkawazuki]

ive seen some 180 degree twisites near my house with a roughtly seems over 20 precent grade as well limit was 15