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?
posted as in the yellow/black diamond sign....
double it and subtract 10
a 10 mph corner....is a 10 mph corner
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 :)
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 :laugh:
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
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.
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
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 :thumb:
Take it to the track. But then others could always use the parts.
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.
Quote from: Affschnozel on September 06, 2006, 04:51:19 AM
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 :thumb:
:thumb:
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.
Quote from: deathlucky on September 06, 2006, 04:36:28 AM
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 :laugh:. 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.
Quote from: werase643 on September 05, 2006, 09:40:37 PM
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.
Quote from: wildbill on September 06, 2006, 06:44:52 AM
Quote from: deathlucky on September 06, 2006, 04:36:28 AM
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 :laugh:. 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.
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.
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 (http://maps.google.com), and talk to riders in your area.
Good luck... Stay safe... :thumb:
Quote from: werase643 on September 05, 2006, 09:40:37 PM
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?
Quote from: vtlion on September 06, 2006, 06:06:56 PM
Quote from: werase643 on September 05, 2006, 09:40:37 PM
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 8)
I have never seen one below 10....have you?
ive seen some 180 degree twisites near my house with a roughtly seems over 20 precent grade as well limit was 15
I've seen 5mph corners. I've shot through them at close to 20. :icon_twisted:
As a rule 2.5 times posted is damn near or at (and in some cases just beyond) the limit. I have tripled a few 20's and ADDED 10 (not advised, all kinds of shaZam! scrapes, and pegs fold up, even hanging off like a monkey) :o
I about pooped myself there, but it was a blast.
Try taking it at the normal speed (or so) and hitting every apex first boy racer. Yeah it's harder than it looks.
Brake to the speed you want for the turn, or maybe a hair faster. After braking but before turn in, there is a settling period. During the settling period, I move the center line of my body (both hips and shoulders) to the inside of the bike, even if it is just an inch, weight the outside footpeg (Note: I keep my hips and shoulders to the inside of the bike until I am through the turn all the way and the bike is standing up straight, no matter what). You may have to counter balance the bike a bit before turn in by leaning the bike towards the outside of the turn, but only before you lean it in to the curve.
Countersteer by pushing with your inside hand. Keep the out side arm as relaxed as possible. And eyes. Always looking through the turn to the exit and then past it. Make the turn in as late as you can to see farther into the turn towards exit. The most important thing at this point is to roll the throttle on or keep some degree of throttle on. Never just roll though a turn leaned over. Throttle will settle the bike and the susupension. Keep rolling it steady. . . then countersteer with the outside hand, stand the bike up, move back to center and give it WFO throttle until you have to brake again.
Thanks everyone for all of the replies and the advice. I think I'll practice the apex thing, sounds like good turning practice without having to go crazy speeds. Jake D thanks for the play by play. I am doing most of that, but I'm not shifting my weight at all (at least not consciously). I guess "Make the turn in as late as you can to see farther into the turn" is where the idea of "flicking the bike into the turn" comes from? Makes sense.
I have a wife and 4 kids so I'm not interested in going MotoGP around here or anything. Just wondered about how to take the corners with a little more spirit when the mood strikes me.
Jake D :thumb: Awesome, man!
I forgot the simplest of things - choosing your line:
Start from the outside of the turn, pick your apex, and drift out to the outside of the turn after the apex, rolling on the throttle. If this has already been covered...my appologies. (I'm lit)
Thanks scratch...I'm about to start getting lit. Late start for a Friday, but it's been a rough week. :cheers:
Short week! Five days of work crammed into four! Whew!
Work for Lowes. Every day is like a week of it's own.
(A week spent in a prison cell with five huge men, all named Bubba.)
Doubling the posted speed limit in corners is really not the best advice to be giving to a noob sportrider with a wife and 4 kids--or for anybody for that matter.
Like somebody said, good judgement trumps good skills: http://home.comcast.net/~alan.s.moore/vp/vanish.htm
:cheers:
Excellent link! I recognize those roads as Hwy 9 and Mt. Hamilton Rd! The author owns an '89 RZ350...Yamaha stopped making those in '85.
Thanks Gisser, that page on the vanishing point and the page it links to with pictures was very helpful. I will definitely be thinking about the VP on my next ride. Don't worry, my family is always in the back of my mind when I'm riding. I won't be doing anything stupid. This is a risky enough pasttime with all the idiots out there (it is way too easy to get a license in this country). I'm not about make it riskier on purpose.
You sound like a wise rider. Kudos to you! :thumb: You will have a long riding career!