Depends on the driver, I've roadraced and autocrossed for years so I am always in the gear before the turn and on the power thru the turn in the car. I havent gotten the how far to lean to make the turn down perfect yet, that and my tires arent very inspiring (stock) Oh and those tar strips all over the road up north here (I guess for cracks in the road so it can expand and contract) are slippery as focck! Have some right in front of my left hand turn to my house and I always gotta go super slow there cause it feels like the ass end is gonna come around.
I think big thing with bikes is judgeing entry speed for a turn and leaning a bike over to make the turn if your too wide feels like the last thing you want is to be even closer to the ground!
I'm gonna go take the advanced rider MSF course here and see if thats worthwhile.
i don't own a car so whenever i'm with a friend who's driving i always forget cars can break in turns. he'll be approaching a turn going faster than he can take it at, and i'm just waiting to fly off the raod, and then he brakes during. but then again, i think this kind of thing is what makes bikers better drivers than people who drive cars. in a car you don't need forethought, you can just do what you want when you want. whereas in a bike, if you havn't planned out your corner, you're screwed. it's all about having to pay attention and thinking ahead.
btw, jasonB; i know those tar strips you're talking about. man i hate those. i always get nervous around thsoe when i'm on my bike.
I found it made me a better Driver, after riding. It seems like your senses go into overdrive when on a bike and they do the same now when Im driving any car. Apexing, always on the gas through a corner. :thumb:
The method taught by MSF really is best...slow, look, lean, roll. Living in mountains, I have so many curves and hills that this has become second-nature. If I had to break it down, I'd say the skills that take the longest to develop are looking all the way through the curve (or turn) while STILL seeing the road right in front of you (for hazards) and being in the correct gear entering the turn so that you do not need to shift while rolling on throttle, til you are out of the turn.
The cage requires none of this, yet I often catch myself "leaning" behind the wheel when I turn. Habit.
I can make this simple. I have a 929rr, the GS, and a "streetable" RX7 - all of which make it to the mtns and the track. The key to success with any of them is foresight and focus. All of them can be quick through the turns if you are watchful.
In my particular situation, the RX7 is by far the fastest through the turns. At the speeds it runs, however, you never want to brake in the turns. The GS is probably the scariest - and hence increases the fun factor - even though it is the slowest.
Just for your info - the GS is not much slower than the 929 IMO. I actually feel more comfortable on it and run about the same times. Of course, I have to push the GS to it's limits.
Quote from: dmp221...yet I often catch myself "leaning" behind the wheel when I turn. Habit.
Funny, I find myself trying to lanesplit in my car.
My driver's ed teacher for cars taught us something that I'm finding carries over to motorcycles.
He'd holler "Cut and go! Cut and go!" This was his short hand for his cornering theory, which was the equivalent of the MSF stuff. Slow before the turn, "cut"= hold the inside line (apex of curve, like outside inside outside path on motorcycle) and "go"= accelerate out of curve. He'd get very upset if we braked in a turn unless it was absolutely necessary.
Great fun when you are a teenager learning to drive on twisty back country roads.
He was our high-school economics and politics teacher, and a jackazz there, but a great driving teacher... I wonder now if he secretly had a motorcycle somewhere.
Quote from: keyzer
Always be in the correct gear for the corner your taking BEFORE you enter the turn.
Yes, I NEVER change my gear during a corner. Struggling with a lighter/heavier jacket or different boots in a turn is just too difficult :nono:
HA HA HA HA HA....
Sorry,
Trev
Hey, Pablo, you're driving a "mini", of course... :thumb:
Cornering may be different, but stopping is similar :)
http://www.sportbikerider.us/Sportbike_Rider/Pictures/Rossi%20TypeR.mpg