Sanj0wnd

QuotePosted by: AlphaFire X5
Steps for taking a turn properly:

1. Slow to a stop.
2. Turn bike off.
3. Remove keys from bike.
4. Hand keys to someone who knows how to ride a motorcycle.
5. Sign up for the MSF course.
6. Attend the MSF course.
7. Pay attention during the MSF course.
8. Complete the MSF course successfully.
9. Return to person who has your motorcycle keys.
10. Place keys in bike.
11. Start motorcycle.
12. Take turn properly.

Go take the damn MSF course before you hurt yourself.

3200 Miles is great, but seriously, these guys are right. We're not being preachy in stressing the importance of the MSF course, if you want to pursue performance riding in any way, it is a necessary step to take. Just like you wouldn't build a bridge without learning about physics, the MSF teaches you fundamental habits that are crucial in developing a safe and effective riding style. I know you want to get out and whiz around a corner, but as has been said in another recent thread, you've gotta walk before you run, etc.
Just my two cents

-me

Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on April 26, 2007, 01:06:31 PM
Steps for taking a turn properly:

1. Slow to a stop.
2. Turn bike off.
3. Remove keys from bike.
4. Hand keys to someone who knows how to ride a motorcycle.
5. Sign up for the MSF course.
6. Attend the MSF course.
7. Pay attention during the MSF course.
8. Complete the MSF course successfully.
9. Return to person who has your motorcycle keys.
10. Place keys in bike.
11. Start motorcycle.
12. Take turn properly.

Go take the damn MSF course before you hurt yourself.

I never took the MSF course, should I turn in my keys till I take it?   

Quote from: gsJack on April 26, 2007, 01:31:10 PM
I never took the MSF course, should I turn in my keys till I take it?   

Yes.

My father took the MSF course with me when I wanted to learn how to ride. He had been riding for 50 years prior and started on a Cushman scooter with something 2.5HP. He said that despite his experience he learned some helpful things from the MSF course.

Quote from: spcterry on April 26, 2007, 11:58:59 AM
Great post fender

Emphasis on #4!!!!!!!!  that seems to be what you have the biggest problem with

Slow down before the corner, steady throttle entering and through the corner, and accelerate out. NO CLUTCHING AT ALL! Avoid shifting or braking during the corner, this messes with you suspension. More experienced riders can handle braking during a corner, but it's something you should avoid unless you really have to. If you feel like you're not gonna make it, braking is usually NOT the answer - just lean more.

Strangely, I never found that braking (lightly) during a corner was difficult. Maybe it was from my days of road cycling, but I never feel like I'm gonna fall over when trailing the brakes into a corner or make slight speed adjustments. However, I do avoid it whenever possible, and just keep the throttle steady in the corner.

Alright this sounds a little better, I'll try it when the road dries up. I have no problem making a textbook corner and rolling on the throttle and stuff, I know I'm doing that right, just the way fender explained. It just felt different on extremely sharp corners. My commute has like 6 corners that are literally 90 degree turns out of nowhere. So after coming down from 65-70 mph to a speed safe to corner at I'm usually dropping 3 or 4 gears in succession before the turn, and sometimes I got lost and let out the clutch in the wrong gear. My mistake was just keeping the clutch in once I got down to my speed and taking the turn with no gas or brake cause that felt stable. I'll try braking a little earlier and engaging the engine on the 90 degree turns all the way through and see how that goes.

One more thing. When doing normal cornering, i usually drop to a gear that will keep me around 5,000 rpm throughout the turn with constant throttle pressure. Is this about right or would you go higher/lower and why?

I try to be about 6K, but 5K is ok too. I tend to ride the twisties in N GA, and I can hover around 7-9K all day

On dropping a number of gears before a corner, I recomend using each one along the way as a source of slowing also, through engine braking. The plus side is you can know exactly where you're at in terms of rpm/speed before the turn. I might draw fire for endorsing engine braking like this, just make sure you ease out the clutch, otherwise the rear wheel can skip/slip/skid etc.

Quote from: iv76erson03 on April 26, 2007, 11:48:39 AM
maybe i should have clarified that I'm talking about 90 degree corners and hairpins where you are down at like 20 mph or so. I'd never take a normal corner at high speeds in that manner. I just need a quick answer of how you do it, not a lecture on taking the MSF which i prolly won't be doing anyways. if someone wants to tell me an answer then great, but if everyone is just gonna give me the MSF speech then forget it.

having said that, thanks for the book recommendation, i'll definately pick it up.

Dude, you are just lucky that the GS is a forgiving bike.  Try that on a more powerful heavier bike and you will be in the weeds... The worst thing you can do is remove all power from the rear wheel in a turn.  Read FenderJones post, that's how you maneuver a turn.  Also I agree with the MSF recommendations, even if you have your license they have intermediate courses, that are for people who ride and can use their own bike(at least they do in CT).  Also pick up proficient motorcycling, that is an encyclopedia that every biker should have (and read).

Don't be a Squid!  LOL

iv76erson03 there are 2 ways to take a corner, as a racer or as a streetrider

As a racer I would come flying into the corner, be hard on the brakes looking for my markers, at the same time getting to the gear that I will use through the whole corner. While all this is occuring I would shift my weight, point my toe to side I will be turnig in and shift my weight.  My eyes shift to the apex, flick the bike over while getting on the throttle, keep looking through the turn to my exit point while adding power.

Is this what you want to do on the street, if it is you will be dead very quickly. Fast riding is fun, but on a closed course where there are no cars, people, animals or sand. There are too many variables to be dealing with on the street and you brain cant handle that much input. Slow==Safe and if you want go fast see below.

Here is what I recommend.

Take the MSF course and team up with some experienced riders for group rides. If they dont where full gear when they ride then these are the guys you dont want to hang out with.

If you want to corner fast, find a local trackday. Its more fun than any twisty road you can find, its safer, and you will never look at riding on the street the same way again.

People die on bikes because they don't know how to ride. Its something like 65% of all deaths from motorcycles are single vehicle accidents, dont become one of them

I'm surprised no one has mentioned variables like slippery stuff. That's gonna make you faster around the corner.

I don't think you really want faster.

I think you want 'more fluid'. Since you're asking about how to do it faster, I'll also bet you're not doing things automagically yet. Or properly. Given the low miles you've traveled, it all comes together.

If you won't take a MSF or do anything proper to save your own hide (and I do mean HIDE), do it to save a cool bike. GS's are better than being wasted on folks that just wanna go fast.

Quote from: l3uddha on April 26, 2007, 11:22:41 AM
you've got it all wrong man.. all wrong.

before you get on your bike again, I suggest reading this:

Proficient Motorcycling

by: David L. Houghes

I agree 100% one of the best motorcycling books out there!