I've been riding about 9 months now, and things are starting to become second nature, and instinctual, however I'm still having trouble being smooth at coming into a 90* turn.  I'm talking about at an intersection where I have a green light and don't have to stop, or turning onto a perpendicular street.  Mostly 90* turns on flat ground and no camber in the roads.

My procedure...
  • I am traveling the speed limit
  • My turn is coming up so I pull in the clutch, brake and shift down to second gear.
  • I let out the clutch (probably a bit faster than I should, but not bad)
  • I lean and take the turn rolling on the throttle.

It just feels like I'm slowing way too much and that I'll be a hazard to traffic behind me.  Don't know exactly what speed I'm going, don't pay attention to that, but it's probably right around 15mph...maybe a little less.

When I let out the clutch in second, the bike engine brakes and just doesn't feel smooth coming up to that turn.

Is this a proper procedure, or am I doing something wrong?  How do you guys come up to a turn like this?  Do you engine brake to get to gear?  Do you pull the clutch in and shift to the gear and let the clutch out?  What gear do you take a turn like this in?

I don't really have anyone I ride with, so I can't ask and get advice from anyone.

Sounds like we have a similar level of experience: confident with some things, not quite with others. I have battled with certain corners recently, too, The collective wisdom had many useful suggestions.

I don't know what would be considered "proper" procedure for entering a 90 degree corner. I don't think your braking technique is an issue, I do the same, but to feel confident turning into these types of corners I slow the speed I want, 20-30mph, then use the clutch and throttle to maintain a consistent speed. As you progress through the corner, less clutch, more throttle. Also, it's becoming increasingly apparent to me that you need to have full confidence that your GS isn't going to fall over if you swing into your turn quickly. It won't.

The best piece of advice I was given here is to practice the same corner again and again, until you get where you want to be. Find a quiet road, practice.

I noticed that I become smoother through the tight 90s by using the handlebars a little more than by relying on body lean alone.  I started practicing pushing the bar away to invoke the countersteer to guide me towards my apex.  Using the bars this way gives you more control I think and allows you to make corrections faster than trying to lean your body more or less. 

I also like to be in the right gear for the turn.  Too much gear and you will not be able to drive through the apex and out of the turn as cleanly while the engine is bogged down. 

Practice creates a turn rhythm.  You see the turn, find the gear as you brake, roll into the turn looking thru it and then slowly roll on the throttle as you pull out of it.  fun!

Villager, I just got finished reading that thread before I posted.  I guess it helped a little, but I'm having more of a problem with the approach than the turn itself.  Maybe a little with the turn...I could get a little better with leaning, but it's more the approach that I want to perfect before I want to progress in the turn itself.  I'm just a short distance commuter, and don't want to push myself too far too fast.

What gears do you guys use in a 90* (assuming normal conditions in the road, and flat surface)
Engine braking or no?

 Make sure you are using your whole lane... That can help alot. Before a RIGHT turn go to the far LEFT of the lane while turning come to the inside (right side) of the lane and back across to the left. Reverse that for LEFT turns 

I know there is a bunch more to it, but your position on the road can help alot! Your not in a car anymore stuck in that lane w/ 12" on each side... you got a whole 6 feet or soo there to play with 

But what about the approach to the turn?  That's what I'm more interested in getting smooth.  I can turn decently enough for right now, it's just getting down to the right speed before the turn is not as smooth as I'd like it, and as I know if could be.

I just thought of something else while re-reading the posts.  Before you enter this kind of turn, you are in gear with the clutch out correct (power to the wheels)?  Not clutch in, then after entering the turn, clutch out and throttle on, correct?  That seems dangerous and I don't think it's right, but just wanted to check.

There's really no reason to touch the clutch once you've entered a turn.  You want to be at the bottom of the powerband in whatever gear you have selected when you go in to the turn.  Messing with the clutch during a turn is just asking to become a shaZam! stain on the roads boxers.

That's what I thought, and that's what I've always done.  I get in gear, with power to the wheel, then initiate the turn.

Just road home trying to be smoother with the clutch on descelleration into 2nd gear.  I think this has helped with the trouble of smoothing out the approach.  Only problem I have is to know when I'm for sure in 2nd gear.

Well, i'd say, if when you let off the clutch you're engine breaking, you might want to be in a higher gear. you can take your turns a bit faster if youre comfortable.

ALL of your deceleration should be done before you even begin your turn, even if you think you might be annoying the peopel behind you. You want to start your acceleration while youre still going straight before you start turning, and keep consistent or increasing throttle throughout the whole duration of the turn. That way your weight and traction stays on your rear wheel the whole time. If youre still braking (or engine braking or even coasting) when you start leaning, and then roll on the throttle from there, your weight is going to be shifting from the front to the rear, which will affect the way the turn feels.

Cars tend to not brake until theyre almost at the turn and then dont stop braking until theyre halfway out of it, so yea, theyll be hot on your tail, but hey, they SHOULD be doing it they way you do, so screw them.

other than that, yea, just make sure to take the outside-inside-outside path to increase your turn radius and look where you wanna go.

^^what joebo said

Also, if you REALLY want to be in 2nd gear, you need to practice blipping the throttle before you let the clutch out.  The article I linked couples this with braking, but you can start out practicing without the brake until you get used to how much to 'blip' and how fast to let the clutch out.  Practice in a parking lot until you get the hang of it and it'll make the transition smoother.  This will also keep you from locking up your rear tire if you dump the clutch, which you shouldn't do.  Hell, even letting the clutch out slower should help.

Great info.  Letting the clutch out slower has made a big difference.  I think I'm dropping to 2nd because I know that I won't be going to fast for the corner that way.  Do you guys take those corners in 3rd?  maybe I'll practice that and see if it's easier.

I always decelerate completely before making a turn...that was drilled at the MSF, and I've always remembered it.  I think I'm just used to driving a car where you do brake well into the turn, so riding the bike I just feel like I'm slowing too much before the turn, but that's how it's supposed to be.  I'm getting used to it, so I think with a little practice I'll be able to enter the turns at a reasonable speed and not feel like I'm slowing traffic behind me.

I think the key to much of what is said here is avoid any upsetting things. 
I a relearning rider, I forget to mentally prepare for turns if I let my mind wander a tad.
Something easy to do and get away with in a car but not the bike.

My biggest upsets come from letting the clutch out too late, I end up coasting through the turn because I know I could lose the rear if not done carefully at that point.. Late= already starting the turn.  I also an carrying the brake into the turn when I'm not thinking right.  I try to keep a light pressure on when I forget because it will upset the turn if you let off too fast with the brake.

What I find I do when I am really paying attention,  if a know I have to make a turn I shoot for 4th gear on the way to the turn.  That way when I start braking I can also do a quick downshift to 2nd , bam bam, blip the throttle to match RPM for the trans and let out the clutch. Brake pressure lightens as I approach the turn-in and I start to transition my bars and lean as I let go of the brake.  Then, as I come through the apex I SLOWLY roll on the throttle.  When that occurs over and over I find I get into a rythm. 

At the point where you are smooth like that, you can then start to brake less and carry more speed through the turn.