Quicker Cornering Techniques?

[Fjrwillie]

I found this past weekend an interesting aspect in cornering. On Friday I was with the local GWRRA chapter on a ride to Joseph, OR passing through Hell's Canyon on the way. Lots of curves. I was not at my best comfort level keeping pace with them on a lot of curves signed from 20 to 50 mph going at 10 mph over the posted speed. Then on Sunday I rode by myself north from Enterprise, OR to Lewiston, ID on OR 3 and WA 129, a stretch of road known as Rattlesnake Pass. Believe me, it curves back and forth like a rattlesnake! I found I was pushing 15 to 20 over the signed speed with absolutely no discomfort at all. Later in the day going south on ID 55 along the Payette River from McCall to Boise I was in a line of several cars. Again I found my discomfort threshold was at about 10 mph over the signed speed.

I don't know why, but in the presence of other traffic even with a good space between me and them, I am not as comfortable going around curves as I am when I am by myself at similar speeds. If by chance you share this feeling at all I would suggest you arrange with your buddy to keep yourselves separated a lot more than the usual 3 second spacing rule for group riding.

What you describe when riding yourself is that you only have to worry about you, the Spyder and the road. Throw in other elements such as cars, other riders, you timing is then dependent on what they do, not what you want to do. I understand this completely. Why I stopped riding in large groups that like to run faster than normal.

Willie

 

[BilltheDiver]

When my wife took the 3 wheel course I signed up also, even though I have had an endorsement for years. The instructors knew well that I was there to support her and to test myself and the spyder through the exercises. I took almost every exercise as though it was a race, pushing myself and the bike to see what I could learn. Doing this on a closed course let me really experience things. I left there with a lot more confidence in myself and the spyder. If you can't sign up for a course, I suggest finding a closed parking lot and setting up some cones and doing the exercises in your manual. It will add to your comfort level on the road.

 

[Lew L]

+1---This works....

Press the outside board or peg harder, bend the inside elbow and look far through the turn. Of course the anti-sway bar is a must ( shock stiffeners help also ) I'm 69 very soon and I ride my RT faster than my two wheelers in the twistys when I'm feelin' it ( which is too often).
BUT all that said---- ride your own ride.

Kaos

Haven't read about keeping your outside foot planted heavily on the foot peg/floorboard, seems to have helped me when I was advised of this technique. I was trying to hold on with my legs squeezing the "tank" area before.

 

[TIMMB]

From experience in driving on a road race course in a car, as it has been said many times before looking ahead Beyond The Curve you're in is one of the biggest factors to being smooth. You can't change what's directly happening in front of you. That goes
for anytime not just in the corners, always look ahead. The other thing I learned from this forum that meant the most for better smoother cornering is to not steer the handlebars, push up into the corner you're steering, the other hand is merely there to stabilize, do not to pull down! Much less effort into the turns it made a huge difference for me.

 

[HayRog]

Trying to keep up for the sake of keeping up can be a dangerous situation if you don't have the skill set yet. Having said that, as a technique to develop smooth cornering do not forget to select the proper gear. Engine braking will keep the bike settled on its suspension while reducing speed and providing for good excelleration out of the turn.

Have fun and ride safe!

YES !!
Also, just in my experience, it took me a couple of hundred miles to realize that the inside wheel does not come off the ground in tight, fast turns. It may feel "light", but stays planted.

 

[Bytemi]

My husband usually leaves me in this dust when it comes to cornering. My comfort zone is my comfort zone and I can always catch up later. It takes a while to get to used to the feel of a Spyder, expecially if you have been on 2 wheels, but it comes with time. Then confidence and then you will leave your buddy in the dust!

 

[markyodo]

The Spyder is much better at cornering at speed then from a dead stop. The Spyder will fight you in the corners but has always stayed firmly planted for me except when cornering from a dead stop, then I get the occasional wheel slip.

 

[tehrlich]

All good responses...


One thing to consider is what you are doing with your arms. I consider one of them as a solid tight chain and the other that finesses the arc.


So, if I'm turning right, I think of my right arm as a stiff chain that holds the wheels going to the right while my left arm is finessing the shape. Left would be opposite. So, the inside arm is strong, and the outside arm is pushing or letting up as the arc dictates.


Just for fun, I'll try to keep my wheel just inside the white line of a lane and not let it deviate any distance. My "finessing" outside hand focus really makes it easy IMO.