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2009 Tuesday, January 6 Hi Petra, My main problem is how low of a gear to go down to. Should
I not use any brake and go around the turn in second gear? Sometimes
I go clear down to first gear, but then have to high tail it up to get
moving. And I find I might be more steering than leaning. I
know that each turn/curve has a special situation. I just want to
know if I’m on the right track and if there are other pointers you can
give me. Dear Tempe, I personally think it's because from a dead stop we are applying our best coordinated throttle and friction zone use in a steady manner, incorporating both the turn and the speed gain. When we gear down to take a moving turn, situations sometimes call for clicking down to 1st and then we're adding the uncertainty of exactly where in the gear range we are, so we compensate with friction zone but that has a reaction time built in (as nothing is instantaneous ... our brain needs a bit of processing time!). If I recall correctly, Jerry "Motorman" Palladino (of Ride Like A Pro) notes that countersteering/leaning only can happen once we've reached 5mph. So if we've had to slow down into 1st gear to handle the turn for whatever reason, and it falls in that very low speed range, we do end up steering the front wheel vs. leaning our way though the turn. The smoothest corner is done in 2nd gear, slipping the clutch in and out of the friction zone and using the rear brake for a bit of speed control (remembering that front brake isn't really a good idea is slow turns as it tends to pull the bike downward in the turn). If some corners require it done in 1st gear, then so be it and even with all the practice in the world, even the most experienced riders are going to have a jerky moment now and again! – Mama Saturday, August 22 Hi VTwin Mama, Dear Kim, Ok, first, let's look at my incredibly crude drawing of an S-curve (click on it for a larger view). It shows a two-lane road.
A rider should enter a curve from the outside portion of their lane. So, in a right curve, you begin in the left hand portion of your lane and in a left curve, the right hand portion of the lane. This is in green. Notice that the rider now has an entire lane to work with in terms of the lean, meaning that the lean starts and there is road (YOUR portion of it) to work with for any correction. If the rider takes the curve from the inside portion of the lane (in red) there are only two things that can happen. One, you have to lean so far and run the risk of overshooting into the opposing traffic lane because that's where the lean is taking you (with possible peg scrap) and if the rider can't quite make it without going into the opposing lane and you have to straighten the bike up from the lean, you'll catapult across your lane towards the far edge (think cliff). You'll also not be in position to be ready for the next curve. Now, why is it that you see people take any ol' which ever what ever line through a curve and make it? Well, one factor is speed. Enter any curve at 1/2 the posted speed and you can fudge it through. But try to take it at full speed and you'll always be fighting the physics of how bikes lean. Another important factor about speed is that you should enter at a speed you can handle (tighter curve, more lean, more practice/skill) so that you're not braking when in the curve. If you do have to brake a bit, then it's the smallest, lightest tap possible ... but honestly, the front brake will try to straighten the bike from the lean and the back brake can start a rear wheel skid. So braking is a real last minute omigosh ... enter at a speed you can handle on the correct line. I'll also mention that the head and eyes must be looking through the curve. In the green line your head and eyes are naturally looking through the curve correctly. Take the red line and you could fixate on the center line in a left curve (panic, panic) or fixate on the upcoming cliff edge (major panic). Once we fixate it's hard to tear our eyes away from the impending mess. Now, I will note that at first, taking a right curve means you're in the left edge of your lane near the center line, with other vehicles whooshing by you more closely. When I say take the outside position on your lane, I'm not suggesting you hug that very outer edge, but in relative closeness. So, out you go to give this some practice. I guarantee within a few hours you'll really note how much further along your skills are and how smoothly you can handle the twisty mountain roads. – Mama
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