Going a bit wide on 1 bend in particular wasn't problem when I got bike into biking. It came down to too high a gear/ speed and not entering the bend wide enough. Some of these bends are sharper than they appear.
It's not a bend but a left turn that I have to take. It goes sharply uphill right on the junction, with what appears to me to be an adverse camber, and just to make it more of a challenge their are road humps and once around the corner the road continues to bend round. I will drop it right down into bottom gear (1st) next time when I take it and keep throttle on .
totally recommend the IAM skills for life course. After riding for 26 years, with only three of four months off a year depending on the continent I am in and the accompanying weather, I learnt tons. my Riding has improved more than I anticipated and I love the riding even more as a result.
Hi Jogler, the situation on this combination of gradient/camber/turn is one that can fox even the most experienced so don't beat yourself up. Many years ago I was on the Stevio pass in the Alps on a hairpin bend, with significant increase in gradient which made me stall the bike and fall off!!!! How much of a twat did I feel? A dirty great big one !!!!! From the way you describe it, it sounds to me like you ran wide due to tension and rigidity in your body. This then gets transferred to the bike which stops the bike being able to turn into a bend. It's an absolute normal issue that will be resolved with more time and miles on the bike. There's no substitute for experience so just get out as often as you possibly can, even if it's just for 15 or 20 mins at a time.
All though I occasionally use counter steering it really confuses me sometimes how it works, do use this technique Dave ??
Hi Peter, yes I do use counter steering - but not as advertised. When cornering I generally 'lob her in' and then use counter-steering to do the fine tuning of my cornering.
Thanks guys. Have done the same corner several times now and just treating it with respect and a degree of caution. Rode down to the Tuesday bike night at Macdonalds in Hayle last week. Loads of bikes there and recommended if your visiting this neck of the woods this summer. Have also been told that the Thursday bike night at the new Cornwall services on the A30 at Victoria is good and plan to try it this week if it's decent weather. Thanks again guys.
Yet another echo of all the above advice. Just keep at dude, nice and steady until you get back in the groove. Keep the black rubbery things on the tarmac and don't go down the blue, black, blue, black OUCH! route
Having not ridden for 20 years, I got a V-Strom a few years ago . I booked on a Bike Safe Track day - you get the chance to go out on the roads with the local friendly Motorcycle police - stop occasionally to get their friendly advice. And then in the afternoon a few laps around the track (mine was Castle Combe) getting to know what you and your bike are capable of. A great experience that gave me the confidence to get to know the bike and the road disciplines. If you get the chance I would certainly recommend it! Be safe...
Thanks Sceptic Al ,Tango_one ,and all. I am booked onto a 1 day bike safe course on 6th August with the Devon and Cornwall police. By that time I am hoping to have regained my confidence. I feel vastly more happy than when I first went out and feel like I am starting to get used to the bike. Being careful not to get complacent or over confident though! Love the bike. Feel like I am riding a piece of history from the 60's, but without the leaks and with brakes that work. I know it's not fast by today's standards but it's fast enough for me.
