cornering without knee sliding and in the wet.

[donhuzayfa]

ok. so ive been in the rain for my first time a few days ago, the bike feels really pissed driving in this weather, at corners i dont knee slide, but last saturday I was going quite fast and didnt want to slip my back wheel, so I eased into the oncoming lane (as there was no1 there being new years day) and did a very wide turn, it felt as if, If i leant down anymore the tyre may just slide, the promlem is the road I use has very long straights ending with a few sharp turns and bends before another long straight, thing is cars (and classmates) behind, dont mind me going straight out at 60 mph, but I have to slow down to atleast 20 on a bend, so they take me over and I get really really mad, question is, when in the wet, is it just best to leave off leaning, and slow down, or be more confident and lean in??

[TC]

Have a read of this Don.

http://www.themotorbikeforum.co.uk/view ... 27&t=31724

Then go out and practise some of the routines. (Good bits in there about cornering)

As for your classmates in cars.

Your doing right by slowing down

Rule No1 Don't be forced to anything over your ability/limit by anyone, it will end end tears for you and laughter for them.

In the rain I basically ride normally Take corners smoothly but with respect to the conditions.

Also AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE

White Lines

Manhole covers

Diesil spills

Gravel

Banding strips (The strip of tar that joins the road together)

Potholes

Sheep ETC

Look well ahead into and beyond the corner, sort out your speed, choose your line, command the road and you'll be fine.

[Guest]

Providing you have decent tyres on you could get a KD in the wet. But its all to do with confidence and skill.

I take it as normal, but as said, I'm much more aware of conditions and if I'm going for a proper hoon I will ease back, especially on the tighter turns.

Try not to be pressurised by other people as well.

[stevie16v]

It sounds like you just need to open the throttle a little bit more. I don't want to insult you as i'm sure you are an experienced rider, But sometimes our minds tell us we're doing things we aren't. One of the things you have to do is just roll the throttle on slightly. I could go on in length but what you want to do is go into the corner at a speed, maintain it around the corner, and exit at the same speed. It will make things much smoother, But you will only master this with practice. Go into a corner you do regularly at 15-20mph less than normal, then just open up the throttle slightly. Only enough to maintain speed and not stand the bike up. HTH

[Juggler]

In the rain I basically ride normally Take corners smoothly but with respect to the conditions.

Also AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE

White Lines

Manhole covers

Diesil spills

Gravel

Banding strips (The strip of tar that joins the road together)

Potholes

Sheep ETC

Look well ahead into and beyond the corner, sort out your speed, choose your line, command the road and you'll be fine.

 

Good advice. Have faith in your machine and try and stay relaxed. Oh, and don't forget to have fun.

[Guest]

Cornering is one of those things that improves with practise and experience, only Rossi and co have mastered it

I suggest two things to begin with;

Observation and forward planning- look into the vanishing point of the bend and tackle it accordingly (see previous post about road surface etc). You don't look at your feet when walking, why look down when riding? If you look at where you don't want to slide, sure enough you'll end up where you're looking.

Steering technique- GENTLY push the left handlebar end to go left, or push right to go right. Sounds wrong doesn't it?

Check out the book the previous link leads to and practise practise practise.

Remember, ride within your own capabilities and you'll look cool. Try and impress people and you'll do the opposite

You've already had some good replies but i couldn't help adding my own tuppeny worth into the melting pot.

[Aaron]

Watch some youtube vids of people riding in the rain. Then trust that your tyres will perform just as well as theirs (if they're suitable).

I've been riding my new triumph like a pansy when it's raining because the look of those supercorsas scare me. Trouble is now it's become habbit and i'm scared of riding my kawasaki, which was always fine in the rain, when it's wet at speed now. When we get some warmer weather I need to take the kawasaki out for a blast in the wet and shake off the nerves.