Slippery Corners

[Guest]

Hi,

I'm new to biking, got my YBR125 about a month ago and have been getting more confident on my commute to work.

I came off today and just wondered if anyone could give me advice on where I went wrong or tips on cornering perhaps?

It was a country lane not a particularly sharp bend, I slowed (about 30mph, I think) before the corner, then on the way round the bike just slid out from under me, I don't think I was breaking while going round and so it kinda shocked me.

Fortunately I'm fine, the gear stopped any grazes and I think the bike only has minor scratches and a bent foot rest. It just seemed like such an unpredictable event that would be good to avoid in the future!

Thanks,

Simon

Edited February 19, 2014 by Anonymous

[Joeman]

Did the front wheel slide out or the rear wheel first?

Were you on the throttle?

Need a bit more info

[fq-craigus]

you need to be checking road surfaces all the time, the problem with the roads at the min is that if there is a slight bit of rain the roads will be greasy not wet, wet roads your tyres can deal with as the tread cuts through the water and gives you grip, but if they are greasy your tyres dont grip.

you need to be looking for debrit that collects in the center of the lane down country roads too as this is loose surface and you will slip.

google advanced riding tips and also how to corner, there are plenty of reviews and things to look out for, but as for cornering, what i tend to do when its wet or greasy is not lean the bike much but reposition myself on the bike so i hand slightly off but the bike stays upright, basically a less extreme version of what GP riders do. your bike at an extreme angle on loose, wet or greasy surface will spill and you will go shiny side down.

hope this helps

[Guest]

Thanks both for the replies, I've clearly a bit to learn. Repositioning rather than leaning makes a lot of sense to me.

@Joeman I would say I was on the throttle, just (but not accelerating), and the back slid out first, it's hard to remember exactly though.

Feel a bit silly! Hope it doesn't cost too much to fix...

[Bonniebird]

It could be that you let the revs drop too much. That has a tendency to make the bike less stable in corners- slow for a corner (if necessary) always maintain a positive throttle when cornering and accelerate out. If necessary drop down a gear or two so that your revs are higher - it will give you more stability.

Could have just been bad luck and some nasty stuff on the road - 125tyres are pretty narrow - but keeping the revs up will help anyway

[littlecat]

and it might sound obvious, but how old /what condition are the tyres, and have you checked the pressures

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies,

I think I leaned too much for slippery conditions. The tires were OK, I'd checked them about a week and a half before.

I'll def. do some more reading on cornering etc. and hopefully the service next week won't be too expensive!