Cornering advice needed.

[Phooey]

It's a lovely sunny day and I had an hour or so to kill so, obviously, the bike comes out.

Now, my confidence and skills are improving around town. I am comfortable with most of the town stuff. I can read the road reasonably well, can get through most journeys without having to hit the brake and can ride without putting a foot down unless I absolutely have no choice but to stop! Not saying it can't be improved but I don't worry about it - but, my country ride is pants

On the bends I am often in the wrong place, wrong speed or just misreading the road. Any advice, youtube clips, or pages to visit that will help me to sort this out?

I know the theory behind it and can usually manage it in the car but once the bike comes out everything seems to go to pot!

Any thoughts?

[Mr Fro]

Are you riding familiar roads?

If not then get to know them a bit first and build your speed up as your confidence improves. Don't get hung up on any mistakes you make, just try to relax as much as possible and enjoy the ride.

[Chrissb6]

Take your time and relax, plenty of vids on YouTube to help you along.

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[numptyspence]

Always follow the basic rule

Never go into a corner faster than you can see to stop.

From here you can become smoother and develop better road position which will increase you cornering speed bit by bit.

[Lucifah]

On the bends I am often in the wrong place, wrong speed or just misreading the road.

 

What exactly do you mean by that?

Too fast? Running wide mid corner? Got yourself into hairy situations?

Or just a case of "damn, I could have taken that bend much faster"? In which case, don't worry. That happens a lot, especially on unfamiliar roads, but it's not a race and margin for error isn't a bad thing at all.

[fq-craigus]

To the left right bends and to the right left bends. And don't be scared to lean it more, the bike can go a hell of a lot lower than you feel comfortable. Smoothly does it and roll on throttle round corners. General rule is if there is chevrons showingthe direction of the corner it's tighter.

As already said go down familiar roads and build confidence from there

[littlecat]

biggest tip..... stay away from you tube vids

apart from that, buy and read roadcraft

book yourself bikesafe....performance plus...etc etc , even sign up for iams or rospa.

ride in experienced groups....get out on your own on familiar roads....

more than anything ...remember ...eyes up....look ahead as far as you can.

it will all come with time, and with miles ridden

[Stu]

its a bit corny but watch this it gives some great advice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr-Wqs37Ug4

ignore cats advice about youtube vids for this one but apply it to all others

[MR_W]

I gave up after 15 minutes of listening to Julian Ryder.

[Mr Fro]

That is possibly the cheesiest thing I've ever seen!

Having said that, I rate Keith Code's method and have read quite a bit of his stuff.