Corners and the tests

[someone]

Last autumn I felt I would be able, with training, to pass the DAS tests, but as my CBT did not expire until February there were some problem areas I felt I should still work on first. Unfortunately I then had an accident which also knocked my confidence so I ended up having to retake the CBT.

I now feel more-or-less back to where I was — some things seems a bit better, some a bit worse — so wondering what to do. Either keep working away until I feel fully satisfied, or just accept being test ready.

The problem is that I am pretty bad at long corners. Even with normal ones I am a bit slow, but not too slow for it to be a problem. But bigger sweeping ones still cause a sort of panic response. There were two pretty awkward ones for me on Sunday that are good examples.

The first was joining the A1 at Borehamwood into London where the slip road circles around on itself ( https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6554216,-0.2496993,18z" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ). That angle would be bad enough for me anyway, but the pull of gravity of going downhill on any corner still feels very unsettling. In the end I took the whole corner from the end of the bridge at just 20mph.

Then a little further along, now on the A41, there was this bend ( https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.588367,-0.2335716,17z" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) which looks like nothing, but I think it is because of being leaned over for so long that it starts to feel like I am falling even though I know otherwise. I ended up taking that at about 33mph, the road is a 40 there but there are plenty of corners like that on much faster roads where that would be far too slow.

There are some corners nearer me, such as the A22 Catherham bypass ( https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.2878367,-0.0686984,15z" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ), which are a problem so I try to go those ways when possible to work on them, but even with the experience and practice there seems to be little improvement. Which is what makes me think it might not be worth waiting this time.

I know there are no such corners near the test centre I would use which is why I feel I probably would be able to pass the tests okay. But whilst being able to do better than 60mph in favourable conditions would be nice, I would probably not change bikes until the insurance runs out in March anyway. So there is no specific rush to move up, and I now have until January 2018 when my theory test expires.

Any advice or suggestions?

[Hoggs]

Practise and don't expect to go from 20mph to 60mph after just a couple goes it takes time!

Also especially on long corners it's really easy to become fixated on the mid point or even the apex - you need to keep looking at your exit point of the corner constantly adjusting as the corner tightens or opens up - this also means your body position will allow the bike to more naturally follow the corner and make it easier.

I think the worst mistake people make is trying to go too fast round corners too quickly. Also it's almost like there's some kind of weird stigma about going into corners slow - however as most people on here agree going in slow, rolling on the throttle gently round the apex and getting a good speed out of the good is very satisfying

[Guest]

Don't follow me

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[JRH]

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recoverable

[bonio]

I think the worst mistake people make is trying to go too fast round corners too quickly.

This.

Slow in fast out is the rule that was passed on to me and it's kept me out of trouble more than once.

With a long, sweeping corner, the "fast out" bit has to be tempered; you just want to keep the throttle on enough to keep the bike nice and stable, not so much you end up breaking the sound barrier

[Guest]

Don't follow me

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recoverable

it was, although im not quite that bad, well i don't think i am

[Joeman]

Don't follow me

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recoverable

 

http://youtu.be/TqKShV-iN5M

[someone]

Practise and don't expect to go from 20mph to 60mph after just a couple goes it takes time!

Also especially on long corners it's really easy to become fixated on the mid point or even the apex - you need to keep looking at your exit point of the corner constantly adjusting as the corner tightens or opens up - this also means your body position will allow the bike to more naturally follow the corner and make it easier.

I think the worst mistake people make is trying to go too fast round corners too quickly. Also it's almost like there's some kind of weird stigma about going into corners slow - however as most people on here agree going in slow, rolling on the throttle gently round the apex and getting a good speed out of the good is very satisfying

 

But after how many thousands of miles already will it stop having been a couple of goes?

It is not about trying to go fast, but just a normal average speed. With no one else around I am happy doing my own thing at my own speed, but unfortunately other people are allowed on the road too, and they often like to overtake dangerously if I am going too slow.

And for the sake of the tests, and why I do worry about whether it is something I specifically need to work on first, I know that you can fail for going to slow and not making progress. So it is a combination of that and it not seeming right to do them while it is a problem that is why I do not know what to do regarding them.

Thanks for the tip though, I will pay attention to my vision at the weekend. I know I generally do feel better when following someone and can, in a sense, can object fixate on them so I am probably doing what you say.

[mozza83]

What bike were you doing these corners on? If it was a 125 with skinny tyres then remember a bigger bike with fatter tyres will feel much more planted and stable when in a lean.

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[someone]

Yes it is a 125. I am pretty sure I would not have been able to do DAS straight away anyway, but having heard that 125s can be less stable and forgiving just made me think it all the more reason I should get experience on one first. Must admit I am a bit envious of the VanVan having those big tyres.

So maybe then the answer is to not worry about it and go for training then if a bigger bike will make the difference anyway?

[mozza83]

I've generally found the bigger a bike the easier riding gets; more stability, wider power bands, better engine breaking and acceleration, more comfort too. This is with the exception of slow speed manoeuvring which takes a bit of re-learning upon moving from a 125 to a bigger bike. This is just my experience though, I didn't do the whole "you must get a 500/600cc as a first big bike' BS and went straight for a litre bike. I think you should go for it, you may be more suited to big bikes than 125s.

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[Guest]

I've generally found the bigger a bike the easier riding gets;

Extra weight is most beneficial to stability