Going round a bend can be quite exciting. Doing it right though, can add that extra bit of spice to your every day rides. Here's a quick look at what happens around corners and how you can get it right...
Long sweeping left-handers, tight hairpins and narrow right turns - corners - the one thing that every rider wants to master. It's not just about going around a kerb faster, but smoother, safer and with lots of confidence. You think you know how to go about it, but the moment you're on a more capable machine, your earlier assumptions are all suspect. So how much of it is the rider and how much is the bike?
Here's the low-down. You don't need race tyres or an expensive suspension system to make you go round corners faster. What you need, is a clear understanding of what happens to you and your bike as you go through a turn. Riding round a corner can be divided into three parts - the entry, apex and the exit. The universal mantra for any kind of corner would be 'Slow in, Fast out'. The entry is all about setting the bike up to corner. The apex is about steering, confidence and maximising visibility. How fast you exit is largely dependent on your entry and apex. Here's how you can find the best balance between all three, making you a better rider.
The anatomy of a CORNER
Part One : Entry
The bike bit
Your bike, at this point, should allow you to brake gradually at first with a smooth progression to strong stopping power. As you brake, the front suspension should compress smoothly without hitting the stop and extend quickly in a controlled way to keep the tyres gripped with the ground. Since the bike's steering geometry has been altered by the compressed front suspension, any steering input makes the bike roll over very quickly.
The rider bit
The aim is to arrive at the corner at the right speed for the fastest, smoothest and safest turn possible which instantly means that you have to chuck out all notions of 'last of the late brakers' and holding the brake lever right to the apex, on the road at least. Use your rear brake - it's one of the top five tools for better riding. Braking early and gradually increasing the stopping power maximises grip and enables you to read the road better so you can also select the right gear for the bend. The harder you brake, the hotter the tyre gets, giving more grip, more quickly when you lean the bike. Starting gradually prevents the suspension from crashing down and locking up, preventing disaster!
The wrong bit
Roads aren't like racetracks, and even though you're convinced, you are not Rossi! The last you need to be doing is screaming down to the corner, slamming on the brakes at the very last moment while crashing down the gears. Roads have hedges, walls, dogs, cows, drunkards, etc which hide the line. Braking like a maniac forces you deeper into a turn and when it tightens up, can unsettle your suspension a great deal.
Front forks compress under braking. Turning now will overload the front tyre...
Part Two : Apex
The bike bit
This is where you release the brakes and begin to steer, and as you do that, the forks should come up quickly but smoothly and settle to a steady position. The rear shock compresses slightly in reaction to the front forks' movement. Once turning, the suspension compresses again slightly. At full lean, the slightest bump can cause a loss of grip as the tyres move in two planes - up and down and sideways.
The rider bit
Your focus should be at looking through the corner as you approach the apex, judging your turn-in point, checking the road surface, and planning the quickest, safest line through it. Get off the brakes smoothly, and hold a steady throttle. Steer the bike quickly with a sharp nudge on the inside handlebar. As soon as the lean angle is set, relax, and get the bike upright, ready to wind on the power. Shifting your body weight to the inside helps keep the bike more stable for a given speed and makes the steering process almost subconscious.
The wrong bit
The most common mistake people commit when riding is target fixation. Do not keep looking at the approaching hedge, wall or nut in the middle of the road. Focus on your line and keep everything else in the periphery. Also, avoid holding onto the brakes to long with locked arms, that can't then steer properly.
Turning too early means you will be on the wrong line through your exit
Part Three : Exit
The bike bit
At this point, your bike should be letting you apply the power smoothly, with the suspension keeping things in control. It feels like your bike is sagging at the rear, which it is, but most of it is the sensation of you being pushed back due to the acceleration. The forks gradually extend as well - if it happens too fast or too slow, the handlebar will flap in your hands.
The rider bit
Sitting on the bike, you should be relaxed at this point in time, waiting for the corner to straighten out, and then give it gas! If it tightens unexpectedly though, all you have to do is nudge the inside handlebar a little bit more, and throttle up just a bit to tidy the bike's line. When you finally see the exit clearly, lift the bike up and wring your right wrist - gently at first as you gradually power up harder. If you're in the right gear already, you'll get instant and smooth acceleration, and being on the right line means that you'll exit the corner with about a foot left to spare before you hit the kerb or the white line. Being in the right frame of mind from exiting a corner the way its meant to be done, you'll have an emotion running through you that can't be described in words. There is no better feeling known to mankind!
The wrong bit
Avoid the following strictly when at the exit - pushing or pulling at the handlebar frantically, panicking and dropping the anchors if a corner tightens up, looking at the apex when you're already at it and opening the throttle in fourth gear instead of in second.
Perfect damping adds feel and confidence
RIDING TIPS FOR TAKING SHARP TURNS....