Finding the limit of ones natural ability...

[Adam_W]

I think iv found the limit of my natural ability.. or lack of it.

Twice this week iv had issues cornering.

1st time on a roundabout, coldish morning not out long and im on a roundabout, reasonably quick, the back end slides, only a tiny bit im sure but the toe of my boot scuffed on the tarmac.. certainly got my heart going that.

2nd time, left hander off a roundabout, dry, warm, and again trying to get round reasonably quickly the whole bike feels like it slides out, only a tiny movement but it freaked me out and i stood the thing up pretty sharpish.

Its not like im doing xxx mph and hanging off the bike with my knee down or anything either.

Is it just poor technique? or am i rubbish? or is it the bike?

[Black Sport 160]

There's a roundabout near me, nasty bumpy rippled surface caused by dumper trucks. Surface has been rubbed shiny by said vehicles, too. Probably remnants of diesel / oil spills. On a cold morning with a moist sheen on the surface and stone cold tyres, both my Elise and the motorbike feel very unsure over the surface and I take it really easy.

I'd basically say just ride to the conditions.

[spareparts]

Do the best thing you can do when it comes to learning cornering... Sign up to the California Superbike School

Www.superbikeschool.co.uk

[BigHeartedTone]

Roundabouts are diesel soaked death traps. You're probably not doing anything wrong.

[RemyMartin]

Adam_W said:

I think iv found the limit of my natural ability.. or lack of it.

Twice this week iv had issues cornering.

1st time on a roundabout, coldish morning not out long and im on a roundabout, reasonably quick, the back end slides, only a tiny bit im sure but the toe of my boot scuffed on the tarmac.. certainly got my heart going that.

2nd time, left hander off a roundabout, dry, warm, and again trying to get round reasonably quickly the whole bike feels like it slides out, only a tiny movement but it freaked me out and i stood the thing up pretty sharpish.

Its not like im doing xxx mph and hanging off the bike with my knee down or anything either.

Is it just poor technique? or am i rubbish? or is it the bike?

scuffing your boot 9 times out if ten will be having your foot too far forwards on the peg.

[Rubin215]

Nah, you're just really rubbish on a bike.

You're going to end up seriously maimed and in pain for the rest of your life at this rate.

Give up biking right away.




















I'll give you a tenner for your bike, to take away the temptation if you want...

[Hooli]

You'd be faster in a volvo with two washing machines to help with traction.

[y2blade]

Hooli said:

You'd be faster in a volvo with two washing machines to help with traction.

you beat me to it

[Hooli]

y2blade said:

Hooli said:

You'd be faster in a volvo with two washing machines to help with traction.

you beat me to it

I typed in a T5R

[Dr.Doofenshmirtz]

Exactly the same thing happend to me just yesterday - I didn't realise I was quite so far over, the scraping noise of the peg kinda made me sit up and concentrate a little more! Very nearly dropped it.

[y2blade]

Hooli said:

y2blade said:

Hooli said:

You'd be faster in a volvo with two washing machines to help with traction.

you beat me to it

I typed in a T5R

mine is quicker than that

but I was in the back trying to secure the doggy

[Big_Dog]

Might not be you, check your tyre pressures and make sure those tyres are warm, not old and not rock hard. Oh and greasy roundabouts are probably not best for practicing.

[Hooli]

y2blade said:

Hooli said:

y2blade said:

Hooli said:

You'd be faster in a volvo with two washing machines to help with traction.

you beat me to it

I typed in a T5R

mine is quicker than that

but I was in the back trying to secure the doggy

Brake Hound Power

[Mellow Matt]

Adam_W said:

Its not like im doing xxx mph and hanging off the bike with my knee down or anything either.

Is it just poor technique? or am i rubbish? or is it the bike?

Maybe you should hang off more? The more you hang off, the less the bike leans, the less likely it is to slip?

[R1 Loon]

Body position IMO.

Too easy to blame others, take a look at how you ride and what you're asking the bike to do, a one inch slide is hardly a sign of diesel.

[y2blade]

Adam_W said:

I think iv found the limit of my natural ability.. or lack of it.

Twice this week iv had issues cornering.

1st time on a roundabout, coldish morning not out long and im on a roundabout, reasonably quick, the back end slides, only a tiny bit im sure but the toe of my boot scuffed on the tarmac.. certainly got my heart going that.

2nd time, left hander off a roundabout, dry, warm, and again trying to get round reasonably quickly the whole bike feels like it slides out, only a tiny movement but it freaked me out and i stood the thing up pretty sharpish.

Its not like im doing xxx mph and hanging off the bike with my knee down or anything either.

Is it just poor technique? or am i rubbish? or is it the bike?

video it next time so we can see what you mean

[Biker's Nemesis]

I've found the limit of my ability many times over the years.

[wtdoom]

california superbike school ! honorable ibbott san will teach you the ways of high adventure ! you will revel in the corners .
some threads :
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asph=0&am...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by wtdoom on Saturday 15th May 01:21

[Chilli]

Nope, never admit to finding your limit. It's the bike. It's clearly not set up for you correctly. Tell the Mrs that this bike is dangerous, and you require a release of funds to secure a nice new shiny SAFE bike......in black.

[_DeeJay_]

Adam_W said:

1st time on a roundabout, coldish morning not out long and im on a roundabout, reasonably quick, the back end slides, only a tiny bit im sure but the toe of my boot scuffed on the tarmac.. certainly got my heart going that.

What were you doing with the throttle when the back end started to slide?

Generally, if you're sliding the rear tyre then you're probably accelerating too hard.

If you follow the rule of never accelerating hard whilst increasing lean angle and instead maintaining a neutral/slightly positive throttle until you pick the bike up out of the corner then you shouldn't slide the rear.

As others have said, if you're leaning the bike too far over (which you probably are if you can scrape your feet/pegs, assuming you're riding on your toes) then you might want to think about body position too to decrease the lean angle of the bike.

The other thing to consider is the condition of your tyres. In most situations (assuming good throttle control), you'll lose the front before the back because it's got a smaller contact patch. However, if your rear tyre doesn't have a good amount of tread that'll mess your grip, and you up.

Edited by _DeeJay_ on Saturday 15th May 07:40

Edited by _DeeJay_ on Saturday 15th May 07:41