Chicken strips... Cornering advice...

[shot2bits]

OK, I'm not talking about the feathered variety...

I'm starting to improve my lean angles and it's just my confidence holding me back really - I'm pretty good with selecting the best line etc...

So, just out of interest, what does a knee down type of riders tyres look like? I take it they're totally scrubbed in all over - i.e. right to the edge?

Erm, here's my rear (tyre ) - guess I'm a chicken!

Would be interested in any advice or pics other riders have...

Edit to say; 700 miles on the tyre in the pic.



>> Edited by shot2bits on Thursday 11th May 16:21

>> Edited by shot2bits on Thursday 11th May 16:21

[black-k1]

That's not too bad at all, you're almost there! I've always found that there is still a very small strip of untouched rubber down either side of a tyre, even with the pegs on the ground. I would suggest that if you wanted to get your knee down, you would have little trouble and that it won't be long before the pegs begin to scrape the tarmac. Well done.

Ride safe and enjoy.

[Andymx5]

When you get the lines correct, you won't have to lean so much at any given speed... You could argue that you have chicken strips because you are selecting the best lines!

Me? All the way over on the right hand side and about 1 cm on the left.

[Carrera2]

Have a look at my profile

Admittedly thats from a track though...

[chrissarjeant]

I can get knee down on tracks and the tyres look knackered but they are still not edge to edge so i still cant be going quick enough.

[nordschleife fan]

black-k1 said:

That's not too bad at all, you're almost there! I've always found that there is still a very small strip of untouched rubber down either side of a tyre, even with the pegs on the ground. I would suggest that if you wanted to get your knee down, you would have little trouble and that it won't be long before the pegs begin to scrape the tarmac. Well done. Ride safe and enjoy.

not sure i agree with this, in the pic it still loks like your have an inch left to go so i doubt you're anywhere near getting your knee down and u shouldn't be scraping your pegs either (if u are i would suggest you need more preload). I don't tend to get my knee down on the road but even so i have no chicken strips at all on the left or right sides of my tyres - u don't knee to get your knee down to get rid of the strips.

Tbh tho if your lines are good and you're happy with the pace your riding at then i wouldn't worry to much as it reallly doesn't matter - that said just by looking at your tyres i can see that you could go a lot faster (assuming your suspension is set up well). To go faster u would have to apply more counter steering to carry greater corner speed but u may also have to change your lines as most slower riders tend to turn in to bends far too early and then run wide on the exit.



btw how the hell do u post pics??

[black-k1]

nordschleife fan said:

black-k1 said: That's not too bad at all, you're almost there! I've always found that there is still a very small strip of untouched rubber down either side of a tyre, even with the pegs on the ground. I would suggest that if you wanted to get your knee down, you would have little trouble and that it won't be long before the pegs begin to scrape the tarmac. Well done. Ride safe and enjoy. not sure i agree with this, in the pic it still loks like your have an inch left to go so i doubt you're anywhere near getting your knee down and u shouldn't be scraping your pegs either (if u are i would suggest you need more preload). I don't tend to get my knee down on the road but even so i have no chicken strips at all on the left or right sides of my tyres - u don't knee to get your knee down to get rid of the strips. Tbh tho if your lines are good and you're happy with the pace your riding at then i wouldn't worry to much as it reallly doesn't matter - that said just by looking at your tyres i can see that you could go a lot faster (assuming your suspension is set up well). To go faster u would have to apply more counter steering to carry greater corner speed but u may also have to change your lines as most slower riders tend to turn in to bends far too early and then run wide on the exit. btw how the hell do u post pics??

I think it must depend on the tyres and the bike. I’ve just been out to check the Firestorm rear (sad person that I am ) and it’s got about a 4mm “chicken strip” on either side yet I touched both pegs down on the recent France trip (not both at once – obviously! )

The suspension was set up for me by Revolution Racing for fast road work, so should be pretty much spot on.

Totally agree that if your lines are good and you're happy with your pace - don't worry and don't push too hard (beyond where your happy) just to get a little further over. It'll only spoil the enjoyment and may end up with something more painfull/expensive.

[nordschleife fan]

black-k1 said:

I think it must depend on the tyres and the bike. I’ve just been out to check the Firestorm rear (sad person that I am ) and it’s got about a 4mm “chicken strip” on either side yet I touched both pegs down on the recent France trip (not both at once – obviously! ) The suspension was set up for me by Revolution Racing for fast road work, so should be pretty much spot on.

Personally i wouldn't be happy with that unless u were fully loaded and carrying a pillion theres no way you should be running out of ground clearance that early. On the track i scrape the pegs alot but by that time i'm tearing up the edges of my tyre. Modern sportsbikes should be able to get right to the edge of the tyre before anything scrapes. Out of interest though what tyres did u have on? (i seem to recall my old man struggling to get to the edge of a set of metzelers when he doesn't normally have a problem)

[F.M]

190`s are harder to get to the edges than 180`s...trying to get to the edge of your tyres on the public road is a challenge but asking for trouble...A trackday is best...

>> Edited by F.M on Friday 12th May 10:06

[black-k1]

Running BT010's front and rear. Bike was not loaded (other than me - which is enough of a load!) The forks have been dropped in the yokes about 3mm to speed up the steering (by Revolution Racing when I had the whole suspension set-up done) which will have a slight impact on ground clerence but not a lot.

[Mad Dave]

Right to the edge and got a huge gutter about 5mm in where all the rubber has bobbled up and left That was on the road.

re Cornering - the best tips I can give are:

a)Hang a little of your butt off the inside of the seat

b)Drop the inside shoulder

c)Relax your arms, especially the one of the inside

d)Maybe even get your head down near the inside mirror

I struggle if I have to sit dead centre on the bike (ie if I have a pillion) but doing the above really helps me.

[nordschleife fan]

F.M said:

190`s are harder to get to the edges than 180`s...trying to get to the edge of your tyres on the public road is a challenge but asking for trouble...A trackday is best... >> Edited by F.M on Friday 12th May 10:06

190s are argueably harder to get to the edges of than 180s - that said i'm pretty sure a firestorm doesn't have a 190. Getting rid of chicken strips is really not a problem on public roads and doesn't require u to ride like a maniac, like i say it can be achieved without getting your knee down just by good lines and good cornering techniques that said i would agree that anyone going out on the public road with the deliberate intention of getting rid of their chicken strips is probably asking for trouble (just as anyone going out trying to get their knee down is).

[Hobo]

TRACK, TRACK, TRACK (best place to get rid)

Wouldn't worry yourself too much about them. Mine are going slowly, the more confidence I get (been riding for 2 months now).

[Mad Dave]

nordschleife fan said:

F.M said: 190`s are harder to get to the edges than 180`s...trying to get to the edge of your tyres on the public road is a challenge but asking for trouble...A trackday is best... >> Edited by F.M on Friday 12th May 10:06 190s are argueably harder to get to the edges of than 180s - that said i'm pretty sure a firestorm doesn't have a 190. Getting rid of chicken strips is really not a problem on public roads and doesn't require u to ride like a maniac, like i say it can be achieved without getting your knee down just by good lines and good cornering techniques that said i would agree that anyone going out on the public road with the deliberate intention of getting rid of their chicken strips is probably asking for trouble (just as anyone going out trying to get their knee down is).

I've run mine on both, and whilst a 190 is 'wider' it's arguably got a steeper profile due to being squeezed onto the same width rim, so easier to get it low? Not sure, but getting to the edge of a 190 is a piece of cake without even riding like a lunatic - just good lines and confident cornering.

[black-k1]

nordschleife fan said:

.... that said i'm pretty sure a firestorm doesn't have a 190 ....

Yep, Firestorm has a 180 but, given the choice, especially on the road, I would rather run out of ground clearance (fold up foot pegs) than run out of tyre. (Ran out of/pushed to hard on edge of tyre at Rockingham once and had broken and dislocated right shoulder to prove it!)

[ninjaboy]

My ninja's 180 sportec M1 seems to have a much steeper sidewall than the 207's i had before on those i use all but 1cm on both sides the sportecs though have much bigger strips on them i'm afraid

[alfa daley]

Oh good subject, It shouldn't really be anything to get excited about but I managed to get rid of mine (right one) completely tonight courtesy of maidenheads finest roundabouts, just need to find one to do the left hand side now! I cant get my knee down either but not too worried about that. Problem is my rear was pretty low on tread and is now in the 'hello officer' territory, so after all my handywork I have to start again - should be fun

[shot2bits]

Mad Dave said:

re Cornering - the best tips I can give are: a)Hang a little of your butt off the inside of the seat b)Drop the inside shoulder c)Relax your arms, especially the one of the inside d)Maybe even get your head down near the inside mirror I struggle if I have to sit dead centre on the bike (ie if I have a pillion) but doing the above really helps me.

Good advice, I wasn't really moving too much off the bike which I think has been half of my problem. Just went around a local roundabout and leaned over the most I ever have so far!

[YamR1,V64motion]

black-k1 said:

That's not too bad at all, you're almost there! I've always found that there is still a very small strip of untouched rubber down either side of a tyre, even with the pegs on the ground. I would suggest that if you wanted to get your knee down, you would have little trouble and that it won't be long before the pegs begin to scrape the tarmac. Well done. Ride safe and enjoy.

i agree, i have done about 600 miles on my new tires and have fully gotten used to my bike now and i have about a cm each side still, ive hit the pegs on the floor a couple of times but not got my knee down on it yet, but that is purposeful as i havent had any bottom leathers recently so dont hang my knee out while cornering at the moment, to the original poster i wouldnt say you were lacking confidence just go to a nice bend/roundabout you know well and just try going that little bit lower each time you feel comfortable doing so.

[DennisTheMenace]

Ive got about 5mm each side , not interested in getting my kneedown and keep overtaking the kneedown hero's on the bends , another reason is want to save my rubber so i ride smoothly but at a resonable pace