Sacha this is for you buddy.

[Bruizza]

Proper Cornering Technique


There are different ways to corner a motorcycle. Everyone has a different form or style, but they are all based on certain fundamental characteristics.

First off lets begin with the simplest of them.

1) Foot Position
Foot position is critical because with improper foot position a lot of damage can and will happen. For instance your toe catches the ground and traps your foot between the peg and moving asphalt. This will break your foot, and possibly end up with more injuries.

The proper foot position is riding with the “Ball of your feet” on the pegs. The ball of your foot is the portion just behind your toes. Take your foot and lift your heel about 3 inches off the ground. The part left touching the ground is the “Ball of your feet”. How your feet are right there is also how it should be on your pegs. Keep your feet in as close to the heel guards as possible also. This allows the rotation of your feet when you setup your body position, and still keeps your feet in a protected area of the pegs.



2) White Knuckling
White knuckling is when you have a death grip on your clip-ons. This causes your upper body to become tense, and causes you to stiff-arm the steering. Your upper body needs to be relaxed because it does a lot of movement when your setting up for corner entry. Tensing up also interferes with smooth throttle control. Throttle control is your most important factor while cornering. So if you’re tensed up, and have the death grip on the clip-ons do you think your throttle control is going to be smooth? No, because when you tense up you end up fighting the turning of the bike. You need to stay focused on breathing, and relaxing on the bike period. If you’re fighting the bike than you don’t have control of the bike.



3) Body Position
Body position is used to keep the bike more upright while your cornering, and in turn allows more corner speed. It keeps a much larger contact patch on the ground. The more tire you have on the ground the better traction your getting from the tires.

Proper body placement is essential for high speed cornering. You want to get yourself set up for the corner before the corner. You have to GET OFF THE SEAT! So many people think they are off the seat when actually they have only moved 2 inches. When I say get off the seat I mean hang off that machine.

A great technique to practice your body position is the “Kiss Your Mirror” technique. This places your head in the proper place, and in turn should bring your body with it. The point is to try and actually kiss your mirror. Your hips and upper body should swivel around the fuel tank into the corner. Lead the bike with your shoulder. Here is a good little exercise that may help you understand the position your body is to be in.

First sit at the edge of a chair. Now get on the balls of your feet.
Ok now we are going to negotiate a left handed corner.
I want you to take your left leg and foot, and turn them out to the left. Leaving your foot in the same area.
Now twist your hips and shoulders to the left while sliding your left butt cheek off of the chair. Push your left shoulder down and your head should follow. Remember keep looking through the turn. Notice your knee should be close if not touching the ground. All of the pressure is on your legs. Most of it is on the inside leg as you will notice. Look at where your head is at. If you had a mirror there you would almost be kissing it.

(written by CBRboy on sportbikez.net)

[Volition]

Don't know Sacha but unless you are giving him pointers on how to ride on a track most of that is nonsense.
For the street:

1) Foot position: Ride how you are comfortable. 99.9% of the time if you ride one the street even at a "brisk" pace your feet wont come close to the street. If your toe does drag, it wont brake your foot, that's just dumb. It will ruin your tennis shoes but thats about it. Most of the time I ride like a fucking duck cuz its the most comfortable for me, but when I do go faster I will ride on the balls of my feet to be more stable.

2)White Knuckling: That's true, but if your doing that you may want to reconsider riding in general.

3)Body Position: You should never be going so fast on the road where you need to hang off the bike. That's for the track. I have ridden with many people faster than myself that never budge their ass an inch and can still ride faster then anyone should on the road (sliding one butt check off the seat is more then enough IMO)

Same thing goes for "kissing the mirror" Save that shit for the track!

KEEP IN MIND: When you hang off the bike and ride with an extremely aggressive body position you limit how well you can react to road hazards. Say for instance you came around a corner and there was deer in your line. If you were hanging off the bike you would have to reposition your entire body to bring the bike up. that's a lot of movement, if you were not hanging off you'd only need to press the clip-ons to straighten it out (and hit it head on).

Cliff notes:

Save that extreme body position/hanging off the bike stuff on the track.

[Bruizza]

It was just to give him an idea of weight shifting and what not. I know it is dangerous to hang off the bike that much on the street. However practicing with the chair helps you to learn to shift your weight.

edit: when the dude wrote it he was talking about the track.

[Volition]

Here are a couple of articles that address body position much better.

Street:
http://www.sportrider.com/ride/146_0...ding_position/

You've seen the extreme race shots of riders hanging off their machines like monkeys, but while it helps out cornering on the racetrack, it's not necessarily the optimum body position for street riding. A more centered riding stance may not look all that cool, but it will give you increased confidence and control in a variety of situations. For most cornering, you should be centered on the seat, and leaning with your bike so that your head is either on or just to the inside of the centerline.

Street/Track:
http://www.sportrider.com/ride/RSS/1...ding_position/

As motorcycles get lighter and lighter, your body mass and its position plays a more important role in the handling of your sportbike. We've discussed the proper riding position for the street previously ("Strategic Positioning," June '00), but it's worth a refresher. While it's not the coolest-looking arrangement, on the street your body should be centered on the seat, with your torso in line with the bike. Always keep your head tilted to match the horizon, and use your knees and abdominal muscles to put as little weight as possible on the clip-ons.

Full Sort Rider Riding skills series:
http://www.sportrider.com/ride/RSS/index1.html

[Bruizza]

Thanks Volition that should help him out tremendously.

[Volition]

Glad to help.

[Bruizza]

On a side note did you actually hit a deer?

[Volition]

2

[Bruizza]

That is crazy

[05Raven600]

i thought his name was Sach?