KX Riders
General => Riding Tips & Tricks => Topic started by: andypav on May 29, 2007, 05:01:06 AM
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Anyone know of a great training DVD on cornering... trying to get faster.
Andy
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This could help a bit dont know of any CD's or tapes though sorry about that good luck.
http://www.kxriders.com/forums/index.php/topic,437.msg2081.html#msg2081
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Hey, I'm no pro at cornering, and I'm definately sure these guys have great suggestions, but here's my 2 cents.
I ride with guys that have alot more experience than I have. They had told me more than once that to turn left, you lean left, but turn the bars to the right. And vice versa. It never made sense, really. I figured that I must already do that to be able to keep up with them. I finally figured it out when we went riding last spring. We were riding sandy berm trails hauling the mail. All of the low spots had water and ice on bottom. If you went through the water it was cool-off time, because your shoulder was on the ground before you could let off the gas. I found myself going left, but turning the wheel to the right, just a little from center to avoid the ice/water. I noticed right away that it was different. I stuck to the berms and the front tire did not wash at all. Then since it was stable through the whole turn I was able to be on the gas more.
The new trick I learned was a life or death skill I needed for woods riding. Sometimes a corner sneaks up on you and you are going a little too fast for the sharpness of the turn. When I first started riding, my caution for these moments made me slow everywhere else. I learned that if I get surprised like that, I slam on the rear brake, barely grab the front brake and get the bike sliding sideways into the turn. Then I hit the gas to start turning. I used to have a tendency to try to slow down to a comfortable speed before the turn. Locking the brakes up makes you go straight, no matter which way the wheel is turned. Of course everywhere is different. Sand, Mud, Soft or Hard-pack and even Pavement. (Turning the bars right to go left also works on street bikes)
This info might be a little less complicated than you were looking for, but I hope I helped.
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New Motosport Outlet Catologue has 6 different instructional videos along with a bunch of insane videos to really get the adrenaline going. They have the real pros riding and giving tips. :-)
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Hill is right. Sit on your bike going in a straight line and push one arm forward and watch what happens. The arm you push forward is the side you will turn to. Another visual would be to watch the flat track guys.
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First you need to establish the proper posture. Elbows up, knees hugging the bike and you should not be able to see your crossbar pad through your helmet.
If you ride on the street, it's totally confusing. In a left hand turn, you want to look ahead of the turn, push down on the right peg and position your body weight to the right side. You can use your left leg as a counter balance, although it's not always necessary. Don't be afraid to move your butt around on the seat. The more active you are, the faster you will turn.
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pulling in clutch(with 1 or 2 fingers) around corner helps also
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pulling in clutch(with 1 or 2 fingers) around corner helps also
this naturally made me look at my own riding. i tend to gear down and brake before the corner then power through it and out. so is it a personal riding preference to dab the clutch through a corner or is it just down to the simple fact that its gona make you faster?
maybe i've got a bad habit i need to break! :oops:
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i find that if i dont pull in clutch the gyro affect is worse and i fight turning. by pulling the clutch it just feels easier to corner. it "unlocks" the engine, drops engine braking/reving. i brake and pull in clutch then start to accelerate half way thru corner. personal preference.
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i find that if i dont pull in clutch the gyro affect is worse and i fight turning. by pulling the clutch it just feels easier to corner. it "unlocks" the engine, drops engine braking/reving. i brake and pull in clutch then start to accelerate half way thru corner. personal preference.
I'm going to try that. I have the suspension on one of my KX250's pretty good, considering, in the turns. I find I have to over lean the bike because it likes to go straight.
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If you want to get faster, try to get hooked up with one of the reputable MX instuctors, they focus tons on corners, corners are where races are won or lost, everybody can jump, albeit some better than others, not everybody can corner. The turn right to go left works on dry, hard, slick corners, doesn't work on a well prepped MX track. Kawi's are NOT great tight turners, but with the right set up they can be made to turn well.
As far as technique, you should be driving into a corner as Jeeks said with elbows up squeezing the tank and standing, when you start braking you should be heavily on the front brake (the rear isn't doing much) as you start into the corner you should transition your body to a sitting position, if the corner is left handed your going to weight your right hand footpeg, you should have the gear selected that you will use coming out of the corner. the inside leg should be extended to try and load the front wheel, the corner will dictate when and how much throttle you can use and whether your going to use an inside line or outside line. during a practice session you should try to develop lines that may not be the preferred line, if your in a race and you have to pass somebody and they're in the preferred line you have to find some place to pass them, and if you have lines developed during practice you have a place to pass.
If there are ruts you can use your rear brake to hold you into it, just drag it a bit and you'll be suprised at how well it works.
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Here is my suggestion, based on what worked for me. What helped me was to bring a knowledgable friend out to the track to act as a coach. You do not want him to be all that nice to you. Pick a single corner on the track and go thru it 20 or 30 times, picking up speed eash time and trying different lines and apexes. Your friend will be able to judge your speed, smoothness and harrass you to keep tying it faster and faster. As you get faster, give him a stick and have him randomly pick, and point to, the apexes for you to hit. Keep doing the same corner until it becomes effortless. Then go to the next corner and repeat the process until you have done the whole track. Then put it all together. Often the real speed issue is a mental limit on your speed (some call it fear) and not so much technique and ability. This is the part that your coach helps you to get around. Worked for me. This is even easier with the superb handling of the new MX bikes. I can slam my new 450 into a corner in almost any way, without a care, and the bike does it so well that I am constantly amazed. Hope this helps. Cam.
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fyi
I found these on another site on corners and jumps and what not. they cover corners, starts, straights, jumps whoops, mogals step on step offs and other stuff.
part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Yh4oM7yIk
part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQTPqA1EvZI&feature=related
part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73mlx77bERI&feature=related
part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT3c0zTWHdM&feature=related
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Cool vids from youtube. Thanks for the links. I'm on family leave right now and it entertained me this morning.
Daniel in Vacaville
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Cool vids from youtube. Thanks for the links. I'm on family leave right now and it entertained me this morning.
Daniel in Vacaville
the only way to get better is to ride!!!