Riding through twisties

I need to do a lot more practise to get faster through twisties, but one thing I have noticed is that I seem to be better at uphill twisties than downhill ones.

Is it common for people to be better at one than the other? Just wondered how others go with this?

Downhill puts more weight on the front wheel, and if your not thinking about it, you yourself add to this. All comes back to what balance front to back the bikes weight should be distributed in a corner. 40% front - 60% rear. Hence why you should be always slightly accelerating through a corner. Uphill gravity helps this along, probably why it feels more comfortable.

I need to do a lot more practise to get faster through twisties, but one thing I have noticed is that I seem to be better at uphill twisties than downhill ones.

Is it common for people to be better at one than the other? Just wondered how others go with this?

I'm the same, a lot better on the throttle compared to on the brakes.

Someone might be kind enough to post the correct technique for us to work.

^^^^^^^^^^
*looks up* see someone did while I was typing

Last edited by stonneville on Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Gday Miss Colette, I think most riders find down harder than up, it's not just you. Suspension loading and braking dynamics are both higher when traveling down hill.

Strap-on

You also have to get over the "I'm going to take longer to brake" thought in the back of your mind.

I'm better on the uphill's than the downhill's...

There was a thread not long ago on exactly this - http://www.ksrc-au.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4958
The technique suggested there was to ride in a lower gear than usual, sit back in the seat and keep your weight off the bars.
The keys are the gear and the weight I think. Whether you sit back in the seat or forward in the seat is up to how you ride. Me - if I sit back in the seat it puts more weight on the bars, so downhill I tend to sit as far forward as possible. Give it a go and see what works best for you.
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Yeah chucking it in a lower gear does wonders IMHO.

Ive always found that going uphill feels better due to the fact that you slow down more when you roll off the throttle.
I enjoy riding more on the throttle than the brakes i guess.

yes its normal, most people are better at turning one way compared to the other way too.... has to do with confidence etc...

I find downhill easier as i notice i use alot of engine braking does anyone use engine braking for turns? Should yo uuse it, i remember someone telling me i shouldn't, and that it's dangerous on a bike. Can anyone confirm this. Because if it is it's a habit i would like to break early. sorry if thats a stupid question.

Its not just you.

If I remember this correctly (I think its in "Twist of the Wrist") downhill corners are similar to off-camber corners in the way they affect the handling of your bike.

I don't know what level of rider you are Collette, so I am just going to raise this point as a *general statement*...

In my opinion, its best to talk yourself out of having a preference for any type of corner. By liking one type you are going to dislike another and maybe even grow to fear it. Fear is your biggest enemy on the bike when it comes to riding well (fast or slow). If you are scared, frightened, nervous or concerned you are probably tensing up. Especially, your arms and hands and this will cause any number of problems. It is so important to relax your upper body and let the bike work underneath you.

You will gain much more from teaching yourself to relax and and trust the bike to do its job.

This might not be news to you, but it is the easiest thing you can work on everyday (twisties or traffic). When you come to a corner make sure you tell yourself to relax your outside arm and just countersteer with the inside. It's so easy and you don't need to think about gears, turning points, lean angles Etc.

I find downhill easier as i notice i use alot of engine braking does anyone use engine braking for turns? Should yo uuse it, i remember someone telling me i shouldn't, and that it's dangerous on a bike. Can anyone confirm this. Because if it is it's a habit i would like to break early. sorry if thats a stupid question.

Most definitely wrong Adz for many reasons.

1) You have no control over how much braking force the engine will be supplying to the rear wheel. If it does decide to let go your gone. You'll get no feel, no feedback, just gone. And it is a whole lot of force, even your little zzr will easily compression lock the rear if you jam it into a corner engine braking.

2) It's placing the complete wrong balance on the bike. Think of your bike standing still, whats the weight balance, 40% front 60% rear? Suprise suprise thats exactly the same weight distribution your suspension needs mid corner too. Braking in any form will place more weight on the front end, using up your available grip for cornering. It also lightens the rear, leaving it with less grip for corning also.

3) More unneccessary physics that I won't go into.

In summation. The last portion of a straight is for breaking. Corners are the beginning of acceleration. You should be well and truely off the brakes and coming back on the power as YOU HIT YOUR TURN IN MARKER. Thats the very point were you begin to turn.

See if you can grab a copy of "Twist of the Wrist" by Keith Code, it will change your outlook on riding. You can even borrow mine but I think it might be the sort of thing you'd want to keep for yourself.

See if you can grab a copy of "Twist of the Wrist" by Keith Code

Just don't get the video.... *yawn*

Had this discussion on the weekend out @ Nymboida. Some liked going up others down.
I don't have a major preference either way just depends on the type of corner. If it is say steep and tight than i am not a fan but if it not so steep and opens up abit where you can sort of drop into....maybe i shouldn't use drop(well i think most of you will understand what i mean).
Whether it's up or done it's just about finding a comfortable speed and you'll find you'll get a nice rythmn going instead of being on the gas on the brakes etc etc.

I wouldn't be too concerned about being fast through twisties Colette just need to get out there abit more.

On a side note i always find i am better on left corners than right(on the road). I think with me its got something to do with right corners is the oncoming traffic side.