A bad case of the run wides.

[aardvark]

1. If I don't hammer the straight bit, I don't fark up on the brakes and miss the corner

A lot of new riders suffer from what I have labelled "The Russian Shit". That's when you go rushin' into a corner and "Shiiiiiiiit!!".

It's not necessarily their fault. They think they are cornering as fast as any human on a motorcycle could possibly corner, so to be faster, they obviously have to be faster on the straight bits. Normally leads to a big mess.

[corvus2606]

I have found after my off, that i wont lean my bike, on the gpx, i was draggin bits all the time, but i just cant bring myself to lean the ER over, even on roundabouts, im taking them at 30.
Im just having to go through reminding myself that the bike can handle it, and if i do everything right, i wont crash it.

doesnt help that i crashed on a right hander, im on a new bike, and its running on arrowmaxes which i didnt choose, and dont nesecarily trust as much as the old sports demons

[Strika]

having said that though, i managed to get my knee down on the weekend on a right-hander without expecting it, and a peg down on the left..

with complete lack of evidence or research, and strictly of my own opinion, i reckon it is pretty well tied in with our right hands being dominant for the flow of throttle and steadiness of power input, whereas our left is focussed more on the push and pull of counter-steering. it must just seem easier for most to push away with the left (in left hand corners) than it is to push with the right (in right hand corners) as shifting the twist grip of the throttle could be involved....just a thought though..

May I say firstly, in the nicest possible way PP, that if you are dragging knees on the road, you are either a very talented A grade road racer only running at 7/10ths, or you're a dickhead who potentially may end up binning it! Learn to ride and you will find that there is no need to hang off the bike unless you are in an emergency situation.

Secondly, the reason a lot of riders find right handers harder than left handers, is that there is a Pshycological run off area (being the other lane) when traversing a left hander, whereas, if you run wide on a right, you're in the bush!

[Six Addict]

May I say firstly, in the nicest possible way PP, that if you are dragging knees on the road, you are either a very talented A grade road racer only running at 7/10ths, or you're a dickhead who potentially may end up binning it!

well that makes wattie and russ and phil obviously very talented a graders

[robracer]

Secondly, the reason a lot of riders find right handers harder than left handers, is that there is a Pshycological run off area (being the other lane) when traversing a left hander, whereas, if you run wide on a right, you're in the bush!

Marty most ppl I have spoken to have a prefrence, I for one cant go as fast through RH corners even at the track I have had this problem for the whole 25 years of road riding, it just dont feel as comfortable as a left, so I tend these days to just push harder knowing that it is possible to go faster but it does not stop the fact that it feels sorta wrong. Aint nothing to do with run off with this one & unless you have experienced it it is hard to explain.

[Strika]

May I say firstly, in the nicest possible way PP, that if you are dragging knees on the road, you are either a very talented A grade road racer only running at 7/10ths, or you're a dickhead who potentially may end up binning it!

well that makes wattie and russ and phil obviously very talented a graders

I'd back Wattie and Phil in a race any day. Both those guys can steer like good ones!!! Russ, I havn't seen much of, so although he may be as quick, I can't comment!!!

But from what I have seen, neither of them tend to scrape their knees on the road very often. Personally, I can't remember the last time I dragged a knee on the road. On the track....well......that's totally different. I doubt there are many corners on a race track where I don't scrape the knee. (Maybe 12 and 1 at the Island) But, I feel no need to go fast enough on the road to warrant dragging a knee. to me, you're just a try hard if you are!

[Six Addict]

But, I feel no need to go fast enough on the road to warrant dragging a knee. to me, you're just a try hard if you are!

the weird thing is u dont have to go blindingly fast to drag your knee, ive followed a bloke on the old road getting his knee down on his CBR250, only i was dawdling wishing he would hurry up, hardly getting off the bike at all...and im not quick at all

and no i wasnt suggesting any of them scraped their knee often but two of their avatars show them with knee down on the road

and like you say, i think they're all good riders

[aardvark]

I for one cant go as fast through RH corners even at the track

I hear ya Robby-boy. Turn 3 at Mallala is a shitty right hander with an apex a long way around the corner and it costs me a shit load of time. When you work out how to fix the problem, can you let me know?

[Pistol Pete]

having said that though, i managed to get my knee down on the weekend on a right-hander without expecting it, and a peg down on the left..

with complete lack of evidence or research, and strictly of my own opinion, i reckon it is pretty well tied in with our right hands being dominant for the flow of throttle and steadiness of power input, whereas our left is focussed more on the push and pull of counter-steering. it must just seem easier for most to push away with the left (in left hand corners) than it is to push with the right (in right hand corners) as shifting the twist grip of the throttle could be involved....just a thought though..

May I say firstly, in the nicest possible way PP, that if you are dragging knees on the road, you are either a very talented A grade road racer only running at 7/10ths, or you're a dickhead who potentially may end up binning it! Learn to ride and you will find that there is no need to hang off the bike unless you are in an emergency situation.

Secondly, the reason a lot of riders find right handers harder than left handers, is that there is a Pshycological run off area (being the other lane) when traversing a left hander, whereas, if you run wide on a right, you're in the bush!

Firstly, Strika, i completely understand what you're saying. to tell you the truth, i was trying out different techniques for cornering, as i've found myself on a few occasions nicking the hero-knobs and dragging my toe-sliders on the road, and have been compiling a completely unfounded library of tips about cornering, including that sometimes the knee is used to make sure one doesn't hit bits of the bike on the deck mid-corner. i know full well that it's usually quicker and much safer cornering without hanging off like a dickhead, and i always only ride to a MAXIMUM of 8/10s on the road, as you never know what will be around the next corner..
i'll be the first to admit that i could do with more riding training, but like i said, i hadn't expected to actually end up with contact on the road, and was just going through the process of testing different techniques to see which ones i am more comfortable with using

[Pistol Pete]

Oh, and secondly, yes! too true.
although i treat the centreline like a concrete wall, there's still that subconcious awareness of more tar there as opposed to soft edges and hard trees....

[Blurr]

Secondly, the reason a lot of riders find right handers harder than left handers, is that there is a Pshycological run off area (being the other lane) when traversing a left hander, whereas, if you run wide on a right, you're in the bush!

I suspect this is the reason I hate lefts. I would rather hit the brush than an oncoming car. but as I said I am going against the norm

[Strika]

Well done PP, I half expected you to fire up with that comment!!! Good to see you have a sense of humour!!!

[Stereo]

I knew a guy just like that Strika (origional comment) He now has one functioning leg.