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23 August 2006
GETTING PAST CORNER FEAR

Recently I was in conversation with new rider who's been up on two wheels for little over three years. The rider is a graduate of the MSF's "Basic Rider Course" and is pretty confident with her basic skills and abilities with her motorcycle. Our conversation moved to cornering and she told me that was an area that she still had problems with.

She already knows how to go around a corner, she understands counter-steering and how it works; so what's the problem?

Fear… Yes, tipping a motorcycle over and pushing it through a corner with floorboard or foot pegs scraping can be a pretty intimidating thing for new riders.

No matter how much you read about corner techniques, or how much other riders tell you its fun; it can still be pretty scary for a new rider to actually trust all of that information.

It's not a requirement for a rider to touch his knee down mid corner to be able to master the correct technique for corners. Nor do they have to be an acrobat and throw themselves over the side of the motorcycle to impart body English to corner correctly. Once most riders begin to learn and perfect the cornering skills it gets infectious no matter what type of motorcycle they ride. More importantly their ability to handle quick direction changes improves, they also become safer riders.

But how do you get past the fear…

It's pretty simple, you go slow and practice. Slow? Yes slow, once you get the basics down speed will come all by itself, and the fear will leave.

The first thing you need is either a knowledgeable teacher, or a book on riding technique which is well written so you can understand exactly what happens and when: you approach, enter, turn-in, and leave a corner. Without knowledge you don't have a chance of learning the skills and conquering the fear.

In "Total Control" by Lee Parks he tells us that FEAR is a good thing. The only way we can conquer fear is with confidence which is derived from KNOWLEDGE. KNOWLEDGE comes from the analysis of physical and mental experiences and faith in those skills which we have perfected and practiced.

There have been many occasions when riding that I either entered a corner too fast, or picked the wrong line or made some other error which caused my own fear well up and try to take control. Fighting back fear and doing those things which either I have practiced, or read about, saved me from a possible off road adventure. Sometimes not without great anxiety and whopping part of the seat cover sucked up my, oh well you know where.

However each one of those incidents has taught me something and with each my comfort zone increased. I not only became more confident in my skills, but I learned to trust what the experts were saying in the books.

I've read every book I can find on riding skills. Each one of the authors explains it in a different way. The science of cornering, the skills and techniques are the same; reading it multiple times just reinforces it. Besides hearing from multiple sources (or reading it in different books) help you believe in what they are telling you to do or what needs to be done.

If you're intent on improving your cornering skills and overcoming the fear, you have to do it in little stages. First thing is to believe what you have been told or read, yes counter-steering works, as well as weight transfer and gyroscopic precession; if these terms are new to you, it's time to do some reading and studying. The other skills you will need to have perfected or at least be competent with are braking, throttle control, concentration, and vision (knowing where and how to look while riding).

Step 1-Ok, you have either found a great knowledgeable teacher or have read one of the following books cover to cover:

The Reading List

My suggestion is Total Control, and don't be put off by the emphasis on sport bikes, the techniques are the same no matter if you're on a Gold Wing, Cruiser, or Harley Chopper.

Step 2- Find a section of back road with little traffic and a good corner. A good corner is one where the pavement is clean; there is a safe shoulder to run off on; in the event you make a mistake. And most importantly you can see the exit of the corner well before you get into it. Being able to see oncoming traffic before your committed to the corner is a big help.

Step 3- Walk through the corner and look at it, it will look a lot different once you approach it on your motorcycle. But knowing where and what you're riding on adds to your own personal safety. Mark the apex of the corner with something; an empty drink can or a rag so you can see it with your peripheral vision each time without having to search for it.

Step 4-Ride through the corner at a slow speed, follow the steps you've read or been given. Shift your weight early. Brake and down shift before the corner, turn in the bike at your turn point (counter-steer) apply throttle in small amounts smoothly, and let the bike lean and go around the corner passing close to the apex, at or just beyond the apex counter steer it back to the upright and roll on more throttle.

Step 5-Repeat step 4 until you're comfortable. Then do it again, with a little more speed coming into the corner and repeat it again. You need to strive to get it all correct; speed will come by itself.

Of course there is a lot more to it than what I have outlined above. Space just doesn't allow me to get into the techniques of braking and throttle control or even vision and picking corner lines. That's why you need to read and expand your riding knowledge.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:28 PM
Phil,
thanks to you for pushing Lee Parks' book "Total Control". I bought the book and read it all, cover to cover, as fast as I could absorb all that great motorcycle riding instruction - wow! I go out and practice the drills every day now.
Dick Cook