I have a full dress motorcycle, how do u get comfortable cornering at higher speeds?

Question

i always have to slow down, and go around slower than the rest of the group.

Answer 1

I'm assuming you mean a touring bike. I think all of the advice was good with the exception of taping your throttle wide open. But I can add one more thing. All touring bikes do not handle corners the same way. I noticed one fellow mentioned his goldwing. Honda goldwing and BMW's K1200LT handle corners about as well as sport bikes, and are well behaved at high speeds.

Other touring bike do not necessarily behave that way. I have a Kawasaki Voyager VII. It does not handle like a sport bike. It runs very well and is capable of more speed than the suspension system can really handle. It tends to wallow like a pig if you corner too hard. I guess it's the 1975 design of its suspension system. Which is soft and comfortable on the interstate but a little spooky in the mountains.

I read road test on bikes, can't remember much other than I knew what to expect with the Kawasaki. I also understand certain Harley models have the same problem. Not necessarily a defect, just a suspension tuned for a smooth ride rather than good handling.

Before you get too aggressive on corners I'd research a test ride on your bike and see what the professional riders have to say about it. Just because a guy flys around a corner on a goldwing doesn't mean you should expect the same from your bike.

Answer 2

Practice counter steering, push right you go right, push left you go left. Learn to trust yourself and your bike, lean with it in corners where the speed is good. This doesn't mean you have to drag your pegs, just enough speed to make it enjoyable. On slower turns and tight curves counter-balance. Lean the opposite direction from your bike, this will help a lot.

Watch your line, on a left turn be further to the right, then look into the turn, cut across the apex (the top of the turn) towards your exit point. This works for right hand curves also.

Always, do your braking before you enter the turn, be at a speed that you are comfortable with. As you roll into the curve and you have your exit point spotted roll on more throttle.

Take your time, and it will come to you.

Answer 3

There isn't any thing wrong with slowing down for a curve. You should take riding at your own pace even if the group has to slow down also. If you take a curve to sharp as you well know if could be the last curve you take. You can eventually go faster you must be comfortable with the balance of the bike before attempting to push yourself.

Answer 4

Look through the curve to your exit point. Your bike will go to where you are looking without you having to put extreme effort into the curve. If you look straight ahead you will end up fighting the bike through the curve and feel very uncomfortable. Before you enter the curve glance at the road and make sure it is clear of debris, that way you can roll through it with you mind only on looking to your exit, and not having to look anyplace else. (other than the split second scan of the surrondings)

Answer 5

Make sure you have the right tire pressure. I took my bike to a tire shop for new avon tires. Thing handled like s**t when I picked it up. I had to corner very slow. When I got it home, I found that the Einstein who installed my tires put 20 psi in the front and 30 in the rear. After I put proper air pressure in them, it handled just fine.

Answer 6

practice leaning into the corners as far as necessary to maintain speed (within reason) be careful not to lean so far that exhaust pipes (like on my Goldwing) hit the ground. it takes practice to see how far you can comfortably lean the bike.

Answer 7

Countersteer and accelerate thru the turn.

Answer 8

TAPE THROTTLE WIDE OPEN YOU'LL LEARN HOW TO MAKE CORNERS FAST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!