Missing 2 mins per lap but front is at grip limit!

[Jim Cook]

Originally Posted by CDN Rick

Could you expand on this? I was taught to accelerate coming out of the corner sitting far forward on the seat, pushing hard on the outside footpeg, with my inside leg even with the fork tube, and my head plumb with the contact patch of the front tire.

Is my seating still correct but my throttle wrong?

What is your body positioning when accelerating through a corner?

Your positioning and weighting the outside footpeg sounds good to me, although I try to keep both feet on the pegs in the tight woods.
(Weighting the outside footpeg was the only way to keep the old '87 WR430 Husky hooked up when cornering; so I've been doing it a long time. On the GasGas, it all depends on what's happening as to how much weight I put on that outside peg.)
I always lean forward with my crotch up on the tank when I'm in a hurry exiting the turns. My crotch moves up to the tank as I'm hitting the front brake.

I was simply suggesting that you try whacking the throttle open "on the way" to turning the bike (twist the throttle as you go to move the bars), so that it turns faster and gives you a faster exit speed; which gives you a head start towards the next turn. I found it gave me a noticeably higher exit speed when I mastered it. The GasGas bikes amaze me with their ability to turn under power.

[CDN Rick]

Originally Posted by Jim Cook

Your positioning and weighting the outside footpeg sounds good to me, although I try to keep both feet on the pegs in the tight woods.
(Weighting the outside footpeg was the only way to keep the old '87 WR430 Husky hooked up when cornering; so I've been doing it a long time. On the GasGas, it all depends on what's happening as to how much weight I put on that outside peg.)
I always lean forward with my crotch up on the tank when I'm in a hurry exiting the turns. My crotch moves up to the tank as I'm hitting the front brake.

I was simply suggesting that you try whacking the throttle open "on the way" to turning the bike (twist the throttle as you go to move the bars), so that it turns faster and gives you a faster exit speed; which gives you a head start towards the next turn. I found it gave me a noticeably higher exit speed when I mastered it. The GasGas bikes amaze me with their ability to turn under power.

Very interesting. I'm going to try this.... In a wide open pasture!

If I think it through in my head it would deweight the front tire and lose traction. But maybe I should stop thinking so much and go for a ride.

[Jakobi]

Different techniques for different corners.

But sweeping corners offering limited traction quite often the quickest way around is sideways!

Some good examples here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xfpU0yIpG4

[CDN Rick]

Originally Posted by Jakobi

Different techniques for different corners.

But sweeping corners offering limited traction quite often the quickest way around is sideways!

Some good examples here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xfpU0yIpG4

I lack the testicular fortitude to try that move yet. Maybe this coming summer....

[Jim Cook]

Originally Posted by CDN Rick

Very interesting. I'm going to try this.... In a wide open pasture!

If I think it through in my head it would deweight the front tire and lose traction. But maybe I should stop thinking so much and go for a ride.

Since your weight will have shifted forward from dragging the front brake and already loaded the front tire, the tire will bite as you gas it and turn. But, you need to hit the gas as you are letting off the brake, just as you start to "throw" the bars. (tight woods tree dodging)
Do it in "slow motion" first, to get the timing down.
My natural inclination is to slow down, turn, and gas it. That is not the fast way. It turns much better under power, when I slow down, gas it, and turn.

Let me know how it works for you.

.

[CDN Rick]

Originally Posted by Jim Cook

Since your weight will have shifted forward from dragging the front brake and already loaded the front tire, the tire will bite as you gas it and turn. But, you need to hit the gas as you are letting off the brake, just as you start to "throw" the bars. (tight woods tree dodging)
Do it in "slow motion" first, to get the timing down.
My natural inclination is to slow down, turn, and gas it. That is not the fast way. It turns much better under power, when I slow down, gas it, and turn.

Let me know how it works for you.

.

Tried it.. Key word being tried... lol

I think I got it right about 3 or 4 times cause my bikes seemed to shoot out of the corner way faster than normal those few times.
I assume you are using this on corners near or over 90 degree's mostly?

Certainly made me think about my technique. I hope to spend a lot more time on this over the winter and into next year. Cornering is where I can gain a ton of time and I need to get better at it!

[Jim Cook]

Originally Posted by CDN Rick

Tried it.. Key word being tried... lol

I think I got it right about 3 or 4 times cause my bikes seemed to shoot out of the corner way faster than normal those few times.
I assume you are using this on corners near or over 90 degree's mostly?

Certainly made me think about my technique. I hope to spend a lot more time on this over the winter and into next year. Cornering is where I can gain a ton of time and I need to get better at it!

I appreciate that you tried my suggestion.

It will help you dodge trees in the single track best of all; but yes, I was speaking of sharp corners.


.

[swazi_matt]

Originally Posted by Jim Cook

Since your weight will have shifted forward from dragging the front brake and already loaded the front tire, the tire will bite as you gas it and turn. But, you need to hit the gas as you are letting off the brake, just as you start to "throw" the bars. (tight woods tree dodging)
Do it in "slow motion" first, to get the timing down.
My natural inclination is to slow down, turn, and gas it. That is not the fast way. It turns much better under power, when I slow down, gas it, and turn.

Let me know how it works for you.

.

Set up a figure8 track and work on getting your technique programmed into your muscle memory. As Graham Jarvis says you need to know slow to go fast (or something like that)

If you compare dirt biking with golf (or another sport where technique counts for more than talent/ fitness) you will note that they spend a lot of time around the putting green or driving range whereas most of us just want to head to the hills. If you can be dedicated and spend an hour doing technique drills for your cornering, balance wheeling etc you will get better and continue riding well into the balding grey years

[swazi_matt]

I found this clip quite inspirational
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CrZsbcsIGbY

[CDN Rick]

Yup. Like many riders nowadays I get a lot of inspiration from Barry Morris. It was a pleasure to ride with him and the Traction E-rag guys at the Mexican 500 this year after the event was over. That little clip of Tony crashing into the car on his 3 wheeler is from that event.

Crazy that over a third of the riders had loaded their bikes back on the trucks after the first lap of a 3 lap race. Many never even made it to the end of the first lap.

Most of the guys that quit had never learned how to clutch up wheelie. That one simple move had them completely beaten in the woods where they had laid logs and tires all over the course.

Practice, practice, practice.... Static balance, clutch up wheelies, and cornering. I can't think of three more important things to practice for riding well.