full lock steering discomfort

**misti** · 05-03-2009, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by KazeXIII

You don't need to go full lock even when going real slow. However you can just lean the opposite way of the bike lean to get a better balance on the bike. Let the bike turn for you. .[/url]

Leaning the opposite way of the bike is good for parking lot and skills maneuvers like the Japanese cops are demonstrating but it is not a good or safe technique for riding on the street. When you lean your body to the opposite direction of the bike you actually end up leaning the entire bike over FURTHER than if you lean your body with the direction of the bike.

Another point is that you should be counter-steering the machine by pressing on the right handlebar to get the bike to turn to the right and then following with your body...and then pressing the left bar to go to the left. You should never need full lock while riding.

Cheers,

Misti

**nokio** · 05-04-2009, 04:52 AM

i wish i could u turn like those guys!

**kin** · 05-04-2009, 01:24 PM

dang those cops are bad @$$.

**danj1111** · 05-05-2009, 01:35 PM

Yeah... it's a tight spot in full lock. You have to reposition your hands first, especially on throttle side.

You only need to steer to full lock when practicing figure 8's, or in tight parking situations... so it's not that big of a deal. Still, something worth getting used to.

**KazeXIII** · 05-10-2009, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by misti

Leaning the opposite way of the bike is good for parking lot and skills maneuvers like the Japanese cops are demonstrating but it is not a good or safe technique for riding on the street. When you lean your body to the opposite direction of the bike you actually end up leaning the entire bike over FURTHER than if you lean your body with the direction of the bike.

Another point is that you should be counter-steering the machine by pressing on the right handlebar to get the bike to turn to the right and then following with your body...and then pressing the left bar to go to the left. You should never need full lock while riding.

Cheers,

Misti

The context is regarding slow turns at slow speeds where a full steering lock is possible. Go ride a sportbike and try to make a very tight figure eight with your body leaned with the bike UNLIKE what the cops show on the videos I posted. I can't do it. I have to balance the bike and have my torso counter the lean to prevent additional weight being forced on the turning side. If you can do a tight figure eight that opposes my theory then you are awesome in my book

btw: figure eight as taught in MSF where it is only slightly larger than a single car space found on most parking lots.

**misti** · 05-11-2009, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by KazeXIII

The context is regarding slow turns at slow speeds where a full steering lock is possible. Go ride a sportbike and try to make a very tight figure eight with your body leaned with the bike UNLIKE what the cops show on the videos I posted. I can't do it. I have to balance the bike and have my torso counter the lean to prevent additional weight being forced on the turning side. If you can do a tight figure eight that opposes my theory then you are awesome in my book

btw: figure eight as taught in MSF where it is only slightly larger than a single car space found on most parking lots.

I understood the context, hence the reason I said it was good for slow speed/parking lot exercises. What I find with a lot of my students is that they take this technique and continue to use it while riding on the street or the track. I just wanted to make the distinction that in general riding you want to allow your body to follow the bike "be a good passenger" and NOT lean away from it like you might do when doing tight figure eights....

Misti

**legend4life** · 05-11-2009, 02:47 PM

Soon after I got my 05 R6, I found I had trouble with low speed maneuvering, the bike felt less stable/easy to to turn at low speeds, 0-10mph, compared to my old Ninja 250.

So I went to a parking lot and tried to practice low speed tight maneuvering and tried a few different things, including counter-steering, steering in direction of turn, leaning with the bike, and counter-leaning.

I tried to do the tightest circles I could on the bike, and I also tried walking my bike to see how I could get it to turn in the sharpest.

Both exercises I got the tightest circle by steering IN the direction of the turn towards steering lock AND leaning the bike into the turn, but counter leaning my body MSF style, going about 6mph in a really tight circle (feels fast in that tight circle lol).

To lean with the bike, I think I would have to be going faster, and around a wider circle.

Anyone agree/disagree with my findings from their own experience?

**Lakeabilene** · 05-12-2009, 08:43 AM

When in a figure eight, or just circles, can you hold the steering at full lock for a full circle, without using the clutch? (question is for those with stock gearing only!) I can't. Not on an 05.

**freeride** · 05-12-2009, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by KazeXIII

...Watch these guys in action to get a better idea

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

That one right there is badass. The way they come to a complete stop and then go, it catches you off guard. Kinda scared me.

The other one, with the two guys side-by-side is teh gay

Nice post though

**KazeXIII** · 05-13-2009, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by legend4life

Soon after I got my 05 R6, I found I had trouble with low speed maneuvering, the bike felt less stable/easy to to turn at low speeds, 0-10mph, compared to my old Ninja 250.

So I went to a parking lot and tried to practice low speed tight maneuvering and tried a few different things, including counter-steering, steering in direction of turn, leaning with the bike, and counter-leaning.

I tried to do the tightest circles I could on the bike, and I also tried walking my bike to see how I could get it to turn in the sharpest.

Both exercises I got the tightest circle by steering IN the direction of the turn towards steering lock AND leaning the bike into the turn, but counter leaning my body MSF style, going about 6mph in a really tight circle (feels fast in that tight circle lol).

To lean with the bike, I think I would have to be going faster, and around a wider circle.

Anyone agree/disagree with my findings from their own experience?

If you feel/look like the guys on the video then I agree.