Sliding tires in corners...

ratter · 05-28-2004, 6:53 AM

I feel very novice like with all this talk about sliding the front, while knee is on the deck

I had my left knee on the deck coming out of siberia (my fav corner) at phillip island and had the back step out (well it moved sideway a little) when accelerating, mate I can tell you I got off the power fairly quickly. Lucky I'm slow I guess around the island cause it's a recipe for a high side.

tigerblade · 05-28-2004, 10:29 AM

My first track experience was STAR School in 2002. Pridmore was talking about tucking the front and catching it with his knee like a few times in the same corner. Most people just don't realize what's going on out there (myself included to an extent

). You go do your first trackday and it really opens your eyes (read Chain's review!). Then you start racing and it's another layer above that. You see the local hotshoe and you think "Wow, that dude is FAST!" then he promptly gets SMOKED when the Formula USA guys come to town. And so on up the levels.

abtech · 05-28-2004, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerblade

My first track experience was STAR School in 2002. Pridmore was talking about tucking the front and catching it with his knee like a few times in the same corner. Most people just don't realize what's going on out there (myself included to an extent

). You go do your first trackday and it really opens your eyes (read Chain's review!). Then you start racing and it's another layer above that. You see the local hotshoe and you think "Wow, that dude is FAST!" then he promptly gets SMOKED when the Formula USA guys come to town. And so on up the levels.

smaller and smaller ponds with bigger and bigger fish . . .

matt232 · 05-28-2004, 11:23 AM

Taking notes on the theory....but I just don't see the practice happening just yet and I dread the thought of learning the hard way with my new baby. hmmm maybe the idea of a track bike isn't so ludicrous.

tigerblade · 05-28-2004, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

smaller and smaller ponds with bigger and bigger fish . . .

Gives you an appreciation of the backmarkers at the higher levels.

abtech · 05-28-2004, 1:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerblade

Gives you an appreciation of the backmarkers at the higher levels.

Well put. The backmarkers in a MotoGP race would most likely clean the floor with the fastest AMA guys . . . I say that even with respect to the fastest AMA riders moving on to MotoGP. Think about the equipment and development differential between say Nicky Hayden and Alex Hofmann . . .

tigerblade · 05-28-2004, 2:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

Think about the equipment and development differential between say Nicky Hayden and Alex Hofmann . . .

Or the difference between pre- and current-Honda rider Sete Gibernau. Who knows what some of the "slow" guys in MotoGP might do with an RC211V?

oldgoat · 05-28-2004, 7:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

You push on the right bar to increase the lean angle in a right hand turn and push on the left bar to increase lean in a left hand turn. You do know about counter steering right?

Example: You approach the turn in point of a right hand turn and begin to push on the right bar to initiate turn in. Once your knee touches down, you hold the bike "up" with your knee while you continue to push on the right bar. This will start the front end pushing (sliding). You push on the left bar while rolling on the throttle to bring it back up.

So much to learn and so little time. thats amazing feel to do that

john954rr · 05-29-2004, 5:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldgoat

So much to learn and so little time. thats amazing feel to do that

To all you guys that can do that kind of ****

We are not worthy

Reckless929 · 05-30-2004, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WetShrub

Is there a point at your development as a rider where you HAVE to start sliding the tires in order to go faster? Or at least be comfortable with the tire sliding some? I noticed with YSR racing that I consistently slide the front at times during races. It skips along a little bit but it doesn't really make me nervous. Sliding either tire on my SV650 would freak me out but it seems like most of the better club racers are doing it at some level....like it's a natural thing. Should I expect it to start happening as my speed increases and just deal with it or is it something I should avoid by riding more smoothly and getting slicks and making suspension adjustments? I almost see it as a limitation with my riding at this point. I can't imagine being comfortable with it.

-Shrub

Shrub
You are most likely already sliding the bike and don't really realize it!
The key to safely sliding the bike is like abtech says , countersteering and even more profoundly .... be very balanced on the bike, no wiggles or abrubt changes that may upset the chassis!
When you enter a corner hot and turn in you are sliding the front and scrubbing speed, this why it is important to get back on the throttle as soon as possible so you don't lose momentum as well.
When you are accelerating off the corner you are spinning up the rear due to applied torque and the fact that the gear ratio affectively change due to the smaller diameter of the tire when leaned over and the contact patch is near the edges of the tire.

Having your suspension fine tuned will help you to get the feedback you need to feel to get comfortable riding on that edge.
You will get there soon if you are not already by just keeping on racing and getting more track time.

Just my Opinion .... and I am not a pro but have experienced plenty of slides like this afternoon at Sears point!