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nklr riding question
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2001 10:13 am
by David_Mat_King@email.msn.com
Okay being a new rider, I have a question about turning. I have
taken the MSF rider course and that answered most questions.
However, on the way home yesterday, I had to go through some
residential neighborhoods and noticed I was having trouble making it
around some of the 90 degree turns. In one left turn, I swung waaay
wide and almost hit the curb. I was unsure how I should have
recovered. Should I just go slower or should I have attempted to
lean the bike more?
Thanks for any tips,
David
nklr riding question
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2001 2:48 pm
by MERK
> Okay being a new rider, I have a question about turning. I have
> taken the MSF rider course and that answered most questions.
> However, on the way home yesterday, I had to go through some
> residential neighborhoods and noticed I was having trouble making it
> around some of the 90 degree turns. In one left turn, I swung waaay
> wide and almost hit the curb. I was unsure how I should have
> recovered. Should I just go slower or should I have attempted to
> lean the bike more?
>
> Thanks for any tips,
>
> David
Being a new rider, you probably should have been traveling slower to
begin with.
Take it slow and easy as long as it takes to get yourself feeling secure
in your abilities. Ideally, you would have done you braking prior to
the corner, then be accelerating into the curve.
When I was learning,(78) I experimented with cornering clearance and
lean angle by going round and round a empty parking lot. I remember
being astounded at how far I could lean that baby over before the tires
slid.
Nailing the brakes when leaning in to a curve ain`t the greatest idea
as it has a tendency to stand the bike up, so if you find yourself in
that kind of situation, best idea is lean`er some more...and be thankful
for all that clearance on the KLR!
MERK!.........Deeds Speak!!
merk26@...
nklr riding question
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2001 7:10 pm
by Peter Dahlheimer, MD
don't look at the curb. DON'T look at the curb. look exactly where you
want to go. you'll lean the right amount almost automatically.
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nklr riding question
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2001 9:16 pm
by Jim Hoffman
Did they cover counter steering? You know...the old turn right, go left.
You didn't mention how fast you were going but I doubt that was the problem.
You were proboly looking at the curb and that's where you ended up. Did
they cover "you go where you look"? Maybe it's best you find a big parking
lot and just cruise around in circles, figure 8's, etc. and then practice
stopping on landmarks you've picked out (like stains, chips etc). When you
feel ready for the streets again, maybe try some country roads at first
until you get the hang of things. At the very least, call your MSF
Instructor an discuss this problem!
Good luck to you.
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nklr riding question
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2001 11:20 pm
by David_Mat_King@email.msn.com
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Jim Hoffman" wrote:
> Did they cover counter steering? You know...the old turn right, go
left.
> You didn't mention how fast you were going but I doubt that was the
problem.
> You were proboly looking at the curb and that's where you ended
up. Did
> they cover "you go where you look"? Maybe it's best you find a big
parking
Yes they did cover these techniques. I will practice as you suggest.
I went out again today on back roads and stuff and didn't have any
problems with cornering.
I think what may have happened is I drove the 35 miles home at speeds
of 60-70 and when I got onto the residential roads, I was still
moving at a good clip, not realizing how fast I was going. Not to
imply that I was doing 60 on the residential streets of course, but I
probably hit that first left turn way too fast.
When riding the bike on the freeway at 60, it just doesn't really
feel like I am moving that fast. Is that normal?
Thanks,
David King
nklr riding question
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2001 7:44 am
by Ted Palmer
David_Mat_King@... wrote:
[...]
> When riding the bike on the freeway at 60, it just doesn't really
> feel like I am moving that fast. Is that normal?
If you do it long enough.
That's why little one-cop speed-trap towns do so much traffic fine
business.
Mister_T
Melbourne Australia
nklr riding question
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2001 8:22 am
by k650dsn@aol.com
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Ted Palmer wrote:
> David_Mat_King@e... wrote:
> [...]
> > When riding the bike on the freeway at 60, it just doesn't really
> > feel like I am moving that fast. Is that normal?
>
> If you do it long enough.
> That's why little one-cop speed-trap towns do so much traffic fine
> business.
>
> Mister_T
> Melbourne Australia
Coming back from the Canyonlands Motor Classic last year, I was doing
long stretches at 100+mph (on my ZRX1100). When I would slow to 80, I
felt like I was in a school zone. Speed really screws up your
perception and you really have to be aware of that, because your
brakes don't get any better the faster you ride.
Gino
nklr riding question
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2001 10:25 am
by West Hovland
> Okay being a new rider, I have a question about turning. I have
> taken the MSF rider course and that answered most questions.
> However, on the way home yesterday, I had to go through some
> residential neighborhoods and noticed I was having trouble making it
> around some of the 90 degree turns. In one left turn, I swung waaay
> wide and almost hit the curb. I was unsure how I should have
> recovered. Should I just go slower or should I have attempted to
> lean the bike more?
Yes to both. Remember what they taught you about counter-steering?.... use it, practice it, have it become second nature. You are riding the motorcycle, don't let it take you for the ride. If choosing an entrance speed and steering ( notice... I didn't say "leaning") through the corner in a nice smooth line doesn't get easier after a few weeks/months... park the bike and put a "for sale" sign on it.
I'm not "trying" to be mean (it comes naturally) it's just that after many years of being an MSF instructor, I saw to many people come through that had no business riding motorcycles. They are just going to hurt themselves and drive my insurance rates up. Heck, we all see people that shouldn't be driving four wheels... being on two is even more complicated.
West
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nklr riding question
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2001 11:03 am
by John Cairns
'David_Mat_King@... wrote:'
> Okay being a new rider, I have a question about turning. I have
> taken the MSF rider course and that answered most questions.
> However, on the way home yesterday, I had to go through some
> residential neighborhoods and noticed I was having trouble making it
> around some of the 90 degree turns. In one left turn, I swung waaay
> wide and almost hit the curb. I was unsure how I should have
> recovered. Should I just go slower or should I have attempted to
> lean the bike more?
Both. Since you are a new rider you should just plan on slowing down
alot more before you enter a turn. Esp. on a KLR, which has a fairly
'high' center of gravity, it won't feel as comfortable for turning
until you get used to it. Keep in mind that a significant precentage
of accidents for cars and motorcycles occur when the rider has fewer
than 6 months riding time. Its a good idea to be very cautious until
you get the hang of it!
One rule of thumb that almost always works is to slow to the 'speed
limit' (usually 25 in residential areas) before you attempt to take a
turn. Of course you also need to be aware of environmental
conditions that might require you to slow more.
As you get more used to your KLR you will find it easier to lean way
into the turn, and don't worry about it, the KLR has great handling
and will allow you to turn sharply once you are comfortable.
John
--
John Cairns
john@...
3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510582097494459228...
nklr riding question
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2001 1:44 pm
by David_Mat_King@email.msn.com
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "West Hovland" wrote:
> I'm not "trying" to be mean (it comes naturally) it's just that
after many years of being an MSF instructor, I saw to many people
come through that had no business riding motorcycles. They are just
going to hurt themselves and drive my insurance rates up. Heck, we
all see people that shouldn't be driving four wheels... being on two
is even more complicated.
>
> West
Nope not too mean!
But hey we've all got to start somewhere
right? I don't believe I'm "that guy" but honestly if I still have
trouble with that in a couple of weeks, I will sell it.
David