Off camber...

[Larry Gude]

...any tips for handling them?

I've ridden over 7,200 miles since the end of April on numerous bikes, mostly my Strat, a big, fat pig of a bike that is nowhere as nimble at low speed as any HD cruiser I've ridden, but is just fine on any corner I've ever thrown it into. Other than scraping the crap out of my pegs and crash bar.

I struggle with off camber, where you can't see it until you are in it; only the entrance. I've followed better riders in and done just fine, monkey see, monkey do. However, on my own, I 50 pence the hell out of them and just can't/don't want to let go that much to just let it happen. So, I slow down, a lot.

Any tips? Slow, look, lean and roll, picking the apex, I just ain't comfortable, always early and pence 'em.

 

[GWguy]

Gotta remember, you've only been street riding for a few months. It takes time to develop a feel for the bike and road.

Took me 2 years before I was comfortable enough on the GW to lay it over and scape the pegs, to maneuver it like my old Honda 360, but now I don't give it a thought.

Take the time to just ride and become familiar.

 

[Larry Gude]

Gotta remember, you've only been street riding for a few months. It takes time to develop a feel for the bike and road.

Took me 2 years before I was comfortable enough on the GW to lay it over and scape the pegs, to maneuver it like my old Honda 360, but now I don't give it a thought.

Take the time to just ride and become familiar.

I'm good if I can see it. I'm talking off cambers, pavement falling away, where you can't see the road in the turn until you're in it.

 

[GWguy]

I'm good if I can see it. I'm talking off cambers, pavement falling away, where you can't see the road in the turn until you're in it.

Again, it's because you are not as comfortable as you should be, and that takes time.

However, I will say that laying it into a corner that you can't see around and aren't familiar with will bite you in the butt eventually. You can't expect the unexpected if you're not ready for it.

 

[aps45819]

I've ridden over 7,200 miles since the end of April on numerous bikes, mostly my Strat, a big, fat pig of a bike that is nowhere as nimble at low speed as any HD cruiser I've ridden, but is just fine on any corner I've ever thrown it into. Other than scraping the crap out of my pegs and crash bar.

Soooo... it handles a corner fine except for not being able to turn

 

[struggler44]

I'm good if I can see it. I'm talking off cambers, pavement falling away, where you can't see the road in the turn until you're in it.

When all else fails.....accelerate!

 

[Pete]

I'm good if I can see it. I'm talking off cambers, pavement falling away, where you can't see the road in the turn until you're in it.

It means your smart and cautious and you won't be found with your cranium embedded in a tree on the outside of an unfamiliar non linear curve you took too fast.

Keep up the good work.

 

[Larry Gude]

Soooo... it handles a corner fine except for not being able to turn

I was wondering if anyone was gonna jump on that.

I thought it was me but, when I rented the Electra Glides for a few days I was shocked how easy they are to maneuver at low speed compared to the Stratoliner.

 

[Lugnut]

hey Larry, try sliding your butt off the seat toward the inside of the turn. It shifts the center of gravity inside and allows the bike to ride slightly more upright.

And DEFINITELY what struggler said.

When all else fails.....accelerate!

Motorcycle dynamics are NOT intuitive. Getting off the gas in a turn is an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Larry Gude]

hey Larry, try sliding your butt off the seat toward the inside of the turn. It shifts the center of gravity inside and allows the bike to ride slightly more upright.

And DEFINITELY what struggler said.



Motorcycle dynamics are NOT intuitive. Getting off the gas in a turn is an accident waiting to happen.

I got technique down pretty good and work on it all the time. The only time I bail in a turn is when I screwed up and went in too hot and chickened out. Even then, I know chopping throttle is the last thing I should be doing because of exactly what you are talking about; getting off the gas unloads the suspension and makes it more likely to crash. Ride it out, they taught me. Gently applying as much front brake, while staying on the gas, as I can get away with.

I think Pete was hitting on what I was getting at; experienced riders don't just dive into what they can't see. It's not something you get 'better' at.

 

[GWguy]

However, I will say that laying it into a corner that you can't see around and aren't familiar with will bite you in the butt eventually. .

I think Pete was hitting on what I was getting at; experienced riders don't just dive into what they can't see. It's not something you get 'better' at.

That's what I said.... but what do I know.....

 

[Larry Gude]

Again, it's because you are not as comfortable as you should be, and that takes time.

However, I will say that laying it into a corner that you can't see around and aren't familiar with will bite you in the butt eventually. You can't expect the unexpected if you're not ready for it.

Meant to multi quote to give credit where it is due.

 

[itsbob]

It means your smart and cautious and you won't be found with your cranium embedded in a tree on the outside of an unfamiliar non linear curve you took too fast.

Keep up the good work.

Heard a story this week..

Young rider out with friends gets into a corner and decides NOT to ride out the corner, and push his bike down into it.. he bails into a field of tall grass (NORMALLY not a bad choice) but hidden in the tall grass was a very large stump..

He's looking at months of rehab, and they still aren't sure if he's going to walk.

Ride your ride, and never outside of your comfort zone. Don't try to keep up, and if it doesn't "feel" or look right, it probably isn't.

 

[Mdbtyhtr]

Do all of your down shifting and braking in a straight line, allow the chassis to take a set and accelerate off picking the throttle up just before the apex and just be smooth. Any abrupt action, breaking, accelerating down shifting will upset the chassis set so just be smooth and do not out ride your ability.

Be safe,

Scott

 

[Vince]

It means your smart and cautious and you won't be found with your cranium embedded in a tree on the outside of an unfamiliar non linear curve you took too fast.

Keep up the good work.

I still scrape my pipes on the right side, but then I know just how far I can go when I scrape them.

 

[Larry Gude]

Heard a story this week..

Young rider out with friends gets into a corner and decides NOT to ride out the corner, and push his bike down into it.. he bails into a field of tall grass (NORMALLY not a bad choice) but hidden in the tall grass was a very large stump..

He's looking at months of rehab, and they still aren't sure if he's going to walk.

Ride your ride, and never outside of your comfort zone. Don't try to keep up, and if it doesn't "feel" or look right, it probably isn't.

Total Control I they, point blank, asked us; anyone here ever out road your bike? Asked it to do something you could do that it couldn't? After a few blanks stares and looking around at one another, they followed up and said ALWAYS ride it out. ALWAYS. You have a chance if you are still on the bike. If you're off, you're off.