have decided to come back to motorcycling after a long lay off and bought a honda dominator to blast around the local lanes. seem to have lost my mojo a bit with fairly fast cornering through the twisties ( probably cos of years of MTBing) and wondered if anyone could offer any tips/advice /reminders or links to stuff online that's really good. Bought the police m/c instructors dvd and book but that's more about safety . also have a copy of "twist of the wristby keith code .
I can ride reasonably already and obviously am aware of braking before hand not during cornering , following the vanishing point, keeping the power on etc.
Also... if anyone knows of specific technique relating to bikes with long travel at the front please fire away!( some say use more back brake to avoid diving)
thanks in advance
Bill
Chat Forum
motorcycle cornering tips please ( on Big trailie single)
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Posted 12 months ago #
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May all be obvious, but since you asked.
Use the front brake to slow down. It's almost impossible to lock up the front when upright. Particularly with Dominator brakes. The back is for controlling lines more than slowing down.
Dominators don't like being trashed. Short shift and be smooth.
You need a lot of counter steering to get into and out of a corner.
They'll go around a corner better than you'd think...
Posted 12 months ago # -
I had one for years, flipping brilliant.
For cornering sit as far forward as you can - basically ontop of the tank. Countersteer like mad, then tip it in as if your going to stick the bar into the road.
Ensure your front tyre is good, the back wont matter much as when your all over the front you can let it slip at the back.
As for diving, let it. The more weight transfered to the front the more grip you get.
Ive scraped the pegs on mine before.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Countersteer's the way forward. If you've made it halfway around the corner, then you'll be fine for the other half.
Remember to stretch the trottle cable like a piano string to enjoy all of the 34bhp! Have fun. Big singles are ace...FACTPosted 12 months ago # -
1. Relax
2. Use vanishing points
3. CountersteerEasy!
And as above weight forward and be smooth - 99% of the time a bike will get round the corner - its error from the rider that will upset things
Posted 12 months ago # -
99% of the time a bike will get round the corner
Bloody hell. That's not very reassuring!Posted 12 months ago # -
whats a vanishing point?
Just ride it lots and you'll get faster.
Posted 12 months ago # -
think it's nearer 44 BHP ...the restricted ones are 33/34 which mine isn't. I also been told by a owner of several that the early ones are a bit quicker too. Lot of fun though and simple/cheap . long journeys are still done by car but RTW ...maybe!!!!
Posted 12 months ago # -
Mine from a few years back (it was actually a drunk-while-the-wife-was-away-ebay-bargain). Came in a loosely assembled heap
Posted 12 months ago # -
I'm currenlt riding a Bandit 650 whilst the insurance decide what to do with my F650, **** thing is bloody uncomfortable but very quick in comparison. Almost seems to steer itself.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Weight forward and a decent front tyre (as mentioned above) is key.
Accelerating through the corner sounds counter-intuitive, but helps on this style of bike.Do the same corner at the same speed as a test, 1st on neutral throttle, 2nd accelerate gently from pre-apex the whole way round.
Massive difference.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Use the throttle to slow down on the way in and once you see the road 'opening' up, accelerate.
The brakes, especially front, will only upset it.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Relax, make sure you're not all tensed up (you should be able to flap your elbows funky-chicken style at all times), and take it easy for the first few months... The speed will come back soon enough.
Posted 12 months ago # -
whats a vanishing point?
During a session with one of those ex-advanced pursuit super police top gun type blokes (in a car) I was told about the vanishing point...its where the verge or kerb goes out of view on a bend. If you are catching up with it, decrease speed, if its pulling away from you, nail it
Again, that was in a car, so the technique on a bike may differ slightly.
Posted 12 months ago # -
After watching Superbikes at Thruxton this weekend I recommend decent knee sliders..........
Posted 12 months ago # -
You might find that leaning the bike over while remaining more upright your self helps with this type of bike.
Posted 12 months ago # -
During a session with one of those ex-advanced pursuit super police top gun type blokes (in a car) I was told about the vanishing point...its where the verge or kerb goes out of view on a bend. If you are catching up with it, decrease speed, if its pulling away from you, nail it
But I is always looking round the bend for someone trying to kill me, mind you I'm pretty happy being slow.
Posted 12 months ago # -
The slow ones are easier to hit.
Posted 12 months ago # -
But I is always looking round the bend for someone trying to kill me, mind you I'm pretty happy being slow
If you are looking as far round the bend as possible, then you are watching the vanishing point anyway.
Posted 12 months ago # -
...and remember that while the cops give out good advice they also ride around on dayglo bikes with blue lights...
Posted 12 months ago # -
Brake later and get on the throttle sooner. Don't be afraid to throw the bike on it's ear with a lot of countersteer as mentioned.
Put pressure through your outside footpeg to bring the bike up out of the corner as you wind the throttle on hard.
With a big single you will find you probably aren't using the brakes much as shutting the throttle will give you such effective engine braking. There shouldn't be a gap between the throttle being shut and the brakes applied if you are wanting to make progress.Posted 12 months ago # -
Had a dommie a drz and three tigers. Down two and chuck it in, tend not to use brakes too much, just gear down. Big bars for counter steering. I stay more upright and push bike down. Use the better forward vision you have to good effect. There isn't much can tay with a well ridden big traillie on the right roads but don't tell sports bike riders
Posted 12 months ago # -
What everyone else said about counter steering.
Plus find a road you know well and a fast corner you enjoy and ride it again and again, checking your speed to see how fast you can take it and feel safe / in control etc. Then slowly increase the speed...
Posted 12 months ago # -
Whats the big hurry with getting round corners at stupid speeds anyway?
You could easily end up dead and that would **** up your whole day wouldn't it?Best bit of advice I saw recently goes a bit like this..
So you made it round that corner safely? Congratulations! There will be another along in a minute for you to try.
Posted 12 months ago # -
cheez0 - Member
Whats the big hurry with getting round corners at stupid speeds anyway?
You could easily end up dead and that would **** up your whole day wouldn't it?Because it's fun and because you can.
Posted 12 months ago # -
You could easily end up dead and that would **** up your whole day wouldn't it?
Do you want to live forever?Posted 12 months ago # -
Keep body upright push bars down with elbows up moto x stylee and for extra effect when stuffing it up the inside of matey boy on R1/Blade on the tighter corners, foot down kissing the surface when back end is drifting then hoon off with huge grin on yer dish
Posted 12 months ago # -
Have you ever tried riding MX style on the road? While you can save a front wash with your boot the extra speed means you will rip your toe nails off.
Posted 12 months ago # -
While I've never ripped my toe nails off when doin so(what footwear are you using by the way?) I have twisted a knee or two using that very technique.
Having owned a few Supermoto's, including one very special KTM, they are awesome tools. Although i dont think i could deal with the heavy single pots mentioned above. Maybe a drizzle at a push but my first one of those i snapped 3rd gear in half.
I do miss that brap,brap of the Ti Akropovic on the KTM though. Flame spitting, over run banging goodness.
Posted 12 months ago # -
While I've never ripped my toe nails off when doin so(what footwear are you using by the way?) I have twisted a knee or two using that very technique
It would have been a sidi vertibrate (so not a slidy sole) and a bandit 1200. I was racing MX at the time and I got a bit carried away... Bandits jump well by-the-way
Posted 12 months ago # -
Ahh so not exactly a light singlepot then. Rather you than me jumping a bandit though.
Posted 12 months ago # -
Possibly. I'm not sure the Dominator falls into the light category. 165kg is closer to my Bandit than my MX bike
Posted 12 months ago # -
One of these books might give you some useful advice before you practise high speed cornering.
Posted 12 months ago # -
I can second the comment about not using your foot MX style. If you stick your foot on the road mid corner it will not help. Keep your feet on the pegs while on the road.
When off road, sure do it MX style.
I never found the cornering limits on my Dominator, it just kept leaning and leaning till the pegs scraped or I got scared. Flipping brilliant rush of a buzz.
Posted 12 months ago # -
I thought inside leg forward on tarmac was more for weight-forward reasons than for actually putting the foot down? The weight of your whole leg and boot, right up near the front wheel. Still doesn't sound like a great idea to me, but I gathered that was the reason?
Vanishing point is something that everyone should do, bike, car or cycle - it puts your focus as far ahead as possible, helps you judge the radius of the road, and also is crucial for judging speed - ie being able to stop in the distance you can see.
Posted 12 months ago #
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