Didn't know where to post this. I am new at trying to ride through curves fast and was wandering how you should approach a curve and ride through it. I get into them and start getting scared and don't know how to lean it properly. So I end up letting up on the gas and that is scary as hell!

 

Just my opinion,

First off KNOW THE ROAD!!!
Learn to Countersteer ( Push the bars left to go left, etc)
Look all the way thru the turn ( dont fixate your eyes on an object halfway thru the turn
Hang off the bike to the inside of the turn and what ive been told is to try and kiss the inside mirror so to speak
whatever you do....stay the hell off the rear brake

If you feel like youre not gonna make the turn, just push harder, never, ever ever hit the rear brake it will cause the bike to stand straight up and you will shoot right off the road, or worse...into oncoming traffic.

Knowing the road youre on is crucial because,
sometimes turns get much much sharper as you go.
potholes, or patched potholes can throw you wayyyy off
sand, dirt, gravel
driveways in the turn

Make sure your tires are warmed up cause you do not wanna break traction.

I was fortunate enough to have on a textile jacket when i went down, but being a moron i didnt have gloves on, it took my hands a month to heal, so wear your gear.

 

I have also been told and this woks for me. I put the opposite *** cheek on the seat and use that to help get some more lean. I also use a cwarling motion over the seat to wear i put most of my weight on the pegs as i shift from right to left.

 

1) Approach right hand turn from the center of the lane
1.5) decrease speed and drop a gear since
2) As you enter the turn shift body weight to whatever is comfortable and push on your right handle bar to lean the bike over
3) at the apex of the turn you should be all the way to the inside of the lane (fog line)
4) once you are through the apex begin rolling on throttle as you ease off pressure of the right handle bar which eases the bike more vertical
5) at the end of the turn you should be at the center line again meaning that your course through the turn was outside, inside, outside (this lessens the curve of the turn allowing you to go faster)
6) throughout the turn keep your head level and look through the turn, don't look down.
you always want to accelerate through a turn instead of slowing down. knowing the turn will help with this
follow the rule of brake straight then drop into the turn
hope this helps

 

One good tip is to chase the turn. I guess you want me to explain that now...

When you are entering a turn, you can see the vantage point where both sides of the road meet in your vision.

If you see this as a fixed point, meaning that it's not moving away from you, you are going too fast for that turn. By moving away from you, I mean you will see new sections of road meeting in your vantage point.

You want to look as far ahead as possible to slow down what your mind is seeing. Hang your head out of a car window at 65 mph and look straight down at the road (please have someone else driving). Can you make out anything other than blurred colors? No. Now look 200 yards in front of you and you have plenty of time to process what you are seeing.

 

Let's discuss this 'chasing the turn' concept, if you don't mind sir.

I've seen this written before but never understood it (perhaps I haven't gone fast enough). I though that if you're at the right speed, the joining point of left and right curbs will be stationary.

 

No.. if the joining point of left and right curbs are stationary you are at a high risk of not making the turn, you should see new scenery as you enter the turn.

Here's an article I found awhile back. I've read this in books like Keith Codes and so on, but don't remember which one. Look at tip #2

 

I've always done it as the article states... if it's coming at you, you're going too fast. If it's moving away, speed up!

If it's stationary - meaning it is staying the same distance away from you, then you're at the correct speed.

In other words, if the vanishing point is 100 yards ahead and stays 100 yards ahead of you, then you are at the proper speed. If it drops down to only being 80 yds, you're too fast. If it opens up to 120 yards, speed up!!

Of course these distances are just for illustration only. The actual distance depends on what you feel comfortable with and how fast you are going.

 

I hope I was wording this right... I meant what OldFatGuy said.

The distance should/could be the same distance away from you, but the scenery should be changing.

 

Interesting post. This should be a sticky, theres not enough of them here.