It is not only from professional riders that we learn more about useful riding habits. In this section we asked experienced riders from Switzerland to give some advice. We believe it to be really helpful and therefore did not shorten the text:
Reality does not always develop in a way we expect it to. This can be dangerous for motorcycle riders when riding around bends. They have to know how to improvise properly.
One time or the other very biker might have experienced a bend which became more difficult to tackle than at first sight. Reasons might have been: dirt on the track, problems with sewage cabs or – really mean – the bend narrows as one approach. As a reaction one might ease on the brake, turn the handlebar, spot the tree on the road side (one rather likes to avoid hitting) and finally one might have managed the bend, but the tires are rolling over the white line. After the heartbeat has slowed down again one might start analyzing what has happened: Moving to fast! So if one rides slower next time everything should be all right.
However it might not always be the speed that brings the difficulties. Maybe one simply didn’t react properly. Surprises might happen at any time. After all, many of us like to tackle bends with a certain means of involvement. One might even get mad if the bend was too “boring” because one was going too slow. It is a crux. We seem to be looking for a safe challenge. Only if we perfectly ride the bend– according to our performance and knowledge – are we thoroughly happy.
As a rule it can be said that uninterrupted riding around bends calls for the same skills as every other operation in traffic: One needs to be able to anticipate. The eye scans the situation ahead looking for signs, the condition of the bend and the surface etc. Riding instructors usually teach a “round” riding style which one could call classical.
It is taught as follows: Braking and changing to a lower gear should be finished before slanting the bike; the bend should be tackled with constant speed; one should accelerate again when the exit of the bend becomes visible and one is sure about the line which will be ridden. This kind of riding style is useful for older motorcycles with average performance. It is usually these motorcycles which react with difficulty or traction loss if handled in a rougher.
Experienced and sportive riders – possible advanced through riding practiced on a closed off track and supported by a more stable bike of newer making – like to brake when entering into the bend. This enables to brake later, but is a danger to the riding safety.
Anyone easing the brake lever will certainly pull it quicker and more evenly in case corrections need to be made than riders which need to change their movements from rolling to braking first. This kind of rough riding and braking is only advisable if one is thoroughly experienced with the changing movements of braking and turning the acceleration handle with the right hand.
What to do if in spite of a good style and forward riding corrections need to be made while in slant? There is one motto and two strategies.
The motto: Do not overreact! A few pebbles on the track or a 3 centimeter wide line of tar are no reasons which call for an emergency reaction. It is better to ride across it without braking or accelerating and keep from panicking if some sliding occurs. If one isn’t already riding on the limit of traction one should survive this procedure without problems. Usually the bike stabilizes itself if the rider does not pull the handlebar too quickly.
If a correction does need to be made it calls for the first strategy:
Slanting, slanting… Usually modern tires endure a steeper slant than most riders in their heads. The problem however is that most riders know about it, but when they are all tense they usually can’t behave according to it. Therefore one is recommended to practice in a driving school on a closed off track or parking place! To get the picture of how much slant is possible on good pavement one should draw a line with chalk. One marks the tire in one spot from one side to the other and rides a few rounds. Afterwards one only needs to check how much chalk is still visible. It is also advisable to learn in the exercise how to change from one level of slant into the next by (inner and outer) signals.
Or should one rather brake? If it is not possible to ride around the inside of an obstacle in a steeper level of slant or tackle a narrowing bend properly one needs to reduce the speed. One should react quickly and purposefully, but should avoid coming to a complete stop. On the other hand we usually underestimate just how much braking performance the tires have on a normal slant on the road.
All of this can only be mastered if practiced beforehand. Practice enables a person to get the feeling on how strongly the motorcycle reacts when being pulled upright and how one stirs against it. There is no advantage in braking perfectly but at the same time riding straight ahead into oncoming traffic or over the side of the road. To find the exit of the bend while pulling on the brake one should react to another golden rule:
Look far ahead of you, not in front of the front tire!
