| Author | Message | ||
     Pikeslayer |
Only have about 100 miles on my recently acquired '99 X1. This is the first sport bike I've ever owned. When taking the corners hard on all of my other bikes the pegs limited how fast I could take a corner. I'm wondering if that will be the case with the X1 or will it be something else like the tires will start to drift. I guess my question is how will I know I'm at the limits of the bike, and what will be the first indication that I'm over the limit? Any other cornering tips or advice specific to this bike would be greatly appreciated as I'm headed to the Dragon in a couple weeks. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
The tips of my toes touch down first. | ||
| Hugie03flhr |
Take it slow Pikeslayer! What tires are you running? | ||
| Wardan123 |
Pikeslayer- Read the recent posts about the STRONG and TICKET-HAPPY police presence at the Dragon. Ride with caution there. Many say that better, less supervised, roads abound in that area. Ask for a list in the quickboard and I'm sure the locals there will be happy to assist. Also, just my .02 but I'd reccommend practiceing taking corners in a safe controlled enviornment- like a parking lot on a Sunday afternoon (assuming there are no cars and no traffic) or a track day if possible. | ||
| Ratbuell |
The bike will communicate to you very well, you'll know when you're approaching the limits. Take time to dial your suspension in properly and keep the tools handy for any "mid-run" adjustments if you feel chatter, slide, or wobble. I'm a dork - I label my adjusters with P-touch labels so I can keep track of what's what. The guys at work make fun of me, but I haven't been down (knock, knock) in years and my bikes do what I want them to  | ||
| Grovskopa |
My pegs touch ground. | ||
| Warlizard |
I still hove stock pegs and my toes hit first. For some odd reason I scrape far more often making lefts? | ||
| Cbm2 |
I learned in the MSF course that almost everyone has an easier time leaning to the left because the throttle is on the right and it takes the pressure off your right hand. Just try driving down the road and leaning both directions, almost everyone is more confident/better at going left. | ||
| Warlizard |
Cb, good info. I thought it was just me. I blamed it on being right handed. | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
That's weird, I'm the opposite, I feel more comfortable in right hand turns. | ||
| Pikeslayer |
"I still hove stock pegs and my toes hit first. For some odd reason I scrape far more often making lefts?" I read it was because left hand turns are always longer and larger radius. Check out this article: http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/tirewear/ | ||
| Sloppy |
Toe pegs will scrape FAR before the bike will slide out. Take a riding course at a race track (not MSF). Keith Code is among the highest recommended for first timers. After that just sign up at the race track. Remember -- look where you want to go... | ||
| Danny_h__jesternut |
I can grind both right & left foot pegs into the pavement equaly on my X1. Coarse I've crashed equaly too, once each on a right and a left hand turn. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Coarse I've crashed equaly too, The learning curve is a bitter old hag isn't she? I've tossed a few of them down on both sides myself Toes touching first is bad feet placement. Get the balls of your feet up on to of the pegs -- don't hook the heel of your boot over the peg. The bike will talk to you once you get it heeled over. Nicely warmed tires that'll fit that X1 will stick all the way to hardpart touchdown and then some. | ||
| Skntpig |
Sloppy is right. Take it slow. The first to hit should be the pegs or kickstand. If you have good tires then you will feel both the front and the back at a controled gradual push or slide before the pegs it. You need to learn how to sit to the side and hang a little cheek off to not get too much lean angle. Keith Code has two books out that are old but pretty good(probably more now). You don't have to have any parts hit to really push the bike. I don't touch the pegs much without a knee down. The more lean you have the less your tires will take braking and gas. Gradually let off the brake as you lean further and give it gradual throttle as you come out of a corner and lean it up. Slow and smooth is the key. | ||
| Jstfrfun |
The performance of brakes, clutch, and throttle on the X1's is astounding, and smooth is the key could not be better said. You cannot ham fist any of the foresaid, but controlled use will bring astounding results. As in other ways "treat her with care" will give you the best ride  | ||
| Djkaplan |
"That's weird, I'm the opposite, I feel more comfortable in right hand turns." Yeah, me to. I don't know why, it just feels good. | ||
| Pikeslayer |
Thanks for the advice! It's good to know hard contact will occur before slide out does. | ||
| Sgt_hollywood |
People forget that in reality in a very hard corner the desired goal is not necessarily to get the bike to lean over as far as possible, but to lean the bike over to the extent of it cornering efficiency, hence the need to "hang off" the bike thus allowing tighter cornering with the bike being more vertical. Watch videos of riders cornering. Take note of body position, bike position and the interaction of the two. Your knee sliders should limit how fast you can take a corner not a hard point (pucks slide, hard points can catch). If your location permits (ie no traffic) Park and inspect the corner for debris, then use the location for practice, and make sure you have a riding partner just in case... And I might just be overly cautious but I'd want a whole lot more cornering experience on a new bike (esp 1st sport) before hitting the dragon. Take the time there to watch other riders and observe the good, the bad, and the horrible, I'm sure you'll see it all there. And always wear gear, No sneakers! No bare hands! | ||
| Pikeslayer |
Good advice Hollywood. I wasn't after the "best way to take a corner". I was just looking for some comfort while I'm in the corner. That way when I have it leaned over to the point that I'm out of my comfort zone and a turkey walks across the road, as long as nothing is dragging, I'll know I can lean more. | ||
| Sgt_hollywood |
Ah the dreaded turkeys. It's my style to ride a bit below one's comfort level or max ability. That way when the unexpected happens you still have a bit of resources to draw from. Kinda like not keeping all your eggs in one basket. Now on a controlled course, that's a different story. But you're lucky you'll be enjoying the gap a good deal sooner than I expect to. | ||
| Buellsrule |
At the Inside Pass track day at Barber's last week I got both knees down good and did not once touch any "hard parts"(see link for picture: http://www.myinsidepass.com/p/3_barber_advanced/in sidepass_barber_04-22-08_halfs_gm5v275613. If you're body position is correct, hard parts should not touch unless you are "way" over and at the edge of the tires traction limit. Ride safe. BR. |
