That one corner

I have a place to play in my backyard that has a two mile section of road that gives just about every condition for great road excercises. There is a right hand down hill, off camber hidden apex, that I just cannot figure out. The others are a kick in the pants and every tyme I go out I run this section two or three tymes. This means that I have done this one turn at least sixty tymes and still do not get it right.

You wouldn't happen to be talking about the 58 eastbound heading towards Taft would you. If so, I know that corner very well and have a very interesting story about it if it is the same one you're refering to.

John

Yup, everyone has "that one corner"


But when you get it right...it's like rediscovering that feeling the first time you rode a motorcycle. I guess that's why we ride, If it was easy we wouldn't do it.

Unlike easy women.

I have a corner that I need to work out the best way through without grinding the exhaust on my Suzuki,
My best answer so far is to ride the SDR instead.

Right hander off the start finish straight at Brands Hatch not only did I not get it right I wasn't even close

Maybe this year I'll have another go

Hi mate,
I had one of those on track and it took me all day to have the eureka moment - it was me. I knew I couldn't figure out the corner so I didn't like it which caused me to seize up on the bars every time, as soon as I just relaxed on the bars and gave the inner bar a good push to countersteer it was a breeze! Also on downhill corners, try to use your thighs as much as possible to take pressure of the bars/front end..

Corner? Whats a corner?

mine are in leopard style.. raaawr

start finish at Anglesey , down from the corkscrew and off camber , just can't seem to get the power on early enough , and if you are too early

"off camber, hidden apex, downhill".

Hard pressed to think of a more difficult condition to ride smoothly.

The answer is : SLOW. Everything is working against you; the downhill is loading the front wheel, the off camber is challenging your cornering angle (you'll reach the limits of traction before you reach the limits of lean angle). Hidden apex: can't see it, cant set up for it.

On unfamiliar roads, caution is the name of the game. I have a similar corner on one of my fave roads, and here's the drill: Brake early to set your suspension and never, never, never go to trailing throttle. If you need to scrub speed, use your front brake but don't roll off the throttle. Stability of the chassis is the name of the game. Roll in, maintain throttle and use your front brake to control your speed (this is an old Freddie Spencer/Kevin Schwantz trick). Once you have the apex in site, feather off the brake while gentle feathering on the throttle; once past apex, slowly feed throttle and get the bike upright as soon as possible before you really begin to deliver power.

This is one of the most challenging conditions you will encounter; if you tend to drift to the opposite lane, you are NOT in control. These corners feel painfully slow, but if you can detach your mind and observe your bike position, you will see you are likely in a rather radical postition usually reserved for extreme lean angles on fast sweepers.

Of course, the more you run the corner, the more you will be familiar with THAT PARTICULAR CORNER. Don't try to translate it into similar corners. Road surface, road conditons, and subtle differences make each different. If you really want proof that God exists, take one of these corners with a bump just before the apex - unless your suspension is dialed in perfectly, His Holiness Jesus Christ will make an appearance before you.

Slow is controlled; controlled is smooth; smooth is fast. Practice, practice, practice.

Sage words thanks Zen. I think you've just given me the solution to That One Corner for me. The final turn onto the pit straight at Johor Circuit. After the downhill chicane the track sweeps left and flicks into a tight right. Camber is all over the place. Bastard has thrown me into the litter twice now. I've kept the battlescars on the fairing as a reminder. The replacements are in the lock-up and will get fitted once I've tamed it. Thanks. Maybe the new parts will go on quicker than I thought.

Yea, what Zen said. Blind down hill right hander on a two way road? Forgetaboutit. Save your speed fix for open left handers with run off. My bud totaled his 1098 Ducati by running into the rear of a boat on a trailer traveling walking speed because a group of pedal bikes were taking too much of the road. Luckly no oncoming cars were in his path as he crossed the center line after glancing off the boat and into the berry patch. I know of a SD with front end damage that was totaled because of a blind right hander. It smacked into a pickumup truck. I keep reminding my self what down hill crashes are all about when I hit a water bar at speed on my dirt bike. I saw the water bar too late, got on the brakes heavy which took my suppension away, hit the water bar, went air borne, things got quite, bad sign, saw my bike fly over me, good sign, and I landed like a javilin with my skid lid making first contact and my chest protector scrubing the remainder speed as I plowed down hill.
Ride to ride another day.

Seriously. Cat Canyon Road? That sucker is beat to crap. How can you keep a steady throttle hand on the Duke on that road? I would have thought you'd spend all your time on Harris Grade. LOL.

I work in Cat Canyon at Kenai Drilling. That must be you I hear ripping by every now and again. Next time you fly by Kenai's yard at the end of the road (where Cat Canyon hits Palmer) stop by and look me up.... Carl Hathaway. Maybe we can get together and ride some time.

Interesting. Last ticket I got on my bike was on....... frigging Harris Grade. Lousy sherrif nailed me for passing on double yellow. Go figure. I ride Cat Canyon on my old XT 500 once in a while, but it's just too bumpy for me. Stop by and I'll get you a coke.