cornering on a vtr

[stu9000]

Im not a knee down nutter but the VTR seems to take a bit of understanding to corner right, say compared to a cbr600.

I find hanging off slightly and pointing the elbow into the corner helps get the weight in the right place makes the front end feel a lot more comfortable, especially if the road surface isnt perfect.

Also, I think im ever so slightly turning the wheel into the corner.

This is cos I just didnt feel confidence in the front end somehow.

people talk about riding with mates on R1s etc and loosing them in the twisties. Not sure how Id fare. Only really go out with my bro and then were both quite keen not to egg each other on until one of us ends up in a ditch. I find I ride better when Im concentrating on myself. ALthough I do take the point that a lot can be learned from watching other riders.

VTR feels a lot better in the corners now, or am i doing it all wrong?

[VTRgirl]

People talk about riding with mates on R1s etc and loosing them in the twisties.

That's because people who own R1s generally can't ride. Yamaha should just bring out a new scooter, paint it fancy & put an R1 sticker on the side. Most of them won't know the difference .

VTR feels a lot better in the corners now, or am i doing it all wrong?

If it feels right, then you're doing good. Had an unbelievable cornering day today. Most of our corners have "recommended" speed signs. Today I mastered some 50 mile corners at 137.5 and some 37.5s at 100. Very chuffed . (Yes, I know I've already posted this, but I thought it was worth reading twice .)

[EGG]

Stu, the VTR is 1 of the better bikes to get your knee down because it's not so cramped and it's easy to move around the bike. You say you hang off the bike a little. I bet you now that you are not hanging out of the seat at all. Now i am not having a go, people always say i hang right off the bike but when you look at them they don't. Try hanging off with your left thigh only on the seat and your left calf going up the frame whilst riding down the road in a straight line. When you are comfy with that try going round you fav roundabout slowly but surely leaning further and further over and before long you will be a knee down warrior. Once you have mastered the right begin with the left. It won't happen over night so take your time and don't force it.

Before you know it you will be doing 120 mph left knee down coming off the A2 southbound after the Bluewater exit onto three cool roundabouts where you can wheelie off 2 and slide off the 3rd.

As for R1's you get 2 types of rider 1's who can and 1's who can't. And a R1 rider who can will normally do a Vtr rider who can.

[Seeker 77]

Before you know it you will be doing 120 mph left knee down coming off the A2 southbound after the Bluewater exit

Ahhhh!! So it's common knowledge then!!

As regards getting your knee down, yes it is a lot easier as the pegs are the that nuch closer to the ground and subsequently your knee is. There is a slight problem with grinding footpegs - which scares the sh1t out of you when you first do it - but generally speaking you should be ok.

Rode home from Box Hill the otehr day behind an R1 with a chopped off slash exhaust, he lost me on the straights but round the corners and out of the bends i was all over him. He was a pretty good rider but anyone faced with trying to get 140 horses down will be worried about spinning the rear up and the highside factor. As someone said above, a good R1 pilot will beat a good VTR pilot most of the time, simply because of grunt in a line.

[EGG]

Best thing about the A2 is it has some of the best slip roads in the world.

[bluesman]

I just been thinking...that's my post from other VTR forum. About how I got a bit more used to VTR. Key message given to me by fellow VERY FAST french rider - use V-twin power delivery on rear wheel to go faster in corners. And - it works. IMHO it did not work this way with inline fours I had. Just completely different rythm of cornering. Apologies for long post - English is not my native language, so I can't make it short

"Don't know if it will be of any help - not really what you been looking for...just my personal findings regarding coping with other bikes in hot ride...
I moved to SHawk after 5 years on inline-4s (before that I had smaller twin and opposite, and some light 4s etc.), and my 4-line buddies pulling away from me etc.
Then I went for properly big (1 week) rideout through proper empty mountain roads and for 2 days I've been struggling. I just could not crack it. I realized I did not know how to ride Shawk - same curves I "burned" on my previous inline-4 600 I can't get any decent speed through, and engine seem to be revving lazy etc. etc. And then, on day 3 I found myself pulling away from my buddies. Simply because I took advice of crazy french supermotard rider we rode with. BTW - he rode old - first edition - VFR750F, and been esily pulling away through quite "fast" twisties from things like 1995 FZR1000 with all it's 145 bhp.
That's what he said "It's like monocylinder. Just stop flying into the turn at excessive speed, late braking and all that. You got twin: enter turn at reasonable speed, do not be concerned with other guys falling in faster. Then get you line (in your head), drop bike onto trajectory and just keep on opening throttle from very beginning, as soon as bike is tilted. When it will start to loose rear -and because it is twin ith it's "power pulses", just like ABS - you will feell it before it will actually lose rear to unrecoverable level, it will first TRY to loose it - stop twisting grip and wait to get a bit closer to exit from coner and just twist it further. You will find that you not only catched your buddies, but have way more exit speed!"

[Stormin Ben]

My top tip is to have a VERY loose grip on the bars.
Have your weight on your feet (mainly the inside one) and support your weight on the tank with your outside leg.
I can almost take both hands off the bars when in a corner

Personally I find the pegs a little bit too far forward for really comfortable knee down, but its a compromise for comfort I guess

Ben

[VTRgirl]

We all know a good rider on an R1 will beat a storm every time, BUT all I'm saying is that I honestly have never met one. There are R1s all over the place here, but none seems to be owned by somebody who can ride.

Like the sound of those tips, Ben. Ta.

[stu9000]

off to burn some rubber on the A2 then

[EGG]

Just got back i am soaked though it was not raining. Ground my right foot peg and put my left shoulder through the bushes on the way into a roundabout. Great fun. Doing about 110mph between 2 roundabouts the junction after bluewater. Going to get expensive though need a new rear tyre already.

[stu9000]

"put my left shoulder through the bushes "



No more coffee for Egg!!!!!

[EGG]

STU if you live near Bluewater you have to go and have a look at the place looks like a bloody race track Thursday mornings darkies every where.
He He stroll on wednesday night.