1. Cornering 201

2. FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLYNote: This Slide is Mandatory • The information presented here is for informational use only • Many references were used to develop this presentation • Not all possibilities are covered • Use the given information with proper respect to ORM Note: Do Not Remove “For Official Use Only” From Any Slide

3. OVERVIEW • Cornering theories • Trail braking • Mental Preparation

4. Theories • Cornering theories, all based on Out-in-Out • Middle apex • Produces gradual cornering radius • Simple to remember • Places apex at center of corner • Early apex • Also known early turn-in • Moves apex forward • Less sight distance around corner • Delayed apex • Entry point somewhere between Out and middle 1/3 • Delays turn-in • Moves apex farther through corner then physical middle of curve

5. Theories • Middle apex • Advantage: • Easy to remember • Generally works for all radius corners • Disadvantage • Motorcycle is in lean longer • Unable to use on a decreasing radius curve

6. Theories • Early apex • Advantage • Less motorcycle lean initially • Places curve apex closer to entry point for increasing radius curve • Disadvantage • Vision path is severely reduced • Exit path is wide

7. Theories • Delayed apex • Advantage • Vision path through corner improved • Apex moved toward curve exit • Less of a tendency to run wide at exit • Sets motorcyclist in position for upcoming corner • Disadvantage • Increased motorcycle lean initially • Uses combination of middle to outside 1/3 until turn-in

8. Theories • Which is best? • Which might be a backup? • Determined by multiple factors • Roadway • Hazards • Traffic • Blind corner • Whatever you feel is right for you BEFORE you get to the corner

9. Review • 3 cornering theories • Out-in-Out • Early apex • Delayed apex • No one better than other • Roadway limitations • Motorcycle limitations • Operator limitations • Must have a plan BEFORE corner • Ready • Aim • Fire

10. Trail braking • Physics of front and rear braking action • Front brakes cause motorcycle to “dive” • Transfers weight forward, collapsing forks • Motorcycle will turn-in quicker • Have less self-righting moment • No rear braking will cause rear to want to come forward as the relative speed of the rear end is greater then the front • Motorcycle appears to “weave” back and forth around the front forks • Rear brakes cause the motorcycle to “squat” • Slows rear of motorcycle in relation to front • Rear will track in line with the front direction • Motorcycle will appear to squat and will feel like a drag is attached to the back of the motorcycle

11. Trail braking • When can it be used? • Emergency situations • Race track • Why? • To hold a line with incorrect entry speed • Adjust when unexpected occurs

12. Rear Advantage: Stabilizing effect through creating a squat in the rear, increasing the rake and trail thereby making the motorcycle feel more stable and less “twitchy” Disadvantage: Not much available force as weight is transferred forward Trail Braking • Front • Advantage: • Quickens steering and lessens self-righting moment through fork dive • Disadvantage: • Front tire is trading available traction for cornering to braking

13. Trail Braking • Which is best? • Which is a second option? • Many factors decide • Quicker turning • Stable cornering • Must have a plan BEFORE corner • Ready • Aim • Fire

14. Review • Key points: • Front brake causes fork dive • Shortens rake and trail • Quickens steering • Slows faster then rear, forces rear to pass front around axis of steering head • Rear brake causes rear squat • Increases rake and trail • Slows steering • Slows rear faster then front allowing rear to follow front around axis of steering head

15. Mental Preparation • Your body will always “go with what you know” in emergency situations • Fear • Constant • “I can’t handle it” mentality • Good thing • Fear Threshold • Fear overtakes ability of the mind to process information • Different for everyone • Can be adjusted up or down

16. Mental Preparation • FEAR • Overcome with knowledge and faith • Always present, have to deal with it • IGNORANCE • Perceive situations as problems instead of accepting them as reality • UNCERTAINTY • Basis of all fear • Humans uncomfortable with unanswered questions State of Fear

17. Mental Preparation • CONFIDENCE • Opposite of fear • Derived from knowledge and faith • KNOWLEDGE • Analysis of mental and physical experiences • Building block of skill • FAITH • Key ingredient to trust • More faith is better then less faith State of Confidence

18. Mental Preparation • Concentration • Webster’s dictionary definition “The act of bringing or directing toward a common center or objective: focus” • Has it’s limits • Focus on job at hand • Become aware of environment • Mental stress • Physical tightening • Low blood sugar, lack of rest, controlled substances

19. Mental Preparation • Attitude • Beginner's mind there are many possibilities • Expert’s mind has few • Keep ego in check • Your not the first • Your not the best • You don’t know everything • Expand your knowledge • Learn from others • Find what works for you • Practice so it is 2nd nature • Visualize

20. Review • Fear • All have it • All have to deal with it • Concentration • Able to focus on task at hand • Limited amount, over use can be detrimental • Attitude • Open mind • Can never stop learning something new • Allow frustrations to pass right through and move on

21. REFERENCES • Motorcycle Design and Technology • Motorbooks Int’l; Gaetano Cocco, 2004 • Sport Riding Techniques • David Bull publishing; Nick Ienatsch, 2003 • Proficient Motorcycling • Publisher Unk; David Hough, 2000 • Total Control • Motorbooks Int’l; Lee Parks, 2003 • Images from Green Knights M/C Club, Hanscom Chapter • http://greenknights5.com/; Gil Besana, President • Images from SuperBike Planet, internet BBS • http://www.superbikeplanet.com Get the best from your bike, don’t let the bike get the best from you