South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

jason wrote:

Gingey wrote:but im very dubious of leaning when it comes to 3 things...the road wet, white arrows that are on my line, or big drain covers.
Do these things have as big an impact as i think, dont really want to go to far incase i find out

yes they do, definately keep the bike upright as possible going over manhole covers, and white markings, and whatever you do dont brake on them in the wet.

Drain covers are lethal.

The short section of twisty road that leads down to the Mountbattan pub in plymouth from fort stamford is a great example: its almost as though someone designed it with manhole covers marking the best line apex points.

i nearly came off their in the pissing rain doing my CBT a number of years ago!!!

theres another patch of road out near gunnislake - 7 drain covers on a sharp downhill left hander...

now what muppet planner did that...

Gingey wrote:Ive started leaning the bike .......... but im very dubious of leaning when it comes to 3 things...........Do these things have as big an impact as i think, dont really want to go to far incase i find out

You shouldn't worry about the wet...water ain't slippery, as long as you don't open the throttle when you're going over the cover or white line you should be fine...

The most important tip is to look where you want to end up (even when cranked right over & cra**ng yourself because you've gone in too fast) i.e. the exit to the bend & not the hedge/wall/lampost halfway round the bend..

Have faith in your bike & don't panic, it's far more capable than you think..

Oh and learn to counter steer effectively..all helps.

AndyCBR wrote: You shouldn't worry about the wet...water ain't slippery

id disagree with that - coat any surface in water and it will be inherently more slippery than it is in the dry.

jason wrote:

AndyCBR wrote: You shouldn't worry about the wet...water ain't slippery

id disagree with that - coat any surface in water and it will be inherently more slippery than it is in the dry.

Not true. If you shag in the sea the brine will wash off the natural lubricant and make things less slippery. Or so I've been told!

jason wrote:

AndyCBR wrote: You shouldn't worry about the wet...water ain't slippery

id disagree with that - coat any surface in water and it will be inherently more slippery than it is in the dry.

Ok, I agree the coefficient of friction reduces by approx. 50% in the wet..

[i]"as the coefficient of friction between the road surface & the tyre's contact patch decreases, the amount of cornering grip available will decrease & braking distances will increase. Additionally, the tread compound used, as well as the way the tyre's construction affects the size of its contact patch, will determine the coefficient of friction between the road surface & the tyre's contact patch in all conditions."[/i]


However, in relation to diesel, gravel etc. riding in the wet is nothing to get worked up about...

Road design is based on being used in all weather conditions not just when dry... , so as long as you are not trying to get your knee down (and I don't think Gingey, or, I for that matter have progressed to this point yet.. ) then, 'generally speaking all things considered' one shouldn't have to worry unduly about cornering in the wet..

riding in the wet......you cant lean over.....you canty brake hard....you cant accelerate hard......

rain is slippy.

Well thanks for the advice guys, but now im just fekkin confused!
i do think that i can go faster and lean more than i do in the wet but just dont fancy trying it.
And as for getting my knee down, i almost did the other night, but couldnt due to the fact that i was squeezy the tank with both thighs trying not to shit myself. (Managed to lock up the rear wheel at about a ton so had to almost lie the bike down to make the corner )

Experience. Don't push your luck.

The more you ride int the wet, the more your confidence will build, and the better you will get. Just have faith and do more miles - the more you do the better it will get

Back in the dim and distant days of the old RAC/ACU training schemes, where we went out for a dozen or so Sunday mornings, we were taught to read the road ahed and plot a smooth line avoiding the bulk of manholes .....

I guess one of the drawbacks of direct access is theyhave to concentrate on teaching you to actually ride, as opposed to how to use the road .....

Although the guy i learnt with was really helpfull in both areas really, as i was riding he was always pointing things out about the road, and things to do which would make for an easier, more enjoyable ride....But with direct access you only have a couple of days in which to cover the aspects of riding a bike.
I need to get some R&G crash protectors fitted and then i think i will feel a lot more at ease.

Wincanton is a good meet, I would estimate anywhere from 250 and up to 450 bikes at a guess. A nice friendly atmosphere there and it is worth going to, as you never know what nostalgic bikes are going to turn up. Last Thursday saw a guy with a Busa with NOS, had difficulty parking the bike though, as the wings were so wide. Lol. It is easy to find, just follow the bikes.

Dude wrote:nothing up here

Yes there is. Ride outs wednesday nights. Leaves from the library in Barnstaple at 1830. Couple of the lads from Alex Buckingham Motorcycles organise it. It tends to be quite quick though!

ive been down wincanton a few times this year on thursday nites, its worth the ride out, loads of bikes an ppl to meet down there.

i dnt get why they dnt put a small layer of tarmac of a manhole cover... there such a pain in the ass lol

Yo Gingey..

If you want something different down here, pop along to Cafe No.5 in St Erth Industrial Estate on a Sunday morning, its the First and Last MCC.. some cool people there and some nice bikes.. mind you there.. there average pace for a ride out is somewhat.. sedate..

I used to pop down every now and again when I had my ZXR400.. been bikeless, since February.. well.. not technically true, had this GSXR1100 sitting outside my garage since March, but no legal license to ride it till Monday 26th June.

The Tuesday night at Macdonalds in Hayle.. is a big load of crap in my opinion, the first time was pretty cool.. have a look at all the bikes, talk to some owners, but the following week was identical, and the same after that.. its like groundhog day or something.. and if your a farmer its ideal, nip down with your tractor and trailer and collect all of the bullshit for your fields.. as there is more than alot! for instance.. "hey dude, nice bandit 600, yeh, just put on scorpion can and had 150mph outa it"

My GSXR is for sale, just have to see whether I get another bike, I doubt it, but as Laura is leaving us on Saturday.. dont wana be a lonely biker..

ZXR400Lee wrote:Yo Gingey..

If you want something different down here, pop along to Cafe No.5 in St Erth Industrial Estate on a Sunday morning, its the First and Last MCC.. some cool people there and some nice bikes.. mind you there.. there average pace for a ride out is somewhat.. sedate..

I used to pop down every now and again when I had my ZXR400.. been bikeless, since February.. well.. not technically true, had this GSXR1100 sitting outside my garage since March, but no legal license to ride it till Monday 26th June.

The Tuesday night at Macdonalds in Hayle.. is a big load of crap in my opinion, the first time was pretty cool.. have a look at all the bikes, talk to some owners, but the following week was identical, and the same after that.. its like groundhog day or something.. and if your a farmer its ideal, nip down with your tractor and trailer and collect all of the bullshit for your fields.. as there is more than alot! for instance.. "hey dude, nice bandit 600, yeh, just put on scorpion can and had 150mph outa it"

My GSXR is for sale, just have to see whether I get another bike, I doubt it, but as Laura is leaving us on Saturday.. dont wana be a lonely biker..

aw hun! get your bike and you can meet me at exeter