Using throttle to control cornering arc?

[Fleck750]

Originally Posted by No Worries

Some riders still believe that the bike is more important than the rider's skill. On steep, downhill, twisty roads, I have caught up with bikes that had twice as much horsepower and a third of the weigh of my thirty-year-old bike with steel frame, bias-ply tube-tires, 35mm air-forks, dual shocks, and an air-cooled engine with built-up crank, mechanical ignition advance, two-valves per cylinder, 26mm carbs, and a centerstand. You don't see any of those things on new bikes, because they've all been improved (except for the centerstand). The best thing I improved was my skills by reading Parks' book, taking his class, and practicing.

Please post pics of that GS if you have them.

And thanks for giving me hope in riding the KZ up to potential. I get so tired of people looking at my bike and thinking it's a slow POS.

[karl_1052]

Originally Posted by fasternyou929

It's incredible how many people on here, frequent riders, are arguing against one of the basic principles of riding. Increasing speed decreases turning radius?!?! That must be why we all slow down for turns, right?

The arguments about weight transfer to the front causing loss of traction only applies if you don't have good throttle control, which the technique assumes you have figured out. Tached posted up a technique everybody on this board should know. If you don't, you should learn it.

I read and have applied the techniques from twist of the wrist, and I find they work for me. A constant or increasing throttle through the turn will keep the suspension compressed, allowing it to keep the bike on a tight arc. Letting off the throttle, even in small amounts, allows the suspension to decompress, making the bike run a wider arc through the turn.

[fasternyou929]

Originally Posted by karl_1052

I read and have applied the techniques from twist of the wrist, and I find they work for me. A constant or increasing throttle through the turn will keep the suspension compressed, allowing it to keep the bike on a tight arc. Letting off the throttle, even in small amounts, allows the suspension to decompress, making the bike run a wider arc through the turn.

Wouldn't that same theory imply trail braking causes you to take a wider arc through a turn?

[karl_1052]

Originally Posted by fasternyou929

Wouldn't that same theory imply trail braking causes you to take a wider arc through a turn?

no, because it is still compressing the suspension, not releasing it.

good point Oreo.

[fasternyou929]

Originally Posted by karl_1052

no, because it is still compressing the suspension, not releasing it.

How do you figure light braking would affect the suspension differently than decreasing the throttle? Doesn't each transfer weight forward, loading the front forks and decompressing the rear (albeit a small amount)? Mind you, we're not talking about slamming the throttle closed, but subtle changes.

[Fleck750]

I put a new set of Progressives on it, 11 and a 1/2, LOWERED it enough so I could touch the ground. LOL

[Dnyce]

at where this went

[racedoll]

Originally Posted by tached1000rr

Oh well it works for me, I basically wanted to get a good discussion going.

I believe you succeeded, as usual, in one hell of a debate. Way to go!

Originally Posted by No Worries

By the way, where are these 100MPH sweepers? The highways near me are so crowded and patrolled, it's rare to go 90 on straights.

We have some here too!

[OreoGaborio]

It depends on how in control and how near the limit you are.
Rolling on or off the throttle can have either effect.

[OreoGaborio]

Karl, don't take this personally, but the sooner you realize that ONE BOOK isn't the be-all-end-all of motorcycle riding, the better off you'll be. I'm sure you realize this already, but you seem to be stuck in that mode.

See my prior post. Increasing or decreasing your speed can have EITHER EFFECT... there are far too many variables involved to discuss them effectively on a message board, but I will say this...

Done properly, decreasing speed will decrease your turning radius, all other things being equal and you don't upset the chassis.
Done IMPROPERLY, decreasing speed will increase your turning radius by standing the bike up, making you run wide.

Done properly, (ie, assuming the chassis is stable throughout the turn) increasing speed will increase your turning radius.
However if your chassis is for some reason a little unstable, increasing throttle position will stabilize it which can tighten up the turn.

So in reality, you're all right.... but you're also all stubbornly ignoring the other side of the argument... THUS brings me to why I believe OTB (and others) often give up trying to waste their time arguing on internet message boards, NOT because someone don't like their opinion, but because the other person is too damn ignorant of all the variables that can change the outcome of a given situation.