Try dropping your elbows a bit, slightly more prarallel to the tank and you'll notice a Biiiiiig difference in how she turns. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

what he said. try to keep your forearms parallel to the ground and conciously try to countersteerr instead of just leaning. it will make a big difference in your riding.

I wish there was a way to practice countersteering safely....that makes me nervous as hell. To lean the bike one way and steer the opposite way. I mean, I've done it tons of times on my MX bike, but that is WAAAY different and usually only happens when the a$$ end kicks out on me...hmmm..just seems like if I do that with a street bike I'm going to kill myself. Not a happy thought for an afternoon of riding. hehehehe... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

MX_Demon said:

I wish there was a way to practice countersteering safely....that makes me nervous as hell. To lean the bike one way and steer the opposite way. I mean, I've done it tons of times on my MX bike, but that is WAAAY different and usually only happens when the a$$ end kicks out on me...hmmm..just seems like if I do that with a street bike I'm going to kill myself. Not a happy thought for an afternoon of riding. hehehehe... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif




You do it every day without thinking of it, that is if you have gone around a turn at speed, try doing the opposite and see what happens!!!! well maybe you don't wanna try it at least not at speed. Read the Keith Code book "Twist of the Wrist" there is a great illistration of how and why this works. Plus it is a great read if you wanna learn to improve your skills. Funny you should bring this up, when I went to his class this was one of the things they were telling me to do more "relax the arms and drop your elbow down by the tank" I was doing it already but not to the extent the instructor wanted and once I started doing it correctly it made a difference in my energy output and turns were much easier.
This is deffinetly one skill I had underestimated the importance of untill it was pointed out and stressed that does make a difference.

What he said. If you are going over 10mph, and you turn, then you are countersteering whether you know it or not.

Cool! I'll have to pay more attention to it next time. I guess it's one of those things you do but don't realize it. I've definitely cornered faster than 10 mph. Hehehehe. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

However, thanks for the info on the "Twist of the Wrist" I was going to read that to improve my MX racing, but I didn't know it was about/for street bikes too...coooool. Might pick that up this weekend. Never hurts to read something new and gather good info! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bounce.gif

Thanks for the info guys!

I just got TOTW 2 for Christmas - it's an awesome book, so I assume TOTW 1 would be just as helpful. Go get it!