Okay guys I have been out riding most nights for about 30 mins at a time. I am just trying to get as much experience as possible out on my gsxr 600 having only had it about a month and only passing my test the month before.

Now the problem I am having is cornering around higher speed corners in national speed limit zones on single carriage way roads. I know I need to look where I want to go and as I approach the corner I am making sure I have plenty of time, my road positioning is good and I am even saying to myself 'look through the bend, numerous times over and over in my head.

The problem I am having is a little bit of target fixation (with something other than where I want to actually go like the other side of the road) and also a bit of confidence in going around the corner as I am approaching the corner doing the above and then massively backing off and slowing right down.

Is this just a temporary thing because I am a new rider and will come with confidence/Riding experience? Or is there some tips/advice you can give me?

Just to put the above in perspective I am not trying to go around corners at 100mph I am trying to go around at the speed limit or just below then find myself backing off to 35-40mph.

Cheers,

Chunk

It will come with time. You are making it worse by slowing down as that destabilises the bike. You should be aiming to go round the bend on a positive throttle, accelerating through it, not harshly, but firmly as that stabilises the bike and shifts the weight rearwards. If you are going at 60 at the entry to the bend that you have little or no room to accelerate without exceeding the speed limit significantly. I suggest you approach slightly slower and then power through until you get used to and start trusting the bike. It is also important that you remain "loose" on the bike, do not try and force it to turn, just relax and apply minimal pressure to the bars and footrests and the bike will go round the bend almost by itself. The best thing I ever did was to go to a track day where I discovered that even when I was going as fast as I could around a bend, I was being passed by people going much faster on identical bikes. This told me that I have a lot in reserve and the bike is much faster than I am. I have been riding for nearly 50 years and am still learning and loving it. Keep at it and keep safe.

Get yourself on a Bikesafe course. Spend a few hours riding with a Police rider and you will learn more than any forum could ever teach you. When I did my Bikesafe 15 years ago, I became a much smoother, safer and quicker rider, and had a great laugh with the 'observer' (they are not an instructor or teacher!).

I also did Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists however I enjoyed Bikesafe more. If you want to learn more about the theory then I would recommend getting a copy of Roadcraft from Amazon/evilbay

You mention that you have been riding at night - if by that you mean riding in the dark, that is a whole different ball game to riding in the day. Visibility can be very restricted when cornering due to the throw of most bike lamps, fork dive when braking etc. I love riding at night, it really hones the senses but look out for unexpected animals on the road!

Other than that, try not to get too hung up about it and just get a few miles in.

It's just the nerves and confidence thing because you havent been riding too long matey. Once you get used to it abit more you'll start relaxing more on the bike and panicking less. 

 

Keep onto the roads that you know, so you've got less to worry about, you know as much about whats coming up as you can possibly without seeing it. Enter the corner slowly, keep a steady throttle on and ease it around. Begin accelerating gently when you see the exit. 

 

It may also be that the bigger bike isnt as flickable as what you're used to, because of the extra weight and what not. Are you counter-steering? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countersteering   You may be doing it without noticing, but you may not. If you come to a right hand bend, knock the handlebars to the left ever so slightly with your right hand. It sort of knocks it off its axis and the bike just drops straight in. Once you get used to do that, you'll do it everywhere. It's the key to tighter bends on bigger bikes imo. 

Okay thanks guys some great advice for me to take on board!

Just going to Google bike safe courses...

Sorry when I said at night it was more a figure of speech and I have been going out in the daylight about 1830 - 1900.

as others have said relax and don't be afraid to lean the bike (it will go a lot further over than you think).

 

try to keep your inputs smooth, especially in the corners and try to look where you want the bike to be rather than looking at the things you want to avoid.

 

oh and don't try to ride too fast too soon, build into it gently.

Try moving around a little. Depends on the bike and your own style of riding but I always liked to move myself to the inside of a corner. So left hand turn I'd move my ass off to the left and that naturally puts a bit more weight on the inside peg which can steady the bike.

 

Try different things to see what works for you. Also if you're still quite new you will be thinking about riding, thinking about gears, what your feet are doing etc. Given time you'll build up muscle memory and you'll consciously think less about riding the bike leaving a bit more brain power for observing the road and other people.

 

Are you counter steering or have you learned about counter steering?

Okay just got back from another 30 minute ride and tried a variety of things. I don't naturally counter steer but I clicked on the Google link above and I have had a good read and it all makes sense so I just need to try it out in practice now.

I have also realised that it takes me 10 minutes of riding to 'warm up' and that on the way back I am going faster but it actually feels slower if that makes sense.

The other thing that I am having to get used to is tucking myself in behind the small front screen and learning to corner whilst staying tucked in as I have realised that at 60mph the wind can unsettle me a bit as well if there is a decent gust.

Edited 2 June, 201610 yr by Chunk11

Okay just got back from another 30 minute ride and tried a variety of things. I don't naturally counter steer but I clicked on the Google link above and I have had a good read and it all makes sense so I just need to try it out in practice now.

I have also realised that it takes me 10 minutes of riding to 'warm up' and that on the way back I am going faster but it actually feels slower if that makes sense.

The other thing that I am having to get used to is tucking myself in behind the small front screen and learning to corner whilst staying tucked in as I have realised that at 60mph the wind can unsettle me a bit as well if there is a decent gust.

 

It's always the case mate. It still takes me head a little while to get up to speed now. From driving the car/van all day then jumping on the bike, it just feels like a rocket. Once my heads up to speed though its no hassle, you just get used to it. 

 

Yeah once you get into you stop worrying about the gusts too, they just happen and they do knock you about abit but once you're into that, its no hassle. It's just what happens haha. 

A relaxed rider is a smooth rider. Remember that every small body movement is amplified massively through the bike if you are tense - especially your head.

Bikes, like cars, like to ne settled when cornering. Once settled you can apply the gas. So get all your braking, gear changes and body positioning sorted way ahead of the corner and as above positive throttle is the way - rolling off and then tensing up properly unsettles the bike.

Target fixation is also not a good way - scanning ahead then back to immediate surroundings to get the whole picture.

Read the road - tree lines, hedges, road markings, road signs, telegraph poles, vanishing point - you can build a comprehensive picture of what the road is doing as you ride.

Give it time it'll come.

GSXR is pretty focussed so it's going to feel more nervous than what you trained on. If the wind is bothering you it might be worth looking into a double bubble screen.

 

Gusts will bother you less as you start to relax.

Get yourself on a Bikesafe course. Spend a few hours riding with a Police rider and you will learn more than any forum could ever teach you. When I did my Bikesafe 15 years ago, I became a much smoother, safer and quicker rider, and had a great laugh with the 'observer' (they are not an instructor or teacher!).

I also did Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists however I enjoyed Bikesafe more. If you want to learn more about the theory then I would recommend getting a copy of Roadcraft from Amazon/evilbay

You mention that you have been riding at night - if by that you mean riding in the dark, that is a whole different ball game to riding in the day. Visibility can be very restricted when cornering due to the throw of most bike lamps, fork dive when braking etc. I love riding at night, it really hones the senses but look out for unexpected animals on the road!

Other than that, try not to get too hung up about it and just get a few miles in.

Plus 1. Although I have had a full bike Liecence for 30 years I still go on a Bikesafe course every 5-6 years to remind myself to loose the bad habits that I pick and to have an assessment of my riding, plus to find out any changes that effect riders. A very good course in my opinion.

Best thing I ever did, for my riding, was get on a trackday. Grab an instructor for help and to follow you, then they will give you points to improve.

You don't have to go all out on a trackday and it's amazing the confidence you will gain.