Blew my first corner today...

[Timebomb7585]

Went for an early morning ride (Mulholland Hwy-Malibu-Kanan area) today. I've had the bike about a month and starting to get a good comfort level with it. On a particularly twisty section I was trying to focus real hard, only going about 15-20mph when I had an "oh shit!" moment and realized I went into a corner too fast. Even though I am aware to never hit the front brake hard mid turn I had to in this case & of course the bike stood right up and I crossed the yellow line by about 6 feet (thankfully there was no oncoming traffic).

Being a noob, can anyone share some tips to help me figure out how to know how far I can lean the bike over in an apex without lowsiding??

Btw, this reaffirmed my decision that the 250 was the way to go for my first bike. Can't wait to get my Monster but trying to be patient and learn to do this stuff the right way. 

[SDkid]

37.8 degrees of lean. 

Actually it depends on the camber of the road, your speed, and largely your experience.  I've heard good things about the MSF courses where you ride your own bike and work on higher-speed turns, body-positioning, braking and other skills.  From that you will get more comfortable for the feel of what you ride in situations like you described.  I wish I had time to take the course...but I can live vicariously through those who do.

[fastwin]

To the OP, good decision on the 250 starter bike. Mature thinking on your part. Too many have failed thinking "I'll get a GSXR1000 for my first bike, I can handle it". Also too bad many don't start out on dirt bikes like I did as a kid. Millions of bike handling lessons learned in the dirt before I ever turned a wheel on pavement. Raced MX for years before the street. Probably wouldn't be alive today if not for those "dirty" years. Still, starting slow and steady (with a small bike ) and a MSF class or two can't be a bad thing!

[booger]

You obviously have good judgement and are a patient person by picking the starter bike. Just be sure you follow through and wear all your gear as well. 

[lawbreaker]

Time for a trackday...


FAR better environment to test bike, work on skills and find out just what she can do..

[Spidey]

Being a noob, can anyone share some tips to help me figure out how to know how far I can lean the bike over in an apex without lowsiding??

Farther than you think.  Much farther.  (further?  No, farther, I think).  Truth is, there's no good way to answer the question.  Too many factors.  But if you're a noob, I can pretty much guarantee that you can crank the bike over much farther than you are/were.  

If you go in too fast on a right hander (left handers are a bit different), try to pre-program your mind to attempt to lean more.  Remember to push the bar forward, not down to lean.  Generally, it's better to lean more than cross the DY.  BTW, check out this post re right-handers:

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=11778.msg201230;topicseen#msg201230

[Bun-bun]

+1 on much farther than you think. On good dry pavement, with decent street tires, somewhere around when your pegs start grinding, but YMMV 

Also, understand that you will scare the shit out of yourself the first time you really lean into a corner, and be absolutely sure you're going to lowside, until you come out the other side upright and unhurt.

[Timebomb7585]

If you go in too fast on a right hander (left handers are a bit different), try to pre-program your mind to attempt to lean more.  Remember to push the bar forward, not down to lean.  Generally, it's better to lean more than cross the DY.  BTW, check out this post re right-handers:

Yep, it was a right hander, really tight one. Thanks for the tips and positivity. I always ride with gear, also have put 2 new Pirellis and front brakes on the bike and had everything checked out just to be safe. Did the MSF course a while ago but they don't teach you much about leaning through the curves. I think it might be time for a track day! 

[Grampa]

Track /skills class.... not a track day.

[xcaptainxbloodx]

Track /skills class.... not a track day.

same thing.

[hillbillypolack]

Yes, a track day will allow you to get a 'feel' for how much lean you and your bike can do.

Also, as you experienced, you can feather the brake when leaned over and the bike will stand up.  If you know that's going to occur, you can counteract it, hold the bike down and keep your line from blowing wide.  That takes some experience.

Glad you made it through the brown-shorts moment, and I'm also glad you have the self-awareness to know you need some instruction.  Good luck and stay safe.

[Grampa]

same thing.

not even close.

A track day where you get a quick 15 min briefing on  track rules.... limited supervision.... and guys who treat every session as a race.... is not the same as taking a class that has hands on instructors... classroom instruction in between sessions, and stricter track rules.

Take a "lets ride" track day.... and the one of from "Classrides" and tell me who teaches...and who lets the monkey cage door open.

[hillbillypolack]

^

+1000

That's why I dont do track days any longer.  I felt that I was getting stuffed up the inside in some tight corners and I ended up not having fun when I was on the tarmac.  Hearing the description of the 'teaching' aspect of an instructional day at the track perks up my ears.

(BTW, I know all too well what you mean about letting the monkeys out of the cage)

[OT]

MSF....

[Timebomb7585]

MSF....

Done last year.

Another member turned me on to "skillzdays" here in the LA area. Thinking that is the way to go.