How To Corner On A Harley Without Being AFRAID.
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- Опубліковано 21 вер 2024
- Ride with me as I discuss how to corner on a Harley without being afraid. I ride my Street Glide Special and discuss the 7 DEADLY Sins of cornering on a motorcycle. I also discuss some rules for life -- when you encounter an unexpected corner as you travel the straights of your life.
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@@OldNotDead-Club I would but I don’t do well on fb. Or any of those sights
@@OldNotDead-Club I do plan on buying on your store just some financial stuff going on rite now. But I will be buying in near future
Do you sell the old not dead skull caps? If you do I’ll buy one today ! I don’t see them on your site . My name is Chuck. From Colorado U.S.
@@chuckFlynn-z9o thanks Chuck if you mean helmets no we don't - beanies and caps we do lol
@@OldNotDead-Club no sir I mean like the one you wear under your helmet
Ridden 52 years, raced enduros 17, sponsored for 4 years, and I never stop learning new techniques and roads! Riding, for me, is spiritual, as I call my Street Glide Special, "my 70mph alter." Regarding riding rules in general; 1. look at where you want to go - NOT what you want to miss. 2. always approach corners, slow-in, fast-out. 3. use front brake for all braking - except soft or lose down hills. 4. until more seasoned, brake only approaching turns while upright, downshifting will suffice for most turns if done correctly. Practice downshifting and using the engine compression; especially on a Harley will drastically save brake wear, heat and brake fade on long down hills. So glad I found your channel, and i love the Christian, life lesson woven into your riding lesson; very well done! In Christ, Bikers Wave to All you Fellow Riders!
Thanks for watching and also the good advice
I've always heard the first part of #1, but not the "not what you want to miss". Thanks for sharing that. Peace be with you.
Hawley roiders.....smh.....ANY MOTORCYCLE RIDER!
This is great info. I've been riding for 30+ years. One thing I think you overlooked. The mechanical setup of your Harley. A lot of your touring bikes have adjustable rear shocks. Many Harley riders don't know how to adjust the rear shocks to stiffen them up to make cornering easier. Also, with baggers, most riders I know don't monitor the rear tire pressure as well as they should. Mainly because it's such a pain in the ass to check the rear tire pressure, with the bags and crap in the way.
My point is, if you're running incorrect tire pressure, and you're suspension is set too squishy, it's almost impossible to corner correctly.
Very valid points. On mine i have the suspension set near maximum (even when riding solo) and the bike has tyre pressure monitoring - which i though was a gimmick but has turned out to be ultra useful.
@@OldNotDead-Club I ride a 1991 FLHTCU. And when I went to restore it the first thing I found was the adjustable air ride suspension in the rear was leaking. I ditched it an put a set of progressives on it, that I can adjust with a spanner.
It's a safety thing. If there's too much "squish" on the rear, the bike is doing the opposite of loading the weight to the front.
@@ssg11b71 progressives are good I have used them many times
I’ve been riding Harleys for over 55 years and purchased a Hayabusa for my one and only sport bike. When I went down I was doing 42 in a 45. Blew a front tire in a pretty slow corner. But when that tire blew it went straight to the ground,so did I!!!.
After that I went straight through a guardrail post with the side of my chest. I broke everything from my hips up except for my spine and my neck. Spent months in a hospital lost my left lung. Had a flail chest. ( look it up). Took almost a year to get back on a bike. Back to riding Harleys only. When I crashed I had 9 Harleys in my garage and my Hayabusa. Well wrecked the Hayabusa beyond repair. Sold 8 of my Harley’s and kept my 1999 Fatboy with a 124 166 hp. It’s not even close to as fast as the Hayabusa was. But at 72 I don’t need to fast !!!
Thanks, good story - just tragic. It's inspirational that you are riding at 72, well done. The Fat Boy you have sounds awesome!
Damn. Sad story hut your still here and still riding so you still won the game of life.
@@OldNotDead-Club I took a brand new S&S 124 with 130 horsepower. Took it apart changed the cam. Flowed the head’s changed valves and a good header ( RB Racing Black Hole) had it tuned on a Dyno and came up with 166hp. It’s pretty fun to ride.
@@insanejoker972 along with my motorcycle crash I’ve had 5 heart attacks 2 strokes with no disabilities. I do consider myself a very lucky man. All of this has happened in the last 12 years.
My stamina sucks but I’m a pretty happy man. 😋
@@ltsgarage7898 that's awesome
All I want is to have and ride a Harley while I still can. I’m 32 and about a year ago I got diagnosed with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis. I don’t know how much longer I’ll even be physically capable of riding, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve lost most of my personal belongings to make ends meet because I was forced to stop working my job that I’ve had for 11 years. I feel a sense of urgency to finally get my first bike while I can, but it’s looking like I’ll never actually have the chance. Maybe in the next life. Enjoy your health guys. 3 years ago I was a hard working/normal guy and then in an instant it was gone. Dreams shattered. Don’t take it for granted and savor every moment.
🎯🤲🏾🙏🏾🙌🏾 I hope you find your peace. Looking to do the same soon.
The fear comes from improper training and riding technique. Novice riders don't look through corners and don't point steer properly. When you start worrying that you went into a corner too fast you need to apply more pressure on the side of the handlebar that matches the direction you're going, look through the corner, and don't look at something in the road. It's not just Harley riders who have bad habits; it's all riders.
Thanks, you are correct it applies to all riders
I don’t think leaning more is the answer. Use the correct technic when applying the front brake when going to fast in the corner
Have to say not always is it dued to experience, some have been low or high sided and you get nerves at times, some it make one side harder then the other, sometimes it just bad experience and time will get that back
I think in this situation guy just needed to increase front brake pressure as he went through the turn. Radius is essentially speed + lean angle. Since he was tapped out on lean angle he needed to decrease is speed more but of course on a keyboard it’s easier to say that. It looks like he was trail braking into the corner trailed off then didn’t realize he could add brakes back on gently (something that has saved my ass).
@@David.. well said
Came hear for motorcycle tips and left with that and great life advice
Thank you
Stopped by looking to sharpen my skills, was surprised at the life lesson in the middle. Starting a new business and that advice came at a good time. Thanks an ride safe.
Best of luck!
Thanks for the video. I've been riding since 1966 and didn't even know about counter steering until about 20 years ago. It made a hell of a difference in my riding and in my confidence. I'm 72 and still learning.
Great you are riding at 72! Keep it up and ride safe
I just started about 7 or 8 years ago . Harley and sport bike . Once you counter steer it changes things alot.
Your 72 and riding a bike now I am scared!
@@BendOver-vd5ur You shoild be more concerned about the 16 year olds who are riding for the first time.
By the way, my riding is better than your English grammar, punctuation and spelling; the contraction (or abbreviation, if you prefer that term) for 'you are' is - you're.
@@BLAKHARTFILMmmm good job trying to be smart 👍 you almost did it too. However a contraction is NOT the same as an abbreviation 😂 the terms are not interchangeable
It's killin me to watch you all ride on the "wrong" side of the road! LOL
Lol, how do you think we feel growing up with American TV shows
Especially going into a blind corner 🤣
@@jonhelms6496 lol we are all budding stunt men
Most Harley's I have ridden have handled reasonably well and remarkably good at low speed manoeuvring once you have a feel for the bike and clutch control. Reading the road, picking the right gear and speed comes with experience. I grimace every time I see a rider braking too late into a bend and some even coasting around. Training is not to be ashamed of. I have seen many a mature rider at HD dealership taking a bike out for a test, clearly having not riden for years. I have not been on a motorcycle this year (health issues but on track for fitness for next year!) and will look for a rider assessment when back on the road, this despite having been an instructor and riding at an advanced level. Never too late to improve your skillset!
Tha ks, wise words
My biggest fear is laying 32,000.00 USD on the ground
lol, yes i think that enters everone's mind, hopefully you have insurance
32k? You bought a base model huh? Lol I feel ya man
Yeah' I agree with you about that. 👍
Great job explaining the main points of taking corners properly. The key word for new riders is practice. Find opportunities to practice and increase the speed over time. Everything you need to know is in this video and then practice your behind off, soon you’ll do it all like you have always known how. Very well done.
Thanks and spot on, practice
Its taken me about 3 years to really get back to being comfortable compressing myself into the corners like I did when I was young. I'm 60, and it not only feels good again, I ride safer than I used to. Thanks for the video, good stuff!
Thanks much appreciated
That's the thing your not young your are OLD!
I appreciate this video, I put my bike down in a gravel washed corner about 2 years ago, I'm still riding but can't break away from that fear and have never rode the same way since, been slowly trying to get bike to the rider I used to be keep it upright and safe yall 🤟
Thank you and please don't let fear beat you. Check out this video it has a segment on fear in it...
www.oldnotdead.club/articles/three-deadly-mistakes-new-harley-riders-make
Same, ever since I dumped the bike practicing in a parking lot with mud and gravel, I've been scared to lean like I used to. I don't even know what's sand and what's not.
I just had that happened, I had to relocate my finger 😂 but ima about to get my bike all ready to go
Im glad you touched on gear choice for cornering. I road raced for over 20 years with many championship titles and can tell you that nothing is more nerve racking then going into a corner and missing a downshit, being in the wrong gear will unbalance the chassie and suspension, you are WAY better off being in to low of a gear then to high of a gear!
Thank you, wise words
Agreed, the HD gear box can take it
I agree, it sucks to be "missing a downshit".
then going? *than going …
I don’t know how I never saw this channel until recently. I saw the video the channel did on safety but didn’t realize that there were videos with specifics as well. This man is 100% correct & has a great channel. He’s teaching longevity/survival on a bike.
Thank you
Another good video.
I like dandanthefiremans explanation of looking through the corner and keeping your chin where you want to go, but also “ratcheting” your eyes back and fourth for pot holes. Quick snappy looks at the road and then straight back up ahead.
We all have alot to learn and it’s videos like this that help us think outside out riding and maybe think about what we could improve on that we might not have been aware of.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks for your kind words that's much appreciated
Very good video. I ride a BMW R1200CL. The best lesson I ever got was to look where I want the bike to go, not down at the curve of the road or whatever. Point your head and the bike will follow.
Thank you
My brother in Christ you’re driving on the wrong side of the road
Lol, so I am getting told regularly
Europe??
@@jlynneubanks7348 Australia
Other country ,he is correct
Stressed me out on that first curve 😅
Fella Aussie here.Great points and explanations.I find explaining what to do when cornering.instead of saying turn your head in the direction you want to go.I say point your nose where you want to go……Why ?.Cos turning your head doesn’t tell you how much.Pointing your nose to where you want to go,literally forces you to turn your head the correct amount.
Once you in the corner,your nose direction should be continually be changing as you go through and exit the corner,so if your exit is to a straight,your head will be looking straight down the road ahead.
IF there is an immediate change from a RH corner to a LH corner,you have already started to point your nose towards it and much easier and less movement of head to pointing your nose to the LHS…..Been riding 50 years,done 2 advanced riders courses,Rode Perth to Sydney via coast on a 650 Yammie in 1978,then Sports/sports tourers,most of the time.Ducatis St3s-abs was last then a 10 yr break due to illness,Now on a 2020 HD Lowriders with upgraded suspension.Even after 10 yrs off bikes,I found I still had all the right understanding and skillsof how to handle a bike in the twisties,just needed to sharpen them up and get use to the weight of the Harley.
Great advice, thanks for watching
Very good and accurate advice. I personally think the focus on Harley riders is a positive change. This knowledge is often mistakenly associated with metric bikes/riders when it applies to all motorcycles. I also have find some riders are more reluctant than others to embrace these proven riding techniques. Cheers
Thank you. Great point!
Very well said, agree 100% personally, professionally and recreationally. Like how you dismissed slowing down before the corner but emphasized that single most important factor in almost every scenario.
Thank you and thanks for watching
Great video, i've been riding for roughly 20 years, and still some times something catches my eye and I have to be mindful of target fixation, I also find I tell myself "look where you are going" plenty of fun to be had on a bike, practice and thinking constantly to make it muscle memory 👍
Thanks that's much appreciated - ride safe!
Rule for driving OR riding: never put a vehicle any place your eyes haven't been first.
Another term used is "vanishing point". The point where the road disappears, left, right, or center. If the point is getting closer, you slow down, and vice versa.
A trick I use in the mountain twisties is to scope the trees ahead; if the gap in the treetops goes to the right, the road most LIKELY will curve right, and so forth.
Excellent tutorial whether you ride a Harley or not. I've been riding for over 50 years and I still make mistakes. It's always good to get back to basics and practice. I do quite a bit of steep mountain single lane switchback riding in Arizona and New Mexico on my Harley and proficiency in cornering is tantamount to survival.
Thank you and well said!
If you call your bike "a Harley", something tells me that... Not one biker calls a bike by the brand but by model and year.
@@corneilcorneil what's the video title? What's your point then?
@@whiskeythrottleracing My point? That somebody who calls "his" bike only by brand is not a biker or rider, somhe have no riding experience or skills... and so we are back at the title... afraid of his own machine... or stupid and not afraid at all. In both cases, we have a deadly cocktail.
@@corneilcorneil I have no clue as to what you're talking about, Corneil. If a person's "biker or rider" vocabulary does not suite you then visit places where you can be with people of your caliber. Even if you were right in this instance, a real "biker" wouldn't waste his time pointing out something so trivial.
Some great life advice there, lost my brother to suicide two years ago at the end of this month, it’s been bloody hard. He left his xr and a Buell Thunderbolt behind(not going unfortunately) but mentally riding has been a blessing unexpectedly. Hopefully all the practice I put into corners and u-turns on the xr650r pays off when I get a low rider s in September. It should have a far lower centre of gravity which should help. The xr was almost unrideable for the first 8 months before I put a lowering link on it, it was like a bloody draught horse.
The new compulsory riding course to get your license was great for explaining how you start out wide and finish in tight.
Your mix of riding talk and life talk is bloody good!
These skills and philosophy tips are spot-on IMO and priceless. A method I like to use and I think is most effective in successful and joyful corning is to use smooth down/up shifting and engine braking/acceleration to do ALL of the work. Use brakes only in a panic situation or scrubbing off excess speed (when you haven't planned well). Braking sometimes injects a counter lean that can make you mess your knickers as you upset the lean angle and drift off the center line of your lane. The Street Glide's low COG is well suited for cornering, though the suspension and lean angle before contact are not particularly 'sport bike' setups - you can still get a lot of fun out of twisties within those limitations if you make the bike work for you.
Agreed and thank you
My pard and I on performance cruisers we have modded for mountain riding, find sticking a knee out on heavy bikes rather redundant; however if you practice sliding over a bit on the seat and leaning a SHOULDER out, will put a lot of weight to the inside, allowing the extra speed you wanted.
Funniest day: we were behind some guy on a midsize bike of some kind, mostly just cruising along languidly, and he was popping them knees out wide for every bend in the road as if he were in the Isle of Mann TT! Hilarious!
Great tips. One more. Ride as much as you can. I,ve been riding on and of for 35 years. ( hard and fast ) Got on a few months ago after a few years. I feel like i,m a newbie again. Just taking it easy. Getting the hang of it.
I maybe old but not dead.
lol thanks. Take it easy until you have your eye in again
Right away noticed you stayed outside until you could see enough to go inside. 👍🏼
Great way of putting it
@@OldNotDead-Club haven’t found many who explain when to go inside. Always post an open curve rather than a blind one.
IMO The most important piece of advice listed here is "Don't Counter-Lean your bike in a turn " This is something I see Harley Riders do all the time and it's a really unskilled and increases the risk of handling a motorcycle through a counter.
Instead Harley Riders need to learn to stay flat with the seat and lean WITH the bike, OR learn to lean over the tank into the inside of the turn, just like those King of the Baggers Riders.
If you watch my videos you'll that this is what I do. I ride my Fat Boy, with those floorboards and fat tires, hard into turns confidently with easy because I Lean over the tank just like a King if the Baggers Rider/MotoGP Rider.
THIS BODY POSITION IS CRITICAL for Riding Faster, and Safer.
Im very glad you brought this up, it's super important.
Thanks, you are correct. By the way check out this video same paint job...
www.oldnotdead.club/articles/i-took-his-custom-harley-davidson-fat-boy-keep-it-or-not
@@OldNotDead-Club
Nice, thank you!
Where can I find your videos
In the US they train us to turn our head fast so it gives us time to look for hazards. I noticed this year when I went snow skiing the same thing applies. I love counter steering, I read an article about this years ago. It will let your bike lean over much more. In some cases you have to counter weight as well, move around on your bike to help balance it when you roll it over.
Thanks - the head turn works really well.
I call it "sneaking a peek". Your brain will recognize in an instant if there's a hazard. Too many people "gaze longingly" over their shoulders, etc. and miss what they need to see ahead of them.
Pay attention, people!
@@davidellis7081 I do do this if there is a hazard like loose dirt, I turn my head but I watch the hazard like it is going to move. It is my ocd I think. I know I'm going to miss it, I have my head turned, but my eyes always want to go back to the hazard. It isn't exactly target fixation, just my brain not working right. It drives me nuts, but turning your head to rotate your shoulders is more important... I am still working on that it is just something I have to deal with. I think it is from losing the front too often on dirt that caused a serious crash, and on my last street bike that would slide the front end unexpectedly.
On skis you want your upper body facing down hill, not in the direction you’re turning.
Here in the USA, taking a basic motorcycle course, on a lighter bike, of course, is a good refresher of all the points OND makes here, plus you get to EXPERIENCE exactly what he's talking about, on a closed course, supervised, with instructors to help curb any bad habits you might have developed in the past. I highly recommend it, it's a good health insurance policy for riding motorcycles, teaches you how to improve your knowledge so that it prevents you having to use those emergency skills and drills you've been taught also. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
I think taking a motorcycle course is great anywhere. There's always more to learn
You did a great service to riders with this video. To me, THE most important thing when riding through a corner or riding around anything that you do not want to run into, like a pot hole, debris in the road, an animal, or another vehicle that suddenly appears is to look where you want to go! Whatever you focus on, you WILL steer towards! Dirt riders make some of the safest street riders because they have done their share of running into ditches, into trees, and on and on and lived to tell the tale. You only get a few chances like that on the street and you'll be riding through the Pearly Gates. Look where you want to go, and look as far ahead as you can see, because focusing on your front tire will auger you into the ground pretty quickly. In most of the videos that I've see on the internet of bikes that crash because of rider error, especially with helmet cams, the bike is going right where the rider is looking. You can almost hear their thought..."I hope I don't run into that ditch! I hope I don't hit that pole on the side of the road! That's a steep drop-off!" And off they go, into the ditch, or into the pole, or off the road, into the canyon. We go where we look, so look where you want to go!
Thanks great advice
I think most newbie motorcyclist have the most problems with Transitioning Steering Modes.
see I am a motor bike mechanic, so I had to ride different bikes all the time.
different bikes transition differently, so I had to learn to listen to the bike. ( which is why I can explain what most can't )
it's like establishing a feedback loop, constantly adjusting to maintain your chosen line.
taking off through a corner, you're in bicycle mode, when the bike starts to lift you respond with a push on the inside hand grip, ( into counter-steer ); where when slowing down, say into a low speed parking lot, when you feel the bike start to fall, you pull on the inside bar ( back into bicycle mode )
so accelerating through the transition, push down ... decelerating through the transition, pull up .... both rules apply to the inside hand grip ... ride safe.
Counter-steering is one of the most important defensive driving techniques a rider of any motorcycle can learn. It has saved me from so many wrecks when some a-hole 4-wheeler has cut me off or turned across in front of me. Definitely great in turns too, but a have to have in your defensive driving arsenal.
Thanks I agree
I'm not the biggest of Harley guys, as I'm more of a metric guy, but I love seeing American bikes being appreciated and enjoyed around the world. When I was stationed in Korea, I'd always have a wave of pride seeing a Harley in Seoul, or talking to some Finns on a TDY about their love of riding old Harleys back in Finland.
Thanks, there are plenty of other great bikes too. I have had great experiences with triumph and many Kawasaki's
Great video! Just got my Sportster 1200 ( admittedly not the big bikes you’re talking about ) …it’s been 30 years since I’ve been on a bike and I’ve been working on all 7 of the issues you’ve raised. Your explanations really resonate and have given me food for thought for my next ride. Also you’ve got another subscriber !!! Thanks!!
Welcome to the channel. Great to hear you are back on the bike. Nothing wrong with a sportster!
Actually Sporty is harder than some bigger bikes they are top heavy I can handle by bigger bike better than my Sportster. Happy trails
This applies to all bikes!even a bicycle requires these fundamentals,only the size determines how heavily or lightly they should be applied.
You know, I've attended 2 multi day riding coursers (one for me, and one with my wife), and I've watched hundreds, if not more, of videos. Your video is the first to cover counter steering with a clear explanation. You may be the first one to explain it at all.
Thank you
@@OldNotDead-Club It gets to me every time I watch videos of people going down, or getting hit by a vehicle in a curve. If you watch carefully, you can almost always see them fighting the handlebars in the wrong direction, in what should have been a manageable curve.
The hardest part of motorcycling is getting back on after a wreck, I don't mean parking lot drops. Fortnite to say for me I've never had those. I've had close calls and parking lot drops in my yard or taking off at an intersection with a last minute lane changer that makes me have to stop but not a real wreck.
I have heard many people say that, thank you
Great on point video. Celebrating 50 years on the street and I am on a Triumph but your advice will help anyone on any bike. Still ride after getting bashed by cagers twice in my 20's doing hospital time for both. I do ride with my high beam on during sunny days. Just want to be seen since that is my biggest personal fear. Thank you.
Thanks for watching stay safe
Cornering is nice if you know the road you are on, if not slow down would be the safest way to cornering.
Thats true, but many people like to push things a little so skills are important
Clicked on this video out of curiosity as I don't even ride a Harley, but then I heard the Aussie accent and saw Arthurs Seat (which I ride a fair bit) and kept watching. Good tips and are applicable for all types of bikes (I ride a gixxa). Even after riding for over 20 years it still pays to readdress the fundamentals of cornering. Especially when you haven't ridden for a while, or you are riding in adverse conditions. Personally, my biggest mistake is not looking far enough ahead if conditions are dodgy, and that just makes things seem faster than they are (plus you need to constantly adjust where you look). Look further ahead and you can hold that vision longer, things seem to move slower, and the bike will tend to go smoothly around the corner.
Thanks for watching, you are correct this applies to all bikes. Love Arthur's sea, I will look out for someone on a gixxer, electric blue?
@@OldNotDead-Club Black and yellow, a K5 GSX/R1000
@@andrewrose9707 lol that would hammer!
Taking a right hand curve, push on the right handle. Going left, push left.
Thanks
@@OldNotDead-Club I was just simplifying. the way you explained it was a little confusing to me. I enjoy your videos
any kid who has ridden a pushy should know this. Stunned that he needs to tell anyone
Because you are going INTO a corner and often cannot see past the first start of the turn... as you have shown at 2:06 there can be obstacles. I was riding on a road that was built through some old dunes and countryside. The sand kept washing over the road. I was doing well, rooster tails from both tires when I hit a huge stone block. It came into view about 3/4 of the way into the turn. It turned my bike into a catapult. I flipped over off the bike and slid to a stop on my backside! No injuries other than a road rash tattoo on my left elbow. My bike was totaled.
Wow, glad you made it through ok
If the floor boards aren't scraping you are going too slow
Thats true
Got that right
Yes bro another good vid.
There are some dudes that will go cautious on bends others scream it. Confidence, skill, maybe like accidents before or whatever....you ride to your comfort.
All the years I've rode was only cruisers because I love the chill of cruising. Man for me its nothing to prove but some blokes ride way too quick for their ability man.
All you said was 100% like starting at the tree to hit or turning in too quick but that comes with experience and their confidence and skills grow.
Thank you much appreciated
Using your friction zone, using your downshift and rear brake will help you from planting! Hitting your front brake too hard can put you on the ground and counter steer pushing the handle bar in the opposite direction as the turn! It is like a top, it wants to stay upright! I have a Friend that had a stroke and stood up on his bike on interstate at 70 plus mph the bike speed wobbled and threw him over the handle bars , the bike righted itself and went down about 3/4 of a mile later of the highway! Amazingly by God's Grace my friend lived but is missing lots of memories? My prayers were answered because the doctor wanted to unplug him! I told his wife the Doctor does not know what God can do! I thank God for my friend Cooter McCall everyday! My Brother!
Thanks for your input and I'm glad your friend is ok
Greetings from the country side of the great state of South Carolina.
I've been riding since 1970. While watching this I realized that I do those things in the video unconsciously. However I could never have articulated it nearly as good this fella does. For some strange reason (old maybe) I started using my front brake to come to a complete stop. Not good. I don't know where that habit came from. I nearly dumped it a few times. Worked at using the front break with the rear until I was ready to come to a complete stop. Then released the front and used the back only for the final few feet. Finally dropped that habit while my Harley was still shiny. Now for the 2079 other bad habits unrelated to riding. Gotta hurry. Time is running out. Ah, screw it. Hey, was that a shot of Indian ?Larry? in the video? Rest in peace brother.
Very good pointers mate, we can all do with more practice cause that means more riding 😎👌
Thanks mate, yep we all need to practice
I told my buddy who was struggling on corners to do exactly as you said and he looked at me like I was the idiot lmao...he now understands
Great advise. I totally agree with all ponts. I would add suspension upgrades. It gives much more confidence than the standard shocks.
thanks, great point
That Indian Larry bike with the twisted down tube and concaved tank is one of my favorite custom bikes of all time... I fantasize about that bike all the time .
I recognized him and the bike instantly....
Rip Indian Larry 😢
Thanks, one of my favourites too
I don’t agree with you on leaning a Harley, particularly a touring bike into the turn with the bike. These aren’t crotch rockets. The center of gravity is much higher and leaning into the turn decreases both traction and stability. I took a course from a police instructor who taught the exact opposite. Lean away from the angle of the turn to improve tracking stability through the corner. At speeds up to 35 mph, do not apply the front brake, but instead trail brake with the rear. It took me lots of practice to use these techniques automatically, but my control over my FLHTP is 100% better than what it was doing what you suggest. Like you I have been riding for more than forty years. I have owned the gambit from choppers, to crotch rockets to massive touring bikes. Each style of bike requires a different technique. The style you are advocating is not suitable for ultimate control of a heavy touring bike, but better suited for a crotch rocket with a low center of gravity.
Thanks for your comments. What you are saying is appropriate at slower speeds. These bikes have a low centre of gravity (relative) and take corners much better than many of the other Harley's and many other brand touring bikes.
Have you watched the king of baggers racing at all? The Harleys are only a few seconds off the pace of the sport bikes. If your rear tire has any chicken strip showing your not leaning as far as you can
@@BrianBraaten Have you taken a motor officer bike course.? We’re not talking about which bike is faster. I have a built motor on my bike and can go plenty fast. I don’t have to slow through the corners leaning opposite of the bike. The bike leans low into the corner, I lean slightly in the opposite direction. Bike tracts like it’s on rails.
@@deanbalouris330 I out run cops lol we put lift kits front and back then go pass sport bikes in corners.Yes I can do the parking lot drills but that doesn’t help you at 130 coming into corners.Back brakes cause many Harley guys to crash
I have a slipper clutch but I don’t rely on it I match the rpm’s with the throttle coming in to corners while smoothly using the front brake to keep the front end compressed
It’s crazy how much more fun riding is once you get over that fear. My buddy told me how to corner in the simplest way, n I couldn’t believe it. Now my pointed straight pipes are ground flat n dip so hard lol
Thanks for watching
The fear comes from real time continuous calculation of possible damage costs
Yeah that's a good point
Nice. Well done and Thank you. Lifetime rider, used to teach this, and hearing someone relay the messages to articulately is quite good. Appreciate it!
Thank you
My biggest tip is RELAX ! I find it much easier to corner the more relaxed I am. When you’re nervous or stiff nothing seems to work smoothly. Especially important when the weather is cold and your body naturally tenses up a little.
Great tip!
Biggest tip...dont or buy a better bike!
cornering is the most fun .
even on a scooter ; the bro loved cornering his 50 cc bms yamaha thru the turns .
here on the west coast in canada
we have narrow blind twisties on roads cut thru rocks - learning RIDING to predict oncoming traffic ; wide in their lanes
practice Positioning your self in the turns - -out of the turn radius of
- oncoming traffic around blind corners . is safer & a lot more relaxing
i go as wide as possible entering thru the blind corners and until i can see around the corner ; often uncoming cars are wide
word. agree with all. the only thing i would add is: you sould be able to manure inside a turn, especially a blind/ double blind curve. so id there is road debris or an on comming vehicle in your lane you don't freak out and hit it,grab a handful of break ect.... low speed training is very important but we ride a high speed and that should be everybodys next study.
Spot on slow speed practice is very important
@OldNotDead-Club 50 years in the saddle i still can't pass by an open parking lot.
Am English i past my bike test and car test 1967 now am 75 still riding my fat boy harley and my other big harley, bsa triumph Norton you name it I've got it ,I've lost alot of good mates bikers, especially when we were all riding super bike, most of them died cornering to fast, ie hitting oncoming cars on mountain roads etc, but my fat boy perfect for leaning on fast bends, am only 12 stone weight but can i ride. Best bike ever 😅
Excellent advice, Once you get over target fixation, I say "keep your eyes on the horizon and your brain will take you where you need to go" All your advice is good, bro. I used these techniques on my Hayabusa before I got an HD, used to scrape the fairing on my favorite off ramps.
Thats hard riding!
@@OldNotDead-Club Yes, I wouldn' do it now, but I recommend 1st gen busa if you can find one unmolested.
There are a lot of guys who thought they could buy extended swing arm kits and "improve" their bike lol. pass.
Great video! I’m a bike instructor in the Uk. Have a Glide & a Crossbones. Can’t fault any of your advice in the video. Spot on 👌🏻
Thank you that's great to hear
I was in Death Valley years back with some friends. Swapped my BMW for my buddy’s Harley. He wanted to test ride my bike. I literally ground the frame down on his rental with pure intent while descending a mountain pass. LOL. TWICE RPM’s went up as the frame contacted the asphalt and the rear wheel lost some traction, with a minor mod , I was able to correct the bike while continuing to grind down his floor boards and frame down on his rental. We had to paint frame prior to rental return. On a side note The bike actually handled well. Just a lot of low hanging parts. 😂😂😂😂😂.
Just did the same going downhill last weekend on mine, too scared to look at the damage lol
Wow. Pretty tough crowd judging from some of the comments. Excellent content and promotes having fun on two wheels which is never a bad thing.
Thanks and the crowd is no problem at all - love reading the comments from the "triggered" crowd
I agree with you if you always do what you did you'll always get what you got sometimes you have to look at yourself from Another person's perspective and check yourself.
Thanks, perspective is always good
I was doing some great cornering today.. on the interstate where multiple freeways converge.. it’s always my favorite spot to ride.. because .. there are so many lanes all turning into different directions and one point there are 8 lanes..that’s were they all split apart.. so no matter which direction you coming from or going, you have a lot of pavement…and at certain times there will be little traffic.. so you can come flying fast and max out your lean angle ,, if you overshoot your lane you’ll still be safe provided you don’t hit another vehicle.. it’s just a great patch of freeway for high speed deep turns
There are some excellent roads every where, sounds awesome
One of the BEST videos for cornering I've seen to date!! 😎👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you that's much appreciated
steering by understand throttle control in a corner .
applying a less throttle - slowing down - pulls you into the inside of a turn &
adding a little throttle - speeding up - pushes you to the outside of a turn .
Thanks
Riding a sportsbike through a corner at twice the speed of a Harley with a lot more lean angle, then punching out so much quicker, is a lot more fun than trying to turn a heavy barge slowly through a corner, in my opinion. Good cornering advice though, especially for newbie riders …
Thanks I have done both and found the opposite... like the saying more fun riding a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow
more Emphasis should be put on PUSHING the inside bar and maintaining body position with bike.
You're Spot on about moving your eyes away from objects that are Is a danger. I was always taught to see the danger, look for an exit and put your eyes there.
Thanks good advice
Rev matching will smooth downshift. For cornering or stopping. Rear breaks+ friction zone helps too with slow cornering and turns.
Spot on! Thank you
I raised my 2020 Ultra Limited up one inch over the stock 13” suspension front and back and it improved the handling so much
The best thing taller riders can do to improve the limits a Harley has
Wow I thought the ultra had plenty of clearance already
@@OldNotDead-Club you’re not going fast enough then lol I live in the mountains I’m always in corners.
@@BrianBraaten lol, i will do my best to improve
Here's one you may find useful: Learn when the pegs (or floorboards) are going to start scraping. That is a good warning sign that you're about to reach the point where the next thing to scrape is the frame. At which point you'll lowslide. When you become familiar with the angle in which the pegs scrape, you become more comfortable with leaning. Because I know exactly when the pegs will strike, I use a mix of counter leaning for agility and leaning with the bike to avoid the scraping. This allows me to switch a lot faster on consecutive turns.
Thanks great advice
I'm 63, I've had multiple injuries and right hand corners are my nemesis
Practice?
I was speeding through gears a few weeks ago, got up to fifth and went to downshift and didn't feel the shifter so I looked down and saw it was gone I was stuck in 5th for a lil over 6 miles, I didn't stop at stop signs and luckily I knew a route to get home without red lights.
If you are working on your Harley or have someone else doing it make sure you put loctite or some adhesive on when tightening things down.
I am about to get my first Harley SG and I watch all of your videos! Very informative! Thank you
Thanks, it's going to be fun congratulations
Just bought my first Harley today. My grandfathers Sportster 1200C. Pretty excited to start learning to ride it.
Thanks a lot, my friend! I've been riding since I was a kid, but that old saying "You learn something NEW everyday" definitely comes to mind watching your videos. My grandma and Paw Paw told me that when I was growing up and being a Helicopter Test Pilot has been undeniably a game changer. LOL 😅
God bless you and your family! 🙏🚁🚁🚁🚁🚁🚁🚁🚁
Thanks much appreciated
I love watching your videos, your an influence to all people who love to ride motorcycles in my opinion. Inspired me to start a channel. It has its challenges in itself for sure.
Thank you - god luck with your channel
Thanks for that.
If I could put a few things I’ve experienced riding my 2010 flhrc 35k klm in Portugal’s endless mostly bound twisting roads.
One thing I did for some time but less now is trail breaking using the rear brake. Sounds odd and hardly anyone talks about it but the idea is to have complete control of the power to the rear wheel so going into a corner the throttle slightly opened, is matched by the breaking so that the power is sort of neutral so neither slowing the bike down or accelerating but not the same as coasting. I started doing it so there wasn’t the change from engine breaking going into the bend to accelerating. It has the weird effect of slowing down time 🤔 and made me feel more in control and less anxious.
Leaning Off.
Yes, very important. Almost more useful in a cruiser than it is for other riders because we need to make best use of the small angles available to us.
I’ve worn down the footplates on both sides and the bracket support on the right. I prefer not to grind though and now doesn’t happen so often.
GPS.
Might seem foolish to trust it but it’s been a revelation especially riding new roads and even reminding me what’s coming up on known roads but since most bends here are blinded by rocks and trees, a GPS (I use Google Maps on my iPhone) will tell you if it’s straight afterwards or going into another bend and if that bend is in the same direction or an ‘S’ bend.
Speed.
I rarely go over 65mph straight and way less on the curves.
What’s the point?
The road surfaces here are a mixed bag and the other drivers (cyclists, camper vans, trucks and tractors) certainly are.
Practising my skills once on my Yamaha XT600 feeling I was doing good, leaning off, 80kph, empty roads (a false sense of safety) straight up to a small tractor and trailer going about 20kph. No time to straighten and brake so I went over the solid white line and around him on a blind bend. All ok that time but……. Oh yes and here the locals go way over the solid white lines around bends and many of the Coastal Folk drive like they’ve never seen a bendy road 😂
A spirited cornering into a gaggle (?) or ‘clump’ of cyclists will soon sober you up.
So yeah, road conditions and other drivers.
I’ve tried to keep up with BMW adventure type bikes on these roads and I can’t (if they’re good) but then if they came up on any one of these obstacles they won’t be riding home.
I’ve done all my riding alone. Suits me. I pick my own speeds, my own route and how long to stay out and yes stopping at a café with others would be nice but for me if I’m out I’m out to ride.
All in all fantastic riding country. So few people, so many empty roads, so many great vistas. Trouble is I go through tires after 8,000 kilometres and they’re not cheap.
Good day and good riding 👍
Ah, one more thought. Practicing slow in a car park ala Ride Like a Pro. helped my confidence at higher speeds so much and it’s fun.
Thanks for your wise words and experience. You input is appreciated.
Great tips mate.....just returned from a tour of Tassie and without knowing I used most of these tips! For those who are new to riding, take note, these do work 👍
Thanks, hope Tassie was awesome
I was taught you go where you're looking. It's true; just look at where you want to be ahead; the smooth spots/path.
Thanks
I ride, but not on a Harley, and this video has good advice for cornering.
Thank you
5:20 Woah that was such an excellent visual aid.... thank you!!!
thanks
Once again a great job!!! Enjoy the channel IMMENSELY
Thank you, much appreciated
My harely leaks oil making it easier to slide through the corners thanks to it not having any friction and saving my tread, also the new bent muffler is custom I did it myself people love the sound.
Dragging floor boards is always a blast
Lol true
New adventures of a better control I I have had motorcycle training but thanks for two new tips I will be implementing in my ride thank again for your time for my safety of riding my 2022 cvo road glide. The wicked orange colored one.
Thanks for watching that's much appreciated
Bro, thank you for this video. You have a subscriber for LIFE.
Thanks and welcome to the channel
One important thing is, Harley cruiser's do not corner as good as those speed motorcycles, then be careful and practice is the best good advise
Thanks wise words
That was an awesome video. Much appreciated and thanks for the life’s corners, I’m dealing with life’s corners right now with my relationship great video
Glad it has helped
Good riding and cornering advice... AND some good "follow your dreams" advice!
Thank you
I've always maintained that if you did not grow up riding bicycles, then dirt bikes, then don't get on a motorcycle, let alone put yourself on a motorcycle, on the road with other motorists, pedestrians etc.
Thanks many will agree with you but so many people would miss out!
Thanks for the great video.
My worst event was a blind curve 90 degrees at Black Forest, Germany.
A racing cyclist stood close to the white line and held 2 bicycles while his buddy walked around on the road and picked up the dropped water bottle.
To this day, I don't know how I managed not to run over anyone and thank God for that.
But, to be honest, I've been a bit panicked about every blind curve since then.
Joe
You should do an advanced segment next w/rear braking through corner w/throttling. Track day ride & dive the front late, ride the rear brake w/knee drop while accelerating through the apex so you hit the straight in your power band. Great excuse for a sport bike video!🤣
Lol, once sports bike get up to speed I will do that
I own a few bikes, KTM 890 Duke R, Kawasaki Versys 650 set up as a half-assed adv tour and a 95 Honda Shadow. No problem putting my knee down on the Duke on a track day. Can hustle the Kwak through a twisty road from sidewall to sidewalk. No problem riding the Shadow and making progress, not dragging my knee and not going all the way to the edge of the tire but I can ride it quickly. Then I bought a used 2018 HD Heritage Softail Classic 114 and find myself being tentative AF on it when cornering. I think part of it has to do with gearing. Im used to using some degree of engine drag to slow down. On the HD gearing feels either too low or too high when entering a corner. The other problem is I don’t want to be the middle aged guy that “had to lay ma Harley down, brother.” Stereotype. And then it freaks me TF out when I touch hard parts to the ground. I haven’t had a decent road trip to ride twisty’s on the HD yet but it’s coming soon. Hopefully I can get past being tentative and wobbly when cornering.
You get used to them after a while. Remember the suspension is adjustable and also it won't be as good as some of your other bikes - makes a huge difference in the corners - especially perception wise.
I know the EXACT feeling that you're referring to when cornering....I went from a gsxr 1000 to a HD RGS and if you're in too high of a gear in the Harley while cornering you will feel absolutely vulnerable, but too low and the bike will be screaming as you acclerate thru the curve. Gotta find that sweet spot....I also stiffened my rear shocks and it made a world of difference
Another great video! You nailed it. I wish every rider, old or new would watch this.
Thank you that's much appreciated
Your push steering explanation was easy to understand
thank you
I think the without being afraid part just comes with experience. The more you push yourself, etc…
100% agree
All the gear. Good working bike. Research, practice, self evaluation and growth as a rider. Dont be afraid to lean that machine. Look threw the corners.
Thanks, good advice