Advice: Rider input No.2

Rider Input: Part Two - Handling problems

Does your bike have any handling problems? Does it seem to work well in one corner, yet poorly in another similar turn? Have other people ridden your bike and pronounced it okay, but you're still struggling and unconvinced? If you answered yes to any of these questions, chances are your riding style is affecting the operation of your suspension.

Aside from the various things you can affect by incorrect use of the controls as discussed in previous issues - you can change the way your bike handles simply by how tightly you hold on to the controls.

In essence, the suspension is there to keep the wheels on the ground (giving you a plush ride is a secondary consideration!). How effective your suspension is will translate to the amount of traction available from the tyres. To perform that task effectively the suspension needs to have neutral input from the rider most of the time. Particularly once the bike has been steered into the turn and is at its maximum lean angle for that corner.

I have previously plagiarised Keith Code to make the statement that a good rider does less not more. Part of 'doing less' is to relax your grip on the handlebars and allow the bike to complete whatever you have asked it to do.

For example, once you have steered the bike into a turn, to complete that turn the pressure on the handlebars needs to be released so the suspension and tyres can work effectively. If you continue holding onto the handlebars too tightly, the bike will probably feel unstable and want to run wide.

Thinking about it, if you are reducing the tyre's ability to stick to the road, the bike will definitely want to run wide. In the case of excessive speed, the tyres will actually want to slide earlier than if you can just relax and let the whole package of chassis, suspension and tyres do their jobs.

Thinking about it, if you are reducing the tyre's ability to stick to the road, the bike will definitely want to run wide

Doing this is another way in which you can learn to ride your motorcycle in the manner in which it was designed to be ridden. (For more information on this topic, refer to the five chapters that make up Section 2 of Keith Code's book "A Twist of the Wrist II") more here.

Good luck with your riding.

Steve Brouggy is the owner of the

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Knoxfield, VIC 3180
Australia

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