Topic: Riding safety

[Keith]

Last year, I took my bike out on my favorite twisty road. I always ride to the destinations, looking for washed out corners etc., then ride a bit more aggressively on the way back. I was practicing "squaring off" corners, driving deep into the corner, then applying pressure to the bars (counter steering) and accelerating out of the corner. One the last corner before arriving home, in my lane heading right at me is a John Deere tractor with a sickle bar cutting high weeds. No signs, no cones, nothing. I had already selected my line, and there he was. I could either go straight, hit him head on, or try to go around him on the inside. I went around on the inside, applying heavy pressure with my left hand on a right hand curve. Not an instinctual move, but probably saved my life. If I hadn't been practicing that on a regular basis, I would have had a disaster. My question: anyone else practice this?

[jonda500]

Maybe I am misunderstanding, but this sounds wrong to me - unless you are going very slowly, to turn sharper during a right hand turn you apply pressure with your right hand (steer left).

I do agree this is good to practice lots on a quiet highway and then in the twisty's - turn the bars left and the bike leans right, turn the bars right and the bike leans left. New riders should practice this until it becomes instinctive!
John

[BomberMann650]

Press and lean 

Put your shoulder into it if you have to. 

But don't get all twisted up.

[Keith]

Should have read my own post, meant left turn.

[atm cycles]

Yes I do

[Steve_K]

Shoot, in the spring I spend a hour in an empty parking lot working on braking.  When I get the front tire making noise,  I feel I am there.(70's bikes)   Newer bikes, I feel I have to lift the rear wheel to stop hard.   
Steve 

[flybox1]

Press and lean 

Put your shoulder into it if you have to. 

But don't get all twisted up.

Be sure to look where you want to go, and use some down force on the inside foot peg.

[jonda500]

While these are good techniques for fine tuning your control of the bike, the bike will actually turn right without leaning your body right, pressing with your right foot or using your shoulders - just turning the bars left alone will lean the bike to the right.
Very good tip from flybox, always look ahead to where you want to go! -and try to keep your head upright when your body is leaned over
John

[Keith]

Agree, look where you want to go. I know riders who complain of wobbling through corners, when they are actually trying to steer through the corner.  Maybe this thread will help someone.