Cornering Question

CWP76 · Sep 20, 2017

Okay, question before my Hyperstrada gets delivered this week.

I've had many sportbikes and attended many track days. I also own a YZ450f and still thrash about on many dirtbike tracks // trails around the midwest.

My question is this...How do people like to corner their Hyperstrada? Like a sportbike by shifting your body/head towards the inside of the corner or perhaps like a dirbike // supermoto and pushing the bike down into the corner whilst shifting your weight into the opposite direction? Excuse me if my general descriptions of cornering techniques are vague, I just don't want to get too detailed. So in short, what technique feels most comfortable to corner this bike? Thank you!

thePUNISHER · Sep 20, 2017

Your question is pretty straight forward. Take street corners like a sumo(sticking your foot out) or like a sportbike(shifting your body and sticking your knee out)? Maybe I just don't ride that aggressive on the street but I find that I don't do either lol. If I were to take the strada to the track I would probably ride it more like a sportbike than a sumo. I think that's what most people do. This pic comes to mind,

Here are a few more, eveyone seems to run knee out instead of foot out...

Although some people do run fun out so I guess it's all about personal preference and what feels right to you. If you come from a sumo backround it might feel better to throw your foot out there and if you come from a sportbike backround knee out might feel right.

ducati-hypermotard-939-sp-2016Hypermotard-939-SP_2016_Amb_07_1920x1080.mediagallery_output_image_1920x1080.jpg

RSL · Sep 20, 2017

The way I see it is that dirt bike and supermoto are different. Maybe climbing on top and shoving the bike down is fine off-road with knobby tires, but not on pavement. The adjustment for me from dirt to pavement required a number of changes, including the switch from rear to front brake.

Frankly, I find track riding style dangerous on streets because of the added factors like oncoming traffic, with so little lane discipline. My lines on the street always anticipate a big fat pickup farm trucks in my lane, unless I can clearly see ahead. Saved my life many times.

My preferred street riding style is the same as the UK motorcycle cops. Smooth, steady and upright. Time and time again UK magazines show they are every bit as fast as crossing their country as track style riders, with a lot more control.

BUT, photos look a lot more exciting with track style.

bayotte · Sep 20, 2017

RSL, I agree with you for the most part. However, I corner with a little bit of hang off the bike. The more off the bike I am, the more upright the bike can be. This allows for a larger contact patch and more traction in the corner. If the turn radius suddenly tightens, I have plenty of room to lean the bike further. A completely upright stance is fine until you find yourself running out of lean angle and headed towards the ditch.

kuksul08 · Sep 20, 2017

Like RSL, I primarily sit upright. I find this allows for the best balance of handling without fully committing to a turn by leaning my body weight off. Also, on roads with lots of back and forth transitions, hanging off is much much slower.

I do tend to stick my leg out from time to time, which is left over from my dirt biking years.

dragoontwo · Sep 20, 2017

bayotte said:
RSL, I agree with you for the most part. However, I corner with a little bit of hang off the bike. The more off the bike I am, the more upright the bike can be. This allows for a larger contact patch and more traction in the corner. If the turn radius suddenly tightens, I have plenty of room to lean the bike further. A completely upright stance is fine until you find yourself running out of lean angle and headed towards the ditch.

What he said. Mostly upright, but shifting some weight into the corner to keep the bike more upright. Also keeping towards the outside of the lane for errant traffic.

Sometimes there can be gravel, horse poop, or grass on the back roads. More upright in the corner is more available traction.

RSL · Sep 20, 2017

I extend my upper body into the corner, looking where I want to be. Pretty much have the weight shift and right gear selected before the lean.

On the countless back and forth successive corners on the tight mountain backroads having everything setup before the lean makes for a more stable bike.

Can't tell you how many times in a blind corner an oncoming vehicle is at least half in my lane. With just the upper body committed it is easier for me to compensate for any necessary line adjustment.

Photos aren't as good, but I still enjoy them.

RSL · Sep 20, 2017

Some may think I'm old and slow, but next week I will be playing on this road a few times. Plenty of cornering practice.

Stradasphere · Sep 20, 2017

I'm relatively short so hanging the but off the seat does not work well for me when I gave it a try on the track. For me I find leaning forward and to the inside of the turn works with the but off center of the seat.

CWP76 · Sep 21, 2017

Some great feedback here gents. Thanks much.

RSL · Sep 21, 2017

Here is an older video from my GS days, where you can hear background discussions as we are connected by 2-way radio when riding.

Butt hanging on this road would wear anyone out, especially considering that we ride for 10 hours a day on these backroads.

Video Link: https://photos.smugmug.com/Movies/Rides/i-3GHPk59/0/d336bf3f/960/36 Twist - 2009-960.mp4

Or, how about some butt hanging on my shortcuts like these?

Video Link: https://photos.smugmug.com/Movies/Rides/i-m5bt7q8/0/db750cc9/960/2011 Shortcuts-960.mp4

Maybe some butt hanging on the Little Dragon. (Give Gary a break on his lines as he is in his 70s.)

Video Link: https://photos.smugmug.com/Movies/Rides/i-pMMxStT/0/69fbcf43/1920/2012 Hwy 49 Little Dragon-1920.mp4

thePUNISHER · Sep 21, 2017

RSL said:
Here is an older video from my GS days, where you can hear background discussions as we are connected by 2-way radio when riding.

Butt hanging on this road would wear anyone out, especially considering that we ride for 10 hours a day on these backroads.

Video Link: https://photos.smugmug.com/Movies/Rides/i-3GHPk59/0/d336bf3f/960/36 Twist - 2009-960.mp4

Or, how about some butt hanging on my shortcuts like these?

Video Link: https://photos.smugmug.com/Movies/Rides/i-m5bt7q8/0/db750cc9/960/2011 Shortcuts-960.mp4

Maybe some butt hanging on the Little Dragon. (Give Gary a break on his lines as he is in his 70s.)

Video Link: https://photos.smugmug.com/Movies/Rides/i-pMMxStT/0/69fbcf43/1920/2012 Hwy 49 Little Dragon-1920.mp4

Gotta LOVE the LIL Dragon! I live about 45 minutes from it. Some of the best riding around. During the week it's nearly deserted, so fun.

toeslider · Sep 21, 2017

Me? Totally different riding styles for my two Ducatis. On the Panigale 899, I'm hanging a lot of upper body off the inside of the bike, helmet alongside the screen in the style invented by Casey Stoner, and copied by almost every GP racer since. On the Hyper, I'm Mike Hailwood, circa 1966, upright with the body right in the centre. It's a such a flickable steer that I don't need to get as active as I do on the Pani, where the extra body 'English' really helps the bike turn. Things change in the loose of course. Then it's weighting the outside peg, outside elbow up, inside foot out, and having memories of my good ol' CR500 stroker.

CWP76 · Sep 22, 2017

toeslider said:
Me? Totally different riding styles for my two Ducatis. On the Panigale 899, I'm hanging a lot of upper body off the inside of the bike, helmet alongside the screen in the style invented by Casey Stoner, and copied by almost every GP racer since. On the Hyper, I'm Mike Hailwood, circa 1966, upright with the body right in the centre. It's a such a flickable steer that I don't need to get as active as I do on the Pani, where the extra body 'English' really helps the bike turn. Things change in the loose of course. Then it's weighting the outside peg, outside elbow up, inside foot out, and having memories of my good ol' CR500 stroker.

Ah the CR500. Pal of mine back in England just built a CR500 into a 2009 frame. Thing was brilliant. Sold it quickly though. lol. Made some good cash on it too.

RSL · Sep 22, 2017

I attended a training track day in Texas, where the instructors were alarmed when one rider began the foot down supermoto style of riding.

Makes me wonder where any track school might allow supermoto foot down riding?

appliance821 · Sep 24, 2017

I'm with RSL. On the road you have to be taking into account so many things. Last week I was on the road for 5 days - came up over a rise on a straight road at about 65mph, simultaneously a bicycle came over the top on the other side, and a car was straddling the lane to give it room - invisible to me until it came over the rise. I pulled a quick swerve and blew by. Didn't know I had it in me. The road will always surprise you.

CWP76 · Sep 25, 2017

Took delivery of the bike Friday and put a few hundred miles on her over the weekend. I have to say, it doesn't matter which method you use to corner her, she grips and just rips around the bends. I really think I'm going to enjoy my time with this bike and right now, I don't regret selling my RC51 for it.

Cornering Question

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