Where do you look....

[bosshog]

when going around corners?

I've notice recently if I look way around the corner as much as I can then I corner much better and find that even if the corner is tightening up I get through much more smoothly with a better line. The only thing though is that I'm then not concentrating on the road surface in front of the bike , so I could get caught unaware by debris/oil/cow shit.
What do you lot do?

[Mon Ami Mate]

Assess the surface before you commit to the corner. You should be aware of gravel, obvious moisture, bumps, manhole covers, horseshit, animals (live and dead!), overhanging foliage (leaf mulch) and any one of a thousand and one other potential hazards that could compromise the biker's best friend, grip.

This is the bit that my non-biking friends find impossible to comprehend - they just never stop to think about the surface and its effect on traction, and find it apparently impossible to understand why this is so important to a powered two wheeler. Which explains why I sometimes find myself with car drivers right up my arse while I'm picking my way through a greasy bend. They also scoff when I try to explain that I make this assessment on every corner and in a split second.

Next turn your attention to the apex and exit. Look for evidence of roads emerging after the corner and prepare to position yourself to make yourself visible to possible emerging traffic.

Then think target fixation. Look at where you want to go, not where you don't. Assuming all is then congruent, nail the bitch!!!

[Davel]

Dead right!

When I look up the road, then I exit corners much better.

Sometimes I suffer 'Target Fixation' and then I really do not want to hit that wall on the other side of the bend!

It can be a problem with U-turns when I tend to look at the offside kerb for too long.

[bosshog]

Mon Ami Mate said:

Assess the surface before you commit to the corner. You should be aware of gravel, obvious moisture, bumps, manhole covers, horseshit, animals (live and dead!), overhanging foliage (leaf mulch) and any one of a thousand and one other potential hazards that could compromise the biker's best friend, grip.

But how can you assess the road surface thats after the apex, as you can't see that as you're entering, and surely you should be looking ahead at this point.?

[Mon Ami Mate]

bosshog said:

Mon Ami Mate said: Assess the surface before you commit to the corner. You should be aware of gravel, obvious moisture, bumps, manhole covers, horseshit, animals (live and dead!), overhanging foliage (leaf mulch) and any one of a thousand and one other potential hazards that could compromise the biker's best friend, grip. But how can you assess the road surface thats after the apex, as you can't see that as you're entering, and surely you should be looking ahead at this point.?

You can't. But the surface after the apex is far less critical than the surface leading up to and on the apex, which is where your braking, gear changing and weight transfer are all taking place.

[whoozit]

So you're not checking whether there's pheasant guts right on your line at the exit of the corner?

The advanced training mantra is "be able to stop in the distance you can see is clear". I've been shown by police riders just how much information you can get about a bend, the road ahead and the road surface by raising your vision and not just seeing, but interpreting the information about what is (rapidly) approaching. If you know earlier that the corner is completely clear, you can blast through without a care. Go into the corner focusing on the road 10 metres in front and 99 times out of a 100 you'll be OK, but just one occurrence of not spotting the pheasant guts/verge maintenance/stupid oncoming overtake makes me, at least, crap myself.