Cornering Tips (help)

Braders756
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Braders756
Edited Date/Time 5/21/2013 3:24pm
Hello guys, I have recently gotten my bike fully rebuilt after the piston blew and will be a little rusty when I get back on the track.
I want some advanced cornering tips from you guys as I believe this is where seconds are burned off...
I already know basics (weight outside of peg, inside leg out) I just want some more advanced stuff!

Post below if you have anything that could help me guys! I'm 15 on a KX 85, pretty fast but want to move to that next level, you know...
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Kent Christensen 5/19/2013 3:40pm
5/19/2013 3:40pm Edited Date/Time 5/19/2013 3:41pm
Look further down the track than you normally do to pick out your lines sooner and get on the gas sooner exiting the turn. Watch how early guys like Dungey get on the gas, usually mid turn, full throttle.

You also want to study the tracks you ride really well, cruise around and decide which lines make the most sense and try to master those lines and stick to them. Also have your dad use a stopwatch and check your lap times and experiment with different cornering lines to see if you are faster one way or the other.

Most important thing in my opinion is knowing a track really well, lots of laps. When I raced I never did well on tracks I didn't know well, but the tracks I had been racing at for months I did really well at.

Just practice a lot and don't ride over your head and get hurt, that is a big step back. Baby steps is best.

Also have your dad take video of you and then sit down and study the video. And / or GoPro. Can learn a lot.

Also study video of the best pro riders and how they do things, and copy them.

Lastly make sure you have the right tire for your track surface.
Braders756
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Braders756 5/19/2013 3:51pm
5/19/2013 3:51pm
Kent Christensen wrote:
Look further down the track than you normally do to pick out your lines sooner and get on the gas sooner exiting the turn. Watch how...
Look further down the track than you normally do to pick out your lines sooner and get on the gas sooner exiting the turn. Watch how early guys like Dungey get on the gas, usually mid turn, full throttle.

You also want to study the tracks you ride really well, cruise around and decide which lines make the most sense and try to master those lines and stick to them. Also have your dad use a stopwatch and check your lap times and experiment with different cornering lines to see if you are faster one way or the other.

Most important thing in my opinion is knowing a track really well, lots of laps. When I raced I never did well on tracks I didn't know well, but the tracks I had been racing at for months I did really well at.

Just practice a lot and don't ride over your head and get hurt, that is a big step back. Baby steps is best.

Also have your dad take video of you and then sit down and study the video. And / or GoPro. Can learn a lot.

Also study video of the best pro riders and how they do things, and copy them.

Lastly make sure you have the right tire for your track surface.
Hey Kent, some great advice there! I have gathered to look on further down the track for the next line I'm going to take rather than concentrating too much on the current corner and to get on the gas a lot sooner... Correct?

I will take some time to just roll the track the next time I go also, and I have a GoPro video in my signature if you want to check it out!

Thanks for all the great advice.
Brad!
crf250pilot
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crf250pilot 5/19/2013 4:00pm
5/19/2013 4:00pm
Find a flat dirt area and grab a couple of old car tires, space them out a ways and make figure 8's around them in both directions.
Kent Christensen 5/19/2013 4:04pm
5/19/2013 4:04pm
Kent Christensen wrote:
Look further down the track than you normally do to pick out your lines sooner and get on the gas sooner exiting the turn. Watch how...
Look further down the track than you normally do to pick out your lines sooner and get on the gas sooner exiting the turn. Watch how early guys like Dungey get on the gas, usually mid turn, full throttle.

You also want to study the tracks you ride really well, cruise around and decide which lines make the most sense and try to master those lines and stick to them. Also have your dad use a stopwatch and check your lap times and experiment with different cornering lines to see if you are faster one way or the other.

Most important thing in my opinion is knowing a track really well, lots of laps. When I raced I never did well on tracks I didn't know well, but the tracks I had been racing at for months I did really well at.

Just practice a lot and don't ride over your head and get hurt, that is a big step back. Baby steps is best.

Also have your dad take video of you and then sit down and study the video. And / or GoPro. Can learn a lot.

Also study video of the best pro riders and how they do things, and copy them.

Lastly make sure you have the right tire for your track surface.
Braders756 wrote:
Hey Kent, some great advice there! I have gathered to look on further down the track for the next line I'm going to take rather than...
Hey Kent, some great advice there! I have gathered to look on further down the track for the next line I'm going to take rather than concentrating too much on the current corner and to get on the gas a lot sooner... Correct?

I will take some time to just roll the track the next time I go also, and I have a GoPro video in my signature if you want to check it out!

Thanks for all the great advice.
Brad!
Ya I guess the key is knowing the track really well first so you dont have to feel like looking at the track just in front of you. The better you know the track the more you can look ahead and get a good flow going.

Ya the pros always walk the tracks carefully and roll around at first checking everything out. It makes you feel a lot more comfortable to go fast if you have studied the track first.

And study those pros and how they do things. Smile Body position and such, how they do the ruts and their shifting techniques in the corners. Tire choice is pretty critical too. Make sure your tires are matched to the types of surfaces you usually ride.

Keep it on 2 wheels, this sport stops being fun after big crashes and injuries and torn up bikes.

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Braders756
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Braders756 5/19/2013 4:18pm
5/19/2013 4:18pm
Hey guys, thanks again, so far I have pretty much this.

-Standing up in the neutral position when entering the turn.
-Use both brakes when braking for the turn.
-Sit down, and bring inside leg out.
-Weight outside of the foot peg and keep both elbows up.
-Lean bike over into the turn.
-Look ahead for exit.
-Find smooth line, ready for next section of the track.

Is there anything I should add to this guys? I have found some of this from various websites/videos...
Jeff alessi
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Jeff alessi 5/19/2013 4:31pm
5/19/2013 4:31pm
Don't try and push it wide open into a corner, come in nice and smooth stand up deep into the corner then sit down elbows up with your outer foot planted on the peg closer to your toes then your heels. Nice smooth twist of the throttle, if the bike starts pushing try and focus on the inside leg being up and having your foot strait and holding tight with you thighs on the tank. Remember, when your thighs arnt tight on the tank that's when your bike will react to bumps the wrong way. Another thing I try and remind riders off is not making huge body position changes, you should have your helmet just behind the bar pad, or an inch or two within that zone. You want to be on the front of the bike but that doesnt mean sitting on the tank, maybe have 3 inches between the front of the seat and where your planted. Try and also turn your outer heel out because that can help you be tight on the bike so u don't get the bouncing around exiting the corner. Good luck.
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brimx153 5/19/2013 4:50pm
5/19/2013 4:50pm
by looking at ur profile pic , keep ur elbows up , ur outside one needs to be up higher , and out away from your body , looked at ur vid and you use 3 fingers on your front brake , use 1 , ur 2 , an keep 1 on the clutch at all times , keep ur head over the bars , and hold the bike tight with ur legs even when ur sitting down turning with ur inside leg for the turns s, KENT ha given you some great advice , practice practice practice , Smile its all about momentum in turns and keeping it up , but that s the hard part Smile
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tobz 5/19/2013 4:54pm
5/19/2013 4:54pm
I found that instead of over complicating it, with alot of little bits of and pieces to remember, is just to remember that the name of the game is to get through the corner as fast as you can. I found that trying to go through a corner a gear higher was a great practice method in keeping your speed up. Of course getting the basics down pat first would make it alot easier.

You see alotta kids bang it down 3 or 4 gears, sound loud as hell with alot of roost and looseness going on, then you see someone that's smoother, not as loud, but who is a gear higher rail around the outside of them.
Myke
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Myke 5/19/2013 4:56pm
5/19/2013 4:56pm Edited Date/Time 5/19/2013 4:57pm
Braders756 wrote:
Hey guys, thanks again, so far I have pretty much this. -Standing up in the neutral position when entering the turn. -Use both brakes when braking...
Hey guys, thanks again, so far I have pretty much this.

-Standing up in the neutral position when entering the turn.
-Use both brakes when braking for the turn.
-Sit down, and bring inside leg out.
-Weight outside of the foot peg and keep both elbows up.
-Lean bike over into the turn.
-Look ahead for exit.
-Find smooth line, ready for next section of the track.

Is there anything I should add to this guys? I have found some of this from various websites/videos...
Added points to above.

Weight the outside bar end with your elbow up.

Entering corning be looking at exit, middle of corner be looking down straight.

Don't be afraid to lay the bike over and ride the berm. Way faster then cutting the inside.
Braders756
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Braders756 5/19/2013 5:24pm
5/19/2013 5:24pm
tobz wrote:
I found that instead of over complicating it, with alot of little bits of and pieces to remember, is just to remember that the name of...
I found that instead of over complicating it, with alot of little bits of and pieces to remember, is just to remember that the name of the game is to get through the corner as fast as you can. I found that trying to go through a corner a gear higher was a great practice method in keeping your speed up. Of course getting the basics down pat first would make it alot easier.

You see alotta kids bang it down 3 or 4 gears, sound loud as hell with alot of roost and looseness going on, then you see someone that's smoother, not as loud, but who is a gear higher rail around the outside of them.
Dude, this is actually so helpful... I kind of look at cornering in a different way after that.
I know the basics I just need to get round there as fast as I see fit.

Myke you also helped me, people tend to believe the inside is always the fastest, as I do sometimes. The amount of time you see people rail that baby round the outside and make the pass is very effective and looks beautiful!

Really loving how helpful and kind this community is guys keep it coming!
vanillaice782 5/19/2013 5:33pm
5/19/2013 5:33pm
Always remember that if you ain't first you're last. I'm a total squid and I always try to take the outside line because it's more fun railing a huge berm. Make sure your brakes are nice and firm. After I switched to the cr style routing on my front brake it made me question my entire life up until that point on my ten year old two stroke.
Presley155
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Presley155 5/19/2013 5:54pm
5/19/2013 5:54pm
A simple trick many people don't utilize is this; when cornering through a rut, lighting drag the front brake to keep the front wheel tracking through the rut. This will help keep it from climbing out of the rut and pushing.
Myke
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Myke 5/19/2013 7:51pm
5/19/2013 7:51pm
Presley155 wrote:
A simple trick many people don't utilize is this; when cornering through a rut, lighting drag the front brake to keep the front wheel tracking through...
A simple trick many people don't utilize is this; when cornering through a rut, lighting drag the front brake to keep the front wheel tracking through the rut. This will help keep it from climbing out of the rut and pushing.
Good one. It works.
Niloz
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Niloz 5/20/2013 6:57am
5/20/2013 6:57am
Jeff alessi wrote:
Don't try and push it wide open into a corner, come in nice and smooth stand up deep into the corner then sit down elbows up...
Don't try and push it wide open into a corner, come in nice and smooth stand up deep into the corner then sit down elbows up with your outer foot planted on the peg closer to your toes then your heels. Nice smooth twist of the throttle, if the bike starts pushing try and focus on the inside leg being up and having your foot strait and holding tight with you thighs on the tank. Remember, when your thighs arnt tight on the tank that's when your bike will react to bumps the wrong way. Another thing I try and remind riders off is not making huge body position changes, you should have your helmet just behind the bar pad, or an inch or two within that zone. You want to be on the front of the bike but that doesnt mean sitting on the tank, maybe have 3 inches between the front of the seat and where your planted. Try and also turn your outer heel out because that can help you be tight on the bike so u don't get the bouncing around exiting the corner. Good luck.
Every once in a while wading through some of the nonsense some people post here pays off -

How cool is it that a 15 year old can get advice from a professional racer?

Very nice Mr. Alessi!!!!!!!
MX690
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MX690 5/20/2013 7:13am
5/20/2013 7:13am
Jeff alessi wrote:
Don't try and push it wide open into a corner, come in nice and smooth stand up deep into the corner then sit down elbows up...
Don't try and push it wide open into a corner, come in nice and smooth stand up deep into the corner then sit down elbows up with your outer foot planted on the peg closer to your toes then your heels. Nice smooth twist of the throttle, if the bike starts pushing try and focus on the inside leg being up and having your foot strait and holding tight with you thighs on the tank. Remember, when your thighs arnt tight on the tank that's when your bike will react to bumps the wrong way. Another thing I try and remind riders off is not making huge body position changes, you should have your helmet just behind the bar pad, or an inch or two within that zone. You want to be on the front of the bike but that doesnt mean sitting on the tank, maybe have 3 inches between the front of the seat and where your planted. Try and also turn your outer heel out because that can help you be tight on the bike so u don't get the bouncing around exiting the corner. Good luck.
Niloz wrote:
Every once in a while wading through some of the nonsense some people post here pays off - How cool is it that a 15 year...
Every once in a while wading through some of the nonsense some people post here pays off -

How cool is it that a 15 year old can get advice from a professional racer?

Very nice Mr. Alessi!!!!!!!
Yep my thoughts exactly, good to see a Pro taking the time to help a young kid out, We'll done Jeff.
Panic_Rev
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Panic_Rev 5/20/2013 7:27am
5/20/2013 7:27am
stand up with balls of your feet on the pegs and shoulders even with handle bars so that the bike is pushing you rather than you holding onto the bike before the corner. once you enter the corner sit down high on tank, drag front break, outside elbow up, inside leg out at front wheel and point toe inward, look forward, don't chop the throttle, finger on clutch and be smooth.
Panic_Rev
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Panic_Rev 5/20/2013 7:28am
5/20/2013 7:28am
Panic_Rev wrote:
stand up with balls of your feet on the pegs and shoulders even with handle bars so that the bike is pushing you rather than you...
stand up with balls of your feet on the pegs and shoulders even with handle bars so that the bike is pushing you rather than you holding onto the bike before the corner. once you enter the corner sit down high on tank, drag front break, outside elbow up, inside leg out at front wheel and point toe inward, look forward, don't chop the throttle, finger on clutch and be smooth.
sumdood
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sumdood 5/20/2013 8:01am
5/20/2013 8:01am
Don't forget to charge into the corner, lots of guys coast into the corners, especially late in the moto, you should be on the the gas or on the brakes, no time for coasting. Try to maintain your intensity level for the whole moto. This one isn't really a cornering tip but treat EVERY straight like the start straight, same intensity every lap. If you you can't corner that good yet at least make sure you get to the corner as fast as you can, and then get the fuk outta there like the cops are chasing you.Laughing

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Markee 5/20/2013 8:35am
5/20/2013 8:35am
Corner mechanics like everyone has explained is the same on all bikes. But another thing to consider on your 2 stroke 85 is to keep the revs up, keep the bike in its powerband. 2 strokes don't engine brake as well as the 4 strokes so the comment sumdood left is very important, On the gas or on the brakes.

Gear choice is important on 2 strokes because you want the gear that when its time to accelerate out the turn, its a gear closest to that powerband kicking in. Also I didn't notice you using your clutch to bring your engine speed up on corner exit, the bike seems to been in the right gear, but its laboring to get up and going, this is when you help it along with using your clutch.

The more consistant you are with delivering your power, the more consistant you will turn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9bvLUDH0ME

Here is a kid on a 85, you can hear him braking, bring the revs up and dumping the clutch pulling gears down the straight. You can also here when he bogs the bike on corner exit and using the clutch to get it up and going.
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mellonhs 5/20/2013 8:51am
5/20/2013 8:51am
sumdood wrote:
Don't forget to charge into the corner, lots of guys coast into the corners, especially late in the moto, you should be on the the gas...
Don't forget to charge into the corner, lots of guys coast into the corners, especially late in the moto, you should be on the the gas or on the brakes, no time for coasting. Try to maintain your intensity level for the whole moto. This one isn't really a cornering tip but treat EVERY straight like the start straight, same intensity every lap. If you you can't corner that good yet at least make sure you get to the corner as fast as you can, and then get the fuk outta there like the cops are chasing you.Laughing
Cha-Ching!! Good stuff. While your working on your cornering do the rest of the track as fast as you can to make up for your time loss while learning the fastest way through a corner. I remember 1 rut would get me every time at tunnel hill. It was a real tight right hander after a long straight and the rut was DEEP. and right after the corner was a double you had to hit wide open 2nd gear while shifting up to 3rd while going up the face (190lbs and on a 250f) So the slightest wheel spin coming out of the corner i wouldnt make it. And the slightest bobble in the corner i wouldnt make it. I asked a friend of mine to let me follow him into the corner and over the jump and then i asked him to follow me into the corner. He told me my elbows and squeezing the bike looked good and he asked me if i was weighting the outside peg and i said i guess.... he said well it looked like u wasnt because of the way your back end was tracking through the rut. So i focused on that and then my front end kept jumping out of the rut. Then he said try this... Enter the corner going faster than you are and dont be scared to lean the bike over. I did that and it worked... But i wasn making the jump for some reason. So he said to me as soon as you enter the rut look at the end of the corner and as soon as you feel your in the rut look out of the corner towards the double. AND ILL BE DAMNED. I was looking infront of my front wheel never where i wanted to go. and boom I was clearing that double 80% of the time instead of 5%... It was get the corner right and clear the double or goof it and have to roll it or case the hell out of it. So after that I improved on every corner on the track... Well atleast i had more confidence in the corner lol.

Then I went to sand mountain with my best friend who was a local pro who now works for go-pro. They cut off part of the track due to flooding and there was a tight right handed corner with a rut... I couldnt get it.... Finally I asked Will to follow me. And he said man your looking infront of your tire and you think you have to enter this rut too slow. Hit it faster and look ahead and lean the bike over and quit being scared.... Next lap he followed me and he said he wish he had his camera because i was about an inch from dragging bars and i looked good to keep that up. He couldnt believe how quick i learned. but....

Weight on outside peg
Elbows up
Look ahead
Enter corner with speed while not being scared to lean it over
Get on the gas sooner

Once you come out of a corner feeling like a pro.... man the confidence alone will make you faster.
Braders756
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Braders756 5/20/2013 9:52am
5/20/2013 9:52am
I'm actually thrilled at how much advice I have been given, the community is just great! So entering the corner faster without fear could potentially make the difference, as there's always that little voice in my head saying ''too fast'' or ''slow down'', but if I come into the corner just that little bit faster, look ahead and lean that baby over I could really start being more advanced at cornering!

I can't explain how helpful everyone's been any more advice is welcome... loving this community!
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Mr. Ted 5/20/2013 9:55am
5/20/2013 9:55am
Make sure you are using good body position for braking. Bring your weight rearward for braking. Pick one or two corners at the track and just practice in those for a couple runs to try and hone in on where you need to work and then choose two different ones and so on.
Braders756
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Braders756 5/20/2013 10:03am
5/20/2013 10:03am
Mr. Ted wrote:
Make sure you are using good body position for braking. Bring your weight rearward for braking. Pick one or two corners at the track and just...
Make sure you are using good body position for braking. Bring your weight rearward for braking. Pick one or two corners at the track and just practice in those for a couple runs to try and hone in on where you need to work and then choose two different ones and so on.
Hey man, yeah, that's logical, I'll pick two corners to work on on Saturday when I practice then the following Saturday pick another two! Really good advice yet again, I need to take the baby steps rather than just trying to rail around every corner first time!

Thanks man!
motomike137
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motomike137 5/20/2013 11:50am
5/20/2013 11:50am
Nice post! I'm an old fart trying to improve my game and I am gleaning all kinds of good stuff from this!
Braders756
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Braders756 5/20/2013 2:13pm
5/20/2013 2:13pm
Yes, it's all extremely helpful, and I was wondering guys, do you have any pointers to improve my speed or technique all round and not just in corners to give me just that little bit more of an edge over competitors...
smeg
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smeg 5/20/2013 2:38pm
5/20/2013 2:38pm
The only thing I can add is that in 99% of corners, everyone(amateurs) brakes too soon. Charge OVER the braking bumps that form THEN brake...... oh yea, and learn to use your front brake like a madman.
Braders756
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Braders756 5/20/2013 4:18pm
5/20/2013 4:18pm
Thanks dude, I will try to brake later on, after the braking bumps! Also about the front brake, I use it like a madman, I slide all over the place though however many people praise me on using the front brake as much, if not more than the back! Smile
EastFlorida
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EastFlorida 5/20/2013 5:15pm
5/20/2013 5:15pm
The beauty of this thread is that some good advice was given very early and others have resisted the temptation to make fun of the young man. This is very refreshing indeed!

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