High Speed Turning Techniques

[Jerry/MD]

Looking for some known high speed turning techniques. Now, I guess my definition of 'high speed' would be 30+ mph.

I've done a search on here and found some info...and as usual some of it is conflicting advice. Maybe that's the nature of the game...you develop your own approach. But, I can't help but think there are some `tried and known' basics. I am a newbie with only a few hundred miles under my belt, and I understand it's a learning process so bring it on. If there is a thread you can point me to, please do.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Jerry

[JJHog]

Get some solid basic driving skills/experience under your belt with the trike before you're start looking for taking turns at high speed.

The tried and true method of going around a turn is to enter the turn from the outside at a controllable speed, hit the apex on the inside of the turn and then begin to accelerate as you exit the turn drifting back to the outside of the turn. Since you can not lean the trike it is your body that needs to compensate for the gravitation pull on both you and the bike as you go around the turn. Most of us shift our body a bit to the inside of the seat and turn our upper body into the turn. I like to press my inside knee/thigh against the tank as I am going into and around the turn.

[2Trikez]

Push the handlebars rather than pulling. Push (with the cup of your hand) on the left bar to go right (ya can pull a smige on the right bar). Pulling the bars you are using the short muscles in your arm...pushing your using the long muscles and this helps to keep you from getting tired from riding the trike.

As "JJHog" gives you the best advise about entry/exit of corners...at speed and he's talking about normal speed on roadway. Slowing just a "tad" as you enter the corner and then adding throttle will pull/push you thru the turn and towards the outside like JJHog says. You use your momentum/lane position to get thru turns Keep your bike where your "nose" happens to be as well ...in the middle of the lane. You'll learn to slide from track to track for a more comfy ride. You'll learn quickly...just pay attention to what happens with actions you take.

2TZ

[rmrc51]

Both explanations above by JJHog and 2Trikez are right in the money!

[Jerry/MD]

Get some solid basic driving skills/experience under your belt with the trike before you're start looking for taking turns at high speed.

The tried and true method of going around a turn is to enter the turn from the outside at a controllable speed, hit the apex on the inside of the turn and then begin to accelerate as you exit the turn drifting back to the outside of the turn. Since you can not lean the trike it is your body that needs to compensate for the gravitation pull on both you and the bike as you go around the turn. Most of us shift our body a bit to the inside of the seat and turn our upper body into the turn. I like to press my inside knee/thigh against the tank as I am going into and around the turn.

Thanks JJHog, I tried a similar technique yesterday and found it helped.

I have also read about placing extra pressure on the floorboard on the opposite side of the turn. Does this help?

Jerry

[Jerry/MD]

Push the handlebars rather than pulling. Push (with the cup of your hand) on the left bar to go right (ya can pull a smige on the right bar). Pulling the bars you are using the short muscles in your arm...pushing your using the long muscles and this helps to keep you from getting tired from riding the trike.

As "JJHog" gives you the best advise about entry/exit of corners...at speed and he's talking about normal speed on roadway. Slowing just a "tad" as you enter the corner and then adding throttle will pull/push you thru the turn and towards the outside like JJHog says. You use your momentum/lane position to get thru turns Keep your bike where your "nose" happens to be as well ...in the middle of the lane. You'll learn to slide from track to track for a more comfy ride. You'll learn quickly...just pay attention to what happens with actions you take.

2TZ

Thanks 2Trikez. Yes, I have found that pushing on the handlebars is a bit more effective than pulling. Good to get confirmation of my initial observations.

Jerry

[GARYD]

I do it all, push and lock my elbow on the outside arm, pull on the inside arm, push on the outboard floorboard, and sometimes just to confuse those behind me, I'll lean way over to the inside of the curve - like a sidecar racer.

I'm talking high speed cornering. It all depends on the radius of the curve on how fast I go and what I do.

[Thomkm]

I do it all, push and lock my elbow on the outside arm, pull on the inside arm, push on the outboard floorboard, and sometimes just to confuse those behind me, I'll lean way over to the inside of the curve - like a sidecar racer.

I'm talking high speed cornering. It all depends on the radius of the curve on how fast I go and what I do.

Spot on info...pepper... I sometimes put my outside foot on the highway peg to give me additional leverage going thru the curve...

[Rod69]

Spot on info...pepper... I sometimes put my outside foot on the highway peg to give me additional leverage going thru the curve...

I like Gary's explanation. But I don't think I lean, press my knee up against the tank, press my foot on the floor board, I just lock my elbow and don't even have to pull with the opposite arm. Just use your arm and shoulder some times. I do go from the outside of the curve to the apex and give it the gas to sling yourself out of the curve. I do keep my feet on the highway pegs.

[GARYD]

Rod, I normally don't lean either, but on occasion just to mess with the minds of the riders behind me I lean WAAAAY over. It confusses the $hit out of them. ROTFLMAO

[JJHog]

Thanks JJHog, I tried a similar technique yesterday and found it helped.

I have also read about placing extra pressure on the floorboard on the opposite side of the turn. Does this help?

Jerry

I supposed if you're tall then you would have the leverage for the outside foot technique. But if you're short like me (5'6") putting inside pressure with my thigh against the tank is the best I can do

[flynng]

Do it all, pressure on the outboard footrest, knee/thigh against the tank on the inboard side, lock the outside elbow and push while you pull like crazy with the inside arm, slide to the ouside of the seat, lean into the turn like crazy, roll on the throttle as you exit. Once out of the turn, start breathing again and prepare for the next turn. Piece of cake!

Enjoy the ride.

[screwball]

S L O W
D O W N

You aren't in a race, or riding a bike that was designed to take corners fast. Want to go really really fast in the corners, sell your trike and buy a Ducate or Crotch Rocket

[Brentwood Bob]

Another great thread Jerry and even better input. I haven't had the pleasure in riding on a trike yet but it all makes perfectly good sense.

[Rod69]

Rod, I normally don't lean either, but on occasion just to mess with the minds of the riders behind me I lean WAAAAY over. It confusses the $hit out of them. ROTFLMAO

Good one Gary!

[Jerry/MD]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not trying to go fast screwball...even on my 2 wheeler I was a very conservative rider who did not take chances. I do a significant amount of riding on highways with tight turns. Just looking for some advice on how to approach these situations. Believe you me, I'm taking it slow...probably pissing off the cagers who are on my tail...but I'm not gonna push it.

Jerry

[Brentwood Bob]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not trying to go fast screwball...even on my 2 wheeler I was a very conservative rider who did not take chances. I do a significant amount of riding on highways with tight turns. Just looking for some advice on how to approach these situations. Believe you me, I'm taking it slow...probably pissing off the cagers who are on my tail...but I'm not gonna push it.

Jerry

Sounds right to me. This is the best and safest way to ride.

[Jerry/MD]

Another great thread Jerry and even better input. I haven't had the pleasure in riding on a trike yet but it all makes perfectly good sense.

Thanks Bob. I have to say the transition is a bit more than I expected. Guess I thought this would be simple. However, I have not put my feet down at stops...I'm not trying to lean...and slow speed manuevers are not a problem. I attribute this to the fact I own a 4 wheeler and some of the skills are similar. But...I don't ride my 4 wheeler on highways at 55 mph. That is a BIG difference.

Don't let me scare you off...I`ve seen some benefits already...especially with the BSR on-board. It will be worth the time, and effort.

Jerry

[kawabeemer]

A simple trick to get your body leaning into the turn is to straighten the arm that is on the outside of the turn and bend from the hips toward the inside of the turn. Bend the arm on the inside of the turn at the elbow. I will seem a little strange looking to the side of your windshield, but you'll get used to it.

[rwhgme]

Point. Pull, push, scream, aim, shoot, grin, and repeat...over and over again! Safely!