A Hayabusa rider explains proper cornering technique

13507 Views 39 Replies 14 Participants Last post by ShaggyZ, Jul 21, 2006

ShaggyZ

Discussion Starter · Jul 20, 2006

I have this friend, Steve, who's in his late 30's and rides a Hayabusa. I think it's making just over 200HP on motor only, FYI.

Anyways, I was telling him tonight about my exploits in North Carolina at the SV Rally this year and happened to mention that I finally learned how to REALLY hang off the bike. I sat on his lowered 'Busa and demonstrated for him what it looked like and he laughed. I then allowed him to enlighten me.

His main problem is that I moved my butt off the the seat, insisting that I only should be moving my upper body forward and into the turn. He knew well enough to know that I shouldn't be supporting my weight by the clip-ons; instead, one should be supporting one's weight with one's legs. I explained that the G-forces of going through the turn do help to some degree to keep one on the bike through the turn. His bike was just sitting on the kickstand and not moving, obviously, so it's hard to prove what I'm talking about.

I then asked why I see so many better riders getting their butts off the seat. He retorted straight-faced serious with "well, you see those guys like Hayden and Rossi riding on those little 290 pound bikes so they gotta really put a lot into those bikes to get them to turn." Steve, I roll my eyes at you :

He said he plans to take his lowered, extended-swingarmed, 200HP 'Busa to Cresson in the next couple of months to see how well he can do on a race track.

He'll learn his lesson.

Note: I don't pretend to know everything, but I'm not about to agree with someone who rides around in jean shorts, a T-shirt, and no eye-protection regarding "real" riding.

Related side-note: he's expecting to get in his first set of leathers in the mail in the next week.

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echoanalog

· #2 · Jul 20, 2006

i was at a trackday a while ago, and this guy on a hayabusa would open her up on the straights, pass everyone, then everyone would fly right by him on the corners. maybe hayabusas just don't turn. and when they try to turn, they crash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-4QP1XwJGc

toobrokeforthat

· #3 · Jul 20, 2006

or maybe the guy in the vid overpowered the rear.

I know a couple hayabusas that can and do turn, well at that.

svfool

· #4 · Jul 20, 2006

i saw a guy at the dragon in april, he was stuffing it in there. his girl on the back was touching her knee down. very impressive.

Ruefus

· #5 · Jul 20, 2006

echoanalog said:
i was at a trackday a while ago, and this guy on a hayabusa would open her up on the straights, pass everyone, then everyone would fly right by him on the corners. maybe hayabusas just don't turn. and when they try to turn, they crash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-4QP1XwJGc

That's what too much power to the rear wheel will do for ya. Everything looked routine in the slide until the bike flopped over on its other side and doubled his repair costs in the process........ that sucks.

Morpheous

· #6 · Jul 20, 2006

Your buddy is correct regarding the MotoGP riders, It takes alot more (inside body position to lower CG, plus those guys weight 150-165 lbs?) to hold the bike over at 100mph in the tun that at the speeds most of us ride. Remember the bike wants to stand up and go straight (intertia) at higher speeds it is much more pronounced. 1/2 of a butt cheek over should take care of most Dragon type riding as it is rarely above 55mph in the turns. Knee draggingand excessive hanging off is for the track mostly although there are some who can use it properly on the road. (High Speeds). His biggest issue at the track will be ground clearance and long wheelbase. He will struggle.

DougZ

· #7 · Jul 20, 2006

I feel ya Shagz. I know what I know, and I know what I don't. Anymore, I am just so tired of stupid people telling me what they think they know, I just nod and say nothing. Ends the stupid conversation much quicker that way.

Nudist

· #8 · Jul 20, 2006

DougZ said:
I feel ya Shagz. I know what I know, and I know what I don't. Anymore, I am just so tired of stupid people telling me what they think they know, I just nod and say nothing. Ends the stupid conversation much quicker that way.

Everything is so situational. The only real way to discuss things like form and technique are at the track.... at the same track with people of similar or faster paces. On the street its useless.

Ruefus

· #9 · Jul 20, 2006

I've had the privelege of having a guy run off at the mouth long enough to dig himself a nice, deep hole.

Then one day - he says "I'm headed your way, let's hit some twisties." He's on a 929, I'm on the SV. Judgement Day.

I dropped hizass like a hot rock as soon as the road went curvy. Like a light switch. The beautiful part was stopping and waiting for a guy to catch up (stunter, doesn't do corners). He rolls up, eyes big and wide and says "All I know is - you can TURN that f'king thing!!" He was still shaking his head a week later.

It's not that I'm fast - just lots faster than him, and corners is where Life begins. Straight lines are simply waiting.

DougZ

· #10 · Jul 20, 2006

Nudist said:
Everything is so situational. The only real way to discuss things like form and technique are at the track.... at the same track with people of similar or faster paces. On the street its useless.

yeah, its just amuses me....someone on one of the worst handling "sportbikes" telling someone who knows how to ride well...Shagz, don't let that go to your head, on one of the easiest to make handle well bikes out there, how to ride and stuff. Just makes me not want to give advice to people anymore.

Nudist

· #11 · Jul 20, 2006

DougZ said:
yeah, its just amuses me....someone on one of the worst handling "sportbikes" telling someone who knows how to ride well...Shagz, don't let that go to your head, on one of the easiest to make handle well bikes out there, how to ride and stuff. Just makes me not want to give advice to people anymore.

I have seen a couple folks that can handle that bike.... but its a handful, and not worth IMO.

Welcome to the hardheaded sport we reside in. Ego, and "big balls" lead the way, intelligence and education mean nothing to so many.

DougZ

· #12 · Jul 20, 2006

Nudist said:
I have seen a couple folks that can handle that bike.... but its a handful, and not worth IMO.

Welcome to the hardheaded sport we reside in. Ego, and "big balls" lead the way, intelligence and education mean nothing to so many.

I always say, a good rider can ride anything well.....but a smart good rider chooses his bike wisely...a Busa aint it. LOL

"intelligence and education mean nothing to so many." Aint that the truth.

Nudist

· #13 · Jul 20, 2006

DougZ said:
I always say, a good rider can ride anything well.....but a smart good rider chooses his bike wisely...a Busa aint it. LOL

"intelligence and education mean nothing to so many." Aint that the truth.

100% agree - You have to love the feeling of hopping on damn near any bike and just riding the stank off the wheels. To be honest, I have enjoyed riding liter bikes lately. I can carry so much more cornerspeed through turns, with out a portion of the effort it took on the SV... the downside, I will die if I buy one.

extensive

· #14 · Jul 20, 2006

DougZ said:
I always say, a good rider can ride anything well.....but a smart good rider chooses his bike wisely...a Busa aint it. LOL

"intelligence and education mean nothing to so many." Aint that the truth.

everybody always said i was an idiot.

G

· #15 · Jul 20, 2006

Everything is relative. You can't expect an Open Glass GT machine like a busa to rail the tight stuff like a well set up SV can.

That video showed a rider with too little throttle control, but busas handle quite well for their size (I schussed hundreds of miles in the Colorado Rockies on mine at anything other than what might be called a lazy pace).

extensive

· #16 · Jul 20, 2006

are you kidding me sarge? busas handle like crap and anybody who rides one or buys one is an idiot and can only go in a straight line... :

G

· #17 · Jul 20, 2006

LOL- exactly!

ShaggyZ

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jul 20, 2006

I've seen the 'Busas handle well, but not the lowered, stretched type and not with a guy who "doesn't think much of turns because they're just not that fun." :

I forgot to add that after I told this same guy about deciding to upgrade my front and rear suspension because of the inadequacies of the stock pieces, he told me that I need to move up to a bigger bike... ??? By the way, he also has a 636 shock lying around he's going to GIVE to me just like he gave me some 'Busa pistons

ronin_01r1

· #19 · Jul 20, 2006

not all busas are slow on the track.

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Nudist

· #20 · Jul 20, 2006

[dougz]Well, sounds like you have a sugar daddy.... keep on those knee pads [/dougz]

;D

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