[Guest]

So how do I know if I'm "flicking" my bike. I'm a new rider and I just can't seem to wrap my head around the term. Thoughts? Scott

 

[Guest]

i think "flickable refers to how nimble the bike feels or as others would put it, how fast the bike turns in, or the overall responsiveness/ handling.

That sound about right?

 

[Guest]

I guess. So how do I know if I'm flicking it? Scott

 

[kingnothing]

if you're dragging your elbow and head, you've probably flicked your bike.

 

[Guest]

Great! I think. Perhaps a better question would have been, "How do I know if I'm doing my turns correctly?"

 

[Ben_JamminVFCC]

Great! I think. Perhaps a better question would have been, "How do I know if I'm doing my turns correctly?"

Countersteering.

 

[Guest]

I just love detailed and wordy responses. What about countersteering?

 

[kingnothing]

push the bars to the left and the bike will lean to the left......I know, you would think that the biek would go right but it goes left...

 

[punkjumper]

I guess. So how do I know if I'm flicking it? Scott

its just slang.....if you ride a chopper you will know the opposite of flicking it.

countersteering is the physics of how your bike steers.  you do it without even realizing it.  at slow speeds (parking lot) you "turn" your handle bars to the left (or push on the right bar) to go left but once the wheels start spinning at a certain speed you actually push on the left bar to go left.  that is counter steering.

the easier you bike does this...the more flickable it is.

 

[Guest]

"Flickable" would be a reference to how readily a bike can change attitudes from straight up to cranked over and vice versa. A big, heavy, tall bike (high center of mass) is typically less inclined to roll in quickly than something lower and lighter.

I don't know that I've seen the term used as a verb before- it's usually used as an adjective. IMO, "flicking it in"  refers to snapping the bike over rapidly (high roll rate), but it isn't really a specific technique, as countersteering is.

 

[kingnothing]

oh sure, give him a good, wordy answer! Gees, now everyone will be coming in here asking questions about TRE mods, and "My bike makes noise when it's running."

 

[Guest]

Nice response. I know about countersteering and I also realize that I do it. All flickable means is how quickly the bike responds to a given countersteering effrot?

Also, I'm still not sure about how well I'm executing my turns. Are good turns something that can be phyiscally felt or is it a matter of not sliding the rear tire or putting the bike down?

 

[wonderjosh]

book: "sport riding techniques" by- nick ienatsch

edumacate yo-self

 

[canus]

Are good turns something that can be phyiscally felt or is it a matter of not sliding the rear tire or putting the bike down?

A good turn is any turn you take successfully. A bad turn turn is the opposite. ??? : ;D

 

[punkjumper]

book: "sport riding techniques" by- nick ienatsch

edumacate yo-self

best way to spend a non riding day is reading that book.  

your question about what a good turn is, is the whole essence of sport riding. It is defined by volumes of text and years and years of experience.  enjoy your life of discovering what a "good turn is"

 

[Guest]

A good turn is any turn you take successfully. A bad turn turn is the opposite. ??? : ;D

The same kind of thing went through my head; the definition of a good landing is any one you can walk away from!

 

[Vilrog]

Nice response. I know about countersteering and I also realize that I do it. All flickable means is how quickly the bike responds to a given countersteering effrot?

Also, I'm still not sure about how well I'm executing my turns. Are good turns something that can be phyiscally felt or is it a matter of not sliding the rear tire or putting the bike down?

Question A) yup. Basically, it's how maneuverable a bike is.

Question B) Damned right. You can definitely feel a good turn-- it's a turn that where you're comfortable throughout, the tires feel planted and you hit the pre-turn slow down, get your line, hit the throttle on the apex and get out clean.

It's an amazing feeling when you hit it. It doesn't have to be fast, it just has to be done right. For myself, these are yet other occasions that I wind up screaming in adolescent glee inside my helmet.