Lean angle thread

[jarelj]

High lean angle usually means poor body position, a fast rider would pass you around the outside of the turn using less lean angle...

 

[fzr100098]

The new R1 is no joke, would be my pick as a track weapon for an experienced rider

I also know a few mountain riders who translated their speed very well to the track, they were just naturals. Unfortunately one was seriously hurt while racing on the track. Scott Russell rode the same roads I might add

 

[Senna1Rossi]

someone should post the approx lean angle equation = chicken strip measurement. heh heh

my chicken strip is almost 3 inches... sim. to 20 degrees +/-

 

[JDBeretta]

High lean angle usually means poor body position, a fast rider would pass you around the outside of the turn using less lean angle...

Absolutely "usually" is the key word. It doesn't take an extremely experienced rider to understand that less lean angle = a larger contact surface area... Taking a corner as fast as possible will have a certain angle.

Whether it's achieved or not is a different issue.

 

[Chaotic]

The goal of proper body positioning (BP) is to reduce the amount of lean angle for any given speed and radius. That newfound lean angle can be left in reserve, or used to go faster.

So yes, somebody with better BP will go equal to or even faster than a rider with poor BP...while leaning the bike over less.

However, faster riders will use that newfound lean angle to go faster...which means ultimately the bike will end up being leaned over the same, if not more...but they will be carrying more speed (and running much faster lap times).

There is also something to be said for trail braking...which allows you to spend much less time at max lean angle. Versus the "Code Method" of doing all of your braking straight up and down, then throwing the bike in as quick as possible. That method forces you to spend a great deal of time at full lean angle. And that method has limits because the only way to truly go faster with that method is to carry more corner speed. But lean angle is finite, once you run out of it...you crash.

 

[Chaotic]

For example, this picture is from 5 years ago (I was with a different sponsor). Back then I used the "Code Method" and relied on corner speed. I basically carried this much lean angle everywhere. The problem is that when I would try to go faster, I would crash.

I took a year off from racing and worked solely with DiSalvo and he revamped my riding style to a Trail Braking style with an early and slower tip-in, carrying the brakes to apex (and improved my BP).

Now my personal best is over 2 seconds per lap faster at that track than it was when that picture was taken, but I spend much less time at max lean angle and I have much more room for error...and room to go faster.

 

[ScrapperX]

The Lean Angle Experience

 

[Grayson]

For example, this picture is from 5 years ago (I was with a different sponsor). Back then I used the "Code Method" and relied on corner speed. I basically carried this much lean angle everywhere. The problem is that when I would try to go faster, I would crash.

I took a year off from racing and worked solely with DiSalvo and he revamped my riding style to a Trail Braking style with an early and slower tip-in, carrying the brakes to apex (and improved my BP).

Now my personal best is over 2 seconds per lap faster at that track than it was when that picture was taken, but I spend much less time at max lean angle and I have much more room for error...and room to go faster.

When the academy starts up again, post up. I am interested. It's great that you realized that you could change your entire riding style. That takes discipline.

 

[Chaotic]

When the academy starts up again, post up. I am interested. It's great that you realized that you could change your entire riding style. That takes discipline.

Will do.

I will admit, it wasn't easy. I went from a style of staying completely vertical and waiting the last minute, braking as hard as possible, then throwing the bike over/in as quickly as possible immediately to max lean angle......to a style of turning in much sooner with a much slower, gradual rate of tip in, while decreasing brake pressure as I added lean angle, and carrying the brakes to apex.

But it worked.

I went from 3 crashes in 2 years, to 5 years with only 1 crash (aside from a crash caused by a mechanical failure). All while going faster and having more tools to work with and to make passes with.

 

[Prince Albert]

Chaotic
please start a thread/ blog and document to us less talented your new methods of success..
Im sure the majority of us will benefit,
...as a track rider, I'm always struggling with my lines and I think my body position and technique are the sole culprits ..

 

[Phl]

Will do.

I will admit, it wasn't easy. I went from a style of staying completely vertical and waiting the last minute, braking as hard as possible, then throwing the bike over/in as quickly as possible immediately to max lean angle......to a style of turning in much sooner with a much slower, gradual rate of tip in, while decreasing brake pressure as I added lean angle, and carrying the brakes to apex.

But it worked.

I went from 3 crashes in 2 years, to 5 years with only 1 crash (aside from a crash caused by a mechanical failure). All while going faster and having more tools to work with and to make passes with.

when's your next school where you are instructor, C.?

 

[carnivor32]

Glad to see everyone is enthusiastic about there new toy. Lean angle indicator is a great indicator of how well you are taking a turn particularly when you can see your speed and angle at the same time and then compare to others and yourself on different days. It's the most used data I use now on my bike.

For comparison sake I had a zx10r prior to the 1299s . I don't I was able to take that turn that fast with same lean angle before and the bike felt planted as sh-t, probably could have went faster and lower but I was on the street and didn't want to risk it. No need for that. But it's nice to know where the limit is without going over it.

 

[TurboLag]

Got 52 today, while hanging off the bike as far as I could. Caught up to the instructor in that corner though Trackday, ofcourse. Driving like that on the road is left to suicide candidates and IOMTT participants..

 

[Slowdive2]

Got 52 today, while hanging off the bike as far as I could. Caught up to the instructor in that corner though Trackday, ofcourse. Driving like that on the road is left to suicide candidates and IOMTT participants..

Doesn't hanging off reduce lean angle?

 

[bradp51]

Doesn't hanging off reduce lean angle?

A question best left to the "lean angle" experts. Still can't believe this thread.

 

[fzr100098]

Lorenzo hit 61 in MotoGP today - beat that

 

[Sprinkles]

Lean angle indicator?
I'm more interested in an adrenaline fart counter built into the seat. Somebody hit me up when they start that thread.

 

[Marmoot]

Doesn't hanging off reduce lean angle?

Yep. That's the whole point.
Not if you do it incorrectly, though.

 

[TurboLag]

Yep. That's the whole point.
Not if you do it incorrectly, though.

another way of getting high lean angles while hanging off the bike is actually going fast but yeah, I still don't do perfect turns and there is still much to learn on my part

 

[ASM]

when's your next school where you are instructor, C.?

Cannot speak for what he is doing with/for the academy if/when it starts up again...but he is coaching for STT...mostly the Southern events...