Cornering (using clutch)
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:11 am
Hi all,
bit of background info: this is my first summer of track riding and I seem to be having a problem cornering on tight turns (I am riding a crf250r). I can't help but notice that mostly everyone on the track corners much faster than me. I tried holding speed in 2nd gear and screaming through a corner but it doesn't seem to be as fast as the other guys, so I tried cornering in third and if the revs were high enough I was way too fast around the corners (and usually went off the side!) or more often the revs were too low and the bike stalls on me. So the next logical conclusion was to use the clutch around the corner to keep the bike running... so I seem to be able to scream up to the corner, pull in the clutch and brake-slide through it, and let the clutch out near the apex and this allows me to corner much faster and keep up with some of the more experienced people out there. (Not exactly sure if they are doing the same thing, I try to sit beside the track but it all happens so fast I can't quite see their techniques)
I guess my question is: Is this a normal practice (on a crf250r) or is there a better way to corner quickly? Will all of this "corner-clutching" cause damage to my wonderful new Honda?
Any info would be great! Just trying to close the gap because it sure if funner when you're running with the faster guys!
I have more questions about jumping but I feel a bit safer getting fast around the corners first
bit of background info: this is my first summer of track riding and I seem to be having a problem cornering on tight turns (I am riding a crf250r). I can't help but notice that mostly everyone on the track corners much faster than me. I tried holding speed in 2nd gear and screaming through a corner but it doesn't seem to be as fast as the other guys, so I tried cornering in third and if the revs were high enough I was way too fast around the corners (and usually went off the side!) or more often the revs were too low and the bike stalls on me. So the next logical conclusion was to use the clutch around the corner to keep the bike running... so I seem to be able to scream up to the corner, pull in the clutch and brake-slide through it, and let the clutch out near the apex and this allows me to corner much faster and keep up with some of the more experienced people out there. (Not exactly sure if they are doing the same thing, I try to sit beside the track but it all happens so fast I can't quite see their techniques)
I guess my question is: Is this a normal practice (on a crf250r) or is there a better way to corner quickly? Will all of this "corner-clutching" cause damage to my wonderful new Honda?
Any info would be great! Just trying to close the gap because it sure if funner when you're running with the faster guys!
I have more questions about jumping but I feel a bit safer getting fast around the corners first
