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any tips for drifting on a motorcycle?

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Watch this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlMbFlPzS24

"Drifting" a bike on the street/track is never a smart thing to do. If the rear wheel regains traction too quickly it will snap the bike upright trying to align itself with the front. It's basic physics. The same thing happens in a rear wheel drive car, but a car won't spit you into the air with extremely violent force. Even MotoGP bikes with full traction control and throttle control packages can spit riders off if the rear tire looses and regains traction faster than the computer and rider combined can control.

Watch closely during the slo-mo replay in the video. You can see the riders right wrist did slightly just before the rear wheel lets go. This is the type of control inout mistake "noobs" (and even experienced riders) make on supersports.

Just this morning on the way to work, I got on the throttle a little too hard after hitting some water in a dip. My bike was already upright, and I knew from experience to stay in the throttle and to allow the rear tire to swish side to side as it gradually regained traction. If I had cut throttle (which is what your gut instinct is to do), the bike could easily have snapped hard enough to bounce me off of the seat a couple of inches.
 
MiataNC said:
Watch this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlMbFlPzS24

"Drifting" a bike on the street/track is never a smart thing to do. If the rear wheel regains traction too quickly it will snap the bike upright trying to align itself with the front. It's basic physics. The same thing happens in a rear wheel drive car, but a car won't spit you into the air with extremely violent force. Even MotoGP bikes with full traction control and throttle control packages can spit riders off if the rear tire looses and regains traction faster than the computer and rider combined can control.

Watch closely during the slo-mo replay in the video. You can see the riders right wrist did slightly just before the rear wheel lets go. This is the type of control inout mistake "noobs" (and even experienced riders) make on supersports.

Just this morning on the way to work, I got on the throttle a little too hard after hitting some water in a dip. My bike was already upright, and I knew from experience to stay in the throttle and to allow the rear tire to swish side to side as it gradually regained traction. If I had cut throttle (which is what your gut instinct is to do), the bike could easily have snapped hard enough to bounce me off of the seat a couple of inches.
Click to expand...


That's a great video of why 600's make horrible first bikes. That same mistake on a GS would have ended very differently.
 
holden j caufield said:
I've watched it in slo mo, what's his egregious error?
Click to expand...



He's very very obviously a new rider, I'd bet less than 6 months on a bike - a year at most.

Everything about the way he's riding is wrong, but what actually caused the crash was bad wrist angle combined with too much throttle (probably trying to "power though the corner") and then completely letting go resulting in a high side. Basically, look at his right wrist and it's clear what happened.

On a 600 the power increase in just a few 100 rpm is HUGE... enough to break the rear tire loose.


But hey, what do I know. Get a 600 and just 'be easy' with it. This thread should be combined with your 600 as a first bike thread.
 
holden j caufield said:
I've watched it in slo mo, what's his egregious error?
Click to expand...

1 Butt is centered on the seat - He should have his left cheek (inside of turn) hanging in space.

2. His left knee (inside of turn) is loosely off the tank, and his inside leg is not supported - Inner leg should be balanced on the peg (the way it moves in slow-mo he most likely does not have the ball of his foot on the peg). If he had proper gear (leather pants with knee pucks) he would be able to swing the leg out to help shift his center of gravity inward allowing him to drag his knee to control lean angle if required.

3. Upper body is positioned wrong - He should be leaned forward and his left shoulder and head should be lined up with the outer edge of the fairing; pushing his body and center of gravity inside of the turn. He should have his head looking through the apex. His posture clearly shows he is nervous and fighting the turn, because the bike is more leaned over than he is.

4. His arms are straight and locked at the elbows. - His arms should be relaxed and bent. His right leg should be hooked into the tank and supporting his body weight along with his back and core muscles. Having his arms locked and holding him up contributed to him inputting too much throttle.

5. As soon as the rear starts to step you you can see his head look down, and his right wrist lift. - He should have held steady throttle and keep his eyes forward. It may not have stopped the highside, but it might have given him a chance.
 
RiDE said:
Seems like that part of mulholland catches out a lot of guys seeing from his other videos. 😵
Click to expand...

I've driven up there and it is very twisty with little to no runoff and it can get dusty too, not to mention the car traffic. Not a good place to explore the limits of you or your bike really...especially for a n00b.
 
holden j caufield said:
quick question, they say have the balls of your feet on the pegs and not over the brake and shifter. I understand why on the shifter so you don't panick and change gears? But I would think I would always want my foot covered over the brake (especially at low/medium speeds I can understand why not to have it covered at high speeds.
Click to expand...

The vibrations of the bike can make you touch the brake, making your brake light flicker (I got told off for this when learning).

Also the balls of your feet give you better control of the bike IIRC.
 
coxmaster said:
Make sure you have a video camera.
Click to expand...

Can be epic in so many ways.

holden j caufield said:
the feeling or experience of lost traction. So when I feel the same thing in a real world situation I won't panic, I'll understand how I might recover.
Click to expand...

I heard a story once of some high school guys doing doughnuts in an empty mall parking lot. Cop pulls them over and asks what they were doing. They replied, "learning how to drive." The cop lets them go.

RiDE said:
If you have a penchant for high sides and would rather stay on a sportbike the author of Twist of the Wrist has a "slide bike" at his school. :awe:

http://www.superbikeschool.com/machinery/slide-bike.php
Click to expand...

Best idea yet. :thumbsup:

MiataNC said:
"Drifting" a bike on the street/track is never a smart thing to do. If the rear wheel regains traction too quickly it will snap the bike upright trying to align itself with the front. It's basic physics. The same thing happens in a rear wheel drive car, but a car won't spit you into the air with extremely violent force.
Click to expand...

I can attest to the fact that it can happen with ATVs too. 😳 Was on a Honda Fourtrax TRX250R sliding sideways on the side of a sand dune, and let off the throttle. Sideways motion of the quad stopped immediately and I flew off.

IcePickFreak said:
Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn.
Click to expand...

"I want my two dollars!"
 
RiDE said:
http://www.superbikeschool.com/machinery/slide-bike.php
Click to expand...

machinery-lean-bike.jpg


Cheats.
 
MiataNC said:
LOL!

That qualifying lap is the first thing that came to my mind when you posted the Melandri video.

I don't know about you, but WSBK is a much better show than the parade MotoGP has become. MotoGP is almost as much of a yawner as F1 these days.
Click to expand...

I agree... even if Biaggi is unstoppable this year I think it's still a better show than MotoGP currently.

If you haven't read it already here's a nice article about what KR jr thinks of electronics ruining the racing in MotoGP:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2010/Aug/100824200wchampion.htm


Occ said:
machinery-lean-bike.jpg


Cheats.
Click to expand...

Don't hate. 😛

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSWVHjKfllc
 
The key is giving a thumbs up in the middle of the slide....
rossi-sepang.jpg


Drifting isn't something you'll do intentionally. The closest you'll come on the street is locking up the rear under braking and it will slide out a little.
Actual drifting...a power slide, is best left for the track.
Start off with something easier.....
AAAAAsL5VqsAAAAAAMazaQ.jpg
 
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