What Gear Should I Be In for These Corners

[Phenix_Rider]

Originally Posted by pickle.of.doom

Yeah there needs to be more accuracy with the old speed recommendation signs for corners... some will say 30 and you can take them at 60 easily, some say 30 and you will eat shit at 35...

I rode some turns yesterday that were marked 40 and the cagers were doing 35. I was going 70 of course... Concrete kneewall on one side and UPS truck on the other. Bit hairy.

There are some nasty ones nearby though, that would be OK if they were flat. The roll/camber and several elevation drops mid turn make them extremely challenging. They're marked 20-30, and I'm lucky to hit 35-40. Very blind turns- even if there were no trees hanging over the road, you couldn't see the lower part of the turn for the drop with the hill in between.

[NONE_too_SOFT]

Originally Posted by pickle.of.doom

Yeah there needs to be more accuracy with the old speed recommendation signs for corners... some will say 30 and you can take them at 60 easily, some say 30 and you will eat shit at 35...

you also have to understand those numbers are for cars, which take up the entire lane, and have a tighter turn than us bikers whom and go from outside-inside-outside and make a generally sharp turn for a car a no brainer on a bike.

[No Worries]

Originally Posted by No Worries

Take a look at the hill slope between the two farthest switchbacks. This road is steep. Mountain riding is different from canyon riding, just like riding uphill is different from riding down. Even though the road is steep, not banked, and extremely tight, you have to have constant throttle through the curve.

Some riders come in too fast, hit the brakes and lose momentum in the curve, because they are so steep. That can often spell disaster. Much better to come in slow and go out fast. That's why I like to be in first gear. Insures a slow entry and fast exit.

One of the hardest maneuvers I've ever done is a U-turn on a steep, narrow street. These switchbacks are similar. You have to enter at 15mph, but depending on how leaned over the bike is, you can accelerate out smartly. By leaning way off the bike, the bike is more upright. That means I can start twisting the throttle sooner than a bike that is still leaned over.

And these are the lower switchbacks on Lookout Mountain. The upper ones are even tighter.

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by Phenix_Rider

Is it just the camera angle, or is that first "U" (from the bottom) way off camber?

Those are really 15 mph actual? Look like second gear turns to me. Of course, my bike actually has some low end. But, depending on the grade, I might still get bogged down. Cutty's 1125R would be incredible there! Twins FTW

Probably 2nd and just let the bitch pull.

But 1st would work too, it winds out to about 65.

[No Worries]

On our ride up Lookout on Sunday, I asked my friend Dean what gear he uses to accelerate out of the switchbacks on his 2006 GSX-R1000. He uses 2nd gear. First gives him wheelspin. I had to use 1st to keep up with him, but that's what i always use.