I first learned this technique from The Professor, motocross racer Gary Bailey, many many moons ago.
After adopting this techique, which is also applicable to your clutch-side grip, I became much more skilled at throttle control, as well as throttle/clutch traction management.
Go soothingly through the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon.
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'67 Trail 90 || '86 R80 G/SPD+ || '13 CB500X || '14 Grom || '19 CB500X
I can see I will have to increase my intake of ice cream cones in order to practice this more. My wife will not be pleased. But it is in the interest of safety after all. Who can argue with that?
Isn't there an expert in everything nowadays to tell us we're doing everything wrong?
"The two most important days in your life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why" -- Mark Twain
Good PSA Visian
The lion does not even bother to turn his head when he hears the small dog barking.
https://www.youtube.com/user/azqkr
This advice actually works.Originally Posted by ClassicVW
Gary Bailey likened it to using a screwdriver as a tool for accurately dialing-in the throttle. I was amazed at how much difference it made in bike control.
Longtime Fairbanks BMW dealer, George Rahn, once told me to hold the handlebars with a touch like I was playing a piano.
On the other hand…… I was hit by a deer once; it struck my front wheel just behind the axle. I managed to stay upright but briefly went into the oncoming lane of traffic. The first thing I felt after the strike was a sharp pain in my left hand and wrist caused by the handle bar being rotated. Had I not had a firm grip on the handlebars there may have been a less positive outcome.
Kevin Huddy
Silver City, Montana
MOA# 24,790 Ambassador
That grip is highly useful when in situations where traction control and power management while maintaining steerage are critical…
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Best,
DeVern
DGerber
1983 R80ST — 2010 K1300GT — 2018 R1200GS
BMWMOA#52184, AMA#271542, IBA#138
I was going to mention this because the grip on your bars is the base for the entire performance riding technique, on pavement or off. Just like in golf, if your grip isn't right pretty much everything else won't be.
The grip sets up your body for movement like your photo shows... and this is super important in low traction riding environments.
Look at the position of the rider's shoulders relative to the bars, and the position of his butt on the saddle. What you can't see is the rider's precision inputs to the throtte, which as you say, plays a large role in how he's steering the bike. All this is much easier to do if your grip is correct.
That's the model I've used. It keeps me from locking my elbows and shoulders into a rigid box and reducing my ability to actually steer the bike. When I took CLASS, Reg promoted flapping your arms like a chicken to break up the "box" some of us tend to form.
His model for corners was to rotate your body around the gas cap so your shoulders are square to the corner. A "screwdriver" grip on your bars keeps your elbows out and flexible and as your rotate, your shoulders will have less tendency to get locked into a rigid form.
It's a simple thing, but it really does make a big, big difference in how quickly and easily you can change direction. If you're riding around with your elbows locked in and a grip like you're doing pull-ups on the bar, this is a simple change that will really let the rest of your cornering skills click.
Dave Swider
Marin County, CA
Some bikes. Some with motors, some without.
Exactly. You don't turn a screwdriver with your whole arm, you use your hand because you can make small adjustments easily. It starts with the way you grab the bars, IMHO.
Dave Swider
Marin County, CA
Some bikes. Some with motors, some without.
Exactly! ATTCAT = All The Cones All The Time!
Greg Feeler
Member at large
Ambassador
1972 R75/5, 1990 K75, 1990 K1, 1992 K75S, 2003 K1200RS
Nice.Exactly! ATTCAT = All The Cones All The Time!
Exactly! ATTCAT = All The Cones All The Time!
Perhaps. But this one is suggesting a way to do something better.
Thanks for this, Visian. I've been applying this technique for awhile now.
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