It is not true, I never look down on a curve these days. ok, it happened just a few times. Once during the driver license test. That was a bit wobbly but still made it though without crashing. Uncle, I'm getting called out regarding curve skills.
So back to BMW automation. Think about it, a new automated bike would have let me ace the test first time instead of retaking it over and over and over.
All those youth riders that could take the test and pass it. More riders, more bikes, more clubs, more memberships. Today kids are scared of the test and give up.
Ride safe fellows !
Illinois has some really good motorcycle classes at Harper College. For $20, beginner / intermediate / advanced. Recommend.
For street riding in spirited fashion thru curves I will always very briefly glance down thru curves in order to assess for road hazards/debris in time to alter my path thru the curve. I think if you're talking controlled conditions in a track setting at high speeds you may well not be able to afford to glance down but again that is the track. What's an extremely dangerous fault in anyones' riding is riding like they are on the track while on the street.[/QUOTE
Watching the horizon, you can still see the ground in front of you. Looking down at the ground limits how far in front you can see. Try looking down at your phone while you are texting and walking. See how long it takes to walk off the sidewalk into traffic.
Now add speed into the equation. For a rough value of distance covered at speed, take the given speed, cut that in half and add to the original speed. For example: 60 mph divided by two equals 30, plus the 60 mph equals 90 feet per second covered distance. So if you only take a half second to look down while travelling 60 mph you just covered 45 feet.
Now consider the width of a lane in the curve. Typical city type street width is 8-10 feet per lane, highway 12-14 feet per lane.
At 60 mph entering the curve looking down for a half second, you just travelled 45 feet in a lane 8-14 feet wide, depending on city street or highway. Looking down for just a quarter of a second, you travelled about 25 feet. You can do the math for other speeds.
See a problem yet? Keep your eyes on the horizon constantly searching, evaluating and executing the correct techniques for what you see.
Try to keep the ground below you without looking at it.
Friedle
