Doc Wong Riding Tip: Sliding and Loose or Wet Weather Conditions

Doc Wong Riding Tip: Sliding and Loose or Wet Weather Conditions

Although most of us do not ride in the rain or other inclement weather, there are some of us who relish in it for on these days the mountanous roads are usually quiet and peaceful.

I find riding in the rain definitely keeps me on my toes and I have to ride particularly better than when the traction conditons are better. Of course the fear here is the fear of sliding and of course then crashing.

For most riders the idea of sliding is to say the least...nerve racking and equates to crashing. However this is a condition that can be much improved with knowledge and some experience. The best way to get that experience is to practice sliding on a dirt bike, but baring that, here are some tips:

1. Of course all other correct riding techniques expecially apply becasue any correct riding technique would minimize the use of traction for a given speed. But in additon to that:

2. Weight the outside peg. This allows you to keep the bike more upright if the occasion to slide arises and also allows you to anchor on the bike with your lower body better.

3. Smooth throttle control: Of course this is important anytime, but in lower traction conditions, it's critical.

4. Lean into the turn, even hang off. This allows the bike to be more vertical and stay verical in the event of a slide.

5. VERY light on the handlebars. Of course this is good anytime, but in the wet, and sliding, just about any pressure on the bars is usually detrimental.

6. In the event of a slide, you can even steer into the turn. I.e. making a left hand corner turn the handle bars left. This is in effect counter-counter steering and can keep the bike upright in the event of a slide! The point is to pick the bike up if it slides. So while in a slippery turn, I'll make sure I position myself so that I'm completely loose on the bars and at any given moment, if I have to, to turn the handlebar correctly.

The point is get the guy to pick the bike up if it slides.

When and if you become adept at sliding, a whole new world opens up! Coming into a "good" corner that's loose with water, gravel, etc, you may just one day say...."cool, I can get a good drift out of that one!".

Hope this is of some use to you!

Doc

I must admit, I am a little confused. Budbandit posted a thread addressing this very same topic (and from what I read in Twist of the Wrist II), what to do when your front end pushes and the consensus was to actually turn MORE into the skid, ie. in a left hand turn, turn the bars more to the RIGHT to get the front tire to pick up traction. A sliding front tire has no grip and turning into the turn (left) will not pick the bike up (no traction) and will effectively highside you once the wheel does grip. A rear slide is the same idea...did I mis-understand?

In my experience, if the front end pushes, if anything you want to put just a *very* gentle pressure on the handle bar to steer it into the turn.

By that I mean let's say you are cornering left, your front starts to slide, **gently** put pressure on the handle bars turning the bar to the *left*. This will effectively "pick up" the bike preventing the low side.

Now, if you do the above, chop the throttle at speed in dry conditions, yes you can definitely high-side.

Also, sliding the front tire and turning the handle bars to the opposite direction will effectively counter-steer the bike to the ground. I.e. turning left, slide the front, turn bars to the right.

This makes for very good experimenting in the dirt. I wouldn't recommend trying this on a street bike on the street.

Spending 2 days at Rich Oliver's Mystery School was quite an experience. First day class and lessons on breaking the rear loose, sliding all the way thru corners and the second day nothing but racing.

That was cool and we did lots and lots of sliding!

Doc

I agree with Doc,

I did a Flat Track school with Frank Nye. Same deal, if you want to pick it up, you turn the wheel away from the slide. Turning in the direction oposite the turn HELPS INITIATE the slide. Then control the rate of the slide or rotation by turning away (and throttle control ). Weight on the outside peg is a must!!

Watch Motocross riders do this in slow turns to pick up the front. Then watch Speedway and Flat Trackers. They're always turning the wheel left and right constantly searching for that "balanced" slide.

One thing I don't do, and it goes against what mostly is said about wet riding, is hang off with the bike more upright in turns. I sit more on top of the bike as it leans into corners, ala dirt bike style. I am more in control that way when my bike slides. It perhaps may come down to my riding style, and type of bike I ride in the rain, Buell SB9SX City Cross. Not easy to do on a ZX6RR...

I think the most important thing in any situation is that you KNOW your bike like it is a part of you!! That means RIDE IT! RIDE IT! RIDE IT! Rain, shine, whatever, Just ride it!!!!!

FWIW>>>>>>>> This works real good on a 125GP bike when the front starts sliding after the tire has gone off . Not sure how well it works on a bigger bike >>>>>>>>>>





Mark

So I have another recommendation and that is take a flat tracking type school.

I've been to some different schools and definitely prefer Keith Code's California Superbike School. In fact this last school I did at Sears Point fine tuned some point in my riding that made a huge difference.

But last week, going to Rich Oliver's Myster School really put me over the edge in being comfortable in having the rear and front ends slide. It was quite liberating. Lot's of friendly racing with the small manageable TTR 125s. I even have a lot of dirt experience but this school made a big difference for me.

Doc