The Perfect Line, Sight-Line or the Ideal Corner?

As keen motorcyclists, should we always aspire to ride the perfect line in a corner, or is there actually something better?

When I was younger, being an enthusiastic competitor and frankly prepared to take huge risks, I would have always aimed for the "Perfect Line" into, and out of every corner. This was developed from "the racer's edge" a winning concept that involved active counter steering plus the choice to use the entire road when cornering (or the entire lane). So start out wide, push down hard on the inside hand and bar (to counter-steer), drop the bike into the corner on the inside of the apex, then gently reverse the counter steer to lead you out of the corner on the other side of the road. ("Reverse Counter Steering" is the subject of a future blog).

When done competently, this will result in a very quick and much safer cornering technique, allowing a far higher average speed around that bend (if that is what you are after or course). It needs lots and lots of practise, probably more than 10,000 pratice corners as a rough guide, to become really proficient. But it's worth the effort.

This "racer's line" uses all the road,  (or the lane you are in hopefully) and has the distinct advantages, that the bike will remain super-stable, the corner is almost guaranteeed and most importantly, if a slight change is required due to gravel or a rock on the road or an unexpected pot-hole, the smallest change of pressure on the bars will enable you to avoid the obstacle with ease. Finding a series of these (as we did in Tasmania) is heaven on a bike.

This of course depends on three key things;

1. Your tyres are in good condition and inflated perfectly. (Experince says that more than 50% or riders have under-inflated tyres)
2. That you know how to counter-steer intuitively. This is easy to witness, when I follow another rider, and gives me a crisp idea on their actual competency within three corners. 
3. The surface of the road is clean, smooth and ideal across the whole lane. 

While the first two are controllable, the third is actually the key factor to enjoying a relacing leisure ride. 

Let me use an example; I was once riding with one friend to the coast, on very tall motorcycles. He was a first class rider, with exemplary skills and knew the road very well. After cresting the range, we headed slowly down the hair-pin bends and came to the less steep section where the corners open up a little, and he increased speed. I was watching as he changed from the Perfect Line, to one that was more open, and passed through the middle of the lane. In my head I was saying "Amateur! He is getting slack - just watch me cut this corner". Which I did. And was nearly thrown from my machine, by a row of corrugations in the bitumen seal. A firm counter steer saved me, otherwise I would have been heading for the Eucalypts.

So this brings up a third key element - the Sight Line. 

Rushing into a corner where you cannot see the exit, is more than a brave move. The view may be blocked by an embankment, trees and shrubs or even another vehicle. You do NOT know what is around that corner, especially if it is oil, diesel or sand on the road. Or something stationary. A good example of this type of road is the one from Thredbo to Geehi and onto Khancoban NSW, where there are loads of blind bends. 

When you DO have a clear sight-line, then you can plan the corner with confidence, and more importantly have a "Plan B", such as an escape route, if something happens. Like a big kangaroo jumping across in front of you, or a herd of cows on the road (both of which have occured to me in the last three months!). Naturally the sight-line lets us choose the best road surface to ride on, and therefore the the Ideal Corner for both enjoyment and safety. 

There are other factors too. If you happen to ride a cruiser, such as the Harley Davidson Softail (eg Heritage or Fat Boy Models) where the maximum lean angle is about 23 degrees, then you need to choose a curve that is NOT the racer's line - otherwise you will be dragging your running boards and pipes. The HD Touring models typically have a lean-angle of 31 degrees, more than enough to really get into it.

So overall, for safety, hassle-free fun on Australia's roads, the Ideal Corner does not run the racer's line. Try it, practise and tell me if I am right?

Viking Olly

The views in this article are those of the author only. Feel free to make your own decisions on the road. We Ride.