Damn Hairpins

mohawk miss · Post by **mohawk miss** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:04 am

I hate hairpin bends, to be precise, left uphill hairpins.

Does anyone have any advice on how to tackle them, I just cant seem to get the hang of them

Nucci · Post by **Nucci** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:08 am

keep practicing is the only advice I can give you

Burky · Post by **Burky** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:18 am

Tackle them at your own pace, make sure that you are totaly focused and over time you will get the hang of them.

Bluefly · Post by **Bluefly** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:38 am

I had a close encounter with a Commodore wagon going up Arthur's seat on a club ride once. I've never been back!!

I hate them too. No advice here I'm afraid.....except maybe get a lighter bike and crash knobs just in case.....

Colette · Post by **Colette** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:14 pm

I hate them as well - was chatting to someone about this recently and was told to take them in first gear and fan the clutch (I have always tried to take them in second gear and wondered why I struggled..

)

MickLC · Post by **MickLC** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:26 pm

I love them...it's the downhill righthanders that make me a bit nervous.

Which aspect of them is it that is giving you problems?

Nucci · Post by **Nucci** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:26 pm

Colette wrote:I hate them as well - was chatting to someone about this recently and was told to take them in first gear and fan the clutch (I have always tried to take them in second gear and wondered why I struggled.. )

Ok on my experience I would say that advice is just down right stupid..

First thing if you are struggling with a hairpin the last thing you want is twitchy power delivery, keeping the bike in second helps negate this, unless it really is bogging down in second in which case ok, shift it down to first. But unless I am doing a tight u-turn I would never be using the clutch to modulate drive to the rear wheel. In canberra we have ultra tight roundabouts in small suburban streets that you take at about 20kms an hour and you dont use the clutch to negotiate these.

A hairpin is like any other corner, you should have set up your speed before entering the corner, and like in most cases, slow in fast(er) out works well. Getting your entry speed, body position and line are the fundamentals for getting any corner right.

But as I originally said, practice makes perfect.

Blue14 · Post by **Blue14** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:50 pm

Incorrect target fixation is a big problem when cornering as we know. So you will find most of your problem could be your just not looking far enough through the corner. I had that problem in my early riding days. Hopefully you can sort your problem, but always remember, do it at your own pace.

Nucci · Post by **Nucci** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:53 pm

Yep Blue12, and your body position and line are very important when determining how far through a corner you can see. As the hairpin in question from the OP is a left hander, you want to be towards the right of the lane but still keep a good buffer from the centre line.

But sometimes you just cant really see to far from a corner especially uphill/cresting tight corners! But looking as far through the corner as you can helps..

Hmm maybe I should have put all this in my first post.

red_dave · Post by **red_dave** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:08 pm

I think someone found Springwood road...

Don't worry MM... just keep the throttle steady and look right through the corner...

Practice makes perfect... (that's what i tell the missus anyway

)

Saki · Post by **Saki** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:16 pm

you r ment to use the E-brake and Drift it dawg

mohawk miss · Post by **mohawk miss** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:21 pm

I think someone found Springwood road...

Ha ha ha ha

Thanks Dave.

The first hairpins I ever rode through was Galston Gorge, coming back from Road Warriors (as a Learner). It was in the middle of a thunderstorm, you couldn't see 3 ft in front of you, there was at least 2 inches of water sheeting across the road

Springwood rd is a doddle.

Pleased to see its not just me,though.

I dont know what it is, they just seem to muddle me up. I end up putting around at about 10km in 1st. There is a rotten one on Galston coming up to Berowra. There is a big join in the road on the approach line which pulls the bike out wrong.

red_dave · Post by **red_dave** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:34 pm

mohawk miss wrote:
I think someone found Springwood road...
Ha ha ha ha Thanks Dave.

Don't worry...I think even Madkaw had problems on those corners...

Ask Ponti

Glen · Post by **Glen** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:46 pm

Lots of bike in, body out ie keep your body straight, the bike pushed down and your head turned. If it's really tight remember your slow riding from your license test, ie back brake, slip the clutch a little and keep the revs up.

Practise tight circles ie like your doing a U Turn

Glen · Post by **Glen** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:52 pm

Nucci wrote:Ok on my experience I would say that advice is just down right stupid..

Not necessarily so. If it's a really tight hairpin ie the 5k corners on Galston Gorge this is precisely what you should do. It's like a Uturn, slipping the clutch will help keep everything smooth and combined with some rear brake and a few revs will keep the bike fairly stable.

It's all in the learners and P's course