QuestionHey Pat,
I have a 1988 Suzuki Katana 600. I was just wondering what the handling characteristics of a bike at the limit are. I am afraid to lean my bike over very far. At the adhesion limit, will a bike suddenly give out? Or will it squeal the tires, giving an idea of how far you can go like in a car? Thanks for your help!
Tom
AnswerHi Tom,
Leaning a bike is something that you need to work up to in order to build confidence. There are many ways to look at these questions.
Technically accurate answers: A bike at the limit is on a knife edge of traction--only experts (such as roadracers and very experienced riders on very familiar bikes) can safely manage a sliding bike and know exactly where the breaking point is. You won't hear a squeal like in a car, it's pretty much "one minute you're up, the next, you're down." It happens so fast that it's almost always a complete surprise.
The number of factors that go into traction is so great it would kill us both to discuss it here, but you need to consider things like bike design/geometry, tire age and composition, tire pressure, air temperature, tire temperature, and ground temperature, in addition to the surface characteristics of the road.
Practical advice: an 88 Katana will run out of cornering clearance (and you'll start scraping pegs, muffler, whatever against the ground) long before you run out of traction, so go ahead and experiment with it. Note: This is assuming that your technique is good, the tires are not old and hard (if you don't know how old they are, get new ones regardless of how much tread's left--if you can detect the slightest trace of blue in the color of the tire, they're toast and should be replaced) and that you're riding on a clean, dry surface and it's not cold outside.
For that bike, I'd recommend Bridgestone BT-010 or BT-020 tires, depending on how you use your bike. The 020s are a little less sticky and more high mileage--both are more than adequate for street riding.
Brand new tires are very slippery, so you have to go easy on them for the first 60-80 miles. Cold tires also have far less traction than warm ones. It takes 10-20 minutes to warm up tires through normal street riding.
Other than that, you just need to keep riding and practicing and exploring your limits. Consider taking an MSF class--the Experienced Rider Course is a blast.
If you live anywhere near Minneapolis, or even if you don't, consider coming out to ride with us on May 16. I'm conducting a cornering seminar at a tech college driving course--basically, a small, clean, closed-off course where you can really learn what your bike can do. We'll have 40-60 sportbike riders there learning the same things. We did it twice last year and had an absolute hoot. If you live far away, hell, grab a buddy, throw the bikes on a trailer, and make it a road trip. You'll be glad you did.
If you're interested or just want more info contact me at nraforevr@yahoo.com and I'll shoot you some details.
Otherwise, check out the various books available (Keith Code has several, David Hough has two really good ones, the MSF Guide to Motorcycling Excellence, etc.) You can get good info for free at my web site (www.motorcyclesafety.state.mn.us) under "safety tips" (there's several pages of cornering info) and I highly recommend my new book, coming out in late March called "Ride Hard, Ride Smart."
Regards,
Pat
