Tight cornering

[Kellbones]

Hey guys, I was on a ride last weekend with a couple friends who tend to like to ride a bit faster than me. I've got a 2012 S10, one of the other guys has an FJR and the last guy has a Honda (not sure the model but it's pretty basic, not an Africa Twin or anything). The ride took us up a mountain pass with some pretty fun curves. There were a few times where I would slow down considerably more than the other guys. I'm a fairly new rider and I've put 5000 miles on this bike since purchasing it used in the spring of '22, but I'm still pretty conservative and want to be sure I stay in my comfort zone as I learn and improve.

Anyways, at the next stop, the FJR rider (who's been riding his entire life on just about everything) mentioned to me that he was concerned I was taking some of the curves too fast. I never felt out of control, although I admit surprising myself when I dragged by inside peg one time (tend to drag a toe before that happens), so I asked him why he was concerned. His simple answer was "your bike's not built for that kind of fast cornering". I didn't press, but I'm confused by the statement. I realize every bike and rider has limitations, but should I be concerned about some ethereal limitation with the cornering capability of the S10 on pavement?

What do you guys think and thank you!

 

[MattR]

Depends on the tyres you have and the road surface. No reason not to scrape an S10 with decent road tyres on but I wouldn’t want to do it with my Anakee wilds..


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[Chav]

Meh, you are certainly more limited on cornering grip than sportier bikes but if you have decent road tires I would not put too much worry into it. The real performance set backs of the ST in Twisties is it's weight and weight transfer speed from side to side, your braking power is pretty limited and the suspension transfers weight abruptly which makes braking to accel changes disrupt the chassis stability. Of course it should be obvious if you are running tires that are not 100% road tires you should look at your side lugs and ponder how much grip they will offer when leaned over or cold.

 

[holligl]

Lots of variables. What tires are you running? Luggage on board? Suspension settings? The S10 has good cornering ground clearance, decent CG, and folks will drag pegs. The left peg should have a peg feeler to warn before dragging the center stand.

Most important is riding within your limits and leaving some reserve for corrections and unanticipated issues in the curve (tar snakes, gravel, or sand.)

Riding behind other bikes can give you a good feel of the curves and your technique. Your fellow riders may be under estimating the S10 capabilities.

I ride with the Yamaha MyRide app, which does provide max lean angle on each ride.

Practice, practice, practice.

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[Sierra1]

. . . . but should I be concerned about some ethereal limitation with the cornering capability of the S10 on pavement? . . . .

Short answer? Nope.

People take a look at the Tenere and they see a big KLR. ADV bikes are supposed to be at home off road. That's not the Tenere. I have one sone with an R6, and the other has an FJR ES. We all took a trip down to the hill country of Texas to ride on some roads that are called the Twisted Sisters. At the time I'd had my bike about four months. At the time I had the preload set at 2-helmets, and I can't remember where the rebound/dampening was set; still experimenting.

We got lucky with traffic since the threat of rain had scared everybody away. The R6 kid was in front, and I was doing my best to keep up, but it wasn't happening. In some of the corners I felt a little "wiggle", but most of the time she was solid as a rock. We got to a resting spot and were talking. The FJR kid had been behind me and made a similar comment about having the bike leaned way over. We go to looking and noticed that there were no chicken strips on my back tire, and almost non on the front. Apparently, those wiggles had been the bike warning me stop being an idiot. At no time did I scrape anything, and I weigh 300lbs.

So yeah, the tires are the limiting factor. I was running OE Battle Wings. I wouldn't have even attempted riding like I was with off-road tires. If you're comfortable at the speed you were traveling, that's all that counts. If you're scraping hard parts, I'd increase the preload. It will set the bike a little higher. You can watch it on an ES bike. ES bikes also have the advantage on crappy roads. Preload is preload, but it can't do anything to improve how the bike reacts to road imperfections. Being able to adjust rebound/dampening on the fly can make all the difference in the world. The wife and I were riding in town and hit one of several dips. The bike tried to go two different directions at once. Increased the rebound/dampening. The next dip barely even moved the suspension. The bike will never be an R6. She is a big girl, but those wide ass bars give a ton of leverage. She'll flop from side to side pretty easily.

She's my favorite bike ever.

 

[Longdog Cymru]

If you feel comfortable and confident, then I feel you are doing just fine. Just be sure that you are not panic braking and you are not running wide because you are running into corners and curves too hoy. Slow in and fast out is the way to go.

 

[Boris]

The Super Tenere handles far far better than it looks like it can and is well capable of pushing on through mountain passes and the like, providing you’re on decent tyres. The bike is up to it.

 

[bimota]

NOPE,

my xt1200 with michelin road pilot 5 on is extremely capable and is superb on mountain roads, i,ve been riding 45 yrs, and sports bikes for the first 30 years

rob

 

[sheikyerbooty]

concur with that Rob...them michelins are as sticky as a bangkok whore

To the op...only thing i'd add to the advice above is be careful with group riding...ride your own ride

 

[Tenman]

I’ve been running 50-50 tires for 65kk miles. I’ve dragged my pegs a few times with battleax’s, k60’s, eO7’s and currently Moto z GPS. Years ago. I had 3 friends riding together down a backroad with corn 10’tall down the shoulder. Two of them took off racing. They went around a curve and slowed down. The newbie bringing up the rear had decided to try to try to catch up. When he zoomed around the curve he sideswiped one of the guys at about 70mph. Broke the other guys leg and roadrashed them both. I heard they never found the guy’s boot that got side swiped.

 

[Boris]

concur with that Rob...them michelins are as sticky as a bangkok whore

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . To the op...only thing i'd add to the advice above is be careful with group riding...

Multiple agency motorcycle escorting is the most dangerous riding for law enforcement.

 

[jeckyll]

concur with that Rob...them michelins are as sticky as a bangkok whore

To the op...only thing i'd add to the advice above is be careful with group riding...ride your own ride

^ This.

A group of us used to mentor newer sportbike riders (different set of stories there) but the main thing is do NOT try and "keep up".

People that are good at organizing group rides will often have a chat before everyone takes off, specifically talking about how to ensure riders know where they're going so there is no need to keep up. For us, it's always "wait at the junctions for the guy behind, who'll wait for the guy behind him, etc" so no one has to 'chase' the guys who know where they're going.

As for 'bikes designed for...' that's a load of nonsense. It's often been said that it's "80% rider, 20% bike" and certainly for street rides that's true. I've taken a KLR to track days, and it probably wasn't "designed" for it. It did fine (just slow in the straights).

Enjoy your Super T, it loves roads like the below

 

[Kellbones]

Every post here was so great and thoughtful and reinforced my suspicion that “built for it” was bs. I really appreciate the insight, thank you!
Btw, I’m currently running Anakee III. Love ‘em.

 

[Sierra1]

Every post here was so great and thoughtful and reinforced my suspicion that “built for it” was bs. . . .

To be honest I didn't think she was built for it until I brought her home. (Yeah, I bought her without a test ride) Can't blame somebody for looking at a Super Tenere and thinking it's just a big dirt bike. But now you know better. Ride safe.

 

[MattR]

I’ve been in several groups that stagger riders in the line. This is not a good idea as it will lead to you being in the wrong position in the road at corners etc. Ride your own ride


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[jeckyll]

I’ve been in several groups that stagger riders in the line. This is not a good idea as it will lead to you being in the wrong position in the road at corners etc. Ride your own ride


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You stagger in the straights, not the corners. In the corners everyone runs their own line and then goes back to 'staggered' when things straighten out.

 

[lund]

I completely avoid group rides, as much fun as some say it is IMO they are way too dangerous. Too many non educated riders out there that never took lessons on how too safely doit.
There is a proper safe way to group ride and a reason on staggering and the importance of the lead rider too have the proper lane position for the rest of the group too fallow for their position.
So in a group environment I ride my own generally WAY back as if I'm not part of the group.

 

[Sierra1]

Inexperience does add to the risk of someone getting injured, but the real reason is that everybody has a different way of doing things. If a group of people ride together a lot, and know each other's habits, generally they're not the ones that have issues. Motor cops in one city don't have any issues when riding with each other. Throw in a different city though? Depending on what type of escort they're conducting, it can get hazardous. And, generally, they're not inexperienced or untrained.

I ride staggered when I'm with most of my friends. My kids and I will ride side by side. 1) We have Senas and can communicate what we're going to do and any potential problems we see ahead. 2) We've ridden together for years and know each other's reactions. 3) We don't stay side by side on twistie roads.

 

[gunslinger_006]

You stagger in the straights, not the corners. In the corners everyone runs their own line and then goes back to 'staggered' when things straighten out.

Exactly this.


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