Condensed Pace. thanks to the original author

**Brett** · 2nd December 2009 07:17 AM

"My job includes the duties of Technical Author. Part of that is condensing data (doing a Readers Digest job on it) and producing technical publications. The following is condensed from a long and occasionally repetitive article in an American magazine. It was entitled ‘The Pace’ by Nick Ienatsch and describes much of what a lot of us already do, but novice riders may gain a lot from it. I’ve also added a few of Keith Code’s principles.

The (Condensed) Pace

Have you ever followed a good rider up and down a twisty mountain road? Did you notice their brake light? Did it illuminate at all? In a group that practices the following principles, it is uncommon to see a brake light flash.

You’ll find good riders travel at ‘the pace’. They don’t rely on maximum throttle and heavy braking, they rely more on smooth power application and proper cornering technique.

The trick is to get maximum corner speed without upsetting the bike’s balance. In other words, be smooth on the throttle and perfect your timing and cornering technique so you don’t have to slam on the brakes heading into the corner. Maintaining a high cornering speed is one of the most thrilling aspects of riding.

But shouldn’t you brake as late as you can into the corner? Well, no. The only people who do that are racers trying to out-brake their opponents. And what usually happens? They run wide and lose the advantage.

But it’s fairly simple to ride smoothly. The main force used is countersteering. Use deliberate force to turn the bike at the correct point in the turn and flick it up quickly to align with the exit. You’ll find that after a bit of practice you can power on well before the mid-point of the turn. Remember though, when the throttle is applied it is done so smoothly and progressively.

If you need to brake, do so before turn-in to allow your forks to return so they can do their main function of maintaining geometry. Brake smoothly and strongly to set your speed.

Turning with compressed forks unsettles the bike and does not usually contribute to smooth riding. It’s also an admission you are pushing too hard and have stayed on the throttle too long. Trailing the rear brake is a useful technique if you are too hot into a corner.

We all know (or should know) that the road is not our personal race track. Consider your lane as the limits of your ‘pace’ track. You’ll find it more challenging too. If you cross the centreline, it’s an admission you’re pushing too hard. If the group is committed to this practice, peer pressure will force newer riders to do the same. If you still want to think of it as racing, consider going over the centreline is equivalent to crashing.

In riding smoothly you may find you use all your lane – that is acceptable – and in most cases you can do this. There are times when you can’t. Blind corners, oncoming traffic and debris on the road may force you to change your plan.

In the case of blind left hand corners, try to keep to the left side of your lane. In blind right hand corners, aim for a metre to the left of the centreline. This will give you a safety margin against cars running wide.

Because you are not riding flat out, you can identify secondary threats in good time and counteract them. In the event of gravel and debris, consider riding in the outside wheel track. Cars ‘weight’ the outside wheels in a turn and tend to clean that track better. In any event, if you find your wheel(s) sliding, don’t over-react. Try and maintain a loose grip on the bars and you will find (most times) your bike will correct itself. There’s a reason it’s called the ‘death grip’.

Riding smoothly puts you in charge of the motorcycle, allowing you to position it wherever you want. You are not just baggage hanging on to a semi-controlled missile. Remember, you can have as much fun on a VTR250 as you can a ZX14R.

Travelling in a group at speed is risky. Maintain about a three second gap between riders. People will not think you are in a race and with the distance, even the police will think you are riding responsibly – and you are! The gap also lessens the possibility of damage through stone chips. Straights are the places to adjust the gaps – and also to change leaders if desired. Be assured, there is no competition to be the leader. In fact, riding this way is probably what manufacturers had in mind when building sports bikes.

As stated earlier, the road is not a race track. It takes a great deal of self discipline to keep it that way. The leader must check the following riders to ensure they are not ‘riding ragged’. If someone is getting out of line, the leader may wave that person past to assume the lead. This may slow the group but ensures no one crashes through fatigue or inexperience.

The group, on the other hand, must realise that the leader is not a competitor to be overtaken at all costs.

The group may also be slower if a new rider joins. It may also be a good idea to tap the brakes until he or she gets into the smooth riding style. If a new rider doesn’t understand the high cornering speed style, they may overshoot the corner. They must also be told there is no pressure to stay with the group. It may take some time for them to get the knack of riding at the pace.

By now you should realise that the whole focus of riding at the pace is on attitude. It doesn’t even matter what sort of bike you are on because the whole idea is to have fun.

Things to remember:

Set cornering speed early. Blow the entrance and you'll find it hard to recover.

Look down the road. Maintaining a high visual horizon will reduce perceived speed and help you avoid panic situations.

Steer the bike quickly. Turning a fast-moving motorcycle takes muscle.

Use your brakes smoothly but firmly. Get on and then off the brakes.

Get the throttle on early and smoothly.
Starting the drive settles the chassis, especially through a bumpy corner.

Never cross the centreline except to pass. Crossing the centre-line in a corner is an instant ticket and an admission that you can't really steer your bike. In racing terms, your lane is your course; staying left of the centre line adds a significant challenge to most roads and is mandatory for sports riding's future.
Smaller capacity bikes can generally hold a higher corner speed than large ones.

Don't crowd the centreline. Always expect an oncoming car with two wheels in your lane.

Don't hang off in the corners or tuck in on the straights. Sitting sedately on the bike looks safer and reduces unwanted attention. It also provides a built-in safety margin.

When leading, ride for the group. Good communication is augmented with hand and turn signals.

Change direction and speed smoothly.

When following, ride with the group. If you can't follow a leader, don't expect anyone to follow you when you're setting the pace.

Conclusion:

So there you have it. Read through the article again. Realise that the road is not your race track and that self-discipline will save motorcycling from more restrictive road rules. The choice is yours."