Setting up for off-camber curve

karpsymoto · 05-12-2005, 09:46 PM

I was just wondering what tips there are for setting up for a curve where the road cambers the wrong way. It seems these curves are more difficult and I'm wondering what ideas there are to do these curves. Thanks everyone.

**Jack_R1** · 05-13-2005, 08:12 AM

Don't do them

Well, on the serious note, just be aware of it, and take extra careful approach - don't try to drag things on such corners

. No magic there for them, just more careful execution. Think that you're riding in rain.

***asp125*** · 05-13-2005, 10:07 AM

Off camber curves in the dry are not so bad. When you approach the limits (speed, traction, lean) is when you need to be careful. The slope will conspire to pull you towards the outside of the curve; staying more inside gives you some "oops" room. Remember your lean angle clearance is reduced by the slope too.

**mudarra** · 05-13-2005, 12:55 PM

We have many around here. I face a downlhill hard left off-camber every morning to work.
Slow down a little more than you would for a flat graded turn. This will reduce your lean angle.
Don't coast through the turn.
Roll-on the throttle (as the MSF teaches) this also helps ground clearance and you will feel more planted in the turn, thus eliminating the feeling of panic you get cause the road feels like it wants to throw the bike over the other direction.
And as Asp125 pointed out, staying towards the inside of the turn (the highest part of your lane) gives you more room to make lean angle adjustments. Going to the outside forces you to lean more (effectively decreasing the radius of the turn).

**Chrystal** · 05-13-2005, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by karpsymoto

...setting up for a curve where the road cambers the wrong way.

I guess i'm not really sure I know what "camber" means.

**Jack_R1** · 05-13-2005, 03:08 PM

Camber = curvature, arch. The road mostly isn't horizontal, it has an angle to one of the sides - that's camber. When the road turns right, the angle should be to the right too (right side lower than left), to create more friction force in the turn. When the angle is opposite (lessening the friction), it's off-camber.

**mudarra** · 05-13-2005, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Chrystal

I guess i'm not really sure I know what "camber" means.

Road engineers "crown" roads to help water drain off the road. This means the center of the road is higher than the edges. It's basically arced. While the road goes straight, a crowned road will cause the bike to lean to the right. An off-camber turn can simply be a left handed turn on a crowned road. You must lean the bike left, while the road slopes down to the right.
Since the area to the left of the bike is slightly higher than the right, care must be taken on an off-camber turn to avoid dragging parts.

**Smitty** · 05-13-2005, 11:28 PM

Really to hard to explain on paper & especially to riders we do not know & especially in their knowledge of riding.

**Hewhois** · 05-16-2005, 08:24 PM

In addition to the above comments, lean your body a little more into the curve than the bike. Be extra cautious of slick spots. Have to say off-camber curves are one of my least favorite things

Camber is the slope of the road from side to side. If it is higher on the right than on the left and you are turning right, then it is an off-camber turn. SOrta feels like you are trying not to slide downhill, lol.