askapro Riding downhill made easy By Lee Parks #162125


Q: I love reading your articles in


BMW ON. I like learning the sci- ence behind riding even though I am just a casual rider on my 2004 R 1150


RT that is lucky to take a few good road trips a year. One of the things I do not remem-


ber seeing discussed is how to ride steep downhill twisties that extend for miles, such as coming down from a mountain pass in the Rockies. It is easy for me to ride them uphill since you are under engine power. I don’t know that I have found the correct way to ride them downhill. Please discuss how to use the front and back brakes (I have integrated brakes and ABS), what gear to use and how to use the engine, body position, etc. for best control. If it matters, speed is secondary to me. I just want to be relaxed, smooth and enjoy the ride. I ride solo. Thanks, Tom Kell #117621


A: Thanks for the kudos Tom. You’re right we have not discussed


riding downhill in this column so let’s look at this often intimidating aspect of riding technique. I was first introduced to downhill riding while racing motocross as a teenager in the Midwest. Racing is the most extreme form of riding, so young MXers like myself learn quickly how to deal with the fear—and figure out the tech- nique—or we end up on our heads. Pain is an effective motivator, but it is my last choice when it comes to learning.


100 BMW OWNERS NEWS December 2015 The first thing that has to be dealt with is


the rider’s center of gravity. If it is too high and/or too far forward, the bike will want to flip over frontwards (also known as an “endo”). Our natural sense of balance will make us want to stay perpendicular to the ground, so as your body starts to rotate for- ward, it will object both physically and mentally. Physically you want to move your body


back on the seat and lower your torso to be closer to the tank. This will help keep the bike from endoing. In order for your hands, arms and chest to keep from getting too tense and fatigued, it helps to squeeze the tank with your knees. Tank grips like those from Tech Spec and Stomp Grips make this technique easier, as the friction created from the grip material and your pants means you don’t have to squeeze as hard. This is especially true during downhill braking. It’s also a good idea to not have a slippery seat cover material. I recently changed the seat cover on my new Husqvarna FC 350 motocrosser’s seat to a grippy, rough material and the difference in control on downhills (and everywhere else for that matter) is amazing. Addition- ally, never treat your seat with slick dress- ings like Armor All, as they make staying in one position much harder. As far as braking is concerned, more


pressure at the levers is required to slow down the additional inertia caused by the downward slope of the road. Here inte- grated brakes and ABS can really help con- serve traction based on their effects on the chassis’ front-to-rear attitude. Keep in mind is that both the front and rear brakes need to be initially applied slower to reduce the amount of weight transfer to the front. Using the rear brakes slightly before the front can also help minimize the endo effect. ABS is always a great technology just in case you misjudge the amount/speed of either brake’s application.


While I’m generally not a fan of using


engine braking to slow the bike down (that’s what your brakes are for!), downhills are a rare exception. Here the slight drag at the rear wheel created from forcing the engine through its various strokes using gravity power can help keep your speed in check without wearing through your brake pads and rotors. The correct gear is the one that has more RPM than you would cruise at but fewer RPM than where your engine makes peak torque. This is what semi truck drivers use Jake brakes for as they scoot down long hills on the interstate. This also allows a slight amount of positive throttle to be used to help keep the chassis from becoming too biased toward the front. Your mind will begin to become stressed


with the new body position balancing act required with a steep downhill turn. In this case, it is important to stay focused on the task at hand and be proactive with prepar- ing for what’s up ahead. Choose an


skills


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