How to slide

[randomwalker]

Was in Road America recently and saw this racer slide his rear tire in T5. I'm pretty sure it was a controlled slide. This is probably a dumb question, but how do you (control) slide the rear?

[smoothrideronli]

Originally Posted by randomwalker

Was in Road America recently and saw this racer slide his rear tire in T5. I'm pretty sure it was a controlled slide. This is probably a dumb question, but how do you (control) slide the rear?

Throttle and body position.

[RIQUE]

Isn't rear wheel slide caused by strong front braking while entering a corner before
leaning the bike? Rear tire wants to catch up to front and thus swirves sideways.

[randomwalker]

Originally Posted by RIQUE

Isn't rear wheel slide caused by strong front braking while entering a corner before
leaning the bike? Rear tire wants to catch up to front and thus swirves sideways.

How do you make it slide to the right (to square up for a left turn) or vice versa?

[diverbelow]

Normally it is when you accelerate within the end of a turn and you still keep the bike in control with slightly locking your knee on the asphalt and holding bike with the knee.

Others also do, they use the back break to put back the bike into the right trajectory.

[D-wire]

Yeah, there is "backing-it-in"....which I do with just braking very hard with the front. The rear gets very light and with a little drag from downshifting...the rear tries to pass the front and it almost controls itself. You can change how much it slides by moving your weight, turning the bars a bit (pretty much happens on its own) and/or lifting the bike as well as adjusting the brake pressure. Some guys use rear brake to do this as well. Backing-it-in looks cool and will happen when braking very hard, but doing it excessively isn't good for lap times

The power slides coming out of corners are done using very careful throttle control, lean angle, corner speed and body position. It helps the bike turn if you can keep the rear hanging out just a bit. A quick slide and then it hooking...won't help the bike turn. If it is sliding, and you chop the throttle...you will get a real good look at your front fender.

These techniques are kind of in the "don't try this at home" category. You're better off learning them almost by accident, as a result of speed then to try and do them. For example, trying to slide the rear without a ton of corner speed...can result in the rear sliding very fast....and could get out of control very quickly

[1000RR]

What D-wire said ^^^^.... More than likely you saw someone "back it in"... Hard on the front brakes along with engine brake from downshifting.

[rhody]

Random,

You are probably aware of this, but former Moto-GP racer, Gary McCoy was considered the "King of the Slide". He explains it as, "just playing with the throttle", which is far from the truth. If the bike has sufficient (explosive) untapped power in reserve, you can break the rear tire loose (assuming you are not at an extreme lean angle), say 25 - 35 degrees by simply cracking the throttle open (to start the slide), then by backing off and modulating the throttle to continue and control it (like you would for a wheelie). A high side is always a possiblilty when you do this, but if you are careful and smooth easing off the throttle and stand the bike up as you exit the corner, it can be done. You should be very confident at what your tires will do when you attempt this. Most guys who came from riding dirt bikes before starting road racing can do this instinctively.

An observation on McCoy's Moto-GP career, he proved he could slide (at will) and still win or place podium spots. It was his unique riding style, and it worked for him, but not others. Sometimes you will see a rider in a moto-gp race power slide at the end of a race to celebrate, but in general they don't do it because it has risks and is not considered the fastest, safest way around a race track.

Rhody...

[RIQUE]

1000RR is absolutely right. That is what makes the rear wheel want to turn around. What happens is, say going full throttle down a straight both wheels are at same speed, suddenly you hit the front brakes hard and/or engine brake. The mometum of the rear wheel will tend to through the rear wheel around. I have seen videos in Moto GP where the
front brake literally makes the front wheel burn smoke and the rear will swing out.

[mr. anderson]

best way to practice this is with a dirt bike on a flat dirt oval.