WE see this happen on track almost every weekend, a racer skilfully slews their bike at obscene angles on their way into a corner. With bike sliding along the track they scrub off speed and navigating the corner with ease. But how do you back in a motorcycle?
Why do racers slide the back wheel of a bike into a corner?
Backing in a bike happens in many forms of track riding and racing. From MotoGP to BSB, it’s a common way of getting into and around a corner quicker than just following the racing line.
The main reason it’s done, aside from looking cool as hell, is to get the bike pointing into the corner apex. Backing a bike in also scrubs off some of the speed of the last straight, not quite as effectively as braking in a straight line, but the sliding combined with braking up to the apex is more beneficial in certain corners.
What is backing in a bike?
Backing in is what happens when the rear tyre breaks traction with the road, sliding out in the opposite direction to the corner you are approaching. If you’re sliding the back into a left-hander, the rear wheel will be sliding to your right and vice versa. As the back wheel slides out it has the effect of turning the bike to face the apex of the corner, effectively lining you up for a cleaner, faster exit from the turn.
Can you practice this technique on the road?
It’s probably best to leave this to the track, backing a bike into a roundabout on the road might seem like fun but should it all go wrong, that kerb on the outside of the road will really hurt when you slide into it!
It’s also best to learn the technique on a small, lightweight bike like a Supermoto machine. The lack of weight, long-travel suspension and lower speeds carried will make learning the technique much easier than on a 200hp, 200kg superbike. Once you have the method nailed though, you can upscale it to work on any bike, just take your time.
How do you back in a bike?
First off you need to get to know the track your riding and pick a few corners that could work well. When you’re ready to get sliding, move your weight forward more than you would normally. On a Supermoto this is easy, on a sportsbike you may have to slide your body up the back of the fuel tank a few inches to get the desired result.
Once your weight is more over the front than anywhere else, start to brake in a firm but controlled manner. As the bike slows and the forks dive, you’ll feel the rear end become light and start to skip across the track. Practice this for a few laps and get comfortable with the feeling of the back wheel moving around.
As you get more confident, you’ll start to brake later and deeper into the corner and as you do, you’ll naturally introduce more lean angle into the situation. As you do this you should release some pressure out of the front brake, just as you do when trail braking, and very gently stroke the rear brake to get the bike moving about. This lean angle, combined with your body position and the rear brake pressure, is what will force the back wheel to step out at a greater angle the further you lean the bike.
How do you control a slide?
As with a car that’s sliding around a corner, steering into the slide will prevent it from getting any further out of shape. So, as the back-wheel steps out to the left of the bike, you should apply a small amount of left-hand lock on the bars to counteract it.
The first time this happens you’ll probably apply too much lock and neutralise the slide altogether, but with a bit of practice you’ll be able to accurately steer the bars to hold the back tyre at the desired angle.
You can flick your hips to help push the back end of the bike out and away from the approaching corner. This action combined with a decent feel on the brakes and the right amount of steering lock is all key to getting and holding onto the slide in a safe and controlled manner.
What about downshifts?
A well set up bike with a quickshifter and slipper clutch should be able to help you slide the back. Most are set up to meter out just the right amount of resistance without full locking the wheel. For a bike with no slipper clutch, the job will be tricker. You’ll have to manually feed out the clutch between downshifts to prevent the rear from locking completely and spilling you off the bike. The trouble here is that there is going to be a lot going through your brain, and there’s a high chance of you fluffing one or all the points need to do it safely.
What about bike set up?
Sliding the bike is as much about bike setup as it is about body positioning. A rock-solid front end with compression and pre-load wound on full is not going to dive like you want it to. That lack of dive relates to a lack of forward weight transfer and it’s going to make instigating a slide much harder. The lack of dive will also make controlling a slide more difficult, as the bike will have much more knife-edge handling.
To begin with, soften up the front end, winding out almost all of the compression damping and a fair amount of the pre-load. Next, take out some of the rebound damping of the rear shock. Having too much of this can cause the rear to lift instantly when you apply the brakes. You don’t need that, you want as smoother transition as you can get onto the brakes.
Once you’ve mastered the art of sliding the rear into corners and holding it there, you’ll find you're using less of your bodyweight to start the bike sliding and more of the bike’s front and rear brakes. Now your body can be used to mix the bikes between gripping and sliding by moving your weight forward and backwards.
Comments
Having
Having too much of this can cause the rear to lift instantly when you apply the brakes. You don’t need that, you want as smoother transition as you can get onto the brakes.
https://basketball-legends.io/
Dog Grooming
Great blog, thank you for sharing!
https://doggroomingpoole.com/
Slide in DM
I agree what a great blog! I am too scared to get on a motorcycle, the only thing I slide is into her DMs ;)
https://www.augustagapressurewashing.com/
https://www.stocktonpressurewashing.com/
Roofing
Love this site and always great blogs, keep them up! thanks
https://www.rooferspoole.com/qanda.html
Learn to Motorcycle
I am currently learning how to ride a motorcycle. http://arcwebsolutions.net/sign-up/
Yup
Yup! I unfortunately learned this the hard way..
Josh| https://www.landscapingjolietil.com/
Bike Helmet
Yeah...me aswell. Helmets are so important yet people don't really know how to adjust them according to their head size. https://novalab.pe/
Interstting comment. Thanks!
Interstting comment. Thanks!
<a href="http://www.BoiseAsphaltPaving.com/">Sealcoating Boise </a>
<a href="http://www.sparksconcretecontractors.com">concrete driveway</a>
awesome stuff
This sounds like fast and the furious type stuff. Being on a motorcycle and doing it in traffic seems dangerous, yet exciting. Thanks for the article.
www.columbiatreepros.com
I agree with you man. I need
I agree with you man. I need to change my rear break also.. and front tire..
http://landscapinginkilleentx.com
Thank you so much
Gracias por la información presentada en este artÃculo de motocicletas. En nuestra empresa de venta de tractores agrÃcolas en Perú lo apreciamos mucho. Les dejo el link de nuestra empresa para que puedan acceder a las mejores ofertas.
https://www.centraldemaquinariapesada.com/tractores.html
That's when you need a tow ;)
Overall this was a good explanation for the beginner motorist, but what you're saying is true and unfortunately we have seen one too many slide-outs here at https://www.towsantaclarita.com because we specialize in motorcycle towing.
The blog shared useful ideas
The blog shared useful ideas and it was very helpful. As a result, I'll also share this site that can also be useful whenever you guys need roofing services. Here the link: https://www.bestroofingcedarrapids.com
<a href="https://www
<a href="https://www.spokanervrepairs.com/">mobile mechanic spokane</a>
https://www.spokanervrepairs
https://www.spokanervrepairs.com/
Riding tips
Thank you for the tip, as I learn to ride, I will keep that in mind. Looking forward to the speed thought! haha
https://www.roofingcontractorvictoria.com/
Differences to a car
Seems pretty similar to drifting/sliding in an actual car, if you can properly shift and pump your clutch. I suppose the load might be a bit more important on a motorcycle
James | Owner
https://www.mobiledetailinghenderson.com/
Thank You!
I have been wanting to start motorcycle lessons but I have been so afraid to ride them. Thank you for posting this information as it lessens my fear a little knowing that I have a way to learn more advanced moves. I may not try this for a while but it was easy to understand.
https://www.krygerglass.com/locations/nebraska/omaha/4430-south-133rd-st/
https://bonitaspringspools.com/ https://carpetcleaningop.com/ https://opwindowwashing.com/
Top!
Great blog, great writing, and I love motorbikes, thanks!
https://www.skiphireinleeds.com/skips-leeds
BOTANICAL WONDER
Excellent post. I absolutely appreciate this site.
<a href="https://botanicalwonders.pk/face-scrub">face scrub in multan</a>
Aerial Photography
love everything you guys post on this website, thanks again for sharing!
https://www.aerialphotographysheffield.com/contact-us.html
Locksmith
<a href="https://www.locksmithinguildford.co.uk">Locksmith in Guildford and Surrey</a>
Locksmith
locksmithinguildford.co.uk
Locksmith
https://www.locksmithinguildford.co.uk
Cleaning
https://www.carpet-cleaning-kingston.co.uk
Fencer
https://www.fencinginguildford.co.uk
I love going to my job sites
I love going to my job sites on a motorbike it's so much more convenient to avoid traffic jams and I can go from place to place to finish all the constructions!
https://www.renovationgatineau.ca/
Carpets
https://www.wellcleancarpetcleaning.co.uk
Motorbikes And Music
Great post, reminds of owning a motorbike when I was young.
https://livemicrecords.com/catalog/
Cleaning
https://www.carpetcleaninginoxford.co.uk
Skips for Hire
https://www.skiphireinnottingham.co.uk
Garden
https://www.gardeneroxford.co.uk
Roofing
https://www.roofinginguildford.co.uk/
Plumbers
https://Plumber-guildford.co.uk
Tree Surgeon
https://www.treesurgeoninguildford.co.uk
pretty cool
This is pretty cool People who ride motorcycles are bad ass. I'd like to ride one some day.
check out my website. https://www.cincinnatitreesservice.com/
Great post!
Thank you for your post, it helped me alot! :)
<a href="https://www.schaffhausenfahrschule.ch">Fahrstunden Schaffhausen</a>
<a href="https://www.thaimassagezürich.ch">traditionelle Thaimassage Zürich/a>
Taxi Services
Love motorbikes, really inspiring reading blogs like this!
https://shelbytaxi.com/
Great post!
Thank you for your post, it helped me alot! :)
https://www.xn--thaimassagezrich-uzb.ch/
https://www.schaffhausenfahrschule.ch/
Great read
This sounds very exciting. http://www.boatrepairlakeoftheozarks.com/
https://www.cleaningservicelakeozark.com/
Roofing Services In Cardiff
Fantastic read, I currently drive a 125cc but have my eyes on a REAL bike, or perhaps a fancy cafe racer, but I enjoy following your blog, thank you for sharing!
https://rooferscardiff.co.uk/flat-roof/
Question
when will you have another article out? This really interested me. https://www.elginlandscaper.com/
https://www.auroralandscaper.com/
Moto GP4
Las motos son mi pasión las combino con mi trabajo, os dejo un enlace!
https://www.reformastenerifehm.es/
Super cool!
This makes me want to get on one! https://www.springfieldlanscaper.com/
https://www.landscapingjoliet.com/
More Info
This makes me want to learn a lot more about the sport itself. http://www.welldrillingpeoria.com/
https://www.welldrillingbloomington.com/
Thank you
This article was amazing. Keep up the great work and I can't wait to see what will come in the future. https://www.foundationrepairbloomingtonil.com/
https://www.pavingcontractorjoliet.com/
Yeah I agree, very well
Yeah I agree, very well written article!
Check us out at https://www.sanjosefencepros.com/
Advanced indeed
I ride myself and was very interested throughout my reading of this entire article. Thank you.
https://www.tempe-landscaping.com/
Super educational!
Learned a lot about motorcycles here! Thanks so much for this!
Webiste: https://www.arlingtontreeservicepros.com/
Lawn Care in Glendale, CA
Thank you so much for writing this article. Extremely informational on a subject I did not know much about!
https://www.glendale-landscaping.com/
Pages
Join the conversation!