Negotiating hairpins with luggage

By Chris Dabbs -

Riding Skills

 19 June 2009 17:10

Anybody who’s done a lot of touring with a fully laden bike will know that one of the hardest manoeuvres to master is the downhill hairpin. Here’s a technique that I think is the best.

Approach the hairpin with the front and back brake on, then release the front and 'tip it in' keeping the back brake trailing, accelerate out of the turn only when the drive is on, releasing the back brake as you do.

This works especially on bikes with fuel injection which tend to be jerkier.