My approach on switchbacks, and pretty much every tight corner, is whether I can see oncoming traffic. I find that a significant percentage of motorists are incapable of driving in one lane. As such, I hug the side of the road away from oncoming traffic. It ain't a race track out there, it is combat touring. The perfect line is the one that allows you to complete the ride.

 

Excellent advice. When riding truly challenging switchbacks and hairpins, maintaining visibility is job#1.

 

BTW: I ride a lot of switchbacks, most with a very steep gradient. Love them. Many so steep that video of other riders show me on top of them, like a drone.

 

Those rare gems are the best! Tennessee's Highway 421, The Snake, comes to mind. It has several hairpin switchbacks that are darned-near impossible to negotiate without touching a peg.

This picture is of switchbacks in the Colorado National Monument. As with The Snake or The Dragon, I find myself doubling back to ride and re-ride such stretches. Like you, if I can't see what's coming from the other direction, I hug the outside line.

 

The perfect line for me is where I have the best view all around the corner and the biggest distance to other traffic. Sometimes both wishes are not possible, then you have to find a compromise...

 

Guys,
Watching the video clip in the post
Would you take your K16 here?
and in particular the switchback cornering line / technique at the thirteen minute mark makes me wonder why that line?

I was wonder what others approach to these tight, 180 degree mountain corners is? I‘m not saying my line is best, it’s just the line I ride.

Well, it's just a guess, but they were likely riding to conditions; no decent visibility and wet road surface. My approach (most of the time) is to stay away from the oncoming lane to the limit of available visibility. I.e., I have no issue encroaching on the other lane as long as I can see I'm not going to be kissed by someone's front bumper.

 

When they are really sharp and particularly steep as they transition, I tend to navigate or negotiate the corner, not cruise it. It’s not about how fast I can transition from apex to exit. This is particularly true on right hand turns on right hand driven roads. I’ve had some that were basically 1st gear and the goal was to not bog the motor or require engaging the clutch. If you screw it up and have to stop there’s a good chance the road surface is too far to reach on one side to maintain an upright position. Often on the right handers, too far to the right side means an even steeper incline, so starting near the yellow line and then staying in the center of the lane through exiting is the line. I reduce the goals to maintain momentum with throttle control, maintain lane discipline, maintain vertical orientation. It’s kinda fun because you’re rewarded for your focus and there’s risk if you don’t. You get to the top quickly and the next miles of curves likely aren’t as tight. I wouldn’t enjoy hours of these turns unless there was plenty of space between them to upshift and relax a bit.

 

OK, as for the OP, my strategy is the one which allows for better vision, meaning I go wide before each bend then cut in at the last.

As for switchbacks, there is no standard line. The nature of a switchback is that the steep grade forces road designers to make many compromises in radius, super elevation (inclination of the roadway in or out) for the entire road width, and exceed normal road grades. Thus, each switchback is unique and deserves a great deal of attention and riding adjustment.

As for the line chosen, riding in the wrong lane (left), I saw a number of different approaches. I tend to be far more consistent.

 

Whatever you do, make sure you're in a low gear.

Joe

 

My methodology on curves, and basically every sharp corner, is whether I can see approaching traffic. I find that a huge level of drivers are unequipped for driving in one path. Accordingly, I embrace the roadside away from approaching traffic. It ain't a race track out there, it is battle visiting. with free guilds and quests

 

In the first diagram... in 1st curve i would go outside to inside.... on 2nd curve i would go middle or outside to middle or outside if no traffic....

 

I like the comment that you're not on a race track so you have to adjust your lines for the street and the fact that someone coming the other way may be crowding the center line (or over it). The best tip for any corner is to look through it to where you want to exit and keep your vision there through the corner. On a switchback, that means you should have your head turned completely into the turn before you tip the bike in.

 

@Donna Lots and lots of advice here, hope its not confusing. Absolutely nothing wrong with the lines you took on your corners that I can see.

In Europe some of the roads are narrow and when taking this type of hairpin, its a bit more challenging, the first thing you lose is speed and that a problem, particularly when you are on a big bike. You will also have gradient and camber against you so stopping mid corner should be avoided.

On the Bealach na Bà the road has two tight 180 hairpins at the top, it can catch bikers out very easily.

When doing a mountain climb you might be using most or all of the tarmac. If I see someone coming down to the corner, I will stop and let them clear it.

Some vehicles need a few goes at going up or down.

If I have to go very, very slow I will "hold" the bike with the back brake, that gives me more control.

On these types of roads it more about control at low speed than normal corning techniques.

One other thing I learned a long time ago on the Furka pass, Switzerland. I was climbing up it and at the apex of a tight hairpin corner I met a cyclist, (the mentality and rules for cyclists in Europe is very different, particularly around Tour De France time) anyway, he and I wanted the same square foot of planet Earth at exactly the same time and I had a decision to make.

I decided I wanted it more than him and I took that square foot, I am convinced that if I had changed my line, speed or anything else I would have dropped it. So, I carry that with me today, if I commit to the hairpin, I am gonna take it.

Hope that helps.

 

I've ridden Stelvio and other alpine passes. There was one with a cobbled surface, I was grateful it was dry that day. Get the speed right before you start the corner, don't look down - look where you want the bike to go.

 

It’s a road not a race track I look thru the corner I am not going so fast that I am leaning near or over the divider line. Many years ago I would ride more aggressively dive bomb the corners etc but what’s the point.

Ian

 

@DavidMcK makes some very valid points. The Stelvio in particular gets infested with crazy cyclists, racing down, often competing with one another, with no hope of stopping promptly or giving way to the uphill traffic; it's pretty narrow too, in places, so steep uphill right hairpins can get challenging.

When I reflect on the crash video that prompted this thread though, the guy appeared to have a touch of target fixation, mixed with an inability to understand or apply contra-steer. Given the pace one can reach descending, northbound, on the GG road, it's not uncommon for heavy touring bikes to suffer brake fade due to overheating. Even when conscious of the issue, sometimes it is difficult to avoid dragging the rear through the hairpins when following cars. This is precisely why the likes of Audi & Porsche use the GG for brake testing & boy do they punish those anchors - it was all Audi Q8s in cammo last time we did the pass, brakes smoking hot.

 

At your pace your “line” is kind of irrelevant. On a rode like that I typically ride at 60-70% for the reasons people stated above. If that’s your 60-70%, again I would worry about your line.

 

If you like switchbacks, I mean if you REALLY like switchbacks, try to get yourself to Europe. A bucket list must!! Start with most any road in the Alps. Switchback after switchback. Chime in my Euro bothers! Do that for a week and there is no switchback in the Rockies or Appalachians that you can't master. Stelvio alone has 50 on one side and fifty more down the other, and there are plenty more switchback ladened passes after that.

If someone new to switchbacks were to ask I'd tell them that, IMO, the best strategy for switchbacks is to get down into second gear before the entry. Check to see what's coming from the other direction as best you can. Hang outside for as long as you can. As you begin the turn swivel your head (think owl) as far back around as possible 'till you can see the exit. Target a spot that's nearer the centerline going left and closer to the curb line going right (UK riders, ah, no). That will keep you from going wide. DO NOT look at the road in front of the tire. Feather the clutch if you have to -- at the right entry speed you won't. Hold steady and feel the bike as it swings around like magic -- just like you drew it up! Next!

 

If you like switchbacks, I mean if you REALLY like switchbacks, try to get yourself to Europe. A bucket list must!! Start with most any road in the Alps. Switchback after switchback.

My all time favorite trip in the Swiss Alps, back in 2018

Start on A2 south (or the beautiful old parallel road) from Altdorf towards the Gotthard tunnel, exit Wassen. Up and down the Sustern pass:

Turn right towards the Grimsel pass

Up and down the Grimsel pass, turn left in Gletch towards the Furka pass, up and down Furka pass:

Turn towards the St. Gothard pass, I rode the newer road because the old one has the cobble stones, which I don't like much.
New road is a bit boring though, so video is not really interesting.

Turn towards the Passo della Novena (Nufenem pass), up and down Nufenem pass until Ulrichen:

More that 170 kms of Alpine bliss.... 😎

Sorry for the (boxer) sound, was riding my R1200 RS back then.
Camera is a GoPro Session, mounted on my left mirror base.

 

I think a lot depends on the width of the road and the gradient of the incline through the curve. While I agree with @RL Lemke that staying away from the center line is best for avoiding oncoming traffic, staying close to the inside of the curve can be hard on very steep inclines. I also agree @BMWGuy that being in the right low gear entering the hairpin is essential.

From my experience in the USA, Canada and EU, we have very few highly trafficked single track roads in the USA.

The Highlands 500 from John O'Groats to Strathconnan is almost all single track road with passing places every 100-200 m. That means you have to stop in a passing place if you see an oncoming vehicle, or pull into a passing place to allow a fast "local" vehicle coming up behind.

My experience with the single track roads in the UK and Ireland is reinforced by many friends in the USA who say they would "never" drive over there!

 

And then there is the Moki Dugway...

Moki Dugway in 2017

 

I rode the Moki so many years ago I forget which year. Maybe 93 or 94. I was on my BMW R80 ST and my buddy was on an early GS. Was quite the experience because the road was not in as good of shape as in your video.

Joe

 

We have a few more roads to offer other than single track, enjoy.

 

Spectacular video, spectacular road! I've done Grossglockner twice - once in late spring and once in early fall. I would have loved those traffic conditions but my recollection is that there was quite a bit of car and tour bus traffic. Tell me, would April or October be better months?

 

@Gaucho

Been there, done that (several times) going back June providing Covid and vaccine allows.

 

Guys, let me know when you're doing it again. I live near Luzern.

 

There are multiple riding styles we all employ: 1) Attack; 2) Scenic Wanderings; Tired and want to get home. ++

When in Combat Touring or Attack modes, I carefully choose a consistent line, with keen focus. I can keep this up for several hours a day. Consistent line means a video of me would show identical lines for every corner: Wide to the outside on approach, then slice near apex toward outside again, then adjust to outside for next corner.

For scenic touring I'm a middle of the lane rider, corners and all.

 

Here's another what not to do. Go to 1:45

This from another thread, just for reference.

 

Whatever you do, make sure you're in a low gear.

The first video is a perfect example of not applying the wisdom of @BMWGuy's post. I don't know what in the world happened to cause the lady in the second video to drop her bike. Possibly the same problem of being in too high of a gear?

 

When I think of tight a technical challenging hairpin, this example (stock image) comes to mind. No center line, steep incline, non-uniform banking, and usually pavement damage, where it's common to need first gear if you're heading up the slope. I agree with other posters that have eluded to getting thru these safely is more important than keeping the perfect line. They are fun in the context you know you're not in Kansas any more. For me, the keys are looking thru the corner, selecting the gear I need before entering, and feathering the clutch in the turn. And not adding more pavement scars to the mix!

 

That looks like the second hairpin on the Bealach na Bà

 

@KurtVerbose Bad riders aside, I enjoyed watching the first video of the biker going down Stelvio. Great views, and it gave me a good feel for the road. It's definitively something I'd like to experience once.

 

I will confess, it's not a pass I've done, and actually, I'm not that keen on doing some of these passes even though they're mostly near where I live. I have done most of them though. I will do the Stelvio sometime although it's quite a distance from me. The closest I've come was the Bernina Pass, but that was by car in winter, and I didn't do it all, just to the top and back. A lot of these passes are closed in winter.

The really tight hairpins aren't that much fun. It's really just a question of low speed balance and control. The roads are often pretty narrow and crowded as everyone wants to go out on them and passing places are limited. So you don't get much opportunity to push a bike apart from the brakes on the way down.

It doesn't help that I am scared of heights.

The scenery is spectacular. Really breathtaking. It is fabulous being in the mountains, especially on a bike, but mostly I don't do the big, well known passes. There are lots of other roads where you can have a fabulous time, see the amazing views and not be crowded out on a tight road.

An example, this is Rougemont in the Gruyere National Park. Really beautiful there and much less crowded. There were some hairpins, and a few are fun, but the rest of the time it's wonderful country roads which you can really enjoy.

At the end of that we stayed in Montreux, which is a cute town on the lake. You might know it from the Deep Purple song 'Smoke on the water'.