2nd or 3rd gear?

I was talking to someone about this yesterday... about how I took one of my regular 2nd gear corners in 3rd gear by mistake, did not get the engine braking that I was accustomed to, went in faster than normal (no big deal) and touched down a peg, then my drive out of the corner seemed to suffer because I was so far under my powerband. Here is where we started arguing....
He said that I should take every corner in a higher gear, because then throttle control through the turn is less abrupt, more forgiving, and your right hand doesn't have to be as smooth on your exit.
I say that's a lazy way to do things, that you'll NEVER have a smooth right hand if you don't practice to improve, and that what gear you use entering a corner depends solely upon which gear keeps you closest to the bottom of your powerband, so that as you stand the bike up and roll on, you're right there in the sweet spot for the exit.

Then again, that's just me. I'm new to sportriding and I don't know anything. I've never ridden a track. So if someone that knows could enlighten me, please.....  

Hmm, whatever floats your boat I guess...especially on the street where it's not like you're trying to put in your best times.  I don't think you want to take a corner in too high of a gear that you have little to none drive out of the corner, and on large v-twins and literbikes its really less of an issue too.  If it helps your friend concentrate on his line, concentrate on the road and makes him feel more comfortable to take corners in a gear higher then who cares right?  If he wants to learn or practice throttle control and banging it off the rev limiter (while downshift) before a corner so he can take it in the optimal gear for racing he should do some track schools/track days...you can learn a lot about both there in a good environment.  

You can come into the corner a gear higher than normal, but in order for it to work, you need to carry momentum through the corner so that you aren't out of powerband when you start to roll on the throttle. What your friend is probably referring to is that because you're not in the meat of the powerband, your throttle control on exit isn't as critical to keep the rear tire from spinning out from under you; if you start to apply throttle early in a smooth motion along with maintaining momentum, a lot of the rear wheel squat/spin theatrics are avoided while still coming off the corner with good drive. This is a technique best left to when you have more experience, however, as it requires more skill to maintain higher entry speed and momentum through the corner.

Hope that helps.  

I'm getting to the point where after I get the bike over, I  crack the throttle as soon as possible, and from then on it takes a lot to get me off the gas (like a deer or possum). It was difficult for me to break myself of chopping throttle in the corner when I thought I was carrying too much speed, but I'm getting to where I trust my equipment better now (plus, the new Pilot Powers give me a confidence boost) So I stay on the gas. I'm going slowest when I'm actually turning in, so my momentum is constant through the curve, I guess, and builds on my exit.
Wheelspin, I might misunderstand you, but it kind of sounds like all you are saying is if I want to use a higher gear, I need to take the whole curve faster. Is that it?

Also, I've never spun my rear tire, I thought that was a bad thing. A lot of you guys talk about it like it's pretty common. Is it a 'learning the limits of your bike' kind of deal? I've been real careful to avoid accelerating hard while I'm up on the sidewalls... because everything I've read said so (the 100 points of traction thing)  

Please explain in detail wheelspin. I am interested also. What you have said is basiclly the approach I use. I set my speed early on. But that requires me to brake earlier than most. Maintaining throttle as I enter and lean in. Then I roll on and exit.  

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Wheelspin, I might misunderstand you, but it kind of sounds like all you are saying is if I want to use a higher gear, I need to take the whole curve faster. Is that it?

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Also, I've never spun my rear tire, I thought that was a bad thing. A lot of you guys talk about it like it's pretty common. Is it a 'learning the limits of your bike' kind of deal? I've been real careful to avoid accelerating hard while I'm up on the sidewalls... because everything I've read said so (the 100 points of traction thing)

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I hear ya.

I think I'll stick with second gear then, for now.  

If you're trying to goes balls out, you need to be in the gear that'll give you the most acceleration coming out of the corner.  In this case, it sounds like 2nd gear to me.  But you also don't want to be banging off the rev limiter while you're still leaned over and powering out.  You get the idea...

BUT, you should only be doing that at the track, so on the street, it's pretty irrelevant.  I'd just use whatever gear makes you the most comfortable and still give adaquate acceleration.

As for spinning up the rear tire, I use to do that for fun on the street.  Basically, it's when you're trying to put power down while exiting the corner and the rear tire spins causing the rear to slide wide.  You see this all the time in racing as the guys are trying to accelerate as hard as possible.  Note: when the rear tires spins and slides, you're actually going slower, it's just the riders trying to ride right at the limit.  Was this smart to do on the street?  Hell no!  I met some oil one time and said hello to mr. highside.  Keep it on the track!  

I just don't see how losing traction (in a corner) could possibly be fun.
Besides, I think that even if I WANTED to spin the rear (which I don't), I would need a LOT of lean and ALL the gas. My bike's pretty weak. It won't even wheelie except in first gear, with the clutch. It won't clutch up in second and it won't bounce up in first.

I think I understand what you guys are telling me though. I think second gear is right for my situation. I don't come anywhere near to redline, the corners are right on top of each other here, one right after the other. I roll it up hard on my exits and I don't think I've ever once even bumped the stop on the throttle, because you almost immediately have to roll out to set your speed for the next curve.  

well, I use to mountain bike a lot so I'm kinda use to sliding around.  Also, pretty much the same deal as doing power slides in a car... except if you mess up, the consequences are much worse.  

I came up on some kind of sandy film in my favorite left hander one day, at lean, my bars went right, my back tire went right, my left foot instinctively came off the peg, getting ready to Ricky Carmicheal stomp the asphalt. It didn't come to that, the bike righted itself and I made the turn okay. Motocrossing the Speed Triple. No poopy pants, but darn near.
Does it feel like THAT? If so, I want no part of it.  

Uh... not so much mid-corner.  That'll make anyone stain their pants.  It on corner exit when the bike is mostly upright already.  Catch some MotoGP or AMA racing on tv and you'll see what I'm talking about.  

extreme example of a power slide  

I have seen that before, looks like something from dirt track racing.  

If i remember correctly, wasn't that Gary McCoy? What's sad is that sliding is nothing out of the ordinary for that guy...I wish he was still in the GP