Key Elements Part II: Turning

Filed in archive ATV Safety , Learning , Motorcycle , Performance on February 8, 2007

Turning is the second most important element of safely riding a motorcycle besides braking and accelerating. It requires a solid understanding of other elements including grip, dynamics, education, and a good dose of mental rationality.

The ability to choose the right line through a corner, how to get through the apex effectively, and a basic understanding of counter-steering are all key components to successfully and effectively wrapping around a corner.

When you approach the corner, never over-ride your line of sight. In other words, don't drive faster than you can see to stop in case of an emergency. Determine a safe cornering speed before you initiate the turn, braking hardest before you start counter-steering, then letting off the brake as you lean the bike in to the corner. By the time you reach the apex, you should be ready to start accelerating again.

Perhaps as much as 1/3 of all motorcycle accidents are single bike accidents where the bike ran off the road because the rider "just couldn't make the turn." In many of those cases, proper cornering technique may have played an important part in preventing the accident. Knowing how far your bike can lean in a turn is key to knowing how quickly you can make a corner. On today's sport bikes, if you're not scraping parts on the ground in a lean, you're not leaned over all the way.

Introduction
1. Acceleration and Braking
2. Turning
3. Grip
4. Dynamics
5. Assertive Predictability
6. Sudden Inputs
7. Mental Conditioning
8. Education