If you have not yet acquired a lot of confidence with the bike, you may have some fear in facing sharp corners; however, even experienced riders agree that turning and lean abilities constantly improve as you ride. With some knowledge of the mechanics involved and a little practice, you will soon be able to handle tight turns with ease.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Tackling Normal Curves
Step 1. Evaluate the curve while you are still a long way off
The more information you can get in advance, the more confident you are in dealing with this feature of the road. Very tight turns often have a vanishing point that does not allow you to see how the route continues; take note of this detail and be prepared for anything as you approach. You should also estimate the radius so that you can bend properly and go through the curve smoothly.
- In some cases, the arch becomes narrower or wider in places you didn't expect, especially towards the end. It could be difficult to predict the trend, especially since in most cases the view is blocked by vegetation, blind spots or other factors, such as traffic; it may be necessary to make slight corrections to the trajectory towards the end of the turn to compensate for these unexpected events.
- Try to find out as much detail as possible about the curve as you approach. Keep your eyes on the road and, if possible, "peek" through the foliage and obstacles to understand what's on the other side. However, do not pay too much attention to this operation; if you try to see around the curve, you may get distracted and not realize what is in the immediate vicinity.
- Use the roadside characteristics to estimate the turn angle. By observing the one formed by light poles, guardrails, retaining walls, road signs and so on, you can predict the radius of curvature with a good approximation; if you notice that some element of the path begins to limit a very narrow angle, it is likely that the trajectory will do the same.
Step 2. Reduce the approach speed
Release the throttle to slow down and apply gentle pressure on the brake lever if necessary. Before entering a corner, you must travel at the recommended speed or one that makes you feel safe; if you find yourself taking the turn faster than you expected, you are forced to apply the front and rear brakes at the same time to slow down just enough.
- When you are a beginner you have to slow down much more than experienced motorcyclists do; practice on low-traffic roads. If you reach a speed that requires a lower gear, remember to downshift; the one that allows you to travel along the trajectory without difficulty and to exit in acceleration, is the right gear.
- To better understand which ratio to use for a particular turn, you should practice on a curvy road section that you know well. When there are no other vehicles, approach the corner by slowing down and downshifting to one gear lower than you would normally use. Repeat the exercise now using one more ratio than usual; in this second case you should realize that you have more difficulty in accelerating on exit.
Step 3. Check the traffic conditions during the approach phase
The motorcycle is smaller than most vehicles on the road and is therefore easier to go unnoticed than cars. You need to make sure that around you, even in blind spots, there is enough space free from other vehicles that could pose a danger when turning. Pay attention to cars that move unpredictably or accelerate dangerously; you should let them overtake you or put a good safety distance between you and such potentially risky drivers.
- Don't make the mistake of relying solely on rearview mirrors. The view they offer may be partially blocked by your elbows and / or the horn; this means that you cannot fully observe the surroundings to safely turn.
- Be cautious when turning your head to check the blind spot; If you look behind you too much to observe traffic, you may inadvertently turn the handlebars as well, dangerously losing your balance as you approach the corner.
Step 4. Shift your weight and bend towards the inside of the curve
Many motorcyclists refer to this as "counter steering", although it is not a very precise definition since you do not rotate the handlebars very much. As you travel the line, push the motorcycle with half of your body outwards. For example, in a curve to the right, you have to push the bike with your left leg and buttock to make the bike lean in the opposite direction; you may need to apply light pressure to the inner handlebar. In reality, you don't use the steering much for cornering, but you mostly use weight distribution to be able to bend.
- You should basically push down as the momentum of the bike tends to slide your weight towards the inside of the turn. As you are approaching the exit of the turn, be careful not to quickly return to an upright sitting position, otherwise you may lose balance and control of the vehicle.
- Don't grab too hard on the handlebars. For inexperienced motorcyclists it is not easy to let go in a deep enough fold to turn in the correct way; the reaction of fear leads the person to cling desperately to the dumbbells. However, this does interfere with the downward thrust you have to apply on the inner handlebar. The grip of the lower limbs should be sufficient to keep you anchored to the bike.
Step 5. Keep your eyes on the road you are about to travel
You shouldn't lower your eyes but focus your attention on the furthest visible point of the turn; in this way, you have more time to react in case of unexpected events. However, don't be so focused on the long distance that you lose awareness of objects in your lateral field of view. In very tight corners, when the bike naturally leans more pronounced, other drivers may have some difficulty seeing you; in these situations, peripheral vision could save your life.
The width of the visual field is limited by the inclination of the vehicle, the radius of the curve and other characteristics of the track, such as tall grass or trees; all of this contributes to reducing the view from normal as you make the turn, so it is vitally important to pay attention to the road ahead
Step 6. Increase acceleration when you are in the middle of the corner or in the last third
In this way, the motorcycle automatically straightens as it exits the turn; let your body weight distribute normally as you go around the curve and, if you have applied it, release the downward pressure from the inner handlebar. Once you have covered this stretch, you can resume driving as usual.
Avoid abruptly shifting your weight to one side or the other when the forces acting on the bike make it straighten; by doing this, you alter the stability of the vehicle and could cause an accident
Part 2 of 2: Troubleshoot
Step 1. Remember that your goal is not to reach maximum travel speed
It could be very exciting to quickly go through a curve and come out of it like a bullet, but it is dangerous behavior for you and other drivers. When you drive normally in traffic, your concern should not be getting the speedometer to a certain level, but turning the curve smoothly, controlled and confidently without having to over-alter the incline or the throttle.
As you gain experience as a biker, you also feel much more comfortable taking turns. Consequently, the travel speed increases naturally; however, despite your greater skill, safety should remain constant, just like in the beginning when turning slowly. Keep your eyes on the track that you still have to travel, be aware of the road conditions and your inclination
Step 2. Recognize when you are driving too fast and make adjustments
If you feel the extreme urge to grab onto the brakes, release the accelerator, or cut the corner to avoid the corner, you are approaching it too fast; when you feel comfortable and comfortable in the saddle, it means that you are maintaining the right speed, which in turn depends on the type of motorcycle, your height, road conditions and other factors. For this reason, the concept of "correct speed" varies considerably from person to person.
- Keep the throttle steady. You shouldn't reduce your speed when cornering; if you feel the need, it means that you have dealt with it at an excessive speed; instead you should make some changes by gently activating the rear brake, so that the bike "leans" towards the inside of the curve in a deeper way without straightening out.
- In emergency situations, where you suddenly find yourself in front of an unexpected obstacle - such as a child or a tree limb - and you need to brake sharply, you should pull the clutch lever and the front brake lever. However, he continues to push the bike towards the inside of the curve to avoid losing control of the vehicle; many people do this by applying pressure with the outer knee and butt.
Step 3. Stay calm when the curves are unpredictable and make the necessary adjustments
Some turns turn into hairpin bends or have natural characteristics that do not allow a good view, preventing you from knowing what you have to face until you have it in front of you; this means having to deal with nasty surprises, such as obstacles or sudden changes in curvature. In this case, you have to slightly correct the counter-steering trajectory (turning the handlebar in the opposite direction to the curve) and then bring the vehicle back to the initial conditions to resume the correct distance. When the curve is very long or irregular it may be necessary to make several such changes.
- When you go through a hairpin bend, always try to predict what will happen next; by doing so, in case the worst situation arises, you would know how to react. Sometimes, it is necessary to take the motorcycle to the side of the road or pull over to an emergency stop to avoid a pedestrian. Even when you have to tackle the curves you know well, always be on the alert and ready to make the necessary adjustments, in case of any unforeseen event.
- If the bike tends to shift excessively in or out of the corner, don't panic. In this case, you may find yourself too close to vehicles arriving from the other direction, to the guardrail or to a retaining wall. Analyze the angle of the turn and keep your eyes in front of you; in this way you are ready for timely corrections should the need arise.
Advice
- Do not lean heavily when cornering when carrying a passenger; the rear wheel could lose traction and slip causing a side fall.
- Always wear a helmet.
- The safe driving courses on motorcycles are not compulsory to obtain a license, but it is worth attending them to learn the right techniques for controlling the vehicle.
Warnings
- Wet roads make cornering more difficult. When the asphalt is slippery, reduce your speed even more than you normally would.
- The presence of gravel or poor road conditions cause loss of grip when cornering. Pay close attention to any material scattered on the asphalt and try to avoid it as much as possible; if you have to drive on these kinds of tracks, reduce your speed.
