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Ever seen a motorist leaning so aggressively toward a side that you start to wonder how he or she is staying on the bike? That is the art of cornering. Cornering is a technique where a rider maneuvers around a corner seamlessly, while losing little to no speed in the process. It's an exhilarating experience and tricky at the same time due to how many accidents spawn from it when attempted. This guide will lay out the basics to get started and help riders of all experience levels corner with more confidence.
- Looking ahead: While it is common to look down when attempting to corner on a track, it would be best to look ahead of where you want to be when the turn is complete. When you look ahead, you know where you want your motorcycle to be and your body will naturally follow where your eyes go. This simple yet very effective technique is what makes it easier to corner properly without having target fixation.
- Countersteering: One of the more controversial tips for cornering a turn is countersteering. Countersteering is the act of pushing the inner bar when maneuvering around a corner. For example, if you are taking a right turn, you would press the right bar. The same goes for cornering left turns. The reason riders do this is because their wheel is ever so slightly going the opposite direction when banking around the corner. So by pushing your inner bar, your bike will take the corner with great ease at faster speeds.
- Bodyweight: When on your motorcycle, it is essential to remain flexible with your bodyweight when on your bike. Jerky or sudden movements will increase the likelihood of crashing or not taking a corner properly. Relaxing your arms, being fluid with your bodyweight and easing into the corner will make each turn much more comfortable to navigate. Relaxing your body should become second nature over time with practice.
- Feet and knee positioning: In conjunction with bodyweight, positioning of your knees and feet will help with the fluidity when banking around corners. This is what you see when a rider comes around a corner with their knee inches off the ground. Use your knees and feet to shift your weight instead of your handlebars. Doing this allows you to lift yourself easier, while maintaining a fluid motion on your bike. The exact positioning will vary from one rider to the next, and it will take time to get the positioning down.
While there are more advanced techniques to help with cornering, these necessary steps are a great way to learn the fundamentals and further develop your skillset. For more resources on motorcycle information, visit hupy.com and also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HupyandAbraham/.
In the event that you or a loved one has been hurt in a motorcycle crash, the experienced attorneys of Hupy and Abraham may be able to help you. We will go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that you are treated fairly, provide you with the personal attention that you deserve and use our experience of helping more than 4,000 injured riders make successful recoveries. Our personal injury law firm is the largest in the Midwest, with offices located in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Our motorcycle attorneys have secured a number of motorcycle settlements in excess of a million dollars.
Contact us anytime -- 24/7/365 -- by phone or online chat to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today.
