Motorcycle
Riding Techniques
©
2002 - 2008, Raymond Wood
Cornering Technique
A perfectly
executed turn can give the biker great pleasure and satisfaction. Developing
the art of cornering is much of what biking is all about (personal view).
Corners can be split up into distinctive phases and it is useful to
study these:
1) The Approach
2) The Turning Point
3) The Turn
4) The Exit
1)
The Approach
Arrive at the bend
in the correct position, at the correct speed and in the correct gear
for the bend. All our scrubbing off of speed has been completed
before we start the turn!
2)
The Turning Point
This is the part
of the corner that we actually start to turn (counter-steer) the bike.
A perfect turn would consist of one turning action of the handle bars
and no other input throughout the rest of the turn. Remember that we
generally go where we look, so a good place to be looking at here is
the exit point of the turn. At this point, you have to decide for yourself
whether you are braking, rolling the throttle off or simply maintaining
power. If the answer is unclear then refer to Motorcycle
Controls
In practise, there is a smooth transition between slowing down for the turn and applying power to continue the journey. For many bikers, this is also the point at which they turn - soon after they release the brake.
3)
The Turn
At the turning point
we are either maintaining power or rolling on the throttle. The hands
on the bars should be completely relaxed after the turning input has
been made and not having to do any more than simply rest on the grips.
Of course we don't get it right every time and some small input adjustment
maybe required while you are traversing the bend - the objective of
one turning input at the start of the bend remains the same.
4)
The Exit
The exit is gained
when we have achieved the correct road position after the turn and are
using appropriate power and speed for the road conditions.
