Motorcycle Cornering Tips

If you’re new to riding a motorcycle, it can be challenging to learn the ropes at first. There are so many ways that riding a motorcycle differs from driving a car or even riding a bicycle; motorcycles are their own animal. And if you’ve got a bulky bike like a cruiser, then one of the most challenging parts of riding can be taking corners and turns without sliding out all over the road. You need to be aware of this and be prepared to change how you’re riding in order to round out a turn safely and correctly.

Chicago Harley-Davidson Wrigleyville is your Chicagoland Harley-Davidson® motorcycle dealer, conveniently located right across the street from Wrigley Field, so you’ll know where to find us if you’re a Cubs fan! Here’s our list of tips for motorcycle cornering that will help you to ride safely on winding roads.

Why Is Cornering Difficult?

Both the bike and the rider may cause issues that make it more challenging to take a corner safely. Cruiser bikes and other heavy bikes are bulky and may scrape against the pavement when leaned too far in one direction or the other. This can cause you as the rider to lose control as the bike slides out from under you.

There are two kinds of angles that you might have when leaning: static lean angles and dynamic lean angles. A static lean angle means that your bike can tilt without any part of it touching the road, but at a dynamic angle, your bike will start to scrape the road.

Aftermarket additions, larger suspension systems, heavy saddlebags and road conditions can all contribute to more challenging turns. Riding posture and style can contribute to it, too. Being aware of what parts of your motorcycle might touch the road when you lean can help you to avoid this.

Cornering Techniques To Use

When you’re trying to take a turn or corner with your bike, there are several things you can do as a rider that will make you less likely to slide out:

• Make sure that your suspension is as high as possible, since your bike will sit down on the suspension when the brakes are activated.
• Avoid braking during a turn or corner; instead, keep your bike slightly accelerated, as this helps to lift the front suspension while compressing the rear. Engaging the correct gear before your turn will help with this
• Listen for the sound of your footpegs scraping the road, as this means you’re approaching the bike’s maximum lean angle. Using a lower gear can help you tighten the angle a bit.
• Make your corner arc as big as possible without veering into other lanes of traffic. The more of an arc you have when turning, the less you’re going to need to lean your bike. Taking a corner at a wider arc also lets you see oncoming traffic as well as the road ahead so you can tighten or expand your arc as needed.
• Shift your weight towards the inside of your bike as you’re turning. Sit straight upright and lean the top half of your body towards your inside mirror while turning into a corner. This gives you more space to clear the turn.

We hope that these tips prove useful to you when riding your motorcycle. If you’re still in search of a great bike, you’ll want to see what we’ve got to offer here at Chicago Harley-Davidson Wrigleyville! Visit our website to take a look at our full stock of new and used motorcycles for sale at our, dealership location. Chicago Harley-Davidson Wrigleyville proudly serves the greater Chicago metropolitan area.