Tips for Cornering on a Motorcycle

Learning how to corner on a bike the right way is an important skill to have for a rider of any level, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced pro. It isn’t just about going faster—proper cornering is about having better control over your motorcycle, making your ride safer and more enjoyable.

There are quite a few things that you need to take care of if you want to learn the right cornering approach. We've created the following beginner's guide to help you learn this crucial skill. If you have any questions or want to explore motorcycles for sale, visit Indian Motorcycle® of Orange County in Westminster, California.

Look Ahead

One of the basic principles of riding a motorcycle is that you should stay aware of your surroundings. While you ride, be on the lookout for bumps and other obstacles. You will want to avoid them or be extra cautious when going over them. It’s natural for you to focus a few meters ahead of your bike’s front wheel. However, it's better to look reasonably far ahead in the direction you want to go. This process of looking and scanning far ahead has to be constant and in tune with the speed of your motorcycle. Your body and your bike will naturally follow in the direction of your focus.

Counter Steering

While going around corners at medium to fast speeds, your bike’s wheel is actually turned very minutely in a direction opposite of the turn. If you are already an experienced rider, you probably do counter steer subconsciously before diving into a corner. By pushing the inner handlebar, you make the bike take a corner while traversing a tighter arc. So in effect, you’ll be able to go around a bend faster even if it’s tighter. A perfect corner is technically very hard to do without proper counter steering. If you’ve not been using this technique, you need to start practicing it right away, and you’d instantly realize how effective it is.

Handling the Corner

When you are about to turn, you will need to pick your entry line into the corner. You may want to go wide if there are obstacles on the main path, such as brake bumps. As you approach the corner, apply the brakes to slow down a bit. Usually, you will be in the standing position. When you begin going through the corner, transfer your body weight to the front of your motorcycle. Keep your elbows high and squeeze your legs. As you lean into the corner, raise your inside leg up and forward with your toes pointed.

You should practice foot positioning on the bike so that it’s easy for you to lift yourself up and move from one side to another without disturbing the balance. Remember that you should avoid using the handlebars for weight transfer—use the foot-pegs and leverage your legs to shift your weight. 

Changing Gears

Pick a gear that gets you smooth power as you go through the corner. When you accelerate out of the turn, you will want to employ steady throttle control and work the clutch. Get the power to the ground but without the rear wheel losing grip.

Body Position

Once you have mastered the art of seated cornering, you should try turning around a bend while you’re in the central standing position. Learning this technique will be quite helpful, especially on trails where you'll be standing often. Additionally, turning while in the standing position is great for saving energy and pushing through corners even faster. Cornering does take practice, but once you feel the power and control of navigating a properly carved turn, there’s nothing better.

We hope you found this motorcycle cornering guide useful! If you want more advice or want to shop bikes for sale, visit the experts at Indian Motorcycle® of Orange County in Westminster, CA. Our friendly staff will be happy to help you with whatever you need. We proudly serve all those in Los Angeles and Orange County.