| Turning is the second most important element of | | | | more grip is available. Riding in the tracks from car |
| safely riding a motorcycle besides braking and | | | | tires will usually provide you with the best traction. |
| accelerating. It requires a solid understanding of other | | | | This is because the car's tires are constantly cleaning |
| elements including grip, dynamics, education, and a | | | | the surface as they roll over it. Try to keep your |
| good dose of mental rationality. | | | | bike in the area of the road where the car tires |
| The ability to choose the right line through a corner, | | | | typically travel. |
| how to get through the apex effectively, and a basic | | | | Some of the worst times for traction are the first |
| understanding of counter-steering are all key | | | | few hours of (or after) rain, when oil and debris |
| components to successfully and effectively wrapping | | | | floats to the top. Extra care should be taken to |
| around a corner. | | | | eliminate sudden inputs, sharp turns or hard braking |
| When you approach the corner, never over-ride your | | | | acceleration when conditions are poor. |
| line of sight. In other words, don't drive faster than | | | | Unlike a car, you only have two tires on your bike. If |
| you can see to stop in case of an emergency. | | | | you lose one tire due to a flat or because you run |
| Determine a safe cornering speed before you initiate | | | | into dirt, oil etc, especially in the front, you will almost |
| the turn, braking hardest before you start | | | | surely fall if you're not ready for it. Don't take your |
| counter-steering, then letting off the brake as you | | | | tires for granted. Make sure they're in good condition, |
| lean the bike in to the corner. By the time you reach | | | | and keep them at the proper air pressure. When |
| the apex, you should be ready to start accelerating | | | | they're worn or damaged, replace them immediately. |
| again. | | | | The dynamics of a motorcycle related to the physics |
| Perhaps as much as 1/3 of all motorcycle accidents | | | | involved in keeping it upright are pretty interesting. |
| are single bike accidents where the bike ran off the | | | | They're also handy to know in case of an |
| road because the rider "just couldn't make the turn." | | | | emergency. By its very nature, a motorcycle in |
| In many of those cases, proper cornering technique | | | | motion is more likely to stay upright than when it's |
| may have played an important part in preventing the | | | | not moving, or when it's moving slowly. |
| accident. Knowing how far your bike can lean in a | | | | The faster you're going, the harder it is to fall over, |
| turn is key to knowing how quickly you can make a | | | | and the more violent it will be if you do. The reason |
| corner. On todays sport bikes, if you're not scraping | | | | for this is gyration. The major moving parts on a |
| parts on the ground in a lean, you're not leaned over | | | | motorcycle, (tires and engine), create stability while in |
| all the way. | | | | motion. If you are riding slowly and are 'bumped' by |
| Your tires are the only thing that separates you from | | | | an outside force, less pressure is required to knock |
| the pavement. On an average sport bike, there are | | | | you over than if you were moving faster. |
| only a few square inches of rubber "contact patch" | | | | The Important Elements in Riding: |
| for each tire. Good grip is determined by things like | | | | 1. Acceleration and Braking |
| tire condition, road conditions, dynamics, and sudden | | | | 2. Turning |
| inputs. | | | | 3. Grip |
| You don't have much holding you up, so every | | | | 4. Dynamics |
| aspect of grip is important and must be considered | | | | 5. Assertive Predictability |
| when riding. If you take even one aspect of grip out | | | | 6. Sudden Inputs |
| of the equation, you put yourself at great risk of | | | | 7. Mental Conditioning |
| falling. You can't control the road conditions, but you | | | | 8. |
| can keep yourself in the area of the road where | | | | |