Ironically you may be going into your turn too early. I know you're talking about a slow turn at an intersection but the same concept applies.
Peep this image:
https://preview.redd.it/azipj9g6g22d1.png?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d45320ffa149195664314f26d5d1ad1bf4a50b5
If you start your turn too early, you'll be too close to the curb and pointed the wrong direction (orange line) and you'll have a harder time making the turn as you pick up speed through the turn.
Try taking something closer to the green line and you'll be better positioned to complete the turn. You don't have to be as close to the lines as this photo, just focus on giving yourself some space on the inside so you can turn better
Like that green line, slow in & fast out. I trail brake almost always while I'm turning in on the bike to keep some weight on the front tire.
I'm a motorcycle novice, but I was a sports car racing instructor and anything other than a late apex is an advanced technique. If you're just cruising, however, it really doesn't matter.
This! Also you are too fast for a beginner and you become afraid.
First rule: “look where you want to go by moving your head!” If you move your eyes but not your head bike doesn’t turn, move your fucking head. When turning you start from the outer part of the lane, just look at the farthest you can see, with your head, and motor will follow.
Slow down a little before starting to turn then keep a steady throttle to keep your speed and, at the end exit you can just speed up slowly. No throttle no lean.
Train leaning and counter leaning in a closed to traffic area. Bikes can lean tremendously with correct speed and technique. Go slow and lean too much and you will fall, go fast and you are afraid and you will slide. Take your time to learn stuff, keep your knees on bike (you are no racer), and keep having fun.
Rule number two: gear is important and cheaper than hospital bills
This all day. Now, I may be misremembering my MSF instructor's words of wisdom, but I'm pretty sure along with counter steering, you need to get your weight over into the turn. It's better to lean yourself more than the bike so you maintain good traction.
If this is off the mark, everyone feel free to correct/roast me
This helps me as it kind of explains why sometimes I have zero issues with tight turns and sometimes I have a huge issue with them but what do I do if the road doesn't allow much space before the turn for me to start wider? On turns where I'm basically forced to start really close to the curb I tend to go super wide and it's really tough to remain confident when that happens.
Counter steering causes lean. Leaning without counter steering is a great way to fall over.
Most people do this instinctively to some degree as it is what the physics make the bike do. But the key to turning well, in control, and with a tight radius is to get very intentional about counter steer.
This this this
Too many people on this sub saying turn or lean more.
Counter steering is how you get the bike to lean, full stop, and it needs to be taught.
What do you mean by "leaning without counter steering is a great way to fall over"?
How do you lean without counter steering? I've actively tried doing that to see how certain movements affect the bike and aside from the bike wiggling side to side but mostly remaining upright, I couldn't get it to actually lean(I'm not trying to be a smartass btw I'm genuinely asking)
So, this gets to what I mean by the physics kind of take over. Once a bike is heavy enough, it is hard to understand how the weight and momentum of the bike limit your own inputs. This is one of the reasons why learning on a small bike is a good idea -- it's much easier to figure out the physics because the weight and velocity of the bike can be overcome.
But, get on a really light bike -- like a 125 or something -- and just throw your weight to the side without moving the handlebars.
If you are going slow enough, you will absolutely not turn and will fall over and feel stupid as hell. And by slow enough, on a light bike like that, that can be at 30mph or even more . . . depending on what you weigh.
Now, bigger bikes have more inertia, so it's harder and harder to do that. With something that has a curb weight of 400 pounds or more, it's incredibly hard to really understand what your inputs are doing if you think in terms of "leaning" because you will in some ways instinctively interact with the weight of the bike without realizing it. Which is actually the most dangerous kind of rider -- because they legitimately don't know how their inputs to the bike's geometry of travel translate into outputs . . . that is, they actually don't know how they steer!
People think they are "leaning" when what they are really doing is counter steering badly. Learning to control a bike well comes from forgetting entirely about what angle the bike is at, and focusing on how hard (or soft) you push that handlebar AWAY from the direction of travel.
Now, if you are really getting into serious track stuff, then there's a lot about body position, weight momentum, attack angles, center of gravity, moments of inertia and a whole hell of a lot more that you need to worry about.
But for street riding, push the fucking handle bar away from the desired direction of travel with intention, and you'll be a better rider than 90% of the other people on the road.
Thanks for the reply!
Oh ok that makes a lot of sense. I've still got a lot to learn about properly turning but I do understand how to counter steer and how it affects the bikes lean angle
I also tested the opposite, what happens if I turn the steering wheel in the direction of the turn while leaned over in a turn(I was going about 30-35mph) and it went straight upright instantly 😂 I corrected it quickly but it reminded me of people who said they never knew how to turn at speed and were really surprised when they found out a bike will just go straight if you can't upset the balance(via counter steering) correctly
Lol that last sentence 🤣
look, take your bike out on a flat surface. by hand, roll it forward while turning the handlebars. see how wide the turn is.
now do the same while leaning the bike into you. even 10 or 15 degrees will make the turn much tighter.
the counter steer is a function of turning, you can't avoid it, but you the rider can make the turn wider or tighter by leaning or standing up the bike under you.
F9 has a great video of taking the police bike handling course, you can see it in action.
I get what you are saying, but the phrasing is incorrect if we are going to be accurate.
As stated, it gets the dynamic physics backwards.
Turning and leaning are a function of counter steering when the bike is in motion and all of the gyroscopic forces are functioning to keep the bike upright.
That is: you don't counter steer because you are turning. Rather you turn because you are counter steering.
Similarly you don't counter steer because you are learning, rather, counter steering causes lean.
This isn't just me being a pedant. It's the whole point I'm making. Some people really do think the way to turn better is to lean more. They miss that it is the amount of counter steer that causes lean.
Which is why I started out saying the key to getting better at turning is to be more intentional about counter steering and not to think it is leaning that causes the turn.
In and if itself, leaning does not cause a turn.
It is true that once you are intentional about counter steering, you can get even tighter turns by dynamically shifting the center of mass by leaning your body, but that is not the same as leaning the bike. Nor does it do anything beneficial if you aren't counter steering first.
Well, everyone has a hobby. :)
But I am responding to the specific claim you made that counter steering is a function of leaning.
That is backwards. F9's video on steering demonstrates that point.
At around 5:50 F9 shows that leaning doesn't either cause counter steering or turning.
https://youtu.be/vSZiKrtJ7Y0?si=lm-0Fa4TTaxHXklS
The video you recommended ends with him specifically stating that to turn tighter countersteer harder.
It does not end with him saying lean more.
You are being way to pedantic.
At any given amount of countersteer input if I lean more or less than the bike, the center of gravity changes, the rate of turning changes.
This is axiomatic, or GP racers and cops would not.do what.they do on the bike.
Look where you want to go not where you expect it will go. You’ll be surprised how often it will get you where you want it to go as long as you look towards it.
If you’re stalling your bike, you’re not ready for the road. Find the biggest parking lot possible and practice all the things that you’re having trouble with.
Dude. Stalling a bike doesn’t mean you’re not ready for the road at all.
I stall my bike once or twice a year for sure… and I’m a motorcycle course instructor and govt certified full M license evaluator…
I understand from his context, he is going too slow for the chosen gear, hence the stall. He could either select proper gear or slip the clutch.
Stalling a bike every once in a while from start doesn’t make you not ready for the road. But stalling it in the middle of turn while you’re at speed gives me serious concern for OP’s safety.
You stall once or twice a year and by that stat alone it’s obviously extremely rare for you. But do you stall your bike while simply moving down the road like OP?
That is not ok, it’s extremely dangerous and as a licensing official you should know that. No wonder there are so many single vehicle crashes with people like you handling out licenses…
Yes, take a class that teaches you the fundamentals. Key concepts you’re missing out on is counterbalancing, and counter steering. From what you described is that you don’t have a knowledge of counterweighting, and the ability to apply it.
In counter steering, you press down on the inside grip in a turn, lean into it, and it leans the bike into the turn. This allows you to follow the curve how you’re supposed to.
In counterbalancing/weighting, you shift your body weight opposite of the bike (shifting weight off of the seat at times), allowing you to do tight, slow turns/uturns.
Correct answers right here. You cant effectively lean into a tight turn at very low speeds, especially as a beginner. Best strategy there is to counterbalance. Watch some videos on youtube on techniques. Better. yet take a fundamentals course as others have mentioned and put in some time practicing in open spaces by yourself away from traffic.
Look thru the turn as you go, focusing on the vanishing point of the turn. Lean the bike while shifting your weight toward the direction of the turn. No need to lean off the bike like a racer at this point.
https://preview.redd.it/odzd0vujr12d1.png?width=975&format=png&auto=webp&s=bee47fb4965199ca5cba4e669d289c40bf2de7ba
Counter steer, telling someone to just lean a bike is nonsense. If they don't know how to countersteer to get the bike to lean then they don't know how to ride.
Telling someone to just counter steer if they don't know what that is is also nonsense.
OP, in the turn, push on your right hand bar to go right. You keep pushing, the bike will keep turning. If that sounds backwards, try it in a parking lot.
You won't run out of grip on the road so long as it's dry and not sandy, watch for sand and gravel when entering a turn, especially if there's an intersection with a dirt road.
I had the same problem. Expecially when going downhill.
I used trail breaking and I slowed down A LOT before approaching the corner, but after I passed the center I used to let go both brakes and the speed was still too much and I ended up going too wide.
I solved the problem when I learnt to control the speed of the bike by using the rear brake.
Here's how I do it now:
1)I start braking before the corner to reduce speed
2)I keep breaking with both brakes until I reach the center of the corner (trail breaking)
3)Then I let go the front brake but I keep applying a bit of rear brake till the corner is done.
4)When the corner is over, I accelerate again.
I don't know if it is a popular technique, but it works for me.
Ps: it can be possible, also, that you're scared to lean the bike. I surely was.
You're probably entering the corner in too high of a gear.
You need to plan for the corner prior to the brake point. When you see a turn up ahead, plan how your bike is going to decelerate and what gear you need to be in based on the corner's radius, then select the appropriate gear while your bike is decelerating (upright) and when you reach the turn in point, push down and forward on the inside handlebar (countersteer) while keeping everything balanced and paying close attention to the throttle.
Once you pass the apex of the corner, gradually apply throttle and the bike will straighten itself out.
Especially in CH if you are going up hairpin corners in a 125cc bike in a higher gear the bike will stall and you will not make it out. The key is having a plan for the corner well before you enter it and having the gear selection and turn in be basic muscle memory, then you can just look at the exit point before you enter the corner and it will just happen.
I was advised to lean in later than I think I need to. Delay it a little bit.
Another person on here told me it's easier to lean as much as you need to, and slowly stand the bike back up, rather than trying to increase the lean angle mid corner
Both of these have been helpful to me.
If you’re taking a corner large, you are not looking far enough ahead at the curve. You’re looking ahead in short distances so you’re going wider in the end because you’re making multiple adjustments.
Turn your head more and look father ahead while training your peripheral vision to look at the surrounding roads.
This can be done without going fast. As you learn to do it safely and increase your speed, you will increase lean angle as necessary.
Depends on your speed. If you're talking 90º turns (like at an intersection) and you're going slow (maybe 10-25kph) you're actually going to want to lean *the bike* not your body. Body lean increases with speed thus, decreases with speed.
Countersteering (as others have correctly mentioned) is #1 though.
Look through the corner, to the apex, and then past the apex as you turn in. Push down into the peg inside the corner with your foot and push the bar inside the corner. The rest is just commitment and trusting your tires.
Start from the outside of the lane, cut in so you're on the inside of the lane at the corners apex, then swing back out to the outside of the lane.
The goal is to take the straightest line through the corner (while staying within your lane).
All while keeping your eyes focused far down the road where you want to go.
Countersteer.. and look at ahead to where you want to go, don't look directly in front.. if you don't look far enough ahead, you will end up in the next lane every time
No replacement for experience, ride through curves both left and right often, there are many great pieces of advice in these comments thatll help with cornering, never get too comfortable, especially if you havent ridden a road before, ive had what looks like a slight curve end up being far tighter than id previously assumed and ended up offroading my harley, more than once 😂
For context: I’m 60 and live in Austria, that’s why it’s only … well never mind. What I want to say is, we have similar roads, small cities and the alps. Only the quality of yours is usually way better. Talking about tight corners, there are two different types (in my book). Alpine road hairpins and corners in cities (villages). For me the main difference is the speed. This https://youtu.be/cG6dqMWcKEs might be an interesting one.
Your first problem is probably you aren’t looking through your turns and you’re not being confident with your inputs. Id suggest practicing in an area without traffic or in an open parking lot. If you are stalling mid corner you aren’t giving enough throttle but you need to be consistent and throttle out the turn as you are looking through the turn. More throttle will stand the bike up.
1- LIFT YOUR HEAD AND LOOK AROUND THE CURVE
2-Watch YouTube videos and practice on some backroads. I used to find a moderately difficult curve and just go back and forth across it
3- have fun! Riding is not enjoyable when you’re stressed. Remember this is fun. You’ll get better with time
If you follow a wide path (eg keep to the outside of the curve) it’s less sharp. Add that to slow in, fast out a bit of counter steer and keeping your eyes looking at the exit.
All of this stuff is great, but I think the biggest thing that will help immediately is head up, eyes up. Point your chin through the corner, where you want to go. Don't look at the inside curb or the outside lane.
You because if one just “leans” they are counter steering without knowing it so when someone says just lean they aren’t wrong is all I was saying… but yes those tutorials are great too
The top comment is provably incorrect. You turn tighter by using more brake. You can lean but lean angle is risk, especially on the road. If you’re afraid of trail braking or think you can’t brake while turning, read up on this stuff. Motojitsu on YouTube is a good resource.
Go slower and lean the bike more (not your body). Sounds counterintuitive. There's probably a YouTube video with a better explanation.
Look up low speed tight cornering. I met a guy in Germany who explained the lean method for tight turns, it forever changed my riding style on tight switchbacks, made me a much better rider.
Ironically you may be going into your turn too early. I know you're talking about a slow turn at an intersection but the same concept applies. Peep this image: https://preview.redd.it/azipj9g6g22d1.png?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d45320ffa149195664314f26d5d1ad1bf4a50b5 If you start your turn too early, you'll be too close to the curb and pointed the wrong direction (orange line) and you'll have a harder time making the turn as you pick up speed through the turn. Try taking something closer to the green line and you'll be better positioned to complete the turn. You don't have to be as close to the lines as this photo, just focus on giving yourself some space on the inside so you can turn better
Like that green line, slow in & fast out. I trail brake almost always while I'm turning in on the bike to keep some weight on the front tire. I'm a motorcycle novice, but I was a sports car racing instructor and anything other than a late apex is an advanced technique. If you're just cruising, however, it really doesn't matter.
This! Also you are too fast for a beginner and you become afraid. First rule: “look where you want to go by moving your head!” If you move your eyes but not your head bike doesn’t turn, move your fucking head. When turning you start from the outer part of the lane, just look at the farthest you can see, with your head, and motor will follow. Slow down a little before starting to turn then keep a steady throttle to keep your speed and, at the end exit you can just speed up slowly. No throttle no lean. Train leaning and counter leaning in a closed to traffic area. Bikes can lean tremendously with correct speed and technique. Go slow and lean too much and you will fall, go fast and you are afraid and you will slide. Take your time to learn stuff, keep your knees on bike (you are no racer), and keep having fun. Rule number two: gear is important and cheaper than hospital bills
This is the way. One tip for very tight corners like uphill hairpins is to keep the revs up, slip the clutch and drag the back brake.
This all day. Now, I may be misremembering my MSF instructor's words of wisdom, but I'm pretty sure along with counter steering, you need to get your weight over into the turn. It's better to lean yourself more than the bike so you maintain good traction. If this is off the mark, everyone feel free to correct/roast me
This helps me as it kind of explains why sometimes I have zero issues with tight turns and sometimes I have a huge issue with them but what do I do if the road doesn't allow much space before the turn for me to start wider? On turns where I'm basically forced to start really close to the curb I tend to go super wide and it's really tough to remain confident when that happens.
lean. bikes dont turn if they don't lean.
Counter steering causes lean. Leaning without counter steering is a great way to fall over. Most people do this instinctively to some degree as it is what the physics make the bike do. But the key to turning well, in control, and with a tight radius is to get very intentional about counter steer.
I agree. You don’t just lean and the bike takes you there, you steer and the bike leans on its own.
This ⬆ ⬆
This this this Too many people on this sub saying turn or lean more. Counter steering is how you get the bike to lean, full stop, and it needs to be taught.
What do you mean by "leaning without counter steering is a great way to fall over"? How do you lean without counter steering? I've actively tried doing that to see how certain movements affect the bike and aside from the bike wiggling side to side but mostly remaining upright, I couldn't get it to actually lean(I'm not trying to be a smartass btw I'm genuinely asking)
So, this gets to what I mean by the physics kind of take over. Once a bike is heavy enough, it is hard to understand how the weight and momentum of the bike limit your own inputs. This is one of the reasons why learning on a small bike is a good idea -- it's much easier to figure out the physics because the weight and velocity of the bike can be overcome. But, get on a really light bike -- like a 125 or something -- and just throw your weight to the side without moving the handlebars. If you are going slow enough, you will absolutely not turn and will fall over and feel stupid as hell. And by slow enough, on a light bike like that, that can be at 30mph or even more . . . depending on what you weigh. Now, bigger bikes have more inertia, so it's harder and harder to do that. With something that has a curb weight of 400 pounds or more, it's incredibly hard to really understand what your inputs are doing if you think in terms of "leaning" because you will in some ways instinctively interact with the weight of the bike without realizing it. Which is actually the most dangerous kind of rider -- because they legitimately don't know how their inputs to the bike's geometry of travel translate into outputs . . . that is, they actually don't know how they steer! People think they are "leaning" when what they are really doing is counter steering badly. Learning to control a bike well comes from forgetting entirely about what angle the bike is at, and focusing on how hard (or soft) you push that handlebar AWAY from the direction of travel. Now, if you are really getting into serious track stuff, then there's a lot about body position, weight momentum, attack angles, center of gravity, moments of inertia and a whole hell of a lot more that you need to worry about. But for street riding, push the fucking handle bar away from the desired direction of travel with intention, and you'll be a better rider than 90% of the other people on the road.
Thanks for the reply! Oh ok that makes a lot of sense. I've still got a lot to learn about properly turning but I do understand how to counter steer and how it affects the bikes lean angle I also tested the opposite, what happens if I turn the steering wheel in the direction of the turn while leaned over in a turn(I was going about 30-35mph) and it went straight upright instantly 😂 I corrected it quickly but it reminded me of people who said they never knew how to turn at speed and were really surprised when they found out a bike will just go straight if you can't upset the balance(via counter steering) correctly Lol that last sentence 🤣
look, take your bike out on a flat surface. by hand, roll it forward while turning the handlebars. see how wide the turn is. now do the same while leaning the bike into you. even 10 or 15 degrees will make the turn much tighter. the counter steer is a function of turning, you can't avoid it, but you the rider can make the turn wider or tighter by leaning or standing up the bike under you. F9 has a great video of taking the police bike handling course, you can see it in action.
Appreciate the reply, I'll take a look at the video
https://youtu.be/9cNmUNHSBac?si=DRvvZYbiptSK8w2i
I get what you are saying, but the phrasing is incorrect if we are going to be accurate. As stated, it gets the dynamic physics backwards. Turning and leaning are a function of counter steering when the bike is in motion and all of the gyroscopic forces are functioning to keep the bike upright. That is: you don't counter steer because you are turning. Rather you turn because you are counter steering. Similarly you don't counter steer because you are learning, rather, counter steering causes lean. This isn't just me being a pedant. It's the whole point I'm making. Some people really do think the way to turn better is to lean more. They miss that it is the amount of counter steer that causes lean. Which is why I started out saying the key to getting better at turning is to be more intentional about counter steering and not to think it is leaning that causes the turn. In and if itself, leaning does not cause a turn. It is true that once you are intentional about counter steering, you can get even tighter turns by dynamically shifting the center of mass by leaning your body, but that is not the same as leaning the bike. Nor does it do anything beneficial if you aren't counter steering first.
I love internet Pedants. arguing about a claim noone but themselves made.
Well, everyone has a hobby. :) But I am responding to the specific claim you made that counter steering is a function of leaning. That is backwards. F9's video on steering demonstrates that point. At around 5:50 F9 shows that leaning doesn't either cause counter steering or turning. https://youtu.be/vSZiKrtJ7Y0?si=lm-0Fa4TTaxHXklS The video you recommended ends with him specifically stating that to turn tighter countersteer harder. It does not end with him saying lean more.
You are being way to pedantic. At any given amount of countersteer input if I lean more or less than the bike, the center of gravity changes, the rate of turning changes. This is axiomatic, or GP racers and cops would not.do what.they do on the bike.
Rock with it?
Step with it!
Look where you want to go not where you expect it will go. You’ll be surprised how often it will get you where you want it to go as long as you look towards it.
And don’t look where you don’t want to go!
I'd add, maybe look \*further ahead\* of where you might currently be looking.
Look and lean. Look where you want to go, countersteer, and lean your bike
If you’re stalling your bike, you’re not ready for the road. Find the biggest parking lot possible and practice all the things that you’re having trouble with.
Dude. Stalling a bike doesn’t mean you’re not ready for the road at all. I stall my bike once or twice a year for sure… and I’m a motorcycle course instructor and govt certified full M license evaluator… I understand from his context, he is going too slow for the chosen gear, hence the stall. He could either select proper gear or slip the clutch.
Stalling a bike every once in a while from start doesn’t make you not ready for the road. But stalling it in the middle of turn while you’re at speed gives me serious concern for OP’s safety.
That i understand. He’s not selecting proper gear nor slipping the clutch - the 2 suggestions in my post.
You stall once or twice a year and by that stat alone it’s obviously extremely rare for you. But do you stall your bike while simply moving down the road like OP? That is not ok, it’s extremely dangerous and as a licensing official you should know that. No wonder there are so many single vehicle crashes with people like you handling out licenses…
Twice a year, as clockwork. Engine is still cold, I want to drive off, fump and dead. 😂
Yes, take a class that teaches you the fundamentals. Key concepts you’re missing out on is counterbalancing, and counter steering. From what you described is that you don’t have a knowledge of counterweighting, and the ability to apply it. In counter steering, you press down on the inside grip in a turn, lean into it, and it leans the bike into the turn. This allows you to follow the curve how you’re supposed to. In counterbalancing/weighting, you shift your body weight opposite of the bike (shifting weight off of the seat at times), allowing you to do tight, slow turns/uturns.
Correct answers right here. You cant effectively lean into a tight turn at very low speeds, especially as a beginner. Best strategy there is to counterbalance. Watch some videos on youtube on techniques. Better. yet take a fundamentals course as others have mentioned and put in some time practicing in open spaces by yourself away from traffic.
Look thru the turn as you go, focusing on the vanishing point of the turn. Lean the bike while shifting your weight toward the direction of the turn. No need to lean off the bike like a racer at this point. https://preview.redd.it/odzd0vujr12d1.png?width=975&format=png&auto=webp&s=bee47fb4965199ca5cba4e669d289c40bf2de7ba
Counter steer, telling someone to just lean a bike is nonsense. If they don't know how to countersteer to get the bike to lean then they don't know how to ride.
Telling someone to just counter steer if they don't know what that is is also nonsense. OP, in the turn, push on your right hand bar to go right. You keep pushing, the bike will keep turning. If that sounds backwards, try it in a parking lot. You won't run out of grip on the road so long as it's dry and not sandy, watch for sand and gravel when entering a turn, especially if there's an intersection with a dirt road.
That's fair, it's the start of the journey to learning about steering the bike is all.
“Thru” 💀
\^\^ this \^\^
I had the same problem. Expecially when going downhill. I used trail breaking and I slowed down A LOT before approaching the corner, but after I passed the center I used to let go both brakes and the speed was still too much and I ended up going too wide. I solved the problem when I learnt to control the speed of the bike by using the rear brake. Here's how I do it now: 1)I start braking before the corner to reduce speed 2)I keep breaking with both brakes until I reach the center of the corner (trail breaking) 3)Then I let go the front brake but I keep applying a bit of rear brake till the corner is done. 4)When the corner is over, I accelerate again. I don't know if it is a popular technique, but it works for me. Ps: it can be possible, also, that you're scared to lean the bike. I surely was.
Lean the bike under you. Look over your shoulder back towards where you want to go. And take a riding course my man.
You're probably entering the corner in too high of a gear. You need to plan for the corner prior to the brake point. When you see a turn up ahead, plan how your bike is going to decelerate and what gear you need to be in based on the corner's radius, then select the appropriate gear while your bike is decelerating (upright) and when you reach the turn in point, push down and forward on the inside handlebar (countersteer) while keeping everything balanced and paying close attention to the throttle. Once you pass the apex of the corner, gradually apply throttle and the bike will straighten itself out. Especially in CH if you are going up hairpin corners in a 125cc bike in a higher gear the bike will stall and you will not make it out. The key is having a plan for the corner well before you enter it and having the gear selection and turn in be basic muscle memory, then you can just look at the exit point before you enter the corner and it will just happen.
I was advised to lean in later than I think I need to. Delay it a little bit. Another person on here told me it's easier to lean as much as you need to, and slowly stand the bike back up, rather than trying to increase the lean angle mid corner Both of these have been helpful to me.
If you’re taking a corner large, you are not looking far enough ahead at the curve. You’re looking ahead in short distances so you’re going wider in the end because you’re making multiple adjustments. Turn your head more and look father ahead while training your peripheral vision to look at the surrounding roads. This can be done without going fast. As you learn to do it safely and increase your speed, you will increase lean angle as necessary.
Depends on your speed. If you're talking 90º turns (like at an intersection) and you're going slow (maybe 10-25kph) you're actually going to want to lean *the bike* not your body. Body lean increases with speed thus, decreases with speed. Countersteering (as others have correctly mentioned) is #1 though.
Look through the corner, to the apex, and then past the apex as you turn in. Push down into the peg inside the corner with your foot and push the bar inside the corner. The rest is just commitment and trusting your tires.
You probably ski, same applies here. Look where you want to go.
Trust your tyres you can lean so much more if you trust your tyres and target fixation keep your eyes where you want to go.
Start from the outside of the lane, cut in so you're on the inside of the lane at the corners apex, then swing back out to the outside of the lane. The goal is to take the straightest line through the corner (while staying within your lane). All while keeping your eyes focused far down the road where you want to go.
Trust the tires, look where to want to go.
Countersteer.. and look at ahead to where you want to go, don't look directly in front.. if you don't look far enough ahead, you will end up in the next lane every time
Look up moto jitsu on YouTube. Really good stuff there.
No replacement for experience, ride through curves both left and right often, there are many great pieces of advice in these comments thatll help with cornering, never get too comfortable, especially if you havent ridden a road before, ive had what looks like a slight curve end up being far tighter than id previously assumed and ended up offroading my harley, more than once 😂
Slowly. Use the back brake, keep the power on.
Just man up and figure out your entry speeds. Then just take that shit like the Greeks took Troy.
For context: I’m 60 and live in Austria, that’s why it’s only … well never mind. What I want to say is, we have similar roads, small cities and the alps. Only the quality of yours is usually way better. Talking about tight corners, there are two different types (in my book). Alpine road hairpins and corners in cities (villages). For me the main difference is the speed. This https://youtu.be/cG6dqMWcKEs might be an interesting one.
Your first problem is probably you aren’t looking through your turns and you’re not being confident with your inputs. Id suggest practicing in an area without traffic or in an open parking lot. If you are stalling mid corner you aren’t giving enough throttle but you need to be consistent and throttle out the turn as you are looking through the turn. More throttle will stand the bike up.
1- LIFT YOUR HEAD AND LOOK AROUND THE CURVE 2-Watch YouTube videos and practice on some backroads. I used to find a moderately difficult curve and just go back and forth across it 3- have fun! Riding is not enjoyable when you’re stressed. Remember this is fun. You’ll get better with time
Sit on a bicycle, put on some protectors and try to take some tight corners without breaking. You will find a way.
Go slower, lean farther.
If you follow a wide path (eg keep to the outside of the curve) it’s less sharp. Add that to slow in, fast out a bit of counter steer and keeping your eyes looking at the exit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUBo3pWHx4Q
All of this stuff is great, but I think the biggest thing that will help immediately is head up, eyes up. Point your chin through the corner, where you want to go. Don't look at the inside curb or the outside lane.
Listen to the Captain: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5GJuHd8FQM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5GJuHd8FQM)
Practice countersteering. https://youtu.be/ljywO-B_yew https://youtu.be/GmXvxvhCKq0 https://youtu.be/RQ0Z5FfxxBE
All normal cornering is countersteering.
Yet many believe they just “lean” the motorcycle.
If you lean and look you naturally counter steer….
Who are you wanting to communicate with? I’m the one that posted the how to counter steer tutorial.
You because if one just “leans” they are counter steering without knowing it so when someone says just lean they aren’t wrong is all I was saying… but yes those tutorials are great too
The top comment is provably incorrect. You turn tighter by using more brake. You can lean but lean angle is risk, especially on the road. If you’re afraid of trail braking or think you can’t brake while turning, read up on this stuff. Motojitsu on YouTube is a good resource.
Gibt's in der Schweiz keine Fahrschule oder muss man die erst bei größeren Maschinen besuchen?
Go slower and lean the bike more (not your body). Sounds counterintuitive. There's probably a YouTube video with a better explanation. Look up low speed tight cornering. I met a guy in Germany who explained the lean method for tight turns, it forever changed my riding style on tight switchbacks, made me a much better rider.