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How many words can you think of to describe a corner? Twisty, curve, sweeping, tight, bend, gradual, decreasing radius… Corners are truly one of the best parts about riding. That’s why we have so many words to describe them.

No matter how you describe corners, they are paramount to the smiles found on a rider’s face. Corners are perhaps the most often cited reason for enjoying a ride. They are also the most cited road type in single vehicle motorcycle crashes. Proper cornering technique can increase the joy of a ride and rider longevity.

Corners are the very point when we as riders conquer our single-track machine’s natural tendency to go in a straight line caused by the gyroscopic effect of the wheels’ rotational mass. Physically conquering the bike in a corner requires skill.

Each and every corner on the road is an opportunity to expand our abilities as motorcyclists. There are many techniques that can be implemented to improve cornering. What is the most important of these techniques? Is it picking the best line? Is it proper use of counter steering and rolling on the throttle?

Nothing else matters in a corner if you don’t go back to the most basic aspect of riding. It all starts by keeping your head and eyes up so you can see through the corner.

Judging corners, picking the right line and properly initiating lean by pressing the handgrips all starts by looking ahead. It is the most basic element that is beaten into new riders in safety courses for good reason. Every maneuver starts by seeing what’s coming, processing information and then reacting to the information.

Seeing is the most basic step in operating a motorcycle because it is the absolute most important thing we as riders can do. The front wheel can’t be pointed in any direction with certainty without looking ahead to strategize the best path to take.

Looking well ahead allows us to initially judge cornering radius, inspect road conditions, look through the apex and find our exit. That’s why it is important to exercise our eyes and mind. I play games in order to improve my sight and ability to strategize. An easy game to play is looking far ahead to decipher motorcycle headlights from car headlights. This also comes in handy to ensure that you can give the biker wave to other riders. I also scan left to right and fore to and aft. This helps me fight target fixation.

Target fixation deserves an entire article (if not a book) in and of itself. Most riders are aware of target fixation. Basically, you go where you look and if you fixate on the debris in the road, bumper on the BMW ahead of you or on the guardrail at the apex of a corner then that’s exactly where the bike will go.

I’m sure that there are many ways that long-time riders have found to see further down the road. Share your methods in the comments section to share your knowledge and keep riders safe.
Looking to the horizon will improve all aspects of riding. It is especially important in mastering corners. Mastering of corners is an endless pursuit. It is a constant challenge at all levels of riding and is why we end a ride with a smile on our face. We are constantly improving and finding joy in the accomplishments that we find on the road. Yet, there is infinite room for improvement that drives us to our next ride.

Corners may be one of the most enjoyable parts about riding. They are also high risk. That risk can be minimized with skill development. How do you improve your cornering skills?

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