Every motorcyclist can improve their riding skills, from novices to veterans. We’ll look at a few essential techniques and ways to enhance them, from braking to cornering. Read on to discover three ways to become a better motorcycle rider.
Practice Braking
Your bike’s most crucial safety features are the brakes, so you can never practice too much! If you’re new to motorcycling, train in a parking lot at low speed. Start at 15 miles per hour, squeezing the brake until your front tire almost locks or your back tire nearly raises off the ground. Once you’ve mastered this at 15 mph, work up by five miles per hour at a time.
For the motorcycle veterans out there, try a similar technique at higher speeds. You’ll want to find somewhere safe to practice this, so look for a track—don’t try this on your local streets.
Work on Cornering
Corners are tough for new riders, but when you take a corner right, it feels great. Novice riders can head to a local riding track and spend a little while getting used to the feel of cornering safely. Deck yourself out in full safety gear just in case and improve your skills by increasing your confidence.
Pro riders should try getting photographed while cornering to analyze their technique. Check to see whether you’re dragging your knee (and doing it safely).
Improve Body Positioning
Your body weight is a critical factor in taking corners effectively, so working on your body positioning is one of the best ways to improve your track riding skills. The more you hang your body off the bike, the less your bike needs to lean around turns. That means you can increase your speed while cornering, which requires careful practice in safety gear.
Now that you know these three ways to become a better motorcycle rider, get out onto the track and brush up on the fundamentals!