proper corner entry speed, as well as in being able to spot hazards around a corner. These hazards include surface debris, such sand, gravel, or diesel fuel, or the road itself if the curve tightens unexpectedly or drops downhill suddenly. The best riders can “read” the characteristics of an upcoming corner.
Visual Timing
Before you decide when to initiate lean, you need to know where you will actually begin your turn and how quickly you must get the bike leaned. This critical information comes from looking at the corner characteristics, such as apparent radius and surface quality. Once you get the information you need, you can then make those decisions with confidence.
Ideally, you will perform a single steering input to precisely carve into the turn. And you should plan to countersteer only after you’ve identified your next visual target. So, look first, and then turn. Wait to see where you want the bike to go, and then lean the bike quickly or slowly as needed to achieve your goal.
Corner Positioning
Cornering lines are an important and often underutilized technique for increasing your angle of view to identify mid-corner hazards. The typical cornering line consists of an entry that is near the outside of the lane, heads toward the inside near the middle of the turn, and drifts outside at the exit. This “outside-inside-outside” path gives a better look into the curve.
There are many hazards that can appear mid-corner. Road debris, slippery spills, and broken pavement all threaten to increase the risk of a crash. These types of hazards and unexpected changes in corner radius can be thwarted by an early look through the turn. Cornering lines are effective in increasing sight distance, but you will still encounter corners that are obscured by vegetation or some other roadside feature. This is why it is important to choose a conservative entry speed that keeps plenty of lean angle and traction in reserve. Savvy riders scan aggressively for information and choose cornering lines that help them get the best angle of view possible. (Cornering lines are discussed fully in a later chapter.)
Visual Direction Control
Seeing hazards is important for staying safe, but your eyes also play a significant role in motorcycle control and confidence. You may have heard the phrase, “you go where you look.” By pointing your eyes toward the corner exit, you help direct the motorcycle on the desired path. Riders who discover the power of “looking where they want to go” make great leaps in motorcycle control.
You may be thinking, “I already look ahead.” Perhaps; but there is a difference between looking ahead in the mid-distance and really looking ahead all the way through the turn, toward the corner exit. On your next ride, try lengthening your vision to a point in the distance that is at least 4 seconds ahead. You’ll find that looking deeper into corners will help you to enjoy the full benefits of visual direction control.
Part of the reason that visual direction control can increase confidence is because it puts your eyes and mind ahead of the situation and prepares you for what is about to happen. In contrast, near-distance scanning often leads to anxiety because you don’t have the time to process what is about to happen. This leaves you less prepared for corner hazards and less able to select the proper lean angle and speed to complete the turn skillfully.
Even though you want to look well ahead, you will also need to get a closer look at possible road surface hazards as they approach. This means using quick downward glances but, once you’ve gotten a look at the possible problem, returning your eyes to the corner exit.
An effective way to look through a turn is to “ratchet” your eyes as you round the corner, looking for visual clues about road surface condition, camber, turn radius, and the like. Your eyes register the information early and signal that it is either okay to proceed at the given speed and path or alert you to the need to adjust speed or direction to manage a hazard or to stay in your lane.
Don’t be surprised if looking far ahead is disorienting at first, but with practice it will become a natural part of your riding skill set. If you find yourself reverting back to looking in the near-distance, you may be experiencing anxiety—probably because you are riding a bit too fast for your comfort level. In this case, slow down to re-establish your wider vision and restore confidence.
Visual direction control helps you go where you want to go, but it is only one component of the turning process. Looking where you want to go simply makes the cornering process easier.
RIDING TERM
Visual Direction Control
The tendency to go where you look.
Visual Targets
To improve your visual precision, you must actively identify “visual targets” that can help you to direct your motorcycle. On the racetrack, visual targets are easy to spot. They often include bright cones at the entry, apex, and exit of the corner. Other visual targets might include pavement patches or cracks, curbing, and other trackside features. These targets help place the rider and bike in the preferred location, lap after lap.
On the street, visual targets help determine which way the road goes and how tight the radius is. Unfortunately, visual targets aren’t as obvious here, which makes the characteristics of each approaching corner not as easily identified.
One helpful visual target is the road edge and painted road lines and how they visually converge into the distance. Essentially, when the lines converge in the near distance, the corner radius is tightening (decreasing) or the surface is sloping away, off-camber. If the lines converge in the far distance, then this indicates that the curve is straightening and/or is banked. There is a wide variation in how obviously the lines converge and what this means in terms of road characteristics. Even though this is an imperfect method, it can be a very powerful tool for “reading the road” so you can accurately adjust your cornering line and entry speed. For the greatest margin of safety, enter unfamiliar turns more slowly.
Be Seen
The most common statement spoken by drivers involved in a motorcycle collision is “I didn’t see him.” This is because motorcycles are smaller in size and therefore command a much less visual impact compared to every other vehicle on the road. This small physical size means that drivers may subconsciously look past the motorcycle without even seeing it. Often, this is because they do not perceive the relatively tiny object as a threat and instead focus on more “important” vehicles.
Another reason why motorcyclists are not easily seen in traffic is because motorcycles can get lost behind other vehicles, inside blind spots, and hidden by roadside objects. This is the area where riders have the most control. It is imperative that you have a sixth sense about how well you are seen by other drivers. You should be constantly evaluating your line of sight to determine whether you may be hidden from view.
It’s easy to blame a driver who cuts you off for being inattentive, but maybe you need to share some of the blame. Perhaps you weren’t using the best lane position to help the driver identify your presence. Or maybe you weren’t paying attention to how the driver was blinded by solar glare, or you were wearing inconspicuous riding gear without any reflective material. The point is that there is plenty you can do to be more visible.
One helpful visual target is the road edge and painted road lines and how they visually converge into the distance.
In Plain Sight
I’ve heard many stories of drivers cutting riders off even though the driver was looking directly at them. What would cause
