The theme this week has been motorcycle training.  In the fifth part of our series based on the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Motorcycle Skill Test Practice Guide, our motorcycle accident lawyers will cover the issue of turning on a motorized bike.

Exercise Four: Executing Basic Turns with Your Motorcycle

This practice exercise is designed to help you learn to turn on both highways and windy rural roads.  How can you expect to get from point A to point B without being able to turn your motorcycle?

Practice Exercise Directions

Ride around the oval indicated by the markers (as seen in the diagram to the right).  Alter your speed on the straightaways by braking as necessary before turning.  You should hold a steady throttle around the markers at the end of the oval.  Repeat this exercise in the opposite direction.

Motorcycle Safety Foundation Tips

  • Ride between 10-15 mph during this exercise.
  • Slow down before turning.  Brake if necessary.
  • Look at the direction you want to go through the turn, then lean with the motorcycle.
  • Maintain your speed or roll the throttle gently through the turn.

Common Problems & Recommended Corrections

  1. If you’re swinging wide in your turn, look to your exit point.  Apply more pressure on the inside handlebar to lean more.
  2. If you cut the corners too close or turn too sharply, look to your exit point.  Make sure that you aren’t looking down and that you’re applying less pressure to the inside handlebar.  Keep a steady throttle.
  3. Should you find yourself exiting wide out of your turns, slow down more before turning.  Once again, look where you want to go and apply more pressure on the inside handlebar to lean more.

Check out the rest of this blog series:

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