Did you know that improper cornering is one of the leading causes of track day accidents?
Anyone can rip the throttle on a straight but corners are where the heart of track days really lie in. Corners include crazy overtakes, insane exit speed, knee downs, and unfortunately, a higher risk of crashes.
This is why learning the correct cornering techniques for motorcycles not only makes you a safer rider but will get you those epic lap times you need and take it from me, who initially couldn't even maintain a consistent entry point for corners that learning the correct technique is easy and simple and that anyone can pick it up quickly. So let's get started!
Contents
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What Is Motorcycle Cornering Technique
Before we begin I would like to commend you for searching a topic many people unfortunately ignore since many believe "learning" and following the correct technique is more boring than just riding from the heart on the track. It's not! And trust me the amount of fun you'll have will be much more not to mention how much safer you'll be so let's begin!
Why Learning Cornering Techniques For Motorcycles Are Important
First off, let's talk about why proper cornering techniques are so crucial. Imagine you're on a track day, feeling the adrenaline rush as you approach a sharp turn. Without the right technique, you could very easily lose control, skid, or even be in a bad crash.
Learning the proper cornering technique not only enhances your safety on the track but also improve your overall riding performance. They allow you to take turns smoothly, have faster lap times, and reduce the risk of accidents. It's a win-win!
I remember my first track day at the Madras International Circuit like it was yesterday. I was so pumped, but my cornering was all over the place. I didn't realize how much technique mattered until I nearly slid off the track onto the grass, potentially being in a nasty crash.
The 3 Components of Motorcycle Cornering
Motorcycle cornering technique is actually the combination of primarily 3 skills integrated harmoniously together which is not as hard as it seems to master. They are:
Braking: Unlike the street, while braking you must brake hard and not gradually where you will lose valuable speed. Remember to use only the front brake of you motorcycle since the rear is pointless on the track and the later you brake, the more speed you carry into the corner.
Downshifting: Immediately after, hold the clutch down and downshift by one gear as you enter the corner.
Line: This is key to motorcycle cornering, for all corners follow the Entry-Apex-Exit approach. First, you must turn into the corner at the entry point then slightly touch the apex which is the point where your riding line naturally meets the inside curb of the track, then holding onto the line you reach the exit point and you bring the motorcycle upright again.
How To Perform Perfect Motorcycle Cornering
Now that you what motorcycle cornering is let's seamlessly integrate the 3 parts into the perfect cornering technique you can easily implement
Step 1: Before The Corner
While on the straight, place the motorcycle on a straight line to just touch the outermost curb of the corner's entry which will be your entry point ensuring a wide line. Before you reach the entry point brake hard and downshift to one gear. (You might need to throttle blip if your motorcycle doesn't automatically do it). Do not use the throttle as you downshift and brake.
Step 2: During The Corner
At the entry point start turning into the corner. Aim to touch the apex of the corner(which is located on the inner curb). Your motorcycle will try to maintain a straight line as much which will ensure you hit the apex which is why you should continue to not have any throttle inputs before you hit the apex or try to jerk or turn the motorcycle. The earlier your entry point is the earlier your apex is, the less speed you carry.
Step 3: Leaving The Corner
After hitting the apex you can start to increase your throttle gradually, picking up the motorcycle and aim for your exit point which is where your motorcycle will be fully upright and out of the corner. Just like your entry aim for the outermost curb as the exit. This is the Entry-Apex-Exit approach with you entering and exiting wide keeping as much speed without loss in stability.
And that's it! You have performed the perfect motorcycle cornering technique. Remember it as Brake-Downshift-Entry-Apex-Exit (BDEAE) which is how I could easily remember while I was at full speed on the track.
Don't overthink too much about racing lines or if you didn't hit an apex. I was stressing too much about these that my cornering was getting worse! Luckily my mentor told me to calm down and just aim for entry and exit and let the motorcycle take its natural line. I started following his advice and I started hitting apexes consistently without even thinking about it!
Remember to stay comfortable throughout and not push yourself by braking too late or forcefully changing the line midway, eventually you will get it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes is not looking through the turn. Many riders tend to focus on the road right in front of them instead of looking ahead to where they want to go. This limits their ability to anticipate and react to changes on the track and makes them very susceptible to target fixation.
Another common mistake is improper body positioning. Leaning too much or too little can throw off your balance and affect your bike's stability. It's essential to find that sweet spot where your body and bike work together in harmony. However, since you are just learning motorcycle cornering don't worry about body positioning too much, your body will shift inside the corner without you thinking about it as you make the corner so focus on mastering the BDEAE approach first.
Throttle control is another area where riders often go wrong. Abruptly opening or closing the throttle can cause the bike to jerk, leading to loss of traction. Smooth and gradual throttle adjustments are key to maintaining control through the turn.
Advanced Motorcycle Cornering Techniques
If you've mastered the BDEAE approach you can still improve your cornering technique by adding advanced techniques that can take your riding to the next level each of which I have made in-depth guides which are down below to help you out. These techniques require more effort and practice, but once you get the hang of them, you'll be a pro on the track.
Trail Braking: Trail braking is a technique that involves gradually releasing the brake as you enter a corner. This helps maintain stability and control, allowing you to carry more speed into the turn. I remember reading about trail braking and I tried it out on the track before our instructors taught us and I was always carrying more speed into corners than my batchmates in cornering but I would always come out wobbly since I had not learned the foundations. So always learn the BDEAE approach first!
Counter-Steering: It might sound counterintuitive, but to initiate a turn, you need to push the handlebar in the opposite direction of the turn.
Body Positioning: This can be divided into largely upper and lower body positioning that changes throughout the corner but needs to be performed smoothly and seamlessly which is why it is a bit harder skill to learn and is beneficial only after your foundation and basic skills are solid
I wasted a lot of time trying to learn trail braking, counter steering, apex hitting, throttle control and other skills simultaneously causing me to learn none. Patience is key in the world of track days and motorcycle racing and to take one step at a time.
Conclusion
Brake hard, downshift and enter the corner wide at the outermost curb turning the motorcycle towards the apex all the while without any throttle inputs. After hitting the Apex which is a point on the innermost curb of the corner that your motorcycle will naturally point towards, gradually increase the throttle picking up the bike fully at the exit point which must be wide, at the outermost edge of the track and you've done the perfect cornering motorcycle technique for motorcycles.
Learning motorcycle cornering technique is essential whether you're preparing for a race or just planning on having some fun at a track day and it is completely fine if you don't get it on the first try, keep trying and it will become second nature to you and you can then move on to advanced techniques becoming a speed demon on the track yet safe and in full control.
On the track, we make progress by making mistakes and then learning from them and this is how we improve our skills and make track days more and more fun but there is a mistake that we can avoid and that is not preparing for a track day correctly which is particularly key since many of us can't visit the track often which is why I made the Ultimate Track Day Guide an Ebook that teaches you A to Z about track days including tips on what to bring, what to eat for peak performance on the track and secret tips from pro racers and more that you can grab for free!
Let me know in the comments down below if you have got any doubts on anything track days or racing or topics you'd like me to cover next and Ill see you guys tomorrow!
Faster. Better. Safer.
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