If you are a new rider or a rider who wants to continue to grow (That should be all of us ;) ) and you are not a Member at MCrider you are missing out on the best part of MCrider. Go to www.MCrider.com/Member and get access to the Forums and Field Guide. - The Forum is an active, friendly place where riders share riding tips, ideas, travel photos, and show off their new motorcycles. Riders and instructors from all over the world are active on the forums and ready to share in the adventure with you. - The Field Guide is a section of the forums that have very specific training exercises that you can work on in any open parking lot to develop your riding skills. In addition to these resources, you can discuss every MCrider video, suggest future training videos, read and share gear reviews, and more. By becoming a member you help support MCrider and keep the weekly videos coming but you also get access to a world of riders who share tips and techniques to help us all enjoy the ride and increase our skills. www.MCrider.com/Member
Hi I would like to send this story/example to you. I am an older rider and I fell off my Honda when I was 62. It was a sharp left hand bend on a single lane country track. A large truck coming the other way and I met on the apex of the corner. Tall trees made it a blind corner. So we saw each other and both hit the brakes. Due to this very small country lane and grit on it I was only doing about fifteen mph. In order to avoid the truck I went into the inside of the curve and ended up on the grass. As the bike stopped on the grass I fell off forwards half over the right handlebar and tumbled to the ground. So I actually fell off clear of the truck and at no miles per hour. This bit is the bad news. Because it was a hot, rainy day I did not have my leather jacket on. All I had on over my shirt was a raincoat. When I hit the road my right elbow hit first. It did not hit hard, but I am 62 with thin arms. The coat did not tear, it did not get cut through by the gravel. When I got home I took off my coat and there was blood on my shirt, lots of it. There was a large flap of skin torn loose. I went to hospital and they stitched it back on. So what I am saying with regard to clothing is, don't wear raincoats, wear your leather jacket. Especially older riders like me. It does not matter if it is a small bike and kids point and laugh. Your skin does matter much more. If I had had my leather jacket on the incident would have been far better because the leather jacket has padding and offers much more protection. After that mishap I thought I would buy much better protection for my elbows, knees, feet, hands and back. Better to look like a bald, padded star wars stormtrooper than damage yourself! Good luck and best wishes, thanks for the videos.
I am 66 and ride a BMW 1250 GS, often (light) off-road. Any injury takes a loooong time to heal. I ride fully geared, all the time. The one time I did not, I fell and hurt my knee. Learned my lesson.
I have been practicing this lately and my cornering has improved a lot. What's funny is that I find myself looking through the turn when driving my car.🤣 I have put a few miles on my bike recently!!
hi I am back on bikes after 30 years away from them !! loving the videos , and , if not all , is very relevant to my UK riding . Thank you again learning lots !
I had only borrowed my brother's 650 nighthawk 35 years ago. I just bought a Yamaha R3, been practicing skills daily for 2 weeks. Some good days, some not so great. Improving is a buzz. I love it.
I discovered a year ago, that basic stretching exercises, every morning, BEFORE I GET ON THE BIKE, when it's a day I know that I'll ride, helps a great deal. In fact, it's imperative to my riding. AND, it works. I turn my head all the way to the left, then all the way to the right, I turn as far as I dare, stretching my neck muscles, until I feel it all up around my neck and shoulder area, making sure I have no pain in my shoulders. I often do this while holding my arms outstretched, at shoulder height, and begin to twirl my arms so many times in forward circles, and then in reverse circles, all the while, turning my head left and right. Makes for an excellent riding day.
One of the groups I ride with is actually taking a training class together, in a couple of weeks, about low-speed turns and other low-speed control skills. Most of them are experienced riders, but "freshening' and fine-tuning skills is always a benefit! (and a chance to 'clean up' any bad habits that may have creeped in...)
Floyd Burdett I totally agree. I bought a new bike and wanted to get in on the Pennsylvania MSP class, but it was booked solid through the rest of the riding season. Now my confidence has increased in the ensuing month or two, but I'll try to snag a reservation in next Spring's classes.
LJ Kirk > Still a good idea to get into one of the classes -- or try finding an MSF-USA.org Class in your area -- because they go over a lot of Safety information and other things besides just basically learning how to ride without falling over... (smile) Another suggestion is to go onto MeetUp.com or other 'social media' and find a local riding group for the type of riding you want to do, and go with them on a couple of rides. [Do NOT start out with Sport Bike clubs, because they WILL ride too fast for you, and it will push you beyond your skill level! Even the "nice guys" that I ride with will be very unhappy 'waiting up' for a slower rider. But we DO wait up if we need to, because we encourage new riders. But a club like ours is RARE! ] The "Any kind of bike" groups are best because they go at comfortable speeds, and the 'fast riders' are along for the fellowship rather than challenging the curves. But a good club will put you in between 2 experienced riders so you can watch the rider in front of you while the rider behind watches you! Then they can point out areas where you can do better and compliment what you are doing well. it will also 'protect you' more from mindless drivers, and you will learn a LOT about throttle and braking control and about positioning yourself on the road and in relation to other vehicles... And you just might end up with some Great new Friends!
I'm scared of high-speed cornering. On my RC bike you have to set the controls where it goes the opposite direction for it to lean where you want it to turn. I can low-speed all day long but I haven't experienced high-speed riding. Do you have to steer the other direction or can you just make up the brain signals by just leaning where you want and the arms will follow?
Anthony Abelardo > If you can ride a bicycle faster than 'wobbling-handlebars' speeds...you are already 'counter-steering... But to describe it in words brings to mind the expression "A Picture is worth a thousand words"... If you make a noticeable 'push' on the handlebar you are probably pushing too much. But like learning to ride a bicycle, it takes slow speed practice to learn balance, then add speed in small amounts and 'feel' the differences as speed increases. And why it is best to learn from an organized training program, or a Very experienced rider who is willing to take some time on the road with you..and some time in a big parking lot...
I tried this one time at 8:00am. this morning and it's now 2:30pm.. Sometimes someone says the right words that sink in to your brain better than another person's words. I learn from you every single time I watch your videos. Now I wonder how in the world I even made it through twisties before.
This technique saved my life recently. I was on a wooded, narrow, country lane approaching a sharp right hand bend ( I'm in the UK so I was on the left). Through the trees I caught a glimpse of sunlight reflecting on metal. I decided to slow down more than I would normally. At that point a four by four came round the bend too fast and drifted into my side of the road. My reduced speed meant that I was able to move right into the kerb and stop safely. If I hadn't been keeping my eyes up and nose pointing where I was heading this be would have ended very differently
I have really worked this Technic and it is amazing how much it improved my cornering. Keep your eyes in the direction you want to go and the bike will follow. Added 2 Michelin Commander 11's and new wheel bearings last Summer and it changed everything, like riding a different motorcycle. This has helped me avoid obstacles on the road too. Don't want to hit it? Don't look at it!
Wanted to share my experience re cornering, I got a used bike with used tires, and rode on the old tires for about year before replacing them. The bike just never liked corners and I thought it was the nature of the bike. But after replacing the tires, I discovered that that old tires had become flat in the middle due to many highway miles on them, and this flat spot greatly effected the bike's ability to lean into a corner. With the new tires, the bike rides entirely different. Be sure to check your tires regardless of whether they still pass inspection, and replace them if they have become worn flat in the middle, that is, they no longer have a smooth round shape.
Heh, heh.. My late father with 13,900 hrs. flying time(fixed wing) asked my brother about riding a motor cycle.. My brother Joe proceeded to tell him about down shifting, changing gears, braking, both front and rear along with proper throttle control and keeping an eye on traffic, road conditions. ALL AT THE SAME TIME.. My Dad said, "Hell.. you could have been a helicopter pilot. That's what they have to do. " YUP........... was Joe's answer..
I found turning my head and looking where I want the bike to go. It makes me feel more confident and comfortable whislt in the turn. Definitely some very good advice my friend
Blue Moon amen. Had to retrain myself because I learned that lesson wrong. Just my own experience. I gotta slow down though. Lane splitting at 120 is the biggest adrenaline rush. Fucking busa if you got it you'll use it eventually especially once you get comfortable. Although they've sent the copter after me a few times I always find cover. Too much fun
I am a skier as well as a rider. The principle is the same in skiing. Pick your line and keep your eyes looking where you want to ski. If I look at a bump, obstacle, etc., I will inevitably ski right to it.
Yup. Skiing is exactly the same principle. I think it's the similarity of feel when you are slaloming (lower body moving but upper body square and head focused on your line) that really attracted me to motorcycling.
Couldn't agree more when I first started riding back in the 60's my older buddy that taught me called it looking the motorcycle where you want it to go and once I learned it in just a couple of hours I went from having to almost stop for corners to going around them smoothly, there is not much more important for slow speed riding than using this properly.
Good Video! One of my friends teaches an advanced class that uses this exercise. I think California Superbike school teaches to point your chin and stretch your neck out if you're too hot in a corner. They call if a hook turn I believe. The biggest issue I had with my head turn was trusting the road was still there after turning my head away from it. It seems silly to think of, but once you pick out your turn in point, start looking through the turn to find your apex and exit, but you still must remember where that turn in point was/ is, since you're still advancing to it. Once you learn to trust the road is still "there" and get that head turned and open your shoulders and hips up to the turn, the bike turns so effortlessly. We constantly have to switch back and forth from out predator vision to our prey vision (spotlight/ floodlight vision - Ref. ASC LLC - Kurt Repsher)
Great tip!! Been riding for two months now and nearly 5000 kilometres, but tight curves have been a bit scary. Plan to train this technique before my next trip. Thank you 😄😄😄
Thank you very much Kevin! I took my training course this past weekend in Ottawa Canada and your voice was running through my ears for two days "Head and Eyes, Head and Eyes...." It made such a difference in the outcome of my training. Hopefully these words and all the others I have heard from you will stick with me for my entire riding career.
I recently moved up to a full blown tourer. Realized I was death afraid of the weight and top heaviness of the bike in "close quarter" maneuvers like gas pumps, etc. Why? While I was using the horizon on the road I was slipping in to looking at the parking space lines, etc. Nearly dumped it. Started relearning this exercise and while I'm NOT like those motorcycle cops in the competitions I can do the MSF "Box maneuver" on an 800 pound tourer. good advice and good video as always
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Started riding again after 15 years and wondered why I struggled to go on a smooth line through a curve, hm, must be the bike. Two weeks ago I bought a new bike (Z1000SX) and struggled again to lean, ride smooth and do u-turns. I´m looking deep into corners, when u-turning, I use friction zone, rear brake an dall that stuff. What am I missing?!? LOOK UP/KEEP YOUR HEAD UP! This one little advice instantly brought back the joy of smooth cornering and not having the fear to fall over in sharp and slow turns. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Had the opportunity to experience the issue of not looking properly on a turn and had the impression of falling down... Interesting that the curve is the one at the corner of my condo! That was indeed a great advice, as usual Kevin! Thanks and keep up with the great job!
ThanksKevin, more great and simple advice. I recently took a refresher course for my new bike. The two instructors never even mentioned it. Thanks to you and Ride Like A Pro you both are saving pain and suffering.
Thanks. Had I learned this a year ago, i wouldn't have broken 7 ribs and puncture my lung in two places. Doing great now and your videos have given me more confidence. Riding on.
I do something that nobody else has thought of. I have my mirrors out a little, so I can't see the reflection of my shoulders when I'm riding in a straight line. When I want to change lanes or start into a corner, I have to physically lean my upper body until I see my shoulder in the mirror. This makes my eyes look into the corner. Works great. Remember, where you look is where you'll go!
Excellent Video. Even though I learned this many years ago, it is always a good to have a reminder of it from time, to time. Complacency in even the most experienced of riders can be absent minded at times.
Great advice. I've seen guys drift depending on the sight seeing their doing. Sometimes across the center line. I instruct performance driving and I always ask the student if he rides or flies. Typically, these students practice "eyes up" and looking through the turns better than the average car driver.
Absolutely. What's the most important thing to determine when entering a corner, especially unknown corners. Finding where it ends,,,LOOK FORWARD..Ride/drive safe
This is something I am still struggling to make a habit. And I KNOW better as I've been told the same thing when riding horses. I'll get it down, just need much more practice.
I ride a big single (Suzuki S40). What I have difficulty with in slow riding exercises is that the throttle is very responsive in first gear. I have found that using 2nd while riding the clutch smooths it out quite a bit. I don't have anything to compare it with since this is my first bike in 4 decades.
Thanks, Kevin, I have been using this technique and it works great. Also, the aspect about pointing your nose to your turn target and keeping your eyes on the horizon is very important to making tighter and more controlled turns at lower speeds. Thanks again, for your great videos.
Eyes most important. The thing for me was looking at situations and determining where I should look, if you need to tighten the turn look even further especially in low speed maneuvers.
Hi Kevin, I'm surprised to see you riding a bike with spoked wheels ie tyres with inner tubes.The last time I did this I had a puncture at speed and the tyre deflated almost instantly causing me to loose control.Since then I only ride with cast wheels and tubeless tyres.Thanks for your videos . You've taught me a lot
Parking lot turns are the exact opposite of road speed turns, non countersteering vs countersteering.. That is why I maintain that parking lot training is good for the parking lot only.
Another great video! I read posts from guys who've ridden for decades and didn't know these principles. I recommend folks check out photos or videos of MotoGP riders as they take turns. Their heads are "cranked" in the turn!!
Point your nose! Sounds simple doesn't it? But I'm having to relearn all of this again. Getting better every time I ride, but still need more practice. Thanks Kevin! Love your videos!
Habit of looking down is hard to break. The cone or an object to help with looking thru is something I will use to develop better riding technique. Thx for your help...
Interesting thought. Looking over the cone is not looking in the direction you want to go as you are not riding to the cone...... the head and eye principle is ofcourse correct. It is realy better to practice 90 degree turns and u turns than just doing circles around a cone. And every corner in real life is practice too, so ride conciously and practice technique continuously.
Hi Kevin At this point, after seeing some of your videos, i just thumbs up first, then hit the play button. Thank you for your effort, thank you for your knowledge sir. I don't ride, i use to, but i'll be back on the road once i can afford the bike i want. I am 44yo, now i want a sport cruiser bike...bmw k1200s, or k1300r. I also want to get advanced riding lessons once i own the bike, till then, i am very pleased to ride along with you sir. Cheers from Portugal. Ricardo
I agree with what he says, but I also want to add to it. I am an automobile salesman that goes on test drives every day and too many people don't look OUT THERE Look down the road, look away from you, look OUT THERE and you will instantly be a better rider/driver
When i'm instructing i tell my students to look where they'll be in 2 seconds. It's more effective imo, because it factors in speed. When you're doing slow manouvering, your eyes will be closer. When going faster your gaze will be further. I've heard many colleagues tell starters to look deep into the turn. Well, for slow riding, like tight figure eights, that's no good. You'll turn way too tight and come into the next u turn way too tight, with no more room left to make it. There's three big factors imo to succeed when slow riding, looking technique, momentum (steady elevated rpm, slipping the clutch and speed control by using the rear brake) and posture (how you position your bodyweight in relation to speed, counterbalancing where needed).
I learned this myself when riding a fast mountain road with lots of looong curves in the rain with my gf on the back. I started getting freaked out when rolling on the throttle that the front wheel would fail. So during long curves i started slowly leaning my body out and pointing my chin through the corner, it felt much more stable and confidence inspiring.
Hey Kevin you have probably already answered this but I am wanting to become a patron. Sorry you did answer this at end of video. My bad. Again thanks for posting these videos.
when practising "police style" riding, it felt strange to begin with looking almost behind me and not down but after a while it just became normal and i cant imagine being able to complete a U turn without doing that.
Hey Kevin, great tip, as always! I couldn't find those cool cones that you guys use at the MSF classes, SO, I cut some tennis balls in half and spray painted them with fluorescent orange and green and set them down as my cones. You can run over them and they stay in place, and they are very CHEAP TO MAKE!
I learned this at racing school and wanted to know if it worked so I got into an open parking lot and started riding straight forward then not wanting to turn I turned my head so I wasn't looking straight ahead and automaticly turned . Try it , it really works .
I fail at the not looking down. The looking where you want to go was something that I was constantly struggling with in the MSF course. I get annoyed with myself.
I struggled with that too. It goes away with practice and as you build confidence. Trust the bike and remember there is nothing you can do about what is under your tire already. The key is looking ahead.. Practice, practice, practice.
I recommend you not be discouraged. Keep at it and try the exercise Kevin demonstrates. I can promise you that nailing this technique in combination with good counter-steering results in a truly relaxed and fun riding experience, as you learn to trust the bike while you "look ahead".
This is where a Go Pro, or Similar camera comes into play. Place that on your helmet and record you going into turns, and repeat till you see improvement.
Jeff Williams > That will also help by Showing you where you are actually looking... Are you REALLY looking -- and 'pointing your nose' -- in the direction you want to go..? (-;
Hi Kevin , I think you need a bigger cone . It may not be necessary for the real exercise, but had trouble picking it out in the video. Good job though. Maybe figure of 8 with 2 cones. Will get used to switching head position. Just came back from Vietnam and Thailand , that was an eye opener.
As someone who learned to ride at 54 (currently 59) I was told to look "through the curve". Well, that was a direct contradiction to "look where you want to go". For example, on a left hand turn, if I looked through the curve, I inevitably drifted down into the oncoming lane. If I "looked where I wanted to go", i.e. 30 - 50 ft. ahead, I stayed in my lane and comfortably negotiated the curve without drifting into the oncoming traffic lane. Bottom line, instructors generalize. Be reasonable and judicious in interpreting their instructions. P.S. I 'failed to negotiate a turn' and ended up in a ditch on my first ride after MSF training to 'look through the curve'. I'd have been better off without the training. And no one needs to learn how to counter steer. It's a natural instinct that can only be weakened by overthinking it.
I like Kevin's description of, "point your nose where you want to go". You can look without turning your head properly, but that nose...the head has to go too!! Glad I'm not the only one learning to ride at 54....
Derek Lemoins I saw a video explaining that. They said to lay your chest as close to the bike as possible. Then ease off the throttle. The bike should stop wobbling.
I could never get into turning my head as far as the instructors do in their demonstrations. When I attempt to turn my head as far as they do the result is I will always turn to sharp for the curve I am attempting to navigate. I guess my visual perception is different - I don't know. I will never forget the instructor telling me to turn my head further into the curve, then, they jump on me because my turn was tighter than the curved line I am suppose to be riding within! Well, which way to you want it? I go in the direction I am looking - you tell me to look more sharply into the curve then I will ride more sharply into the curve - what did you expect was going to happen?! I have been riding street bikes since 1984 with I guess a couple hundred thousand miles on two wheels. Some people can look through a turn with their eyes - not their head. If we couldn't turn our eyes then we'd all have necks like owls!
Try Counting, as if you are 12, 1, 2, and 3 O'Clock position on a clock face. Depending on your turn, you will be in one of those ranges. Just count, and move your head into the turn.
Oh dear. Very unlucky. I made also a stupid rookie mistake. On a sharp turn rightl - with my girlfriend on the backseat - I released the clutch too hard and the bike fell over. I couldn't stop it from falling over but at least I tried. Well - It wasn't so bad. Lucky I put some crashbars on the bike. Only the clutch cover has taken some scratches but the bike is still in good condition. :) Lucky me. :)
But its done at the expense of seeing whats infront of your wheels. This method of course works but the fact remains that your eyes are not looking at whata infront of the wheel eg. a pot hole, oil sleaks , nails etc. This method assumes the road is flat and clear
I've been riding for many years and sometimes still have to fight the urge to look down at the front tire or ground. I know if you look down you get mesmerized/hypnotized by the tire or road surface gilding by and I have to fight not to at times.
In parking lots below 20 mph you turn the handle bars the direction you want to turn. Above 20 you have to do just the opposite, you have push away on the side you want to go. I've seen videos of people killed at the moment of truth they forget what they have to do and literally steer right into a truck or whatever, after 20 driving a bike is much different doing the wrong thing will get you killed.
MC Rider. I've been riding for about a year now and what I've noticed is that left turns from a stop is my biggest challenge. Not all the time, but at times I do stall when this happens, especially when I need a "quick take off" onto a busy road. Thoughts?
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Pro trick: you can watch movies at instaflixxer. Me and my gf have been using it for watching all kinds of movies lately.
@Brodie Mauricio Definitely, I've been watching on InstaFlixxer for months myself :)
@Brodie Mauricio Yup, been watching on instaflixxer for months myself :)
Every time I look where I want to go I end up in a Pub.
Frank Stocker I like that
Similar issue here... looking where I want to go and I never end up at work.
Glad to see I'm not alone!
i was riding behind a magician the other day. at least i think he was a magician. he was just riding along when he turned into a pub
best answer ever!!
Just returned to riding after a number of years and find your videos very helpful
Hi I would like to send this story/example to you. I am an older rider and I fell off my Honda when I was 62. It was a sharp left hand bend on a single lane country track. A large truck coming the other way and I met on the apex of the corner. Tall trees made it a blind corner. So we saw each other and both hit the brakes. Due to this very small country lane and grit on it I was only doing about fifteen mph. In order to avoid the truck I went into the inside of the curve and ended up on the grass. As the bike stopped on the grass I fell off forwards half over the right handlebar and tumbled to the ground. So I actually fell off clear of the truck and at no miles per hour. This bit is the bad news. Because it was a hot, rainy day I did not have my leather jacket on. All I had on over my shirt was a raincoat. When I hit the road my right elbow hit first. It did not hit hard, but I am 62 with thin arms. The coat did not tear, it did not get cut through by the gravel. When I got home I took off my coat and there was blood on my shirt, lots of it. There was a large flap of skin torn loose. I went to hospital and they stitched it back on. So what I am saying with regard to clothing is, don't wear raincoats, wear your leather jacket. Especially older riders like me. It does not matter if it is a small bike and kids point and laugh. Your skin does matter much more. If I had had my leather jacket on the incident would have been far better because the leather jacket has padding and offers much more protection. After that mishap I thought I would buy much better protection for my elbows, knees, feet, hands and back. Better to look like a bald, padded star wars stormtrooper than damage yourself! Good luck and best wishes, thanks for the videos.
Nicholas.... I hear ya. The best gear is Motoport. You don't get hot or cold, and the protection is many times better than leather!.
I am 66 and ride a BMW 1250 GS, often (light) off-road. Any injury takes a loooong time to heal. I ride fully geared, all the time. The one time I did not, I fell and hurt my knee. Learned my lesson.
Who says you can't teach an old dog? I'm with you buddy. Keep rolling. Momentum beats entropy.
Having said that, I'm broke after buying my motorcycle, jeans, boots and helmet till I can afford the proper gear. Wish me luck.
I have been practicing this lately and my cornering has improved a lot. What's funny is that I find myself looking through the turn when driving my car.🤣 I have put a few miles on my bike recently!!
hi I am back on bikes after 30 years away from them !!
loving the videos , and , if not all , is very relevant to my UK riding . Thank you again learning lots !
I had only borrowed my brother's 650 nighthawk 35 years ago. I just bought a Yamaha R3, been practicing skills daily for 2 weeks. Some good days, some not so great. Improving is a buzz. I love it.
I discovered a year ago, that basic stretching exercises, every morning, BEFORE I GET ON THE BIKE, when it's a day I know that I'll ride, helps a great deal. In fact, it's imperative to my riding. AND, it works. I turn my head all the way to the left, then all the way to the right, I turn as far as I dare, stretching my neck muscles, until I feel it all up around my neck and shoulder area, making sure I have no pain in my shoulders. I often do this while holding my arms outstretched, at shoulder height, and begin to twirl my arms so many times in forward circles, and then in reverse circles, all the while, turning my head left and right. Makes for an excellent riding day.
Same here. Yoga, intense stretching, anything like that. Riding a motorcycling is a PHYSICAL activity; the better shape we are in, the better we ride.
Good advice, guys. Thanks.
One of the groups I ride with is actually taking a training class together, in a couple of weeks, about low-speed turns and other low-speed control skills. Most of them are experienced riders, but "freshening' and fine-tuning skills is always a benefit! (and a chance to 'clean up' any bad habits that may have creeped in...)
Floyd Burdett I totally agree. I bought a new bike and wanted to get in on the Pennsylvania MSP class, but it was booked solid through the rest of the riding season. Now my confidence has increased in the ensuing month or two, but I'll try to snag a reservation in next Spring's classes.
LJ Kirk > Still a good idea to get into one of the classes -- or try finding an MSF-USA.org Class in your area -- because they go over a lot of Safety information and other things besides just basically learning how to ride without falling over... (smile)
Another suggestion is to go onto MeetUp.com or other 'social media' and find a local riding group for the type of riding you want to do, and go with them on a couple of rides. [Do NOT start out with Sport Bike clubs, because they WILL ride too fast for you, and it will push you beyond your skill level! Even the "nice guys" that I ride with will be very unhappy 'waiting up' for a slower rider. But we DO wait up if we need to, because we encourage new riders. But a club like ours is RARE! ] The "Any kind of bike" groups are best because they go at comfortable speeds, and the 'fast riders' are along for the fellowship rather than challenging the curves. But a good club will put you in between 2 experienced riders so you can watch the rider in front of you while the rider behind watches you! Then they can point out areas where you can do better and compliment what you are doing well. it will also 'protect you' more from mindless drivers, and you will learn a LOT about throttle and braking control and about positioning yourself on the road and in relation to other vehicles... And you just might end up with some Great new Friends!
I'm scared of high-speed cornering. On my RC bike you have to set the controls where it goes the opposite direction for it to lean where you want it to turn. I can low-speed all day long but I haven't experienced high-speed riding. Do you have to steer the other direction or can you just make up the brain signals by just leaning where you want and the arms will follow?
Anthony Abelardo > If you can ride a bicycle faster than 'wobbling-handlebars' speeds...you are already 'counter-steering... But to describe it in words brings to mind the expression "A Picture is worth a thousand words"... If you make a noticeable 'push' on the handlebar you are probably pushing too much. But like learning to ride a bicycle, it takes slow speed practice to learn balance, then add speed in small amounts and 'feel' the differences as speed increases. And why it is best to learn from an organized training program, or a Very experienced rider who is willing to take some time on the road with you..and some time in a big parking lot...
I tried this one time at 8:00am. this morning and it's now 2:30pm.. Sometimes someone says the right words that sink in to your brain better than another person's words. I learn from you every single time I watch your videos. Now I wonder how in the world I even made it through twisties before.
Did my provisional licence today & your vid's helped me out heaps passed 100% Cheer's guy's.
This technique saved my life recently. I was on a wooded, narrow, country lane approaching a sharp right hand bend ( I'm in the UK so I was on the left). Through the trees I caught a glimpse of sunlight reflecting on metal. I decided to slow down more than I would normally. At that point a four by four came round the bend too fast and drifted into my side of the road. My reduced speed meant that I was able to move right into the kerb and stop safely. If I hadn't been keeping my eyes up and nose pointing where I was heading this be would have ended very differently
I have really worked this Technic and it is amazing how much it improved my cornering. Keep your eyes in the direction you want to go and the bike will follow. Added 2 Michelin Commander 11's and new wheel bearings last Summer and it changed everything, like riding a different motorcycle. This has helped me avoid obstacles on the road too. Don't want to hit it? Don't look at it!
Wanted to share my experience re cornering, I got a used bike with used tires, and rode on the old tires for about year before replacing them. The bike just never liked corners and I thought it was the nature of the bike. But after replacing the tires, I discovered that that old tires had become flat in the middle due to many highway miles on them, and this flat spot greatly effected the bike's ability to lean into a corner. With the new tires, the bike rides entirely different. Be sure to check your tires regardless of whether they still pass inspection, and replace them if they have become worn flat in the middle, that is, they no longer have a smooth round shape.
Heh, heh.. My late father with 13,900 hrs. flying time(fixed wing) asked my brother about riding a motor cycle.. My brother Joe proceeded to tell him about down shifting, changing gears, braking, both front and rear along with proper throttle control and keeping an eye on traffic, road conditions. ALL AT THE SAME TIME.. My Dad said, "Hell.. you could have been a helicopter pilot. That's what they have to do. " YUP........... was Joe's answer..
I found turning my head and looking where I want the bike to go. It makes me feel more confident and comfortable whislt in the turn. Definitely some very good advice my friend
Blue Moon amen. Had to retrain myself because I learned that lesson wrong. Just my own experience. I gotta slow down though. Lane splitting at 120 is the biggest adrenaline rush. Fucking busa if you got it you'll use it eventually especially once you get comfortable. Although they've sent the copter after me a few times I always find cover. Too much fun
I'm learning to ride a motorcycle properly through the magic of the internet and of course practicing 1 or 2 times daily. Thanks Kevin.
I am a skier as well as a rider. The principle is the same in skiing. Pick your line and keep your eyes looking where you want to ski. If I look at a bump, obstacle, etc., I will inevitably ski right to it.
Yup. Skiing is exactly the same principle. I think it's the similarity of feel when you are slaloming (lower body moving but upper body square and head focused on your line) that really attracted me to motorcycling.
Couldn't agree more when I first started riding back in the 60's my older buddy that taught me called it looking the motorcycle where you want it to go and once I learned it in just a couple of hours I went from having to almost stop for corners to going around them smoothly, there is not much more important for slow speed riding than using this properly.
Great advice, I’ve been riding for around 5 years and this channel definitely sharpens my awareness. Keep up the good work Kevin!
Good Video! One of my friends teaches an advanced class that uses this exercise. I think California Superbike school teaches to point your chin and stretch your neck out if you're too hot in a corner. They call if a hook turn I believe.
The biggest issue I had with my head turn was trusting the road was still there after turning my head away from it. It seems silly to think of, but once you pick out your turn in point, start looking through the turn to find your apex and exit, but you still must remember where that turn in point was/ is, since you're still advancing to it.
Once you learn to trust the road is still "there" and get that head turned and open your shoulders and hips up to the turn, the bike turns so effortlessly.
We constantly have to switch back and forth from out predator vision to our prey vision (spotlight/ floodlight vision - Ref. ASC LLC - Kurt Repsher)
Great tip!! Been riding for two months now and nearly 5000 kilometres, but tight curves have been a bit scary. Plan to train this technique before my next trip. Thank you 😄😄😄
That looking down is probably my biggest mistake. Plus the light did go off for me. Big Thankx
Thank you very much Kevin!
I took my training course this past weekend in Ottawa Canada and your voice was running through my ears for two days "Head and Eyes, Head and Eyes...."
It made such a difference in the outcome of my training.
Hopefully these words and all the others I have heard from you will stick with me for my entire riding career.
Awesome Dan, glad it went well. 👍👍🏍️
I recently moved up to a full blown tourer. Realized I was death afraid of the weight and top heaviness of the bike in "close quarter" maneuvers like gas pumps, etc.
Why? While I was using the horizon on the road I was slipping in to looking at the parking space lines, etc. Nearly dumped it.
Started relearning this exercise and while I'm NOT like those motorcycle cops in the competitions I can do the MSF "Box maneuver" on an 800 pound tourer.
good advice and good video as always
Karl Reinke
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Started riding again after 15 years and wondered why I struggled to go on a smooth line through a curve, hm, must be the bike. Two weeks ago I bought a new bike (Z1000SX) and struggled again to lean, ride smooth and do u-turns. I´m looking deep into corners, when u-turning, I use friction zone, rear brake an dall that stuff. What am I missing?!?
LOOK UP/KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!
This one little advice instantly brought back the joy of smooth cornering and not having the fear to fall over in sharp and slow turns.
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Had the opportunity to experience the issue of not looking properly on a turn and had the impression of falling down... Interesting that the curve is the one at the corner of my condo! That was indeed a great advice, as usual Kevin! Thanks and keep up with the great job!
ThanksKevin, more great and simple advice. I recently took a refresher course for my new bike. The two instructors never even mentioned it. Thanks to you and Ride Like A Pro you both are saving pain and suffering.
Thanks. Had I learned this a year ago, i wouldn't have broken 7 ribs and puncture my lung in two places. Doing great now and your videos have given me more confidence. Riding on.
I do something that nobody else has thought of. I have my mirrors out a little, so I can't see the reflection of my shoulders when I'm riding in a straight line. When I want to change lanes or start into a corner, I have to physically lean my upper body until I see my shoulder in the mirror. This makes my eyes look into the corner. Works great. Remember, where you look is where you'll go!
Excellent Video. Even though I learned this many years ago, it is always a good to have a reminder of it from time, to time. Complacency in even the most experienced of riders can be absent minded at times.
Great advice. I've seen guys drift depending on the sight seeing their doing. Sometimes across the center line. I instruct performance driving and I always ask the student if he rides or flies. Typically, these students practice "eyes up" and looking through the turns better than the average car driver.
Absolutely. What's the most important thing to determine when entering a corner, especially unknown corners. Finding where it ends,,,LOOK FORWARD..Ride/drive safe
Still the best on TH-cam Kev!
This is something I am still struggling to make a habit. And I KNOW better as I've been told the same thing when riding horses. I'll get it down, just need much more practice.
I ride a big single (Suzuki S40). What I have difficulty with in slow riding exercises is that the throttle is very responsive in first gear. I have found that using 2nd while riding the clutch smooths it out quite a bit. I don't have anything to compare it with since this is my first bike in 4 decades.
Youre the best trainer I've known ironically
Thanks Primate!
Thank you Kevin for all your videos.. making the decision to be a safer rider is hard for us that push the envelope to often... but we are trying...
Thanks, Kevin, I have been using this technique and it works great. Also, the aspect about pointing your nose to your turn target and keeping your eyes on the horizon is very important to making tighter and more controlled turns at lower speeds. Thanks again, for your great videos.
Eyes most important. The thing for me was looking at situations and determining where I should look, if you need to tighten the turn look even further especially in low speed maneuvers.
I've been practising turning my head towards the corner, even though I didn't need to and I'm at least feeling a lot smoother. Excellent tip.
That's a great idea, a lot better than a circle of cones and trying to follow them around a circle and you got a focus point, excellent!
Hi Kevin, I'm surprised to see you riding a bike with spoked wheels ie tyres with inner tubes.The last time I did this I had a puncture at speed and the tyre deflated almost instantly causing me to loose control.Since then I only ride with cast wheels and tubeless tyres.Thanks for your videos . You've taught me a lot
Parking lot turns are the exact opposite of road speed turns, non countersteering vs countersteering.. That is why I maintain that parking lot training is good for the parking lot only.
Another great video! I read posts from guys who've ridden for decades and didn't know these principles. I recommend folks check out photos or videos of MotoGP riders as they take turns. Their heads are "cranked" in the turn!!
Yep, I have a few photos from the MotoGP races in Austin. Head and eyes through the turn even at 100+MPH.
Point your nose! Sounds simple doesn't it? But I'm having to relearn all of this again. Getting better every time I ride, but still need more practice. Thanks Kevin! Love your videos!
Habit of looking down is hard to break. The cone or an object to help with looking thru is something I will use to develop better riding technique. Thx for your help...
Interesting thought. Looking over the cone is not looking in the direction you want to go as you are not riding to the cone...... the head and eye principle is ofcourse correct. It is realy better to practice 90 degree turns and u turns than just doing circles around a cone. And every corner in real life is practice too, so ride conciously and practice technique continuously.
Thank you! I have been using the turn your head technique even when driving my car. It at least helps me park straighter.
Thanks MC Ridder
For the tips and points throughout the videos that you share, keep up the great work.
Hi Kevin
At this point, after seeing some of your videos, i just thumbs up first, then hit the play button. Thank you for your effort, thank you for your knowledge sir.
I don't ride, i use to, but i'll be back on the road once i can afford the bike i want. I am 44yo, now i want a sport cruiser bike...bmw k1200s, or k1300r. I also want to get advanced riding lessons once i own the bike, till then, i am very pleased to ride along with you sir. Cheers from Portugal. Ricardo
I agree with what he says, but I also want to add to it. I am an automobile salesman that goes on test drives every day and too many people don't look OUT THERE
Look down the road, look away from you, look OUT THERE and you will instantly be a better rider/driver
Thank you Mr Kevin your a great instructor. I will become a supporter of MC rider and watch every new video on fridays 👍😀
When i'm instructing i tell my students to look where they'll be in 2 seconds. It's more effective imo, because it factors in speed. When you're doing slow manouvering, your eyes will be closer. When going faster your gaze will be further. I've heard many colleagues tell starters to look deep into the turn. Well, for slow riding, like tight figure eights, that's no good. You'll turn way too tight and come into the next u turn way too tight, with no more room left to make it. There's three big factors imo to succeed when slow riding, looking technique, momentum (steady elevated rpm, slipping the clutch and speed control by using the rear brake) and posture (how you position your bodyweight in relation to speed, counterbalancing where needed).
I learned this myself when riding a fast mountain road with lots of looong curves in the rain with my gf on the back. I started getting freaked out when rolling on the throttle that the front wheel would fail. So during long curves i started slowly leaning my body out and pointing my chin through the corner, it felt much more stable and confidence inspiring.
MCrider. thank You very mach,
Thanks from Wales Kevin, I love your videos , Gus
Excellent exercise...
Hey Kevin you have probably already answered this but I am wanting to become a patron. Sorry you did answer this at end of video. My bad. Again thanks for posting these videos.
when practising "police style" riding, it felt strange to begin with looking almost behind me and not down but after a while it just became normal and i cant imagine being able to complete a U turn without doing that.
Hey Kevin, great tip, as always! I couldn't find those cool cones that you guys use at the MSF classes, SO, I cut some tennis balls in half and spray painted them with fluorescent orange and green and set them down as my cones. You can run over them and they stay in place, and they are very CHEAP TO MAKE!
That works, I personally use either painted parking spaces or yogurt containers.
Thanks for the reminder! I totally forgot about this!
As always great video, Kevin I swear that eye is looking better!
It makes a really big difference! Thanks
I learned this at racing school and wanted to know if it worked so I got into an open parking lot and started riding straight forward then not wanting to turn I turned my head so I wasn't looking straight ahead and automaticly turned . Try it , it really works .
I fail at the not looking down. The looking where you want to go was something that I was constantly struggling with in the MSF course. I get annoyed with myself.
I struggled with that too. It goes away with practice and as you build confidence. Trust the bike and remember there is nothing you can do about what is under your tire already. The key is looking ahead.. Practice, practice, practice.
I recommend you not be discouraged. Keep at it and try the exercise Kevin demonstrates. I can promise you that nailing this technique in combination with good counter-steering results in a truly relaxed and fun riding experience, as you learn to trust the bike while you "look ahead".
This is where a Go Pro, or Similar camera comes into play. Place that on your helmet and record you going into turns, and repeat till you see improvement.
Jeff Williams > That will also help by Showing you where you are actually looking... Are you REALLY looking -- and 'pointing your nose' -- in the direction you want to go..? (-;
ANNOYED! EVER CONSIDER ENDING IT ALL?
Hi Kevin , I think you need a bigger cone . It may not be necessary for the real exercise, but had trouble picking it out in the video. Good job though. Maybe figure of 8 with 2 cones. Will get used to switching head position. Just came back from Vietnam and Thailand , that was an eye opener.
Excellent video. Really enjoy your instruction. Thank you for your generosity.
Quite useful tip thanks
Very useful tips, thanks a lot.
Thank you.
Thanks!
Thanks for another excellent video
Greetings from Australia .... great videos ... well done!
Thanks Dan!
Thank you
Thanks again for the video.
In Sydney there are tiny roundabouts everywhere. If you look at your final destination you'll go right over the middle. They do my head in.
title credits are much improved! well done
As someone who learned to ride at 54 (currently 59) I was told to look "through the curve". Well, that was a direct contradiction to "look where you want to go". For example, on a left hand turn, if I looked through the curve, I inevitably drifted down into the oncoming lane. If I "looked where I wanted to go", i.e. 30 - 50 ft. ahead, I stayed in my lane and comfortably negotiated the curve without drifting into the oncoming traffic lane.
Bottom line, instructors generalize. Be reasonable and judicious in interpreting their instructions.
P.S. I 'failed to negotiate a turn' and ended up in a ditch on my first ride after MSF training to 'look through the curve'. I'd have been better off without the training. And no one needs to learn how to counter steer. It's a natural instinct that can only be weakened by overthinking it.
I like Kevin's description of, "point your nose where you want to go". You can look without turning your head properly, but that nose...the head has to go too!! Glad I'm not the only one learning to ride at 54....
Thanks Kevin for the vids
Great advice.
Great videos, thank you!
very good advice, awesome channel
Thanks, a great video.
It's hard to ignore natural tendencies. But, practice can overcome it.
You should do a vid on the oh so scary speed wobble and what to do shall you experience it
Derek Lemoins I just heard about this a couple of weeks ago. Scary shit.
Derek Lemoins
I saw a video explaining that. They said to lay your chest as close to the bike as possible. Then ease off the throttle. The bike should stop wobbling.
rtogurl mind to share what vid?
Thanks im a ne rider i needed this
I love your videos thank you
Very good to know! THANK YOU!!!!!!
Thank you sir
Subscribed..keep good work man..Lord Bliss..
I could never get into turning my head as far as the instructors do in their demonstrations. When I attempt to turn my head as far as they do the result is I will always turn to sharp for the curve I am attempting to navigate. I guess my visual perception is different - I don't know. I will never forget the instructor telling me to turn my head further into the curve, then, they jump on me because my turn was tighter than the curved line I am suppose to be riding within! Well, which way to you want it? I go in the direction I am looking - you tell me to look more sharply into the curve then I will ride more sharply into the curve - what did you expect was going to happen?! I have been riding street bikes since 1984 with I guess a couple hundred thousand miles on two wheels. Some people can look through a turn with their eyes - not their head. If we couldn't turn our eyes then we'd all have necks like owls!
Try Counting, as if you are 12, 1, 2, and 3 O'Clock position on a clock face. Depending on your turn, you will be in one of those ranges. Just count, and move your head into the turn.
I made a stupid rookie mistake the other day I hit my front brake on the sharp turn I went down very quickly Lucky I was going very slow
MyPestGuy MyPestGuy unlucky mate
It happens. But hopefully only once. ope it did not hurt things too bad.
MyPestGuy MyPestGuy ... I hope it wasn't too expensive for you.
Oh dear. Very unlucky.
I made also a stupid rookie mistake. On a sharp turn rightl - with my girlfriend on the backseat - I released the clutch too hard and the bike fell over. I couldn't stop it from falling over but at least I tried. Well - It wasn't so bad. Lucky I put some crashbars on the bike. Only the clutch cover has taken some scratches but the bike is still in good condition. :) Lucky me. :)
There are 2 kinds of people in the world. Those who have done that shit and admit it, and those who have done it and don't admit it.
But its done at the expense of seeing whats infront of your wheels. This method of course works but the fact remains that your eyes are not looking at whata infront of the wheel eg. a pot hole, oil sleaks , nails etc. This method assumes the road is flat and clear
By the way, I was a professional driving instructor for Police for 10 years and the same rule applies for driving automobiles!
I've been riding for many years and sometimes still have to fight the urge to look down at the front tire or ground. I know if you look down you get mesmerized/hypnotized by the tire or road surface gilding by and I have to fight not to at times.
Excellente!
This I will try. I feel as though I will drop the bike if it dips
In parking lots below 20 mph you turn the handle bars the direction you want to turn. Above 20 you have to do just the opposite, you have push away on the side you want to go. I've seen videos of people killed at the moment of truth they forget what they have to do and literally steer right into a truck or whatever, after 20 driving a bike is much different doing the wrong thing will get you killed.
The sad part is for some if its not related to how fast you can go in a straight line it's not worth knowing
MC Rider. I've been riding for about a year now and what I've noticed is that left turns from a stop is my biggest challenge. Not all the time, but at times I do stall when this happens, especially when I need a "quick take off" onto a busy road. Thoughts?