The Anatomy of a Turn on a Motorcycle
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Attorney. Whether you are new to the world of motorcycles or have been here for decades, there’s nothing wrong with learning something new or expanding your horizons. This is especially important when it comes to your safety on the roads. Today, we will take a look at the anatomy of a turn, both low and high-speed turning.
Navigating a Slow-Speed Turn
The first turn we will take a look at is one done at a slow rate of speed. This is how you should make all of your turns when on a motorcycle, but we understand how a turn can sneak up on you, forcing you to take it at a higher speed than you’d like. For a turn at a slow rate of speed, here are some helpful instructions:
- Slow the motorcycle down to a comfortable, suitable speed
- Release the brakes once you have slowed the motorcycle
- Turn the handlebars as you begin to lean the motorcycle
- Turn your head to the direction where you want the motorcycle to travel
- Ease the clutch to halfway
- Roll on the throttle ever-so-slightly in order to maneuver the motorcycle into the turn
- For speed control, slip the clutch, and lightly drag the brake in the rear
So long as you maintain a steady drive, it’s quite alright if you lean more than expected. You need to minimize the amount of throttle movement as much as possible. This can be done by placing your thumb on the control pad found on the handlebar. It can be a bit stressful to maneuver your motorcycle at a slow rate of speed. It doesn’t have to be stressful if you practice these maneuvers in an effort to increase your confidence and can help you avoid the catastrophic injuries associated with motorcycle accidents.
Navigating a High-Speed Turn
When you come across a situation that requires you to make a turn at a high rate of speed on a motorcycle, you will want to know the steps to do so safely. It’s never a good idea to turn at a high rate of speed unless you are on a closed track or some other controlled environment. Be sure to follow these steps when navigating a high-speed turn on a motorcycle:
- Turn using your hips. Point your belly button in the direction of the turn.
- Utilize counter-pressure in order to steer the bike into the turn.
- Look through the turn. As you enter the turn, look at the middle of it. As you hit the start of the turn, look at the end of the turn. You always need to be looking ahead when making a fast turn.
Related Articles by Ed Smith, Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Attorney ~
Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Attorney. If you need an experienced injury lawyer after suffering an injury in a motorcycle accident, please call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. I can also be reached online at AutoAccident.com.
You can read reviews from former clients on Yelp, Google, and Avvo.
You can also take a look at my previous verdicts and settlements here.
I am also a proud member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a national organization that recognizes trial lawyers who have secured verdicts of one million dollars or more for clients.
I welcome you to browse my site, autoaccident.com, to learn more about traumatic injuries, wrongful death, and personal injury.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Street Stunts by Tinou Bao. CC BY 2.0
:vass rey [cs 624] cv