Are You Supposed to Lean Into Turns on a Motorcycle?

Most motorcyclists, even some experienced ones, need to familiarize themselves with the principles of how a motorcycle turns. Turning a corner on a motorcycle is quite different from turning a corner on other vehicles and requires specialized skills. Most riders can turn a corner comfortably, but they are unaware of how they do it.

There is a lot of science involved in turning a motorcycle. The steering concept is also quite different from that of a car. Twisting your motorcycle handlebars to turn a corner on a motorcycle may result in a motorcycle crash.

Leaning a motorcycle is one of the most important motorcycle riding skills. You can never become an experienced or safe rider if you don’t know how to lean on a motorcycle.

Imagining learning a motorcycle while cornering seems tricky. However, it is not as hard as one may think. Once you gain some motorcycle experience, you become used to leaning a motorcycle while cornering. However, most riders still fear leaning on a motorcycle for cornering.

Is there any other way of turning a corner on a motorcycle without leaning? Continue reading this article to learn whether it is important to lean into turns on a motorcycle. Also, why do riders lean into a curve on a motorcycle?

Yes, you are supposed to lean into turns on a motorcycle. Also, it is the only way to turn a corner on a motorcycle. Don’t try to turn the handlebars while entering a curve on a motorcycle, particularly if you are riding at high speeds.

Leaning into turns on a motorcycle is essential. You can only turn a motorcycle while twisting the handlebars if your motorcycle is stopped or you are riding at very low speeds. The more your speed and the more sharp the turn is, the more you will have to lean on a motorcycle.

Have you ever observed your actions while entering a motorcycle curve? You don’t turn the handlebars while entering the corner. You lean the motorcycle toward the turn while turning a corner. How much the rider leans on a motorcycle depends on the radius and sharpness of a turn.

Why do we need to lean into turns on a motorcycle? Only science can prove why it is the only safe option to turn a corner on a motorcycle.

As we all know, many forces act in different directions as you ride a motorcycle.

The weight ( W=mg ) acts downward due to gravity.

The ground exerts an equal and opposite force to neutralize the weight, known as the ‘ Normal Force .’ This is how the bike stays stable vertically.

However, as soon as the turn approaches, the dynamics completely change. If you continue to ride straight on a turn, you will crash. A centrifugal force is acting on the opposite side of the turn, originating from the ‘center of gravity.’ Both the weight (mg) and the centrifugal force originate from the point of center of gravity.

Meanwhile, another force acting against the centrifugal force in the opposite direction, also known as the frictional force, is directed towards the axis of the rotation. It originates from the contact patch where the tires meet the ground.

If you don’t lean into turns on a motorcycle, the weight will cancel out the normal force. However, the centrifugal force acting at the center of gravity and the frictional force will cause the motorcycle to become unstable and crash in the opposite direction of the turn.

When you lean into turns on a motorcycle, the motorcycle doesn’t only want to go in the opposite direction of the curve. The motorcycle equally intends to fall in the direction of the curve. This is how the motorcycle is balanced while leaning a motorcycle into a turn.

As you lean into turns on a motorcycle, the center of gravity moves away from the rider toward the axis of rotation. The frictional force acting toward the axis also increases, helping counterbalance the centrifugal force. As you lean into a curve, the motorcycle starts moving in an angular motion.

You start moving linearly as you get your motorcycle straight while exiting a corner. Therefore, leaning into turns on a motorcycle helps you move in angular motion.

Another basic motorcycle riding skill is “Countersteering.” This concept may amaze you at first, but you will be dazzled to know that you countersteer your bike without even knowing it.

If you have to turn your motorcycle left, you must put a little pressure inward at the right side of the handlebars. Similarly, you must put a little force outwards at the left side of the handlebars. Make sure not to turn the handlebars a great deal. Your bike will move to the left.

To turn the motorcycle right, put a little pressure inward at the left side of the handlebars and a little pressure outwards at the right side of the handlebars. This is how you turn the bike right. This concept is known as countersteering.

Make sure to lean the bike at the same time while countersteering.

To lean into turns on a motorcycle, you must shift your body weight towards the direction of the turn. This is one of the most essential skills, particularly when riding at high speeds. When you shift your body weight, you help the bike lean. It also helps shift the center of gravity more towards the axis of the rotation.

This concept of shifting body weight is widely used in sports bike riding. You must have seen sports bikes leaning a great deal to turn the sharpest corners on the track. You must also have observed riders shifting their body weights while hanging off their sports bikes.

Now that you know how important it is to lean a motorcycle to turn a corner, there are a few essential tips you must know to lean into turns on a motorcycle effectively. These are:

• Practice hard : Keep practicing cornering on your motorbike to become better at it.

• Use Smaller Motorcycle : Using small-displacement motorbikes to practice cornering is better and safer. Small-displacement motorcycles are lightweight and can lean and turn comparatively easier than large motorbikes.

• Don’t Go for Tight Curves : Learning to turn a corner on a motorcycle is easier on a wide and less complicated curve. If you are new to motorcycle riding, you must not start by turning a tight corner.

• Go Slow : Don’t enter a curve at high speeds. Downshift, apply brakes, slow down, and then enter the curve.

• Look Through the Corner : Don’t focus on the front tire. To turn the corner safely on your motorcycle, look through the corner. A common saying is, “The bike will follow where you look.”

• Turn Your Head : Turn your head in the direction of the turn. Your body usually follows where your head points out.

• Be Extra Cautious : Slow down immediately if the corner is too tight and you can’t even see what is ahead. Be extra careful. Keep honking the horn on your motorcycle to inform the road users coming from the opposite direction.

• Don’t Decelerate Too Much : If you are leaning your motorcycle a great deal to turn a corner, don’t decelerate too much. You can fall off your bike if you fail to maintain a steady throttle.

• Watch the Road Signs : Watch the road signs carefully. Don’t miss any useful information if you plan to ride on twisty roads.

If you want to improve your cornering skills on a motorcycle, you must also take a safety motorcycle riding course. 

If you are going above 12 mph on a motorcycle, you must lean your bike to turn corners. Motorcycles work on completely different concepts. Steering a motorcycle is different from steering any other vehicle. It requires you to lean your motorcycle, countersteer, and shift your body weight while turning a corner.

If you don’t lean, your motorbike will move in the opposite direction of the turn, resulting in a crash. Therefore, you must learn the concepts of learning while turning a corner. You can never become an experienced rider if you don’t know how to lean into turns on a motorcycle.