Cornering
Cornering on a dirt bike, especially off-road, requires a blend of balance, technique, and terrain awareness. Here are key tips to help you corner more effectively and confidently:
1. Choose the right line. Look ahead through the turn, not at your front fender. Looking ahead allows you to plan before you reach the corner. Looking ahead also allows you to avoid any upcoming hazards. Outside, inside, outside: Enter wide, apex tight, exit wide (when terrain permits). Entering wide allows you to see more of what’s coming ahead, giving you the opportunity to adjust your line to avoid any unfavorable obstacles. Avoid ruts, rocks, or soft spots unless using them increases traction. Soft spots almost always robs your bike of power.
2. Body Position
Sit forward: Get your weight over the front of the bike for better front-end traction.
Elbows up: Maintain control and leverage over the bars.
Leg out (flat turns): Extend your inside leg toward the front axle, not straight out to the side.
Weight the outside peg: This improves traction and stability. To get this correct picture yourself doing a one legged squat on that outside peg.
3. Throttle and clutch control
Smooth, controlled throttle helps maintain traction. If your throttle response is too abrupt you disrupt the balance of the bike and that in return binds the chassis and suspension up not allowing it to work correctly. As much as possible you want to stay off the brakes and the clutch, which allows the bike to operate smoothly. When braking think ahead and get your braking done before you ever get to the corner, maintain a roll speed that will allow you to stay in control of your bike. Stand up until you are well into the corner, then sit and roll the throttle smoothly out. This is how you keep momentum and flow. Hammering the throttle or braking into the corner does nothing but disrupt the flow. Another great tip is to shift up. You do not want your bike revving to the moon. This is another disruption to the bikes overall handling. A screaming motor does not equate to speed. It sounds fast, but it is not.
Use the clutch to modulate power-especially helpful in tighter turns or slick conditions.
4. Bike lean vs Body lean
Bermed corners: Lean with the bike, keeping your body in line.
Flat corners: Lean the bike more than you lean your body.
Sand or loose soil: Stay more upright and steer with body weight shifts rather than full lean.
5. Traction awareness
Adjust cornering speed based on terrain (mud, gravel, hardpack).
Use knobby tire edges effectively-don’t oversteer or slide too soon.
^. Practice drills
Set up cones or markers and practice:
Figure 8’s
Increasing/decreasing radius turns.
Brake slide control into turns. Do not do this in rutted turns. Works best in smooth bowl turns.
Bonus Tip: Get braking done before the turn, especially the back brake. This allows the chassis to settle down and perform correctly. You can slightly drag the front brake, but make sure it is slightly or you will lose your front end.
Stay loose-Grip the bike with your legs, not your arms. Turn your toes in and heals out.
Stand when needed, especially in rutted or bumpy corners, to let the bike move beneath you. When you stand the center of gravity is at the pegs. When you sit the center of gravity is at the seat. The lower the center of gravity the more stable the bike will be. Get up off your ass whenever possible. Doing so will lead to much faster riding and much less body wear and tear. I can’t stress this enough-Get up off your ass! If you find this difficult then you are not in proper shape to be riding a dirt bike. Work on that. You can only perform at a level that your body is ready for. I suggest body weight squats, stair climber, and ab work.
I hope you will find some usefulness out of this information. I know I did when it was offered to me.
Today We Ride, because Tomorrow We Ride Again.
