Avoid These 5 Deadly Mistakes When Cornering
TLDRThis video script identifies five common yet critical mistakes to avoid when cornering on a motorcycle. It emphasizes the importance of correct timing, vision, and body positioning to maintain control and safety. Turning in too early, target fixation, accelerating too soon, and the incorrect use of brakes are discussed, with practical advice on trail braking to optimize grip and avoid potential accidents, encouraging riders to practice these techniques to enhance their skills.
Takeaways
- 🔍 Avoid turning in too early: Anxiety can cause riders to turn in prematurely, leading to a wider trajectory and potential loss of control.
- 🎯 Combat target fixation: Focusing on the wrong spot, such as a guardrail, can lead to accidents. Instead, visualize a 'yellow line' path for your tires to follow through the corner.
- 👀 Maintain continuous vision: Avoid '50 pening' by not fixating too far ahead or weaving vision; instead, flicker your gaze to check your path while cornering.
- 🚀 Accelerate correctly: Timing is crucial; do not accelerate until the bike is pointed in the right direction to avoid the front tire washing out.
- ⏳ Patience mid-corner: Wait until you can see and are facing the exit before starting to accelerate out of the corner, ensuring a safe and controlled exit.
- 💨 Never accelerate and add lean angle simultaneously: Doing so can lead to a low-side crash as the front tire loses grip; instead, match lean angle reduction with acceleration.
- 👋 Understand trail braking: Gradually reduce brake pressure as you lean into a corner to maintain optimal front tire grip and avoid sudden changes in tire load.
- 🛑 Adapt braking technique: At low speeds, you might not need to brake much, but as speed increases, proper trail braking becomes essential to prevent dangerous tire washouts.
- 🏍️ Practice makes perfect: Take formal courses and practice to internalize these techniques, which will enhance your riding skills and safety.
- 📚 Reflect and learn: Re-watch instructional videos and take notes to solidify your understanding of proper cornering techniques.
- 👥 Observe and identify mistakes: Once you understand these principles, you'll be able to spot these mistakes in others, reinforcing your own correct technique.
Q & A
What are the five deadly cornering mistakes mentioned in the script?
-The five deadly cornering mistakes are: 1) Turning in too early, 2) Target fixation, 3) Accelerating too soon, 4) Adding lean angle while accelerating, and 5) Not trail braking.
Why is turning in too early considered a mistake when cornering?
-Turning in too early can cause the rider to apex early, which puts them on a trajectory to go wide, often resulting in a loss of control and potentially going off course.
What is the recommended strategy to avoid turning in too early?
-The strategy is to delay the turn point, which usually delays the apex, and to wait on the outside until the road itself begins to turn before turning in.
Can you explain the concept of 'target fixation' in the context of cornering?
-Target fixation occurs when a rider focuses on the wrong spot, such as an obstacle or the exit of the corner, instead of maintaining a consistent line and path through the turn.
How should a rider properly look while cornering to avoid target fixation?
-A rider should look on their intended path of travel, with occasional quick flickers of their eyes to check their position and ensure they are on the right path without getting fixated on a single point.
Why is accelerating too soon a common mistake when exiting a corner?
-Accelerating too soon can cause the bike to straighten out and go wide due to the weight transfer to the rear, reducing front tire grip and potentially leading to a loss of control.
What is the correct timing for accelerating out of a corner?
-The correct timing is to wait until the bike is pointed in the right direction and the rider can see the exit, then gradually apply throttle while simultaneously reducing lean angle.
What is the recommended technique for braking while cornering, known as 'trail braking'?
-Trail braking involves gradually reducing brake pressure as the rider leans into the corner, maintaining front tire grip and control without abruptly releasing the brakes and causing the suspension to unload.
Why is it dangerous to add lean angle while accelerating at the same time?
-Adding lean angle while accelerating can overload the front tire, leading to a loss of grip and potentially causing a low-side crash as the front tire washes out.
What are some tips for practicing and improving cornering skills?
-Tips include taking formal riding courses, practicing each mistake individually, understanding and applying the concepts of apexing, target fixation, and trail braking, and gradually increasing pace as comfort and skill improve.
How can riders recognize and avoid these cornering mistakes in real-world riding?
-Riders can recognize these mistakes by observing other riders and understanding the signs of incorrect techniques, such as abrupt throttle changes or weaving in turns, and by practicing and applying the correct techniques learned from courses and practice.
Outlines
🏍️ Deadly Cornering Mistake #1: Turning In Too Early
The first paragraph discusses a common mistake made by motorcyclists when cornering: turning in too early. This often happens due to anxiety about gear selection, speed, braking, and line positioning as the corner approaches. The tendency is to turn in sooner and sooner, which leads to an early apex and a trajectory that goes wide, an undesirable outcome. The advice given is to delay the turn point, which usually results in a later apex, and to wait until the road begins to turn before making the turn. This approach helps avoid ending up wide in the corner.
👀 Target Fixation and Vision Control in Cornering
The second paragraph addresses the issue of target fixation, where riders focus on the wrong spot, such as an obstacle or distraction, instead of their intended path. It emphasizes the importance of looking at the desired path through the corner, visualizing a yellow line on the ground where the tires should go. The summary explains the concept of '50 pening,' where riders look too far ahead and then back, causing weaving in turns. The advice is to maintain a primary focus on the intended path with occasional flickers to the exit or surroundings, ensuring a smooth and controlled cornering technique.
🚦 Understanding When to Accelerate Out of a Corner
This paragraph explains the correct timing for accelerating out of a corner, which is a common point of confusion for many riders. It clarifies that accelerating as soon as the exit is visible is not the right approach, as it can lead to instability and a loss of front tire grip. The key is to wait until the bike is pointed in the right direction before applying throttle, ensuring that the bike's trajectory matches the rider's intended path. The summary stresses the importance of patience and the correct sequence of actions: pointing the bike towards the exit, reducing lean angle, and then accelerating, all while maintaining control and safety.
💨 The Art of Trail Braking and Its Pitfalls
The fourth paragraph delves into the technique of trail braking and the dangers of not doing it correctly. Trail braking involves gradually releasing brake pressure as the rider leans into a corner, maintaining grip and control. The summary points out the mistake of abruptly releasing the brakes and then leaning, which can unload the front tire and lead to a loss of grip. It contrasts this with the proper method of smoothly trailing off the brake pressure in sync with the lean angle, ensuring maximum tire grip throughout the cornering process.
🛑 Avoiding the Five Deadly Cornering Mistakes
The final paragraph serves as a conclusion, urging riders to avoid the five deadly cornering mistakes previously discussed. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and practicing these techniques to improve riding skills. The summary encourages re-watching the video for clarity, taking notes, and applying the knowledge gained in real-world riding scenarios. It also promotes the idea of continuous learning through formal courses and practice to enhance riding safety and proficiency.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Cornering
💡Apex
💡Turn Point
💡Target Fixation
💡Intended Path of Travel
💡Accelerating Too Soon
💡Trail Braking
💡Lean Angle
💡High Side and Low Side Crashes
💡Pace
💡Formal Courses
Highlights
Turning in too early is a common mistake that leads to a trajectory going wide in corners.
Anxiety about gear, speed, braking, and line selection causes riders to turn in too early.
Delaying the turn point can help in achieving a better Apex and avoiding going wide in corners.
Target fixation while cornering can lead to distraction and potential accidents.
Maintaining a focus on the intended path of travel is crucial for safe cornering.
Accelerating too soon can cause a loss of front tire grip and lead to a wider trajectory.
The timing of accelerating out of a corner is critical and should be done when the bike is pointed in the right direction.
Trail braking is a technique where brake pressure is reduced as lean angle is increased, maximizing front tire grip.
Not trail braking and abruptly releasing the brakes before leaning can lead to a loss of front tire grip.
At lower speeds, it may not be necessary to use the brakes, and simply rolling off the throttle can suffice.
Picking up the pace requires the use of trail braking to avoid the negative effects of on/off braking.
The importance of patience mid-corner and not rushing the throttle or lean angle is emphasized.
A technique called '50 pening' is described, where inconsistent vision leads to weaving in turns.
The recommendation to take formal riding courses and practice to avoid these common mistakes is highlighted.
The video provides a practical approach to recognizing and correcting these mistakes through observation and practice.
A detailed explanation of how and why each mistake affects the bike's handling and trajectory is given.
The transcript emphasizes the importance of understanding the principles behind each mistake for better riding skills.
Transcripts
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