What Would You Do? CORNERING You are riding on a curving, two-lane road. You are traveling just below the speed limit. You round a right-hand curve and feel your bike begin to drift outward, with your wheels almost touching the centerline. Suddenly, an oncoming car appears, straddling the centerline. You feel like a deer caught in the headlights. What would you do? The Wrong Response Many riders freeze up in this situation. They roll off the throttle and stare at the oncoming vehicle … and do little else. Also known as target fixation, it can easily lead to disaster: The bike tends to go where you look. Incorrect 1-Freeze 2-Stare The Right Response The best response is to hold the throttle steady, focus your head and eyes where you want to go – the turn’s exit is your target, not the oncoming vehicle! – and lean the bike harder by countersteering (pressing forward on the inside handgrip) and tightening your line. Correct 1-Hold throttle steady 2-Look through the turn 3-Countersteer The Reality Running wide in a corner is the most common cause of motorcycle fatalities in Oregon. Even experienced riders fall into this trap if they’re not looking far enough ahead. It doesnt matter whether its an oncoming car, a tighter turn than the rider expected or some other obstacle. When a rider suddenly decides they’re not going to make it, they often panic, look down and forget to steer through the turn. When the road surface is good, a motorcycle should be able to negotiate a curve safely at its advisory speed limit – as long as the rider stays steady on the gas,looks through the turn and countersteers to control path of travel. (Source: Oregon Dept. Of Transportation)
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 10:03:08 +0000
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