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Three different types of crashes in corners
Doing Nothing
The first is doing nothing and running straight off the road. This sounds funny on the surface but it is much more common than you think.
It generally happens when the rider panics and freezes up or they target fixate on some object on the side of the road, like a guard rail, oncoming traffic, a tree, or maybe a ditch.
Doing nothing to correct the problem of running wide in a corner rarely achieves the hoped-for outcome.
So we want to correct this.
High Side Crash
The second kind of crash is called a high side…this is also a very dangerous crash for the rider. This happens as the rider gets too aggressive with the rear brake causing it to lock up and slide and then quickly releases the brake.
The release of the brake causes the tire to quickly regain traction and throws the rider over the handlebars or the high side of the motorcycle.
You will also see this on the track sometimes when a rider gets too aggressive with the throttle in a corner causing the tire to spin up and then releases the throttle with the same result. On the street however it is most often caused by poor brake application.
Low Side Crash
The third type of crash is called a low-side. A low side crash can occur when a rider locks up one of the tires and keeps it locked causing the tires to slide out from under the rider. Or what happens often on cruisers is they run out of lean angle causing hard parts to hit the pavement and eventually lifting the tire from the ground causing the tires to slide out from under the rider.
So, let’s say we are approaching a corner and we totally blow the entry speed. We are going faster than we want to, the corner is sharper than we expected and we think we are going to crash or run wide.
Tips if you are Running Wide
Delayed Entry
The first tip I have has to happen very early in the corner. This is also a good tip for every corner you take on the road and that is to delay your entry into the corner.
What do I mean by a delayed entry?
If you are approaching a corner and you begin to turn into the corner too soon it causes problems mid-corner and at the exit. As you exit the corner you really have to tighten things up to complete the corner. So going too soon into the corner really hurts you on the exit of the corner and causes you to run wide.
But, if you delay entry into the corner, you can turn sharper at the start of the corner and have some room left over as you exit the corner.
This is one of those lessons that are taught and practiced very well on a track day and one of the reasons why I highly recommend a track day for all street riders.
So the first tip, if possible delay your entry into the corner.
Look Further
Second, look further. Have you noticed how often the word look is coming up in the discussion of corners? It is because the failure to look is one of the biggest problems and one of the most common problems for riders who fail to negotiate a curve.
I will stop saying look further through the corner when riders start looking further through the corner. On a track day when the speeds pick up the most common problem (myself included) not looking far enough through the corner. When riders crash in a corner, one of the most common problems, not looking far enough through the corner.
The answer is simple, the application of the strategy can be evasive. Look further through the corner.
If you want more on this topic just do a Google search with the words “MCrider Corner Eyes”. You will find enough on the subject to keep you busy for a while.
Press Harder
So, we are coming in too fast to the corner, we delayed our turn in as much as we could, we are looking further through the corner, my third tip is to press harder.
What do I mean by press harder? A motorcycle turns by leaning, we control the lean of the motorcycle by pressing on the handgrip in the direction of the turn. So, if I am making a right-hand turn and I press more on the right handgrip the motorcycle will lean more to the right and turn sharper to the right. This is called counter-steering.
Your fear might be that you will lose traction. But I promise that the motorcycle can lean at speed much further than most riders are comfortable with as long as we don’t mess it up by grabbing the brakes or chopping the throttle.
If you want to really put your counter-steering on steroids try pulling on the opposite handgrip. So, I am turning right, I push on the right grip and at the same time, I pull on the left grip, it makes the effect of counter-steering that much more evident.
Over the years I have generally adapted this pushing and pulling technique into my daily riding and it makes steering a motorcycle much smoother and more responsive.
Try it the next time you are out for a ride. Just don’t be surprised if initially, you are turning much sharper than you have in the past.
So leaning the motorcycle more makes the motorcycle turn sharper, it also places more stress on the traction and as we discussed earlier can also make hard parts start dragging the ground especially on cruisers.
When the hard parts of the motorcycle start dragging it could be a problem for maintaining traction but don’t blame me…you are the one who came too fast into this corner in the first place.
About Losing Traction in a Corner
Two things on losing traction in a corner because you are leaning too far.
Low Side is Preferable
First: remember earlier we talked about the three types of crashes that can occur in a corner: do nothing and run off the road, high side, and low side. If you have to have one of these three crashes, the low side crash is generally the preferred type of crash.
Why: running off the road puts you into trees, guard rails, curbs, and all the stuff you want to avoid, and it puts you there at full speed.
High-side throws you high into the air over the top of the motorcycle. Once you do hit the pavement, you still have a slide until you come to a stop. But even worse you have a motorcycle that is sliding or even worse tumbling right behind you.
On a low side crash, your fall is from a few inches, the slide is not good but you are wearing your gear…right? And, the motorcycle is out in front of you and moving further away from you. If you are going to crash those are all wins in my book.
Second: You may just be able to make the corner w/o crashing. Remember, late turn in, look further, press harder and realize that your motorcycle has far more traction available than you use on a regular basis.
So go for it, don't crash, follow these tips and then slow down for the next corner.
