Counter-steering
Sharpen up your steering
Making a bike turn fast is far more about physics than it is about size or strength
If you ride with arms that are much too straight and tense, getting your bike to turn effectively becomes exponentially more difficult. With your arms in this position, you will be pushing the handlebars down, rather than forwards, and this is wasted effort because it doesn’t effectively turn the bike.
With just the simple action of bending your elbows, you will be able to apply pressure to the bars in the right direction. It’s then a simple push forward and release of the inside bar when he wants to turn. Your legs and core should now be supporting your weight.
If your corner speed is good, now that your steering is sharpened up with proper inputs, you will need to pick a later turn-in point in order to get through the corner more effectively – and not turn too early, resulting in you picking the bike up. Upon reaching the turn-in point, you should push the inside bar and at the same time physically turn your head to look for the exit point from the corner.
Having a loose upper body and tense lower body will increase your all-round feel for what’s going on between his tyres and the tarmac. With eyes locked on the exit point, you should then roll on the throttle, feel the weight transfer rearward, and start to stand the bike up. You will be instantly smoother and using less effort.
QUICK TIPS
Loosen your grip
Unless you’re performing an unplanned flailing wheelie, there’s never any need to grip tightly onto your bike’s handlebars. Relax your hands. It’ll allow you to feel more through the rest of your body, too.
Clamp the tank
You still need to hold on to the bike but it’s best to do it with your legs. Grip the tank under braking and hard acceleration. When cornering, connect with your inside thigh. If you’re not used to it, expect to ache after the first time you first try it.
You’re in charge
Consciously choosing when and at what point to steer is known as ‘active steering’. Pick your point, then once there push the inside bar. The bike will drop into the corner. Release the pressure on the bar once you’re on the right arc through the corner.
Engage your core
With your arms unloaded, you need to brace your abdomen in order to prevent yourself slumping. Keep your core engaged and your chest pointing forwards. Check your upper body’s still relaxed by flapping your arms like you’re doing the Birdie Song. You don’t have to do the bum shaking bit, though!
It’s all in the elbows
Still keeping the arm loose and bent, your outside forearm should be more or less parallel with the side of the tank. On sportsbikes your arm may even be resting on it. When you’ve initiated the turn, keep your inside elbow up and pointed towards the inside of the corner. Move your chest and head over to this side too, the extra weight will assist the turn.