Motormans Tips and Tricks

Here’s a great question I got recently.

“Motorman, I saw your safety tips on Born to Ride TV last week.  It was the one about dipping the bike to the left when pulling into a parking space to the right.  I saw what and how you did it, but I don’t understand the concept.  If you’re going to pull into a parking spot to the right, why do you need to dip to the left first?”

Steve

Steve,

The idea is, the more room you have to turn your motorcycle at low speeds, the easier it is to make the turn.  As everyone knows, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.  At low speeds with a motorcycle, it’s much easier to take the long way.  If you’ve got 50 feet or so before making the turn, in order to extend that 50 feet, you make an S shaped turn.  If you’re going to the right, that would mean a dip to the left, then a dip to the right and straight into the parking space. 

If you try to make a straight up 90 degree turn into the parking space, you may wind up at an angle and having to apply the front brake with the handlebar turned.  That means you run the risk of transferring all the weight of the motorcycle, plus your weight and your momentum, onto the front wheel while it’s turned.  That means there’s a good chance you’re going to drop your motorcycle. 

Making the S shaped turn should allow the bike to be perfectly straight in the parking spot, and when you apply the front brake, the bike will not be pulled to the ground since your handlebars will be pointing straight ahead.  In addition, remember that at speeds above 15mph, a motorcycle absolutely will not turn unless you lean it.  Practicing that little dip and leaning at low speeds will better prepare you for higher speed leaning.  The smart thing to do is practice your skills every time you’re on your motorcycle.  Only perfect practice makes perfect riders.

If you’ve got a question for me dealing with rider techniques or anything to do with motorcycling in general, email me at motorman857@yahoo.com .

Wishing you all a safe, happy riding New Year.  You can order my Ride Like a Pro DVDs from my website, www.ridelikeapro.com or call toll free, 866-868-7433.

Ride Safe,
Ride Like a Pro Team