I’m sure many of you have heard stories of riders colliding with objects, vehicles or just running off the road when they had plenty of space and time to avoid hazards and negotiate the roadway. Many of these riders were victims of “Target Fixation”.

Many riders make the mistake of looking in the direction the bike is currently traveling. This is good, as long as you are riding on a straight path. Many riders forget to transition and look in the direction they need the bike to go. Hence, why some riders have difficulty with cornering, tight turns and parking. looking where you want to go, will trigger the subconscious to physically apply the forces on the bike. It is much more difficult to get the bike to go in a direction that you are not looking.

Many riders make the mistake of looking in the direction the bike is currently travelling. This is good, as long as you are riding on a straight path. Many riders forget to transition and look in the direction they need the bike to go. Hence, why some riders have difficulty with cornering, tight turns and parking.

Try this technique in a parking lot when you get the chance: Pull into an area that is relatively clear of obstacles and vehicles. Pull all the way into a parking space until your front tire touches the end line of the space. Come to a complete stop. Turn your bars either left or right until fully locked, then back the bars just slightly. Sit nice and straight. Turn your head 90 degrees and look down and up onto the horizon in the direction you want to go. Then proceed with your left or right turn from the stop. Remember always to look in the direction you want to go during the entire movement, not in the direction you are currently sitting. If you stay focused on the horizon, you’ll be amazed how tight your turn will be. If you glance away from the horizon for even a brief second, your turn will be much wider. Practice this simply technique before every ride. You’ll be amazed how much tighter and smoother your turns become.

Until next time, Ride Safe!