Braking and Cornering Basics

Stopping well and turning smoothly are the skills you'll use on every ride. They're also the ones most worth practicing in a parking lot, not on the street.

Braking

• Use both brakes every time you stop. The front brake does most of the stopping work on most bikes, because weight shifts forward when you slow down.
• Squeeze, don't grab. Apply the brakes smoothly and build pressure as the bike settles.
• Brake in a straight line whenever you can, with the bike upright and your eyes up, looking where you want to stop.
• Know your ABS. If your bike has ABS, firm, steady pressure lets the system do its job. If it doesn't, too much brake can lock a wheel, which is exactly why practice matters.

Practice stops from low speed in an empty lot, building up gradually. A rider course will coach you through quick stops safely.

Cornering

The MSF sums up cornering in four steps: Slow, Look, Press, Roll.

• Slow: get your speed down before the curve, while the bike is still straight up.
• Look: turn your head and look through the curve to where you want to go. The bike tends to follow your eyes.
• Press: at speed, press the handgrip on the side you want to go. Press right, go right. This is called countersteering.
• Roll: roll on the throttle gently through the turn to keep the bike steady.

Pick an entry speed you're comfortable with. If a curve tightens up, keep looking where you want to go, not at the edge of the road. Smooth and steady beats fast every time.

This course is for education. It doesn't replace a state-approved rider course or motorcycle licensing.