New to motorcycle riding? Or are you a veteran, and still looking to hone your skills? Motorcycle riding is always a work in progress, so even the most experienced riders can always use some tips for a smooth riding experience. To get better, you’ll need to focus on each individual aspect of riding and work on that aspect until you see improvements. In this guide, we discuss some of the skills that we think are the most important.

Steering and Cornering

Our basic tips start with steering, which is pretty simple. All you do is push your handlebars in the direction you want to travel and keep pressure on the handlebar in that direction through the turn. This feels pretty natural, but the tricky part is holding the controls in a steady position throughout the turn so you make a smooth corner. If you really want to get proficient with cornering, you’ll need to learn to look far ahead into the corner and anticipate the speed, line, and gear you’ll need to ride in.

Braking

To do any sort of intense riding, you’ll need to first know how to brake quickly at high speeds. This is a simple task but takes some adaptation if you’re new to motorcycle riding. Remember that motorbikes only have two wheels, and about two-thirds of your stopping power comes from your front tire. You still need to apply both brakes at the same time and make sure you’re relying primarily on the front brake’s stopping power. If you just started riding, we recommend practicing a little before hitting the road because braking properly really is a matter of life and death.

Passing

Passing is a bit easier on a motorcycle than in a car, but don’t take for granted how much faster your motorbike can accelerate. When passing is possible, maintain a good following distance behind the car you’re overtaking, so you can see oncoming traffic. This is easy on the open road but requires a different technique if you’re coming out of a corner or another blind spot. To pass right out of a corner, ride to the outside of the lane during the turn. If you notice the road is clear ahead, open the throttle and overtake the car (if it’s a legal passing zone).

All these tips take some practice, but none of them are difficult to learn. We want you to enjoy your rides, and the key to good riding is having the best motorbike possible. Come check out our selection of motorcycles for sale at Warhorse Williamsport. We are conveniently located in Williamsport, PA, where we proudly serve all those in Scranton.