Swerve or Turn Quickly on a Motorcycle
Even the safest and most experienced of motorcycle operators will at some point need to swerve or turn quickly to avoid an obstacle, whether it's a stopped vehicle, a fallen tree branch, or other debris blown onto a roadway. Knowing how to turn or swerve correctly when needed is an important skill in riding a motorcycle. The following steps outline how to swerve or turn quickly on a motorcycle.
Steps
- Assess in which direction it is safest to swerve to avoid the obstacle.
- Try not to remain locked on the object, as this could cause you to drive into it. Look in the direction you are swerving.
- Apply pressure to the handgrip in the direction you wish to swerve.
- Hold the pressure on the grip long enough to miss whatever you are trying to avoid. For instance, you will need to hold the pressure longer while trying to avoid a fallen tree than for swerving around a small pothole.
- Hold the throttle steady.
- Allow the motorcycle to move beneath you.
- Remain upright. Do not lean with the motorcycle.
- Keep your focus straight ahead.
- Avoid looking down, as the motorcycle tends to move in the direction you are looking.
- Maintain the stability of the motorcycle by keeping your knees pressed firmly against the sides of the bike and your feet on the footpegs.
- Return to an upright position by applying pressure to the opposite handgrip.
- Avoid applying brakes while swerving. This could cause the motorcycle to skid.
- First, get the motorcycle into an upright position if you must apply the brakes.
- Practice swerving on a motorcycle by riding on a deserted road or in an empty parking lot and selecting a spot or mark to avoid.
- Adjust your speed and proximity to "the object" when you begin your swerve as you continue to practice to prepare yourself for different kinds of situations and conditions.
Tips
- Realize that the motorcycle will lean more according to how sharply you need to swerve or turn.
- You can cut tennis balls in half and place each half on a deserted road or in a parking lot to practice swerving.
- If it is not possible to return the motorcycle to an upright position before braking, apply both front and rear brakes evenly and smoothly. Avoid hard braking.
- If swerving or turning is not an option, prepare to hit the object by slowing the motorcycle down, keeping it upright, and lifting yourself slightly off the seat to better absorb the impact.
Warnings
- Do not slam on the brakes when faced with an obstacle in the road. This will surely cause you to lose control of the motorcycle.
- Make every attempt to stay in your lane when executing a swerve. Swerving into another lane or into the lane of oncoming traffic could cause an accident.
- Avoid chopping the throttle as you swerve. This can have the same result as applying the rear brakes, potentially causing you to crash.
