5 Common Motorcycle Cornering Mistakes Motorcyclists Make

Motorcycle cornering is thrilling but tricky, especially for riders with only a few months of experience. Many new riders run wide in turns or lose control simply by making common mistakes. In this article, we’ll explore the five most common motorcycle cornering mistakes. Understanding each mistake and how to correct it can make your riding not only safer but also more confident through every turn.

5 Common Motorcycle Cornering Mistakes

a rider on a touring motorcycle leaning into a curve.

1. Riding Too Fast (Improper Corner Entry Speed)

Going into a corner at too high a speed is a frequent error. If you enter faster than you can handle, you quickly need to brake or lean more, which often leads to running wide or losing control.

Experts recommend entering turns at a speed that allows smooth acceleration out of the corner. In practice, slow down a bit before you start the turn: about 10–15% below your straight-line top speed for that section. This gives you room to gently roll on the throttle through the curve.

One instructor warns that new riders often “take too much speed into the turn for the amount they’re comfortable leaning”. If you do find yourself going in hot, resist panicking on the brakes. Instead, try easing off the throttle gradually to scrub speed with engine braking, and then lean in smoothly.

Trusting the bike’s grip and leaning a bit harder can be the only way to stay on the road if you’re already beyond the safe speed for that turn.

Riding Advice

1. Always brake before the corner instead of in it. Once you begin turning, hold a steady throttle. Avoid sharp brake grabs or “chopping” the throttle mid-corner (that is, suddenly closing the throttle valve), as this can destabilize the bike.
2. Keep extra speed in reserve for exit. If you enter slightly slower, you can roll on the throttle sooner and safely accelerate out of the turn.

2. Poor Cornering Line (Bad Apex and Lane Choice)

Beginners often pick a wrong line through corners. The safest path is typically an outside-inside-outside line: start wide, hit the apex (the tightest point) in the middle of the turn, then track back out toward the outside of your lane.

A common mistake is turning in too early (taking an early apex). When riders cut the corner and hit the inside point too soon, the bike is pointed toward the road’s outside edge prematurely. To stay in lane they then must lean more after the apex – exactly when they should be unwinding the lean.

This often forces them to scrub speed or even crash. In contrast, a delayed apex – turning slightly later – will naturally point the bike along the exit path, making the turn both safer and faster.

Common line errors include:

1. Apex too early: Cutting inside too soon drives the bike wide (off the road) on exit.
2. Staying too far outside: Failing to get close to the inside forces a tighter turning radius (you have to lean more) and kills momentum.
3. Inconsistent lane use: Wobbling between different lines in linked turns can confuse your inputs and vision.

The green path straightens the curve, while the red path (too early to apex) leads off the road.

By consciously planning your line, you straighten the curve (increasing radius) and keep traction in reserve. According to Ken Condon, a 25-year MSF RiderCoach, riders who “turn in too soon” often end up aimed toward the outside of the road — a common reason for crashes in corners.

A better approach is to delay the turn-in just a bit – look ahead for where the exit is, then turn the bike so it naturally points down the exit. Over time, aiming for the ideal entry point (usually near the outside edge of your lane) and mid-corner apex becomes second nature.

3. Fear of Leaning (Stiff Body Position)

Many new riders are afraid to tip the bike over far enough. This fear of leaning often manifests as a stiff or upright body posture.

If you hold your arms or torso rigid, the bike resists turning and you end up with less lean than needed. In reality, a motorcycle needs to lean to balance centripetal forces in a turn. Proper body position dramatically increases lean ability and stability.

To avoid this mistake, keep your upper body relaxed and look through the turn. Bend your elbows and let the bike tilt under you. Slide your inside hip slightly toward the apex and point your inside knee in the turn’s direction. This inside-body shift can actually reduce the bike’s required lean angle by 10–15° for the same speed.

In other words, leaning your body in and relaxing your grip on the bars lets the bike lean more easily. Riders who hang back stiffly force the bike to remain more upright, so it needs more steering input to turn.

An instructor cautions: “Fighting the lean with your arms or torso makes the bike less responsive.” Instead, trust that your motorcycle can lean safely. Start with small lean angles in gentle turns and gradually build confidence.

As one experienced rider explains, once you commit, you can actually lean quickly and smoothly (a fast steering input can still feel smooth if done right). Practice in a parking lot or low-speed exercises like figure-8s to get comfortable with the feeling of the bike leaning.

4. Mid-Corner Throttle and Brake Errors

motorcycle leaning

Jerky throttle or brake inputs during a turn are a major cause of running wide. Once you’re in the corner, you should hold a steady throttle (or a smooth roll-on). Suddenly accelerating or revving after the apex will push the bike outward because it shifts weight off the front tire. Conversely, chopping the throttle (quickly closing the throttle) throws weight forward, depressing the suspension and risking a loss of front traction. Likewise, grabbing the brakes in a lean can lock up a wheel or upset the suspension.

A recent riding guide notes: “Once committed to a turn, maintain steady throttle – sudden acceleration pushes the bike wide while chopping the throttle causes unwanted compression and potential loss of grip”.

Don’t suddenly brake mid-turn: Hard braking while leaned over causes the suspension to dip and the bike to drift. If you need to slow, gently ease off the gas early, or use light engine braking by staying in a lower gear.

Don’t chop the throttle: If you over-accelerate, you’ll run wide; if you kill the throttle, the front tire digs in and can skid. Instead, if you’re fast, simply roll off gently and trust the bike to scrub speed.

Staying smooth with your inputs keeps the suspension balanced. If you do make a slight mistake and start to drift wide, keep your eyes on the exit and make a mild steering correction. Avoid panicking; small steering inputs and a controlled throttle can often recover the line without catastrophe.

5. Poor Vision (Target Fixation)

Where you look is where you go. Many beginners make the mistake of only looking at the road directly in front of the front wheel or fixating on a hazard. This is known as target fixation – your eyes lock on something (like the lane lines, a patch of paint, or an obstacle) and your bike drifts toward it.

The fix is to look through the corner: focus on your intended exit point (and check the apex) rather than the stuff you don’t want to hit. One training guide recommends a “three-point vision pattern” for turns: look through to the exit, glance at the apex, then check your immediate path.

Maintaining a correct line of sight greatly increases cornering safety. For example, riding from the outside of the lane provides a better view into the curve, giving you time to spot hazards and adjust speed ahead of time. By scanning far ahead, you stay calm and allow the bike to follow your gaze naturally. In contrast, riders who stare at a ditch or the side of the road often steer into it by accident.

As one experienced teacher says, “Lock your eyes on the EXACT place you want to go… and if you have enough in reserve, the bike will take you there just fine”.

Riding Advice

1. Keep your chin up and look through the turn to where you want to exit. Practice sweeping your eyes side to side slightly as you roll through the corner – from exit to near side – so you’re not fixated on one point.
2. Begin adjusting your speed well before the apex. If you spot gravel or oil, slow down earlier. Good vision gives you the chance to change line or speed gradually, avoiding panic moves later.
3. By honing your vision, you can catch a needed correction early, preventing mid-corner panic steering that could otherwise run you off the road.

Conclusion

Beginners with just a few months of riding experience can master safe cornering by focusing on these key points.

Always approach turns with a safe entry speed (roughly 10–15% below your max comfort). Choose a smooth outside-inside-outside path, delaying your apex so the bike points to the exit. Relax your body and let the bike lean freely by shifting your weight inward. Keep your throttle steady and avoid abrupt inputs during the turn. And look through the corner to where you want to be, not at what you fear, breaking the cycle of target fixation.

With practice and mindful technique, each corner becomes a controlled, confident maneuver rather than a gamble.

Every rider runs wide occasionally, but by recognizing these five common mistakes, you can drastically reduce the odds. Stay aware, ride within your limits, and let your eyes lead – and you’ll find yourself smoothly negotiating turns rather than running off the road.

Rodney L Herron

Rodney L is a technical writer and product consultant with over a decade of experience in the motor industry. Rodney is a fan of performance machines that run fast and loud and an expert in all things custom. His numerous articles and write-ups are available at our knowledge base. Whether it’s something wrong with your motorcycle or you are building a custom bike, you can trust Rodney’s experience.