Cornering on a Cruiser

Cruiser motorcycles are big, powerful machines that you might not associate with grace or agility. However, taking a corner while riding a cruiser can be easier than you might imagine. A mistake made while cornering can result in a bad accident if you are not careful. We hope this list of tips will help any rider who has struggled with cruiser cornering while riding their cruiser. You can also come to SoCal Honda Powersports, and our staff will show you around our latest deals on motorcycles and more. Our dealership, located in Carson, California, serves Long Beach and Los Angeles, California.  

High Suspension

A bike needs to be high up on its suspension because braking will cause it to sit down. Your cruiser needs to have the most clearance possible to take the corner easily without any issues. The higher your suspension, the more clearance you already have to make the turn.

Slight Acceleration

As you turn into the corner, you should be slightly accelerating your cruiser. You should have finished braking before entering the corner. Accelerating just a little bit into the turn is a way to lift the front suspension, too. 

Use Foot Pegs as Your Gauge

The gauge of your maximum lean angle should be the sound of the footpegs scraping the road. If you hear that sound too early, you have made a mistake in cornering your cruiser. Use the sound of your footpegs when you practice cornering.

Make a Big Corner Arc

Try to make the corner arc big and bold on your cruiser. Do not take the exit too wide, or you can overshoot the turn. A big corner arc means less lean angle, which is safer for you and your cruiser. This method also gives you the ability to see around the corner better. You can adjust your arc if necessary. 

Shift Weight

The way you carry your weight on the cruiser is also important to monitor while cornering. Shift your weight a bit to the inside of the motorcycle to turn it more than the lean angle. Other motorcycles, such as sports models, have designs that let you use your knee to help with this part of cornering. The design of a cruiser makes this impossible, which means you must lean towards the inside mirror to give yourself that extra bit of clearance to make the turn. 

Practice makes perfect with any riding technique. Work your way up to faster speeds when cornering on your cruiser using these handy tips. Visit SoCal Honda Powersports in Carson, California, and our team can help you get it right. We welcome customers from Los Angeles and Long Beach, California.