Tips for Cornering on a Cruiser

Riding a cruiser motorcycle is fun and relaxing. But the hardest part of riding this style of bike is taking corners. At Ol’ Red’s Motorcycles, we’re here to make cornering on a cruiser easier. That’s why we’ve created the following guide with tips for this tricky task. Read on to learn some valuable information, and give us a call with any questions. We are located in Simpsonville, South Carolina and proudly serve Greenville, and Columbia, South Carolina as well as Charlotte, North Carolina!

Challenges 

In order to get better at cornering on a cruiser, it’s important to understand what makes this task so challenging. Cruisers are usually bulkier than other bikes, so they don’t make it easy to lean in any direction. If you don’t take the turn correctly, the footpegs will scrape against the tarmac, the exhaust will collide with the road, and the side stand will dig into the ground.

Another reason cornering on a cruiser is difficult is because of the low clearance. If you’re not used to this riding position, you may be wary of taking turns. Although cornering on a cruiser can be challenging, there are strategies you can use to make this action easier.

Techniques

The first thing you can do to make the process easier is to have as high a suspension as possible. When you hit the brakes, the motorcycle sits down on its suspension. Ensure that all of your braking is completed before rounding the corner.

Once you accelerate, your bike will lift a little on the front suspension and squat a little in the rear. Maintain a slight acceleration when taking a corner. In order to do this, you’ll need to engage the right gear before you start the turn.

If you hear footpegs scraping against the road, you are nearing the maximum lean angle, so be careful. If the corner is particularly tight, you can tighten the arc with a more lean angle. If you don’t have much lean angle left, you need to be in a lower gear that will allow you to narrow the angle while rolling off a little throttle.

To stay safe, keep the corner arc as big as you can without getting too wide on the exit. The bigger the arc, the less lean angle you will need. When cornering on your cruiser, shift your weight towards the inside of the bike. Sit straight and lean the top of your body towards the inside mirror as you turn into the corner.

We hope these tips help you masterly take every corner on your cruiser! If you want any more advice or you want to buy a new motorcycle, call Ol’ Red’s Motorcycles in Simpsonville, South Carolina. We are proud to serve Greenville, and Columbia, South Carolina as well as Charlotte, North Carolina. We look forward to helping you make every motorcycle ride the best one yet!