What not to do when cornering

Cornering? It's one of those make-or-break skills, whether you're on two wheels or four. One screw-up and you're looking at losing control, hitting something, or worse. Honestly, knowing what to avoid is half the battle. This piece walks you through the biggest, dumbest mistakes folks make when they're going into, through, and out of a turn.

Braking Too Late or Too Hard in the Turn

Here's a classic—slamming the brakes when you're already leaned over or turning. That's asking for trouble. Braking shoves weight forward, which kills rear tire grip and can send the front wheel sliding. On a bike, this is how you get a nasty low-side crash. In a car, you'll get understeer—basically plowing straight when you meant to turn. The smart move? Get all your heavy braking done while you're still upright and straight. Then start your turn.

Target Fixation

You ever stare at something you're trying to avoid—a tree, a guardrail, a pothole—and then just... hit it? That's target fixation. Your vehicle follows your eyes. So stop looking at the damn obstacle. Look through the turn, past it, right where you want to come out. Every motorcycle safety course drills this into you. Keep your eyes up and locked on your exit path, and your hands will sort it out.

Entering Too Fast

Speed is the enemy here, no two ways about it. Barrel into a turn too fast and you're either braking mid-corner (bad idea) or running wide into oncoming traffic or the ditch. There's a saying: "slow in, fast out." Drop your speed before the turn starts, then ease on the gas through the apex and out. If you're having to brake or adjust line mid-turn, you came in too hot. This is a huge reason for single-vehicle bike crashes.

Improper Body Positioning

On a motorcycle, counter-steering and where you put your body matter a ton. Lean away from the turn, or sit there stiff, and the bike has to lean more to compensate. That eats up ground clearance and tire contact. Better to hang off a bit, keep your head level with the horizon. In a car, don't bother leaning—just keep your hands at 9 and 3, grip relaxed, and you'll steer smoother.

Common Mistakes and Their Consequences

Expert Insight: The Importance of Trail Braking

Trail braking is this fancy thing where you keep a little brake pressure on as you start turning. Pros use it on the track. But for regular folks on public roads? Don't. It's too easy to upset the chassis or lose the front end. For everyday driving, finish your braking before the turn. If you really need to adjust speed mid-corner, use the rear brake lightly on a bike or gentle steering in a car.

"The most common mistake I see in advanced rider courses is people trying to 'muscle' the bike through a turn. The bike wants to turn. You just need to trust it, look where you want to go, and don't fight the handlebars." – John Smith, Motorcycle Safety Instructor, 15 years experience.

Checklist for Safe Cornering

• Before the turn: Reduce speed, select the correct gear, and check your mirrors for traffic.
• Entry: Look through the turn, position your vehicle on the outside of your lane (for a right turn, left side of lane; for left turn, right side).
• Apex: Gently apply throttle (or maintain steady speed) as you pass the apex. Do not chop the throttle.
• Exit: Accelerate smoothly out of the turn, return to a normal lane position.
• Emergency: If you enter too fast, do not panic brake. Steer gently and look for an escape path. On a bike, lean more and trust the tires.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)