How & when to swerve on a motorcycle - Episode - 18 MCrider

[@MCrider]

If you are a new rider or a rider who wants to continue to grow (That should be all of us ;) ) and you are not a Member at MCrider you are missing out on the best part of MCrider. Go to www.MCrider.com/Member and get access to the Forums and Field Guide. - The Forum is an active, friendly place where riders share riding tips, ideas, travel photos, and show off their new motorcycles. Riders and instructors from all over the world are active on the forums and ready to share in the adventure with you. - The Field Guide is a section of the forums that have very specific training exercises that you can work on in any open parking lot to develop your riding skills. In addition to these resources, you can discuss every MCrider video, suggest future training videos, read and share gear reviews, and more. By becoming a member you help support MCrider and keep the weekly videos coming but you also get access to a world of riders who share tips and techniques to help us all enjoy the ride and increase our skills. www.MCrider.com/Member

[@ronanrogers4127]

Target fixation also applies to sports. The best rugby players instinctively don't see opposition tacklers in front of them, they see gaps to run through (I imagine it's similar in NFL). The best cricket batsmen know where every fielder is placed, for every ball of the innings, and they hit through the gaps to score runs. As motorcyclists, we need to be aware of all the obstacles, so we can avoid them by going through the gaps. That's the way I think about it.

[@awesomeagnihotrisvlog]

super

[@hamstersniffer]

In MSF class, swerve practice was the spookiest exercise for me. I'd never been on a bike before and suddenly they're telling us "swerve hard but don't cut your speed". A super valuable skill to have on the highway.

[@rtogurl]

hamstersniffer That's what I enjoyed the most. I have trouble with those never ending turns when you can't judge or see the end. They freak me out.

[@scottthornton9237]

Realizing this is a 4 yr old video, I just want to share this: Way back (1969 or 70) I was 10-11 yrs. old. Riding a Honda Trail 70. Running down hill around a sweeping curve I finally got that spedo up to 30mph! Just as a neighbors (my scoutmaster) dog ran out in front of me... Well the dog was ok, (scared her more than anything). The impact stopped the front wheel instantly, turning me into a missile! That experience has stuck in my head ever since. I practice swerving on every ride from that day on. I just make sure no cars are near enough to freak the driver out. Any speed, any road on every bike i ride.

[@jcgaliano4126]

This technique literally saved my life. I was able to successfully apply this technique to avoid slamming into a metal iron lawn chair that fell off a vehicle while doing 70 mph

[@lrstaf6]

Years ago performing a swerve saved myself and my passenger from a serious accident. I was coming up to a red light and the light changed just before I got to it. A car coming the other way did a left turn right in front of me. By swerving left myself I was able to miss the car turning left in front of me and then coming back right i missed another car coming toward me in his right lane. I really hope other riders will learn from this experience and practice swerving.

[@jztgatjdtkgt]

Kevin, I know I need to make practice a regular part of my riding routine but I appreciate these tips because they are really good reminders of what to do and what not to do. I've taken all three levels of MSF courses available in my part of the country but these videos are invaluable teaching tools for even the most experienced rider. Thanks and keep 'em coming.

[@MCrider]

+2ndchildhood Thanks, that is part of the goal here at MCrider, just to get riders to think a little before throwing a leg over...and a little practice never hurts as well. 😀

[@340rps]

Target fixation is probably the biggest enemy in so many situations. It is a must for any rider to overcome to stay safe.

[@rob.1963]

thanks for sharing your wisdom, I've just bought a bike ( Kawasaki zx9r) I'm returning to riding after a gap of probably 15 years, I started out on bikes as a youth, got hit by a car when I was 34 and ended up in plaster, went back but felt very vulnerable for the first time ever in my life and gave up riding. I've always loved riding bikes and the whole two wheeled scene and missed having a motorcycle, especially in Summer. Well, I've bought an old bike (1996) it's been well looked after and maintained so I'm just waiting for some decent weather and I'll be, gradually going out. I have to be honest and admit that I'm attracted and terrified in equal measure, but I'm hoping that with time, restraint and practice, practice, practice I will enjoy riding again, I truly enjoy watching your videos and value the advice. I'm 53 now, never too old to learn, adapt and hopefully be a lot safer on the road. thanks again.

[@rtogurl]

robin walford I just started riding 4 months ago, and I'm 49. Congratulations on getting back out there. ✌

[@gregoriousgilbert519]

Ditto... I too am 53 an getting back on the road after thirteen years, Though I did not have a full license back then, now I have just taken the cbt an got myself a ybr125 so I can get full license an start exploring the world. Love these films on riding tips, the more I watch an listen the more confidence grows... Cheers

[@guztavofreitaz]

Swerving is a skill that doesn't have a word for it in portuguese. You explain every skill showing up a process to follow step by step. Its very clear to understand and apply. Well, It's always good to listen to your tips and storytelling! Keep on riding, sir! Regards from Brazil.

[@walcott423]

Gustavo Freitas what you call the sudden avoidnace of an obstruction in Portugal, if there is no word for "swerve" just curiosity, thank-you.

[@GarryPrater]

Instead of a negative instruction, "don't focus on the object," or a vague instruction, "point your face in the direction you want to go," give a positive instruction, "focus on the line you want to take." I learned to avoid ruts when dirtbiking by picking the line I wanted.

[@dev77cmd]

Most valuable skill to have on the road in my opinion. So many car drivers change lanes in a split of a second without using their indicators first and actually see their mirrors if someone else is coming that only a swerve will save you.

[@farshidchinwalla3718]

One of the most important topics that was never ever discussed on any of the forums / media sites that I follow.... My 3 most favorite videos of yours are... Emergency breaking Target fixation And Now Swerving... I think of all 3 go hand in hand and if practised regular will be most efficient to any rider on any kind of road on this planet.... Really wish if you could provide an actually real time demo of all these 3 put together.... Thank you great video

[@geraldwest3428]

Thank you very much MCrider. I have watched numerous videos you have made over the past couple days and sure do appreciate you. Very comprehensive and well delivered, I am subscribed! Thank you again mister.

[@MCrider]

+Gerald West Awesome Gerald, thanks for kind words!

[@carlblanton1569]

I live in Southern Ohio. We have plenty of pot holes to practice on.

[@davidpritchett5974]

Heh, heh.. We have so many potholes in my home town it's difficult for the cops to say you were weaving because you were drinking or just avoiding the potholes.

[@chincemagnet]

My largest concerns as a new rider are emergency braking and swerving. I'm having trouble finding the correct pressure to apply to the front brake to stop me quickly and safely. I either damn near fly over the handlebars or I don't stop quickly enough. And for swerving, I can do it pretty well at lower speeds, up to roughly 45 I'm ok. But beyond that and I'm having some trouble. I watched this guy on a bike ahead of me, a big heavy Harley with a passenger do this, what I thought was an unbelievable maneuver to avoid an object in the road at 60 mph. I mean, if that guy could pull it off, I must be able to too, alone on my Kawi z650. But I'm finding it troublesome.

[@etiennelouw9244]

i live in South Africa and our roads are full of low drain covers, lumps and holes, dodging them is a way of life on a bike.

[@paulgriffiths1566]

Bloody good video. Thank you

[@Mr.Toniothatis2030]

Very much appreciated sir.

[@mifsudm80]

Watching from DownUnder. Appreciate the control skills discussed! Ill be watching more!

[@emirhano2tr]

Many thanks for your effords. Very very important knowledge

[@Johny40Se7en]

Great tips. In the UK there's a two part test called Mod 1 and Mod 2, Mod 1 is slow sped manoeuvres and this is part of it. I failed the first time on this swerve because I did exactly what you mentioned, I targeted fixated on the cone and pretty much went over it. I passed the second time and with great speed too =P As you said many times, you always need to practice because riding a motorcycle is a learned skill, and there's so many natural instincts you have to overcome to ride well, like not braking a lot before a turn and never during a turn and so on.

[@MetsanAsukas]

I love you man. Thank you.

[@andyostertag]

Again, Good stuff. Just recently ran over a board that flew off a truck in front of me that could have had exposed nails..got lucky

[@490SavedOne]

Great video! Thanks so much for all you do Kevin to keep us aware and safe!!

[@martinbarabe4643]

Here in Canada, this time of year, it gets a bit on the chilly side in the evening. Last night, found a nice road with little or no traffic. Was practicing swirving and emergency braking in colder environment. It’s one thing to do it when it’s nice and warm but changes in road temperature makes a difference so trying to adapt.

[@TheDervMan]

Great stuff. Thanks for taking the time to create the video.

[@MCrider]

+DervMan Thanks I appreciate it.

[@louisdorge6917]

MCrider I like swerving between yellow lines when no traffic , at different speeds ,great practice . keep instutive videos coming .thankyou for your contribution!

[@laurenml1222]

Great video! I’ve got this in the queue for my practice riding! I just got the field guide and it’s a great resource! Thank you for these videos!

[@itsjustme5022]

in my place you get to practice alot it right on the road.... its useful on potholes and on slow moving vehicles that you need to overtake fast enough coz you have a counter flow and the road is narrow....

[@markallen514]

Kevin I just want to say thanks also showed in up here in Michigan BUT it won't last forever can't wait to try your tips thanks again mark from the zoo

[@MCrider]

+Mark Allen Thanks Mark, move to Texas. 😜

[@blackbirdpie217]

I practice by avoiding the iron service covers in the road as they appear from under the car in front of me on a 35 mph road. I've tried a couple of techniques and I'll pay more attention to your method. I've been attempting to master a method that seems like it might be quicker to get the bike over into a lean to turn but I don't have it down to a reflex. It involves starting the swerve with my shoulders, not with the bike- because I found that countersteering to get the bike to lean over actually begins by rolling my front wheel in the very direction I do not want it to go. This is normal, it's what countersteering does. But if you begin with your shoulders the bike leans without the counter-roll,. The idea is to get the center of mass off to a side, lean the bike, turn. If I do it with my shoulders first, the very first direction it rolls is the way I want it to go, not opposite then back. My problem is my first reaction is to move the bars, not my shoulders.. More practice is in order.

[@donaldfossett8819]

Kevin has great info. I wish he would do a video on "pull steering" or Counter turns: to start a quick turn at speed; To go left pull on the right handle bar slightly to start the bike to lean left.

[@keithhamlett8381]

Come up here to PA. You'll get all the swerve training you want on our messed up roads.

[@ThomasOzOsburn]

Good info.

[@MCrider]

+Ordinary Biker Oz Thank you!

[@stefanthorne3082]

thanks for your knowledge I've learned so much

[@DA2THFA1RY]

I when I was on my motorcycle license course, I was told by my riding instructor: "If you are swerving to avoid something on the road, you weren't paying enough attention. Obviously if it's something that happens right infront of you, you need to swerve, but if it's a imperfection in the road, you should have set up for it a while ago."

[@MCrider]

+DA2THFA1RY That's good advice, always better to adjust lane position than react at the last second. But swerves are still necessary at times.

[@wiserbud3404]

DA2THFA1RY ..yes, eyes should travel all way up road, back down the asphalt as you watch left and right side streets/driveways, and end back to your mirrors....anticipate anything that may happen. Defensive riding is all we have.

[@TheRedHeadRides]

Great Info!!

[@Glasshousebc]

Great advice and demo videos. Cheers.

[@akupehsluarketatAR]

i dont know about maintaining throttle while swerving but i usually lean the bike to make it turn and abrupt shut the throttle at the same time just enough to compress the front fork making the rake angle more steep and shorten the overall wheelbase which makes the bike turn faster then back on the throttle plus some rear brakes if needed. It helps to slows you down by abit buying you time to avoid whatever you're avoiding. Works for me

[@akupehsluarketatAR]

it works for me furthermore students at the driving school were taught to weave in and out of a series of cones using the same technique.

[@davidjones7544]

Isn't that just a more advanced technique for more experienced riders? It would seem to be but I don't know...

[@imshizzling]

Thanks for your great videos!

[@Boxer1250RT]

Good stuff. Looks like you did not counter steer between the cones. It is pretty effective in case of emergency.

[@oaksoldier45]

Thanks, Happy New Year.

[@bernardlesperance742]

The potential hazard with emergency swerving is a car quickly coming up to you from behind in the adjacent lane on the side of your swerve and hitting you. This is always my fear with emergency swerving. In these situations there typically isn't time to check behind you (either via mirror or by turning your head). I often experience this with potholes and usually just brace myself for the jolt instead of risking being hit by a car.

[@billyoung8063]

Another great piece of advice. My only complaint is that I would like to see more examples of the maneuvers you mention Otherwise KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK

[@everythinggaming7938]

Im doing mod 1 and they taught me to reduce throttle completely then swerve

[@bradshaw2288]

Kevin, Im 54 with a few mobility issues, weight issue & some health issues, I bought my 1st Scoot last March after my brother passed, it so helped with depression that it out weighs the other issues to me anyways, so there were a lot of reasons I went in the direction I chose, I went through three Bikes in just over a year a 50cc a 150cc a 260cc and now im on a Aprillia Scarabio 500 IE, cost the bottom line on a fixed income was the checkmate for me so to speak, this Bike is fast, it's everything you'd want in a motorcycle but it's on a Scooter, so help me to get better I need vast improvement in low speed driving when alone on back roads, wind can be challenging at times, as my Bike is around 418 pounds and im at 350, ive been on the highway but I prefer backroads, anyways any advice on skill development for us ScootBike enthusiast would be greatly appreciated, and thank you ive been with you since the 50cc and im at or around 7000 miles now, some parking lot work but honestly funds play a role but I could use more parking lot development, and no I didn't take a class ive learned mostly from your video's, fireman dan and cycle crusier and a 30 year friend who is 57 an has been riding since he was 16 and I listen and try to improve every day every mile, again thank you... Darryl

[@MonstaFreak13]

i understand the need for practice to build up muscle memory but stress/panic factors in a major component in ones reactions and i just dont see how anyone can practice for the various types of situations without intentionally putting themselves in danger, which defeats the whole point

[@michaelratkewitz296]

Kevin, in this you talk about countersteers, but its not the right handle you push on to swerve right. Or did I misunderstand something? I've been riding a maxi scooter for two weeks now and its just leaning to the left if I try to turn the bars right. It has something to do with the angle of the forks I guess. Love your channel!

[@TheGeoDaddy]

I wonder what The Analytics are for the object being a deer... I’m thinking you have a better chance staying course because IT is gonna swerve... too ie it may dart forward... it may double back... but deer caught in headlights - stopped dead in its tracks - seems the least likely... I think.

[@AttorneyThatRides]

Attorney That Rides approves!

[@evgeniyasd2740]

Nice video. One question though: would not applying a bit of brake help to increase traction of the front wheel which in swerving is important?

[@ianmackenzie686]

Early in the morning or when no traffic I practice swerving around manhole covers.

[@340rps]

That's my downfall, looking at the cover instead of away. Pisses me off every time. I swear they just pop up right in front of my path.

[@ianmackenzie686]

@@340rps luckily they aren't a real hazard so just keep practicing. You'll get it. I'm still a noob but when I was really really noob I also carefully and intentionally ran over covers, grates, small road imperfections at reasonable speeds on purpose just to get used to the feelings so that random bumps on a ride wouldn't freak me out. Sort of learning to be comfortable when feeling something uncomfortable. Not sure if Kevin would approve of this.

[@walcott423]

"look away from failure"

[@matthewberning4462]

Great video as always, thanks mcrider. The only part I might disagree with is letting the motorcycle lean underneath us while keeping our torso upright. Isn't that called "getting crossed up"? As you said it's two turns; I think it'd be better to lean into the first turn and than back into the other as you counter steer. Am I wrong here?

[@MCrider]

+Matthew Berning The technique the MSF teaches is the bike leans independent of the body in a swerve. It is such a fast transition there is not time for the upper torso to lean with the bike. 👍🏻

[@Geeios1]

Also an upright body is the anchor that helps the bike return to center. You can unweight the saddle a little by putting pressure on the pegs, right for the right swerve and left for the left swerve. Practice, because it is fast, more pressure more faster!

[@billyoung8063]

DO you stand on the foot pegs to swerve?

[@didnthurt4077]

How is that going to work if you want to avoid something on the street and not looking at it. Doesn't seem to make sense.. I don't mean staring at the object directly, but you need to still look at it to know how you can escape around it.

[@umiphos]

Damn I though it was swearing... didn't read it well, informative and useful too.

[@karlgrubaugh9186]

I live in north east Ohio and we and that's all we have is potholes

[@raulmartinezjr410]

Is it a good idea to hold down the clutch while swerving?

[@Geeios1]

nope it's still too abrupt in my opinion. you are changing the forces on the suspension by slowing down. Also it's one more thinking thing to do.

[@locoslair]

👍👍👍

[@JuanPabloGallego1969]

If my bike has Traction Control and ABS should I release the brakes to perform the swerve?

[@MCrider]

+Juan-Pablo Gallego Yes same technique, release brakes and then swerve. The only exception are some of the bikes that have cornering ABS, they can brake and corner at the same time.

[@erocnw1341]

I understand the point of the video and agree with it, but I also think that the driver of the car has to own the fact that what he did was reckless, dangerous, and is unacceptable.

[@jimmysteichman5987]

so crosswire 7777 wants us to hit the object with two wheels and that we get hurt or worse, you should"nt be following that close! you are nuts.

[@MrKidkiller159]

get on a dirt bike an go ride some trails you will learn more an faster.

[@TheGeoDaddy]

Looks like 8 ‘couches’ disagree...

[@zapster2412111]

Horrible technique, 0 mention of counter steering which is actually the most proficient way to swerve. Learn how to counter steer or eventually you won't make that shop turn and you'll go down on the outside of a turn.

[@crosswire7777]

Bad advice!! As a mother of 2 if you swerve and instead of you hitting the object, i hit it instead with my 2 boys in the car, you deserve to go to jail. Please think of the children in cars BEHIND you, instead of your selfish selves.

[@MCrider]

🤔

[@jw492]

Are you for real?

[@jw492]

PS good vid MCrider, will hopefully save some lives!

[@MrKeneal0330]

You're a special kind of stupid aren't you?

[@chachatiff]

crosswire7777 on the contrary, only you are responsible for hitting an object. It would benefit you to take some advanced driving courses. You know, for the safety of your boys in the car with you.