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I haven't started biking yet (take the class late sept.) but I was wondering what do yo do if you are in a turn and you realize that you are going a bit too fast to be comfortable. With a car you can get away with braking sharply if necessary. With a bike I don't imagine that would be good. So do you suggest just leaning harder and hope the bike hangs on or can you get away with using the back brake only?? I know I'm probably getting ahead of myself but I have been thinking about this.

Don't use the brakes. Gentle throttle, lean more. Your bike will go way over before it slides, unless you're on a cruiser with limited clearance. Your best bet is to pay attention and slow down beforehand. Ounce of prevention, pound of cure, etc.

Trust me, the bikes will lean over more than you think... On my cruiser, I outcornered most sportbike riders before scraping pegs... And they called ME crazy for using my bike to it's potential! But yeah, they'll lean and take corners better than most cars on the road!
Wrider

look & lean, look & lean, look & lean.

You can SMOOTHLY apply a LITTLE bit of brakes (i prefer using the front rather than the rear, but whatever you're more used to using) but for the most part looking & leaning will get you through.

Above all, look where you want to go and be light on the bars. No deathgrip.

Drop your shoulder and your hip into the turn. This will reduce the lean angle on the bike by moving the weight inside the turn. You'll have more traction and not have to lean the bike over as far. No matter what, do NOT lean out of the turn.

And yes, look look look, and lean lean lean. Ideally you'll stay on the throttle anyways, as that keeps your suspension stiff and will increase cornering clearance. If you let off it'll sag and you might catch a hard part... depending on how far over you are already.

It's best to stay off the brakes and resist the urge to chop the throttle closed. Keep power to the rear wheel.

I've been riding one year and still talk myself through turns.

"Look,look,look,press, press,press."

It's rather unnatural and something you have to practice.

One of the most insiduous things that can happen in that situation is that you inadvertently and instinctively steer in the wrong direction when you discover you are too hot while in a corner. This is a very common newbie mistake. As others have said, maintain your lean by pushing on the low grip with whatever pressure is required and use sufficient throttle to maintain stability and clearance.

This is kinda gruesome, but I'll say it anyway: in the odd chance that you lean too far and the bike low-sides, it's gonna hurt a lot less (assuming good gear) than the opposite mistake- going off the far side of the curve at speed and hitting who-knows-what?

On clean dry pavement, unless you have been practicing extreme lean angles, you're going to run out of the need to turn sharper before the bike runs out of traction.

BTW, lots of good info in the other posts in this thread.

I've had a few times where I was a little too hot for my comfort into some curves. As I realize this, steady on the throttle (certainly don't power up) lol and repeat in my head, PRESS!...PRESS!...PRESS!...PRESS! until I'm through.

It feels kinda hairy and gets you warm and tingly when you realize your mistake...then settle down and watch your entry speed better from now on ...especially on unfamiliar roads

on a bike in good mechanical conditions (including tires), the bike will have far more lean in it than a new rider will have nerves. Trust the tires and lean mamma!