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When i'm stopped and start out I take turns wide (right turns are real bad). I was pulling up to stop signs strait on when this happens. I can angle my bike at a stop sign to correct this, but i'm not sure if that is just a newb way of doing it or the proper way. I only have 45 miles on my bike and I'm looking for a little help.

When you start out, don't gun it really hard, and be sure to lean into the turn.

Take an MSF class and learn to do things the right way - you'll enjoy riding with confidence.

when taking a 90 degree turn from a stop light you have to countersteer and lean the bike over more than you think....

I had the same prob that you do not too long ago and then at the MSF course i saw one of the instructors take a 90 degree stop sign turn and he countersteered and opened up the throttle alot (probably to impress us) and was leaning more than i thought was normal for that speed.

So, I went home and tried it that way, it does work a lot better and turns are less wide, but it takes some practice. hope this helps

i dont think ive ever counter steered through a 90 degree stopsign type turn. for a sharp turn like that coming from a stop you need to actually turn the wheel.

if you will use the handlebars instead of trying to use your "O Ring" by leaning in turns you will find that a motorcycle handles a lot better.

I had a lot of trouble with this for a while, especially on my new bike what with the high center of gravity, but here's what I found works the best.


Check both directions to make sure you aren't going to be pulling out in front of someone, obviously.
When you first start out you shouldn't be looking forward at all, you should be looking in the direction that you want to go, now ignore everything else. That is where you want to end up.

Rev a little higher then you would for a normal slow start (this does not mean rev high and dump the clutch like you would for a fast start) and let the clutch out really slow. Don't let it out all the way though, keep it just in the friction zone. As you start to pull forward turn your handlebars the direction you are looking. Don't look down, left, or right, keep looking where you want to go. You will feel the bike start to come around and tip underneath you, this is okay, let the clutch out the rest of the way and feed on the power as you need it. You should end up powering out of the corner right where you want to be.

I think your biggest problem is that you aren't looking in the right spot. With motorbikes where you look is quite literally where you end up. This is why most instructors will yell at you for looking down...

Turn your head and eyes in the direction you want to go. Your turns will instantly be sharper. Your best bet is to go to an empty parking lot and practice where you don't have to worry about traffic and running off the road. Just keep practincing turning right from a stop. Once you get that down, left turns are nothing to worry about. Keep your bike in the frinction zone and feather the rear break to stabalize. Ease on the throttle and ease out the clutch.