By Joe Dryden, professional stunt rider
Feeling the bike move as you lean into a turn, hearing the pegs scrape just a bit—for many of us,
it’s the best part of riding. And the more confident and experienced you get, the better it becomes. That’s why we asked Joe Dryden, a professional stunt rider (who, in his free time, rides an Indian Chieftain) for some tips. You may not ever be chased by Keanu Reeves like Dryden was in John Wick 2 (or have to fight Reeves while he’s on horseback and you’re on a motorcycle, like Dryden did in John Wick 3), but at least you’ll have even more fun the next time you find yourself on a twisty road this fall.
Look where you want the bike to go, not where it is
“Focus on the farthest point through the corner that you can see. Look there and your bike will follow. And don’t be afraid to use the whole lane, especially as you link turns.”
Keep your speed
“You never want to throttle into a corner, but you also don’t want to be totally off the throttle. Speed should be consistent. That means being aware of engine braking, too. If you’re hard off the gas at high rpms, the bike will engine brake and you won’t get a smooth entry into the turn.”
Push your bars for turns
“You’ve got to understand counter steering, which is when you push the inside bar and pull on the outside bar. It makes cornering much easier, especially with big bikes. You don’t have to fight the bike. Instead, you can relax. A relaxed rider is a good rider.”
Get the right tires
“There is a reason some tires are more expensive than others. It makes an unbelievable difference. And make sure they’re at the correct pressure.”
Learn before you turn
“You have to practice. Don’t try to learn as you go. I recommend finding an open space, like a parking lot, where you can push your bike around and learn what it can do. Start a big-radius circle at five to ten miles an hour. Tighten up until you feel the floorboard touch and then back off of it. You need to know what that feels like.”
BONUS LESSON FROM A STUNT RIDER: WHAT TO DO IN A CRASH, FROM A MAN WHO CRASHES ON PURPOSE
Even the safest drivers can be in accidents. If you find yourself in a situation where you’re going down, Dryden’s biggest piece of advice is to let go of the bike. “People hold onto the bike for way too long,” he says. “Once you get close to making contact with the pavement, you need to let go. The pavement will do the work and pull you off. When I crash for a scene, my main priority is making sure I don’t get tangled up in the bike.”
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