During a turn, the rider should lean:

During a turn, the rider should lean:

• A. Lean away from the curve.
• B. Keep the body upright and do not lean.
• C. Turn the handlebars in the opposite direction.
• D. Lean the motorcycle in the direction of the curve.

Answer: (D)

Turning a motorcycle successfully comes from leaning into the curve with the bike, so the combined center of gravity stays over the tires and the tires can supply the needed centripetal force. Leaning the bike in the direction of the curve helps keep your balance as you follow the turn and prevents the body from pushing outward, which would reduce traction. Staying upright or leaning away shifts weight outside the contact patches and makes the bike more likely to slip outward. Leaning the handlebars the wrong way wouldn’t help you follow the curve and would destabilize the path. So, lean the motorcycle in the direction of the curve.

Turning a motorcycle successfully comes from leaning into the curve with the bike, so the combined center of gravity stays over the tires and the tires can supply the needed centripetal force. Leaning the bike in the direction of the curve helps keep your balance as you follow the turn and prevents the body from pushing outward, which would reduce traction. Staying upright or leaning away shifts weight outside the contact patches and makes the bike more likely to slip outward. Leaning the handlebars the wrong way wouldn’t help you follow the curve and would destabilize the path. So, lean the motorcycle in the direction of the curve.