TEAM Arizona Riding Tip April 2013: STOP! Swerving Might Be the Answer

As you read this article about swerving (hazard avoidance) on your motorcycle, you’ll learn:

• There are some situations where swerving can prevent a crash.
• There are correct and incorrect ways to swerve, so it’s crucial to follow motorcycle riding tips and practice your technique.
• Highly regarded TEAM Arizona motorcycle classes can help you learn the proper way to execute your emergency swerving. 

Emergency Swerving on a Motorcycle

New motorcycle riders might think that swerving is something to be avoided. In some cases, that’s correct, but there are actually some situations in which swerving is the exact right thing to do. For example, you may have to swerve when a vehicle pulls in front of you without leaving you time to stop. Alternatively, you may need to veer around an object that falls onto the road or a pedestrian that steps out without seeing you.

Unfortunately, many motorcycle riders really struggle with swerving. Whether it is understanding how to put pressure on the appropriate handgrip, how to use the throttle, or how to position one’s body on the bike, these elements all require training and practice.  When it comes to hazard avoidance, some people say that they just focus on practicing stopping.  Research indicates that swerving may be a better solution at any speed greater than 18 miles per hour, which means swerving should be one of our tools in our rider toolbox. In events when you can’t see the obstacle far enough in advance to safely stop, swerving may be the ideal maneuver. Riders need to know how to do it effectively, though, or it is possible you could end up colliding with the obstacle due to improper steering technique, running yourself off the road, or inadvertently cause the motorcycle to lose traction which could manifest a crash.

How to Swerve on a Motorcycle

Before you can start practicing swerving, let’s make sure we’re on the same page by defining a swerve. A swerve is a rapid change of motorcycle direction through successive handgrip inputs. The first handgrip press is one you make to avoid the obstacle in the direction you want to escape (want to avoid to the right – press forward on the right handgrip), and then you should quickly provide a forward press on the opposite handgrip after avoiding the obstacle (straighten up – press forward on the left handgrip using the previous example) to get yourself back onto your original path. A successful swerve should be a quick deviation from your original path onto a preferred escape route.

To execute a successful swerve, follow all of the steps below:

• With your vision, locate an escape path.  As always, when you ride your bike, look as far forward as you can, and keep your vision of where you want to go. This can be difficult while swerving because many inexperienced motorcycle riders tend to keep their vision fixated on the obstacle they are trying to avoid.
• Keep a steady throttle and avoid rolling off (engine braking)The reason for this is the same as the reason we want to avoid braking while we swerve. Since swerving can potentially use most of the available traction your tires possess, it’s important to avoid any sudden throttling that could upset the suspension or lead to a loss of traction.
• Press forward on the handgrip in the direction you want to go to avoid the hazard.  This will cause the motorcycle to lean beneath you.  The pressing initiates a lean which will change the vehicle’s direction.
• Keep your body upright with your knees into the tank as the motorcycle leans and scribes a path in the direction you desire. Adding body movement (knees out, upper body moving around) is ineffective for a rapid change of direction and often we see entry level riders throw their body mass counterproductively in a direction that makes the swerving process less efficient.
• Did we mention avoid applying the brakes?  Don’t apply the brakes while you’re swerving. Swerving successfully puts a lot of demand on your available traction, and braking forces added to the tire may override the remaining available traction.  Too much additional force could cause your tires to lose their grip on the road and cause a crash. If you absolutely must brake in addition to swerving, separate it from the swerve. In other words, brake before OR after you swerve if you have the time and space, but do not attempt to brake and swerve at the SAME time.

Practice Swerving on a Motorcycle

If you want to be good at swerving when you need it, it’s probably best not to be trying to swerve for the first time when you’re in a stressful situation. Instead, it’s best to work on your skills in a controlled environment so you can deploy them with confidence if and when the time comes. Obviously, we recommend one of our skill improvement courses, but if you plan to practice your swerving on your own, here’s what you can do:

• Find an open parking lot that has a good, clean, flat surface.
• Either visualize an obstacle or physically place one in your path on the ground with chalk.  Select a distance in front of your obstacle and create a gate to initiate your swerve.  One suggested dimension might be:  Gate:  3’ apart, Obstacle 17’ away from gate, Obstacle measures 8’ wide, and starts at a speed of 15mph.
• Practice the above steps repeatedly at one manageable speed until you feel confident in your ability to swerve the bike at that speed.
• Gain an understanding of how hard you can press forward on the handgrip and the duration of the press necessary to adjust your position to different amounts.  For example, see if you can avoid a hazard by 1’, 2’, 3’, etc.
• Slowly and incrementally increase speeds if sufficient run off is available in the area.
• Once you’ve gotten the hang of things in a parking lot, you may wish to practice at a greater speed by finding practice areas with sufficient run off…like a skid pad at a race track.

Arizona Motorcycle Classes

An even better way to practice swerving on a motorcycle is under the guidance of a trained professional. To work with an experienced motorcycle RiderCoach who can give you personalized attention, riders trust TEAM Arizona. Find our classes all over the state to learn more motorcycle rider tips and practice your skills safely.