Advanced motorcycle riding techniques…….You know that feeling when you’re finally good at something—and then life’s like “lol, nope” and hands you a fresh slice of humble pie?
Yeah. That was me.
I thought I was hot stuff after six months of riding. Could shift smoothly. Could handle traffic. Had the confidence of a guy who once parallel parked a Harley in front of a Whole Foods.
Then I tried a tight decreasing-radius curve at speed and almost met Jesus.
That’s when I realized: I needed to learn advanced motorcycle riding techniques. Like, for real. Not YouTube tutorials at 2 AM. Not “my buddy says just lean harder” advice. I needed actual skills that keep your tires on the road and your face off it.
So I practiced. I messed up, practiced again and still mess up.
Here’s what I’ve learned from high-mileage trial-and-error, several awkward slides, and one class where a retired cop told me my posture looked like I was “trying to poop on the gas tank.”
Let’s talk real-world techniques. No fluff. No ego. Just what actually makes you a better rider.
👁️ 1. Vision: Look Further Than You Think You Should
Okay, this one sounds basic. But holy crap, it makes a difference.
Most beginners look like five feet ahead of their front tire. It works—until it doesn’t.
Advanced riders? They’re scanning far. Like sniping hazards half a block ahead, tracking apexes, spotting cagers two lanes over about to merge without looking (because… duh).
Here’s how I taught myself:
- Pick a quiet backroad
- Practice looking where you want to go—like really looking
- Don’t watch the curb, the shoulder, the squirrel (don’t even look at the squirrel, he’s fine)
- Keep your head up, eyes wide, and trust your peripheral
I swear, the first time I nailed a corner by looking through it instead of at it, I felt like I unlocked a cheat code.
🔁 2. Trail Braking: The Scariest Thing That Actually Works

Alright, this one took me a minute to get right. Trail braking sounds like something you should never do, right? Like “braking while turning” screams danger. But when done right—it’s beautiful.
You’re using the front brake into a corner, not just before it. That’s trail braking.
Why it works:
- It keeps the bike loaded in the front = better grip
- Lets you fine-tune your speed while leaned over
- Gives you options if the corner tightens mid-turn (fun surprise!)
Warning: This ain’t for panic stops or full-on emergency braking. It’s a finesse move. Think jazz, not death metal.
I practiced in a parking lot with cones. And I stalled. A lot. But eventually, the bike started to dance instead of fight me.
🕺 3. Body Positioning: Ride the Bike, Don’t Sit on It
There’s this magical thing that happens when you stop riding on the bike and start moving with it.
Ever seen MotoGP riders hanging off the side like Spider-Man? You don’t need to go that far (unless you’re racing your cousin in the mountains, which I’ve definitely not done, officer)—but shifting your weight can help a lot.
Basic stuff:
- Slide your butt slightly to the inside of the turn
- Drop your inside shoulder toward the mirror
- Look where you wanna go (again!)
- Knees against the tank, baby
I used to stiff-arm turns like I was holding in a sneeze. Once I loosened up and leaned in with the bike—everything felt smoother. More natural. Like we were in sync.
Except that one time my pants got caught on the seat and I almost fell off. But otherwise—magical.
🦶 4. Throttle Control: It’s Not an On/Off Switch, Bro
True story—I used to be the guy whose throttle control was like: zero-zero-zero-TOO MUCH.
I’d be cruising smoothly and then whoops—rear wheel spins up like a blender full of regret.
What I learned is this: throttle is your steering wheel at speed.
Good throttle control:
- Stabilizes the bike mid-turn
- Keeps your suspension settled (less bouncing = more grip)
- Saves your butt in gravel, rain, or those surprise tar snakes that pop up mid-corner like evil spaghetti
Smooth = fast, Smooth = not needing to apologize to your riding group again.
🛞 5. Cornering Lines: Choose Your Path Like a Chess Player
Riding advanced is kinda like playing chess at 60 mph.
You’ve gotta think ahead, plan your moves, and commit to a line. Don’t just dive into corners like you’re chasing a loose french fry under the couch.
Cornering line basics:
- Wide entry – Gives you visibility
- Late apex – Lets you tighten up after you see the exit
- Smooth throttle exit – Feels like poetry if you do it right
This isn’t racing stuff. This is “get through the canyon without dying” stuff.
And once you learn it? You’ll start to see the road differently. It’s like a video game—except the stakes are slightly higher and there’s no respawn button.
🚧 Bonus: Practice in Controlled Chaos (a.k.a. Parking Lot Drills)
You know what’s cooler than carving corners in the mountains?
Not crashing in the mountains because you practiced your low-speed maneuvers like a dork in an empty CVS parking lot at 6 AM.
Things I still practice regularly:
- Emergency braking from 30+ mph
- Obstacle swerving
- Tight figure 8s
- U-turns in ridiculously small spaces just to flex on my past self
And no, it doesn’t look cool. You know what else doesn’t look cool? Eating asphalt in front of your crush.
Stuff I Totally Messed Up Along the Way (So You Don’t Have To)
- Tried trail braking in gravel. Don’t.
- Overcorrected mid-turn and stood the bike up into the oncoming lane. Somehow didn’t die.
- Forgot about wind and leaned out of a corner like Superman. Got smacked back into reality.
- Thought my riding jacket made me invincible. My ribs disagreed. https://bikelovezone.com/best-motorcycle-safety-gear/.
Riding well takes time. Confidence builds slowly. And honestly? That’s kind of the point.
TL;DR about Advanced motorcycle riding techniques
Here’s your advanced motorcycle riding techniques checklist:
- Look far, like eagle-vision mode
- Trail brake like a whisper, not a scream
- Body position matters—ride with your bike
- Throttle = control, not chaos
- Pick your lines like a genius on two wheels
- Practice drills even if they make you look like a dork