A Beginner's Guide To ATV Cornering Techniques
ATV cornering is an important riding skill, but it can be a bit intimidating to new riders. We've gathered up the following advice to help demystify the process and get you experiencing the full trail riding potential that ATV cornering brings.
If you have any questions or want to shop ATVs for sale, contact Interstate Cycles. Our dealership is located in Lake City, Florida, and we also serve those in Jacksonville and Gainesville.
The Basics Of ATV Cornering
Cornering is a move where the rider oversteers the quad in order to tackle a sharp turn at a high velocity. It's common among more advanced riders and racers, but it can be enjoyed by beginner riders as well. It's important to stay within the limits of your skillset, however, and to not take on too much too fast. Slowly build up your ATV cornering skills to ensure the learning experience consistently stays safe.
The Right Mindset For Learning ATV Cornering
In the beginning stages, you will want to reduce your speed. Going slower helps give you the time needed to focus on the technique, which helps ensure you build the correct muscle memory.
Slowing down early on will also lead to a faster learning process overall (compared to focusing on speed first, then mastering technique). As you sharpen your skills, you can increase your quad speed accordingly.
If possible, practice on the same corner over and over. This will help build momentum to the learning process.
The Steps To ATV Cornering
Adopt The Correct Riding Posture
As you approach the turn, you will want to shift more of your body weight over the rear wheels. To achieve this, you will want to adopt a riding position where:
- You are in a slight crouch.
- Your rear is slightly off the seat.
- Your body weight is shifted towards the back.
- Your arms are resting on the handlebars.
Entering The Turn
One approach is called squaring it off. Here, you come in tight to the inside. Then, going straight to the outside, you make an abrupt turn.
The other approach is called rounding it off. Here, you come in wide. Then, you follow the outside edge of the turn using the increased momentum.
The different approaches will be better suited for different situations. It depends on the type of trail, the obstacles nearby, the riding conditions of the day, the presence of other riders, and other factors. The more you practice both approaches, the easier it will be to decide which one to use.
Using The Brakes
You'll need to employ the brakes when cornering. It's unsafe to plow into a turn full steam ahead, after all!
As much as possible, do the majority of your braking while your four-wheeler is going in a straight line. That’s because brakes are most effective when the quad is travelling straight.
When you apply the brakes and how much will depend on the given situation and your given four-wheeler. Practice will help you become better and better at the process.
Hitting The Apex
The corner's apex is the middle part. Here, you want to move from going into the turn and transition to leaving the turn (and going back to accelerating).
Apply the quad's brakes until you've moved past the apex. Then, you can begin accelerating again. But before you do, transfer your body weight to the quad's front. This helps push the four-wheeler's front into the dirt and keep it stable.
As you leave the corner, focus on:
- Keeping the necessary traction with the rear tires.
- Positioning your quad straight down the trail.
- Keeping the front end of the four-wheeler on the ground and not in a wheelie position.
Practice makes perfect, so get on out there and start your ATV cornering journey!
We hope you enjoyed this guide to ATV cornering. For more advice or to shop ATVs for sale, reach out to Interstate Cycles. We can answer questions and help you find the best four-wheeler for your needs. We are based in Lake City, Florida. We also proudly serve those in Jacksonville and Gainesville.