If you’re not a regular motorcycle rider, you might not be familiar with decreasing radius corners, or why they pose a problem for motorcycles—but you’ve more than likely encountered them at some point during your driving history.

Decreasing radius corners are turns that get sharper as you go through them, which may be difficult to negotiate if you’re traveling too quickly. We’ve put together some motorcycle riding tips for safely navigating decreasing radius corners in Las Vegas, NV so you’ll know how to handle them the next time you come across one.

What are decreasing radius corners?

You already know that decreasing radius corners get sharper the farther you go along. (This is as opposed to increasing radius, where the curve gets wider, while a constant radius corner has the same arc all the way through the turn.) Think of the last windy mountain rode you drove on, and chances are you’ve experienced all three types of corners in one stretch of road—but decreasing radius corners are also common on highway on and off ramps.

The problem with decreasing radius corners often comes down to speed. When you’re entering a decreasing radius turn, the speed at which you enter might be safe, but as the curve gets sharper, you could find yourself going way too fast. This can lead to both cornering and braking at the same time, which may be too much for your tires to handle.

How to safely handle decreasing radius corners

Now that you know what these types of turns are, here are some motorcycle riding tips in Las Vegas, NV for safely navigating decreasing radius corners.

The first thing you should do is stay alert and try to plan your movements out as far as possible. This includes watching on and off ramps to determine how the curve is set up, using landmarks like signs and streetlights to help judge the curve.

After you’ve observed the curve as much as possible, or if you have to enter an unknown curve, take it slow. You can always increase your speed within or after exiting the corner, which is the safest option.

If you need to shed speed in the corner, apply the front brake slowly. This lets your tire come into more contact with the road, which allows you to corner and brake simultaneously. You want to lean more as the speed decreases, and slowly take the brake off as you go.

Still not sure how to handle decreasing radius corners? Ask the pros at Escape Eagles for more tips when you rent a bike from us. We’ll gladly show you some of the best practices on the road.

Escape Eagles offers high-quality motorcycle rentals so you can experience the Southwestern landscape with the freedom a motorcycle allows. We offer a variety of bikes to suit every rider, and our tours and rentals can be specifically tailored to fit your vacation plans. Ready to ride? Call us today to find out more or book your tour!