Choosing Your Motorcycle Riding Stance

Once the motorcycle is in your possession and you’re ready to start cruising around town, you’ll want to take a moment to figure out how to best control the bike. This will partially be helped by your riding posture, so choosing the right riding stance is going to be necessary. Take a moment to read through some of the tips that we have provided here to help you decide what’s going to be best for your bike and your riding needs.

The Importance of a Good Riding Posture

So, why bother at all? As we mentioned before, your riding stance can help make riding much easier. Your entire body goes into moving your bike around, so if you’re not sitting properly, then controlling your ride can be difficult. Bad posture and improper technique can strain areas that are more prone to long-term damage and pain, making this a health issue as well.

General Rules

While certain positions will help you on certain bikes, there are a few general rules that all motorcyclists can follow. First and foremost, try to stay as relaxed as possible. When you’re incredibly tense, it can make riding more uncomfortable and leave you sore, especially if you’re traveling on bumpy roads.

Always keep your eyes and face pointed in the direction you want to go. If you start looking around, your head is likely to follow your eyes and then your body will begin to follow as well. You don’t want to be drifting into other lanes on the freeway, so stay focused and keep your body and your head pointed where they need to be.

Finally, support yourself with your core, not your wrists, shoulders, knees, or back. These other areas are prone to strain and over time you can even start to damage them. Your core is better equipped to handle the pressure, so start working up those abdominal muscles.

Standard Position

The standard position is one of the more common choices among riders because it often relieves the most strain from the joints. Your legs will be slightly extended and you’ll be sitting with just a slight forward lean. Keep your hands lower than your elbows to promote circulation in your arms. This particular stance can be great for daily city riding.

Cruiser Position

The advantage of the cruiser position is that it allows you to extend your limbs a little bit. Your legs will be stretched out farther (although not too far that it becomes difficult to reach the controls) and your arms will be forward and slightly bent. You’ll also want to sit perfectly straight with no forward lean.

Sport Position

The sport position is designed mostly for sports bikes. You’ll be pulling your legs up so they’re at a much sharper angle and tucking your feet back as far as is safe. You’ll also probably duck a little while you’re in motion, giving the appearance that you’re hugging the bike. This isn’t always great for long rides, as it can cause some strain, but it’s ideal for high-speed riding.

It may not be totally obvious to you which stance is best for your bike and your riding skills. Consider testing out all of them to see which one gives you the most control with the least amount of strain. If you need any assistance, or if you’re still looking for the right motorcycle, stop by Mighty Peace Harley-Davidson® in Grande Prairie, AB, and we will be happy to help you. We proudly serve all those in Prince George and Fort St. John, BC.