Another advantage with positioning early is that the bike feels more stable because it’s no longer changing line. It also gives you time to adopt a nice relaxed riding position for the corner.
The position for the best view through a right-hander will be available from a position well to the left. How close depends on a number of factors. Actual speed in relation to the maximum safe speed, type of machine, rider ability and confidence level and weather conditions such as high and unpredictable crosswinds are all important factors.
Let’s assume for the moment that there is no view through the corner, the road surface is perfect right up to the lefthand edge (a very rare commodity, admittedly) there are no dangers on the nearside (also rare) and it’s a calm day. Isn’t life great? In these circumstances, choose a position close to the nearside verge. In police training circles at advanced instructor level there is often talk of being inch-perfect. This does not mean riding an inch from the edge. Instead it refers to being very accurate for the circumstances, or within inches of the most appropriate position. To the uninitiated this may seem a bit close at times but in order for a rider to take the maximum safe speed through a corner they must have absolute accuracy. It’s the same story with a top racer trying to qualify for pole position; for the entire lap the positions for turn-in, apex and corner exit must be inch-perfect. The goal – making the most of the width of tarmac available to you – is the same, though the specific points themselves may share little in common.
To achieve this accuracy, a number of areas of your riding need to be considered. The accuracy of your approach speed, your machine control and your confidence level all contribute enormously to your overall level of accuracy.
While this degree of ultimate safe speed is not a necessary requirement for riders who are not engaged on law enforcement or paramedic work, where the emphasis is on being able to get from A to B as quick and as safely as possible, the majority of riders want to develop these riding skills and to achieve the same degree of accuracy if at all possible.
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