3 Easy Ways to Improve Motorcycle Lean Angle

Summary:

• Improving your lean angle isn’t just about looking cool when you turn. Leaning is a vital skill for handling tight corners, maintaining speed, and staying in control.
• Tank grips can provide superior traction for your knees, helping you stabilize your lower body while cornering. Luimoto’s tank grips make it easier to maintain balance and achieve smoother, more precise leans.
• Shifting your weight toward the inside of the turn is another key to improving your lean angle. Focus on sliding your hips slightly off the seat, keeping your head low and aligned, and letting your lower body do most of the balancing work.
• Tires with a rounded profile, softer compounds, and appropriate tread patterns can also improve your grip and stability during aggressive leans. Replace worn-out tires to regain confidence in corners.

Leaning into a curve on your motorcycle is one of the purest thrills you can enjoy on two wheels. But the lean angle—the degree to which your bike tilts to the side during a turn—isn’t just about looking cool (although it does that, too).

Leaning allows you to handle tight corners, maintain your speed, and stay in control until you exit the turn. Whether you’re carving through mountain switchbacks or dominating your local track, improving your lean angle can thoroughly enhance your riding experience.

Lots of riders believe that improving their lean angles is about dramatically overhauling their vehicle—but the truth is, few riders actually take full advantage of the lean angles their bikes already have. So there’s no need to go back to the drawing board or spend a fortune here; a few strategic upgrades and adjustments can make a world of difference. Let’s break it down with three easy ways to sharpen your cornering game.

1. Anchor Yourself with Luimoto Tank Grips

Leaning into a turn isn’t just about what your bike does—it’s about what you do as well. Keeping your body stable and balanced is critical, and that starts with how well your knees grip the tank. Enter Luimoto’s tank grips: your new best friend for better lean angles.

Why Tank Grips Matter

When your knees stay locked onto the tank, your lower body becomes a stable anchor and allows your upper body to move freely. This connection gives you better control over the bike’s lean and helps you maintain balance through tight curves.

Without proper grip, your body might slide around on the seat as you’re cornering. This can make the bike feel unstable, and make it harder to maintain your control of it throughout the turn.

How Luimoto Tank Grips Help

Luimoto’s tank grips are crafted with high-performance materials that deliver superior traction. Here are a few of the highlights:

• Easy to install, thanks to dependable 3M adhesive.
• Provide better grip to reduce upper body strain, so you can focus on nailing the perfect lean angle instead of wrestling for stability.
• Pair perfectly with our premium seat covers for a cohesive, upgraded look.

Pro tip: Practice using your knees to hug the tank during slow-speed turns. This will build muscle memory for when you hit the twisties at higher speeds.

Related: 10 Tips for Better Motorcycle Cornering

2. Master Body Positioning

If you’ve ever watched a pro racer lean into a turn, you’ve seen how much body positioning matters. Getting it right is like dancing with your bike—instead of being along for the ride, you should be actively leading the movement.

Weight Shifting Done Right

To improve your lean angle, shift your weight toward the inside of the turn. This reduces the bike’s lean angle for a given speed, giving you more grip and control. Here’s how to do it:

• Keep your head aligned: Your head should stay low and inside the turn, in line with your inside mirror. This helps center your body weight.
• Relax your arms: Your arms should guide the handlebars, not wrestle them. Let your lower body do the heavy lifting for balance.
• Slide your hips: Move your hips slightly off the seat as you reach the inside of the curve. Think of it as pointing your belly button where you want the bike to go.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Leaning too far forward: This can overload the front tire and destabilize the bike.
• Keeping your upper body stiff: Relax your shoulders and let your torso move naturally with the bike.

3. Choose the Right Tires

Your tires are arguably the most important part of your bike—and that’s especially true while you’re turning. The right set can drastically improve your lean angle by increasing grip and stability, especially in aggressive corners.

Tire Features to Look For

• Profile shape: Tires with a more rounded profile offer smoother transitions during leans and better grip at sharper angles.
• Compound: Softer rubber compounds provide more grip but may wear faster, while harder compounds last longer but offer less cornering traction.
• Tread pattern: Look for a pattern designed for the type of riding you do—from slicks for the track to performance street tires for everyday use.

When to Upgrade

If you notice uneven wear, loss of grip, or reduced confidence in corners, it’s time to replace your tires. Combine new tires with Luimoto tank grips and proper body positioning, and you’ll feel like you’re riding a whole new bike.

Related: Why Pretty Much All Race Bikes Have Tank Grips

Things to Try (and a Few Things to Avoid)

As you’re learning to make the most of your bike’s lean angles, here are a few tips we recommend—and a few things we recommend against.

Try This

• Slow-speed drills: Practice leaning into corners at low speeds to build confidence and control.
• Experiment with weight shifts: Shift your weight slightly more in each turn to find what feels best for your bike and riding style.
• Adjust tire pressure: Check your tire pressure and adjust it for the conditions (lower pressure can increase your grip, but don’t go too low or your handling will get sluggish and you’ll wear out your rubber prematurely).

Avoid This

• Leaning too far, too soon: Pushing your lean angle too aggressively can cause the tires to lose grip.
• Overcorrecting mid-turn: Sudden movements can unsettle the bike. Focus on smooth, deliberate adjustments.
• Ignoring safety gear: Always wear proper protective gear. It doesn’t matter how sharp your lean angle is if you’re not prepared for a fall.

Lean Into Your Next Ride with Luitmoto

Improving your lean angle doesn’t mean reinventing your ride. With Luimoto tank grips, better body positioning, and the right tires, you’ll carve corners like a pro in no time. At Luimoto, we design products to enhance both your bike’s performance and your riding experience, because we believe in making every ride better than the last.

Ready to elevate your cornering game? Explore our tank grips and premium aftermarket seat covers today—and get ready to lean into the thrill.