Tip of the Month: Rider Sight Management

Anyone who has taken the MSF Basic Riders Course knows that a motorcycle goes where you look and that effective cornering technique depends on a rider “looking through” the curve. But, in many ways, that only scratches the surface of what I call “Rider Sight Management.”

Focusing your sight on the proper primary and secondary targets is important both to achieving a smooth and effective riding technique and mitigating the dangers incumbent to riding a motorcycle on the street. Primary targets are those of the highest priority and they demand your immediate, primary focus, while secondary targets are monitored by your secondary focus, or peripheral vision. At any moment, for example, your peripheral vision may suddenly detect a pothole or other road hazard that immediately elevates it to a primary target. But instead of focusing just on that hazard, you should visualize and focus on the best path to avoid it. After the danger has passed, riders should then refocus their attention to the new primary target (i.e., the one with the highest priority).

In the absence of an immediate threat, riders generally should focus their sight down the road, but also keep their eyes roving 360 degrees (by using their mirrors) to detect potential dangers. The farther ahead you focus, the easier it is for your brain to process what you are seeing. It’s as if your motion is progressing at a slower pace. As you focus closer to your front wheel, the activity being processed by your brain seems to be happening much faster, which often results in jerky rider inputs through the handlebars, brakes and throttle.

If all of this sounds too conceptual, let’s consider this example:

When riding in a group, particularly if it’s tightly packed, there’s a strong tendency for riders to focus on the motorcycle directly in front of them, making it their primary target. Because the following rider is not focusing on the road ahead, he or she is constantly braking, accelerating and executing erratic corners. And, if the leading rider crashes on a curve, there’s a high probability that the next rider will follow suit. If, instead, the road becomes the following rider’s primary focus, and the other riders ahead are placed in peripheral vision, the following rider will be smoother and safer.

It’s a good idea to practice sharpening up your peripheral vision even when walking down a sidewalk. For example, try to pick out details in your surroundings without looking at them directly. With a little practice, you can improve both your sight management and your riding technique.