How to Use Your Eyes to Improve Your Riding

The single most important gauge you as a rider have is your eyes, and the way you use them can dramatically affect your riding. Interestingly, vision is often pushed to the side in terms of technique, but using your eyes properly may be one of the most beneficial things you can do for your speed and safety. Here’s why: Your eyes are a major influence on the direction the motorcycle is traveling; they are your decision makers of how to handle a situation ahead, and the way you use them can significantly change your perception of speed.

Let’s start with the saying we’ve all heard over and over again: “Look where you want the motorcycle to go.” It is said so often because your motorcycle will follow a line that will get you to the point you are focused on. Looking at the dirt on the outside of the racetrack? You’re probably going to get there. If you’re instead focusing on the exit point of the corner as you hit your apex, that’s where you’ll end up heading. This is the reason experienced riders and racers are continuously scanning and focusing on points far ahead of them, rather than just in front.

The same goes for dealing with situations like downed riders on the racetrack or gravel in the road. We’ve all seen the videos of riders getting so fixated on the danger in front of them that they steer their bike right into it, even though there is a clear escape route. If those riders could have gotten their eyes off the immediate situation and been able to look for an alternate way around, the chance of avoiding that danger is higher.

Here is another reason looking far ahead makes a big difference: Imagine you are riding down a racetrack’s straightaway at 100 mph while looking straight at the ground. How fast does that make you feel like you’re going? A whole lot faster than you actually are, I bet. Now imagine the same scenario but with your eyes glued to the horizon. See the difference? The farther you pick your eyes up and look ahead, the slower the road will be coming at you. This works to lower the fear factor of fast riding and frees up focus in your head to be used elsewhere or on practicing other techniques.

The next time you ride, take a moment to think about where your eyes are looking. If you find that you focus on only what is right in front of you, or that you fixate on upcoming obstacles or objects, practice taking the direct focus of your eyes off of them and putting it farther down the road or track. Pick points that are far enough ahead to slow down your perception of speed but not too far to where you are no longer able to see the road directly in front of you with your peripheral vision. Be sure to continuously scan in search of new points rather than becoming fixated on a single one—that way you don’t end up hitting it.

This will definitely take some practice for you to feel comfortable doing, especially if you have been stuck in your same habits for years. Training your peripheral vision to now pick up what used to be your main focus might be the hardest part, but it just takes time and practice to overcome that unnatural feeling. The best thing you can do is discipline yourself to practice these techniques at a moderate pace until they’re second nature.

In the long run, however, the practice will pay for itself in more ways than one. Your eyes are some of the strongest tools in your toolbox, and using them properly can improve your riding and safety on both the street and track.