Saw this site. Read it many times this morning visualizing what's going on. Tried it this afternoon. What a difference. For those rookies, this is a must read. I'm definitely more confident on turns now.

http://www.coach2ride.com/dirtbike101-cornering.html

If posting this violates forum rules, mods please delete.

 

It's funny, when I took the motorcycle safety course, one of the instructors mentioned that I ride like an MX rider... Out of roughly 20 people there, I was the only one that sat up on the corner of the seat while doing the circle ride.

I also did the same for the chicane...

When I volunteered for 2-up riding, the instructor matched my riding style, and said he felt plenty confident on the back of the bike with me.

That was a fun weekend! Almost want to go back, if it wasn't for paying the price of the course again Haha.

 

I just finished looking at a YT clip featuring a 1991 500cc GP race that Wayne Rainey won in Eastern Creek Aust. Looking at Mick Doohan cornering, he had none of his body on the seat!
I always wondered why standing gave better control especially when going through sand; it lowers your COG to the pegs as the seat is higher. Interesting article.

 

You don't have to fully stand to benefit from a lower COG...every lb of force you put on the pegs takes a lb of force off of the seat. So, just pushing down with your feet, even if it isn't enough to get your rear end off of the seat, helps with control in sand.

 

Thanks! I was "practising" my turns today, loading the peg etc. I was noticing on a bit of undeveloped land I was looking at for real estate that my position for aft makes a big difference on the feel of the bike too.

 

Like you, after reading it, simply leaning the bike and moving my a$$ in the opposite direction and pressure on the opposite peg makes cornering a lot faster and safer. It helps I got rim locks, low pressure and trackmaster 2.