MOTORCYCLE RIDING TIPS #2: TARGET FIXATION (and how you can take advantage of it.)

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So what is this "Target Fixation" I spoke about in my previous article?

It is a phenomenon in which a person riding a motorcycle, car or any fast moving vehicle such as aircraft becomes so focused on an object in the front (vehicle, objects etc.)  that he ends up riding into it resulting in a collision. It happens mainly due to panic and the person is not able to do anything about it and end in a crash. 

This term was coined during World War 2 while training the fighter pilots to describe a pilot colliding with the target (enemy plane) during the bombing run. To give you an example of Target fixation, here's a video: (Watch it from 0:50)

It has happened to me once during my initial days of riding when I was taking a corner at high speed. When I saw the curves getting tighter, I freaked out and looked at the outer part of the curve to see what is there in case I end in a crash and I actually ended up going where I saw and it ended in a crash.  

How can I use it for my advantage?

As the simple definition says "You go where you look", whilst you're cornering (taking a turn), instead of looking at the wrong places, focus on where you want to go. When the turn gets tighter, don't look at the outside of the corner. Instead look at the innermost part of the curve. When you do that, you'll be able to take the corners comfortably at good speeds.

Here's an example where target fixation could kill you:

How could he have avoided that collision?

While he was cruising at good speeds and the truck approached, he looked at the truck in that turn. Even though he wanted to turn away from it, he couldn't because he had target fixated on the truck. If he had looked at the empty road present on his lane instead of the truck, he would've gone clear past the truck on his lane.

So folks, now you know what target fixation is and you know how to avoid a crash due to target fixation and also to use it for your advantage in cornering. 

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Thank you for reading!

Follow me @wandereronwheels for motorcycling adventures around India, books reviews, DIY's and more.

Some of my articles may interest you:

• THE LAWS OF THE SPIRIT WORLD
• MY BEST MOMENTS OF 2017 | WandererOnWheels 2017 Rewind
• MOTORCYCLE RIDING TIPS #1: COUNTERSTEERING (for effective cornering)