Why Do Motorcycles Swerve Back and Forth? Reasons, Legality, and Tips!

Unlike four-wheelers on the road, motorcycles are much more unstable. So, motorcycles can change positions very quickly, often referred to as swerving. Other road users or even new motorcycle riders wonder about the reason behind this behavior.

So, why do motorcycles swerve back and forth? Motorcycles swerve mainly to avoid risk factors such as road debris, cracks, potholes, slippery surfaces, etc. Getting a better view of oncoming traffic or attracting other’s attention are also the reasons behind this behavior. Besides, swerving adds a fun element to the riding experience.

Let me give you a detailed answer to this question and explain the probable situations for swerving.

Why Do Motorcycles Swerve Back and Forth?

Motorcycles can take tighter and faster turns compared to other vehicles on the road. Such capabilities often result in swerving, a maneuver where the rider quickly shifts position and gets back to the original position. It occurs due to the following reasons.

1. Avoiding Risk Factors On the Road

Cars, buses, trucks, etc., can easily drive over potholes, manhole covers, or gravel without losing their balance. But motorcycles are prone to falling over because they are very unstable. So, it is a common tendency of motorcycle riders to avoid such risk factors on the road.

Leaked fluid from cars can make road surfaces dangerous for motorcycle riders. Riders can lose their traction and end up crashing the motorcycle. As soon as they see any debris, potholes, or slippery surfaces on the road, they swerve back and forth to sidestep the hazard. 

2. Getting Attention from Other Drivers

As motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles on the road, other drivers may often overlook the existence of motorcycles in front of them. This increases the risk of rearward collisions, especially with large trucks. As truck drivers sit much higher, they have more blind spots than car or bus drivers.

So, motorcycle riders swerve back and forth in their lane to get the attention of other drivers. Their movement grabs the attention of other drivers and reduces the risk of a collision. This is more important when driving through thick traffic, such as on city roads.

3. Improving Own Visibility

Motorcycles often have faster acceleration and top speeds than other vehicles. So, motorcycle riders tend to overtake vehicles in front of them. To safely overtake a vehicle, riders must have a clear sight of the oncoming traffic, if they are driving on a two-way road. 

Getting the attention of the driver in the front is also required for overtaking safely. This is why motorcycle riders swerve back and forth to see if any vehicle is approaching from the opposite side. They also try to be noticed by the driver in the front to avoid any miscommunication.

4. Handling Bends Better

If you have watched MotoGP or other racing events, you might have noticed that riders follow a specific line while cornering. This allows them to take corners without reducing their speeds and leaning too much. For example, a rider will swerve to the left to take a right corner.

When riding through tight bends, motorcycle riders tend to swerve more. If there are successive corners, they even swerve more to prepare for all the corners.

5. Preventing Invasion

It may sound funny, but motorcyclists are at constant risk of sideward collision if they ride with other vehicles on their sides. As motorcycles take up a very small space within the lane, smaller vehicles like cars or pickups can drive along them.

To prevent other vehicles from driving along, motorcycles swerve back and forth. It limits the chance of other vehicles pulling up their sides, hence reducing the risk of sideward crashes.

6. Navigating Tight Spaces

It often occurs on city roads packed with traffic. Especially if the vehicles ahead are moving slowly, motorcycles need to swerve constantly. It helps them make their way through the traffic without crashing or stopping repeatedly. 

7. Fighting Uneven Tire Wear

As motorcycles mostly ride upright, it increases the amount of wear on the mid-section of the tire. Continuous wear can reduce the service life of tires. To avoid this issue, motorcyclists often tend to swerve their motorcycles back and forth.

By swerving the motorcycle, they make the tire edges touch the road. It causes the edges to share some of the wear and protect the middle from wearing too much.

8. Riding with Fun

There is no denying that riding motorcycles is fun. However, riding in a straight line isn’t as fun as swerving. Shifting position to the right and the left quickly gives riders a sense of joy.

Young riders are more likely to swerve on the road. The basic psychology behind this behavior is finding some sort of heroism in the act and having some extra fun.

Is Swerving Motorcycles Illegal?

There is a gray area when it comes to legal standards about motorcycles swerving on the road.As long as you swerve within your lane without risking yourself or other road users, it isn’t illegal.

Different states have different regulations regarding the movement of vehicles on the road. To give you a quick idea, I will shed light on driving regulations in Illinois.

The chapter 625 of the Illinois Vehicle Code discusses overtaking regulations. In section 11-703 of this chapter, it states that drivers must keep a safe distance while overtaking.

In subsection (d) of this section, you will find that the safe distance should be at least 3 feet. So, you might understand that swerving recklessly is illegal in Illinois. According to other statutes, you aren’t allowed to change your lanes suddenly. 

Another important consideration is subsection (e). It is clearly stated that a motorcycle rider must not drive recklessly. They should not drive unnecessarily close to or toward other road users.

So, going out of your lane while swerving will be illegal. If swerving doesn’t cause great bodily harm to others, it will be considered a Class A misdemeanor. In the cases of bodily harm or disability to others, riders can face a Class 3 felony charge.

Even though the statutes aren’t the same in all states, you can expect to find similar statutes. For example, you can check section 316.085 of the Florida Statutes which discusses limitations on changing lanes or courses. 

Tips to Swerve Motorcycles Safely

Swerving out of the blue can be very risky. Follow these tips to make your rides safer.

• Always check your rearview mirrors before swerving. It will keep you safe from tailgating vehicles suddenly coming by your sides.
• Don’t swerve on roads with heavy traffic. You might fail to control the motorcycle in time.
• Stay within your lane while swerving. If you need to change lanes, use indicators and do it cautiously.
• Don’t swerve motorcycles at a high speed. It increases the risk of accidents.
• Don’t endanger the lives of other road users just for some fun.

Conclusion

Swerving motorcycles on the road may be fun for riders but annoying for other road users. Many of them don’t even understand why motorcycles swerve back and forth. As I have already mentioned, the primary concern here is avoiding road hazards.

Besides, motorcyclists swerve to improve their visibility, and cornering and get attention from other drivers. But swerving motorcycles can be illegal in many states depending on how you pull it off. Spread awareness among riders around you to remain safe.