Ride Within Your Abilities BASIC VEHICLE CONTROL This manual cannot teach you how to control direction, speed, or balance.  That's something you can learn only through practice.  But control begins with knowing your abilities and riding within them, along with knowing and obeying the rules of the road. BODY POSITION To control a motorcycle well: Posture - Sit so you can use your arms to steer the motorcycle rather than to hold yourself up. Seat - Sit far enough forward so that arms are slightly bent when you hold the handlegrips.  Bending your arms permits you to press on the handlebars without having to stretch. Hands - Hold the handlegrips firmly to keep your grip over rough surfaces.  Start with your right wrist flat.  This will help you keep from accidentally using too much throttle.  Also, adjust the handlebars so your hands are even with or below your elbows.  This permits you to use the proper muscles for precision steering. Knees - Keep your knees against the gas tank to help you keep your balance as the motorcycle turns. Feet - Keep your feet firmly on the footpegs to maintain balance.  Do not drag your feet.  If your foot catches on something, you can be injured and it could affect your control of the motorcycle.  Keep your feet near the controls so you can get to them fast if needed.  Also, do not let your toes point downward - they may get caught between the road and the footpegs.   SHIFTING GEARS There is more to shifting gears than simply getting the motorcycle to pick up speed smoothly. Learning to use the gears when downshifting, turning, or starting on hills is important for safe motorcycle operation. Shift down through the gears with the clutch as you slow or stop.  Remain in first gear while you are stopped so that you can move out quickly if you need to. Make certain you are riding slowly enough when you shift into a lower gear.  If not, the motorcycle will lurch, and the rear wheel may skid.  When riding downhill or shifting into first gear you may need to use the brakes to slow enough before downshifting safely.  Work towards a smooth, even clutch release, especially when downshifting. It is best to change gears before entering a turn.  However, sometimes shifting while in the turn is necessary. If so, remember to do so smoothly. A sudden change in power to the rear wheel can cause a skid.   BRAKING Your motorcycle has two brakes: one each for the front and rear wheel.  Use both of them at the same time. The front brake is more powerful and can provide at least three-quarters of your total stopping power.  The front brake is safe to use if you use it properly. Remember: Use both brakes every time you slow or stop. Using both brakes for even "normal" stops will permit you to develop the proper habit or skill of using both brakes properly in an emergency.  Squeeze the front brake and press down on the rear.  Grabbing at the front brake or jamming down on the rear can cause the brakes to lock, resulting in control problems. If you know the technique, using both brakes in a turn is possible, although it should be done very carefully. When leaning the motorcycle some of the traction is used for cornering.  Less traction is available for stopping. A skid can occur if you apply too much brake. Also, using the front brake incorrectly on a slippery surface may be hazardous. Use caution and squeeze the brake lever, never grab. Some motorcycles have integrated braking systems that link the front and rear brakes together by applying the rear brake pedal. (Consult the owner's manual for a detailed explanation on the operation and effective use of these systems.) TURNING Riders often try to take curves or turns too fast. When they cannot hold the turn, they end up crossing into another lane of traffic or going off the road. Or, they overreact and brake too hard, causing a skid and loss of control. Approach turns and curves with caution. Use four steps for better control: SLOW LOOK LEAN ROLL SLOW - Reduce speed before the turn by closing the throttle and, if necessary, applying both brakes. LOOK - Look through the turn to where you want to go. Turn just your head, not your shoulders, and keep your eyes level with the horizon. LEAN - To turn, the motorcycle must lean. To lean the motorcycle, press on the handgrip in the direction of the turn. Press left - lean left - go left. Press right - lean right - go right. Higher speeds and/or tighter turns require the motorcycle to lean more. ROLL - Roll on the throttle through the turn to stabilize suspension. Maintain steady speed or accelerate gradually through the turn. This will help keep the motorcycle stable. In normal turns, the rider and the motorcycle should lean together at the same angle. In slow tight turns, counterbalance by leaning the motorcycle only and keeping your body straight. KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE The best protection you can have is distance - a "cushion of space" - all around your motorcycle. If someone else makes a mistake, distance permits you: Time to react. Space to maneuver. LANE POSITIONS In some ways the size of the motorcycle can work to your advantage.  Each traffic lane gives a motorcycle three paths of travel, as indicated in the illustration. Your lane position should: Increase your ability to see and be seen. Avoid others' blind spots. Avoid surface hazards. Protect your lane from other drivers. Communicate your intentions. Avoid wind blast from other vehicles. Provide an escape route. Select the appropriate path to maximize your space cushion and make yourself more easily seen by others on the road. In general, there is no single best position for riders to be seen and to maintain a space cushion around the motorcycle.  No portion of the lane need be avoided - including the center. Position yourself in the portion of the lane where you are most likely to be seen and you can maintain a space cushion around you.  Change position as traffic situations change.  Ride in path 2 or 3 it vehicles and other potential problems are on your left only.  Remain in path 1 or 2 if hazards are on your right only.  If vehicles are being operated on both sides of you, the center of the lane, path 2, is usually your best option. The oily strip in the center portion that collects drippings from cars is usually no more than two feet wide.  Unless the road is wet, the average center strip permits adequate traction to ride on safely.  You can operate to the left or right of the grease strip and still be within the center portion of the traffic lane.  Avoid riding on big buildups of oil and grease usually found at busy intersections or toll booths. FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE "Following too closely" is a major factor in crashes involving motorcyclists.  In traffic, motorcycles need as much distance to stop as cars.  Normally, a minimum of two seconds distance should be maintained behind the vehicle ahead. To gauge your following distance: Pick out a marker, such as a pavement marking or lamppost, on or near the road ahead. When the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead passes the marker, count off the seconds: "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two." If you reach the marker before you reach "two," you are following too closely. A two-second following distance leaves a minimum amount of space to stop or swerve if the driver ahead suddenly stops.  It also permits a better view of potholes and other hazards in the road. A larger cushion of space is needed if your motorcycle will take longer than normal to stop.  If the pavement is slippery, if you cannot see through the vehicle ahead, or if traffic is heavy and someone may squeeze in front of you, open up a three second or more following distance. Keep well behind the vehicle ahead even when you are stopped.  This will make it easier to get out of the way if someone bears down on you from behind.  It will also give you a cushion of space if the vehicle ahead starts to back up for some reason. When behind a car, ride where the driver can see you in the rearview mirror.  Riding in the center portion of the lane should put your image in the middle of the rearview mirror - where a driver is most likely to see you. You can download the document with the entire text. This document is 15 pages long. Get this article below..  Ride Within Your Abilities Article   Next > [ Back ]