Motorcycle Operator Manual - DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE - DOR-2332 (05-2009) - Missouri Department of Revenue
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Missouri
Motorcycle
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Operator
Manual
DOR-2332 (05-2009)PREFACE
Operating a motorcycle safely in • Comments and guidance provided
traffic requires special skills and by the motorcycling, licensing, and
knowledge. The Motorcycle Safety traffic-safety communities.
Foundation (MSF) has made this • Expanded alcohol and drug
manual available to help novice
information.
motorcyclists reduce their risk of
having a crash. The manual conveys In promoting improved licensing
essential safe-riding information and programs, the MSF works closely
has been designed for use in licensing with state licensing agencies. The
programs. While designed for the Foundation has helped more than half
novice, all motorcyclists can benefit the states in the nation adopt the
from the information this manual “Motorcycle Operator Manual” for
contains. use in their licensing systems.
The original “Motorcycle Improved licensing, along with
Operator Manual” was developed by high quality motorcycle rider
the National Public Services education and increased public
Research Institute (NPSRI) under awareness, has the potential to reduce
contract to the National Highway crashes. Staff at the Foundation are
Traffic Safety Administration available to assist state, private and
(NHTSA) and within the terms of a governmental agencies in efforts to
cooperative agreement between improve motorcycle safety.
NHTSA and the MSF. The manual
and related tests were used in a multi-
year study of improved motorcycle
operator licensing procedures,
conducted by the California
Department of Motor Vehicles under Tim Buche
contract to NHTSA. President
The purpose of this manual is to Motorcycle Safety Foundation
educate the reader to help avoid
crashes while safely operating a
motorcycle. For this edition, the MSF
has updated and expanded the content
of the original manual. These
revisions reflect:
• The latest finding of motorcycle-
safety research.
2CONTENTS
PREPARING TO RIDE HANDLING DANGEROUS SURFACES . . .27
WEAR THE RIGHT GEAR . . . . . . . . . . .4 Uneven Surfaces and Obstacles . . . .27
Helmet Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Slippery Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Helmet Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Railroad Tracks, Trolley Tracks,
Eye and Face Protection . . . . . . . . . . .5 and Pavement Seams . . . . . . . . . . .29
Clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Grooves and Gratings . . . . . . . . . . .29
KNOW YOUR MOTORCYCLE . . . . . . . . .6 MECHANICAL PROBLEMS . . . . . . . . . .30
The Right Motorcycle For You . . . . .6 Tire Failure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Borrowing and Lending . . . . . . . . . . .7 Stuck Throttle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Get Familiar With the Motorcycle Wobble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Chain Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Check Your Motorcycle . . . . . . . . . . .8 Engine Seizure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
KNOW YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES . . . . . .9 ANIMALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
RIDE WITHIN FLYING OBJECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
YOUR ABILITIES GETTING OFF THE ROAD . . . . . . . . . .32
BASIC VEHICLE CONTROL . . . . . . . . .10 CARRYING PASSENGERS
Body Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 AND CARGO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Shifting Gears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Instructing Passengers . . . . . . . . . . .33
Turning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Riding With Passengers . . . . . . . . . .33
KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE . . . . . . . . .12 Carrying Loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Lane Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 GROUP RIDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Following Another Vehicle . . . . . . . .13 Keep the Group Small . . . . . . . . . . .34
Being Followed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Keep the Group Together . . . . . . . . .34
Passing and Being Passed . . . . . . . .14 Keep Your Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Lane Sharing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 BEING IN SHAPE
Merging Cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 TO RIDE
Cars Alongside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 WHY THIS INFORMATION IS
SEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 IMPORTANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
INTERSECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS IN
Blind Intersections . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
MOTORCYCLE OPERATION . . . . . . . . .36
Passing Parked Cars . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Parking at the Roadside . . . . . . . . . .20 ALCOHOL IN THE BODY . . . . . . . . . . .37
INCREASING CONSPICUITY . . . . . . . . .21 Blood Alcohol
Clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Concentration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 ALCOHOL AND THE LAW . . . . . . . . . . .38
Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Consequences of
Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Conviction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Using Your Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 MINIMIZE THE RISKS . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Head Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 STEP IN TO PROTECT FRIENDS . . . . . .39
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 FATIGUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Riding at Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 EARNING
CRASH AVOIDANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 YOUR LICENSE
Quick Stops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Knowledge Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Swerving or Turning Quickly . . . . . .25 On-Motorcycle Skill Test . . . . . . . . .42
Cornering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
3PREPARING TO RIDE
What you do before you start a trip goes a long way toward
determining whether or not you’ll get where you want to go safely.
Before taking off on any trip, a safe rider makes a point to:
1. Wear the right gear.
2. Become familiar with the motorcycle.
3. Check the motorcycle equipment.
4. Be a responsible rider.
WEAR THE RIGHT GEAR • An approved helmet lets you see
as far to the sides as necessary. A
When you ride, your gear is study of more than 900 motorcycle
“right” if it protects you. In any crashes, where 40% of the riders
WEAR THE RIGHT GEAR
crash, you have a far better chance of wore helmets, did not find even one
avoiding serious injury if you wear: case in which a helmet kept a rider
• An approved helmet. from spotting danger.
• Face or eye protection. • Most crashes happen on short trips
• Protective clothing. (less than five miles long), just a
few minutes after starting out.
HELMET USE • Most riders are riding slower than
Crashes can occur — particularly 30 mph when a crash occurs. At
among untrained beginning riders. these speeds, helmets can cut both
And one out of every five motorcycle the number and the severity of head
crashes result in head or neck injuries by half.
injuries. Head injuries are just as
No matter what the speed,
severe as neck injuries — and far
helmeted riders are three times more
more common. Crash analyses show
likely to survive head injuries than
that head and neck injuries account
those not wearing helmets at the time
for a majority of serious and fatal
of the crash.
injuries to motorcyclists. Research
also shows that, with few exceptions,
head and neck injuries are reduced by HELMET SELECTION
the proper wearing of an approved There are two primary types of
helmet. helmets, providing two different
Missouri law requires all levels of coverage: three-quarter and
motorcycle or motortricycle operators full face.
and passengers to wear protective Whichever style you choose, you
headgear at all times the vehicle is in can get the most protection by mak-
motion on the highways of this state. ing sure that the helmet:
Consider the following facts:
4HELMETS
HELMET USE
• Meets U.S. Department of your face like a faceshield does. A
Transportation (DOT) and state windshield is not a substitute for a
EYE AND FACE PROTECTION
standards. Helmets with a label faceshield or goggles. Most wind-
from the Snell Memorial shields will not protect your eyes
Foundation give you an added from the wind. Neither will eyeglass-
assurance of quality. es or sunglasses. Glasses won’t keep
• Fits snugly, all the way around. your eyes from watering, and they
might blow off when you turn your
• Has no obvious defects such as head while riding.
cracks, loose padding or frayed
straps. To be effective, eye or faceshield
protection must:
Whatever helmet you decide on,
keep it securely fastened on your • Be free of scratches.
head when you ride. Otherwise, if • Be resistant to penetration.
you are involved in a crash, it’s likely • Give a clear view to either side.
to fly off your head before it gets a
chance to protect you. • Fasten securely, so it does not
blow off.
EYE AND FACE PROTECTION • Permit air to pass through, to
A plastic shatter-resistant reduce fogging.
faceshield can help protect your • Permit enough room for eyeglass-
whole face in a crash. It also protects es or sunglasses, if needed.
you from wind, dust, dirt, rain, Tinted eye protection should not
insects, and pebbles thrown up from be worn at night or any other time
cars ahead. These problems are dis- when little light is available.
tracting and can be painful. If you
have to deal with them, you can’t
devote your full attention to the road.
Goggles protect your eyes,
though they won’t protect the rest of
5CLOTHING KNOW YOUR
The right clothing protects you in MOTORCYCLE
CLOTHING
a collision. It also provides comfort, There are plenty of things on the
as well as protection from heat, cold, highway that can cause you trouble.
debris, and hot and moving parts of Your motorcycle should not be one of
the motorcycle. them. To make sure that your motor-
• Jacket and pants should cover cycle won’t let you down:
arms and legs completely. They • Read the owner’s manual first.
should fit snugly enough to keep
from flapping in the wind, yet • Start with the right motorcycle for
loosely enough to move freely. you.
Leather offers the most protection. • Be familiar with the motorcycle
Sturdy synthetic material provides a controls.
lot of protection as well. Wear a • Check the motorcycle before every
jacket even in warm weather to ride.
prevent dehydration. Many are
designed to protect without getting • Keep it in safe riding condition
between rides.
THE RIGHT MOTORCYCLE
you overheated, even on summer
days. • Avoid add-ons and modifications
• Boots or shoes should be high and that make your motorcycle harder
sturdy enough to cover your ankles to handle.
and give them support. Soles
should be made of hard, durable THE RIGHT MOTORCYCLE
slip resistant material. Keep heels FOR YOU
short so they do not catch on rough First, make sure your motorcycle
surfaces. Tuck in laces so they is right for you. It should “fit” you.
won’t catch on your motorcycle. Your feet should reach the ground
• Gloves allow a better grip and help while you are seated on the
protect your hands in a crash. Your motorcycle.
gloves should be made of leather or
similar durable material.
In cold or wet weather, your
clothes should keep you warm and
dry, as well as protect you from 1 Test Yourself
injury. You cannot control a motorcy-
cle well if you are numb. Riding for A plastic shatter-resistant face
shield:
long periods in cold weather can
cause severe chill and fatigue. A win- A. Is not necessary if you have a
ter jacket should resist wind and fit windshield.
snugly at the neck, wrists, and waist. B. Only protects your eyes.
Good-quality rainsuits designed for C. Helps protect your whole face.
motorcycle riding resist tearing apart D. Does not protect your face as
or ballooning up at high speeds. well as goggles.
Answer — page 40
6At minimum, your street-legal before allowing them out into traffic.
motorcycle should have: No matter how experienced you
KNOW YOUR MOTORCYCLE
• Headlight, taillight and may be, ride extra carefully on any
brakelight. motorcycle that’s new or unfamiliar
• Front and rear brakes. to you. More than half of all crashes
occur on motorcycles ridden by the
• Turn signals. operator for less than six months.
• Horn.
• Two mirrors. GET FAMILIAR WITH THE
MOTORCYCLE CONTROLS
BORROWING AND LENDING Make sure you are completely
Borrowers and lenders of motor- familiar with the motorcycle before
cycles, beware. Crashes are fairly you take it out on the street. Be sure
common among beginning riders — to review the owner’s manual. This is
especially in the first months of rid- particularly important if you are rid-
ing. Riding an unfamiliar motorcycle ing a borrowed motorcycle.
adds to the problem. If you borrow a If you are going to use an unfa-
motorcycle, get familiar with it in a miliar motorcycle:
controlled area. And if you lend your
• Make all the checks you would on
motorcycle to friends, make sure they
your own motorcycle.
are licensed and know how to ride
MOTORCYCLE CONTROLS
Light Switch (high/low) Engine Cut-Off
Choke (varies) Switch
Electric
Turn Signal Switch Start
Ignition Button
Key
(varies)
Horn Button Throttle
Front Brake Lever
Clutch Lever Speedometer
& Odometer
Tachometer (if equipped)
Fuel Supply Valve
(if equipped)
Rear Brake Pedal
Gear-Change Lever
Kick Starter (if
equipped)
7• Find out where everything is, par- • Brake Light — Try both brake
ticularly the turn signals, horn, controls, and make sure each one
CHECK YOUR MOTORCYCLE
headlight switch, fuel-supply valve, turns on the brake light.
and engine cut-off switch. Find and Once you have mounted the
operate these items without having motorcycle, complete the following
to look for them. checks before starting out:
• Know the gear pattern. Work the • Clutch and Throttle — Make sure
throttle, clutch, and brakes a few they work smoothly. The throttle
times before you start riding. All should snap back when you let go.
controls react a little differently. The clutch should feel tight and
• Ride very cautiously and be aware smooth.
of surroundings. Accelerate gently, • Mirrors — Clean and adjust both
take turns more slowly, and leave mirrors before starting. It’s difficult
extra room for stopping. to ride with one hand while you try
to adjust a mirror. Adjust each mir-
CHECK YOUR MOTORCYCLE ror so you can see the lane behind
A motorcycle needs more fre- and as much as possible of the lane
quent attention than a car. A minor next to you. When properly adjust-
technical failure in a car seldom leads ed, a mirror may show the edge of
to anything more than an inconven- your arm or shoulder — but it’s the
ience for the driver. road behind and to the side that’s
most important.
If something’s wrong with the
motorcycle, you’ll want to find out • Brakes — Try the front and rear
about it before you get in traffic. brake levers one at a time. Make
Make a complete check of your sure each one feels firm and holds
motorcycle before every ride. the motorcycle when the brake is
fully applied.
Before mounting the motorcycle
• Horn — Try the horn. Make sure it
make the following checks:
works.
• Tires — Check the air pressure,
In addition to the checks you
general wear and tread.
should make before every trip, check
• Fluids — Oil and fluid levels. At a the following items at least once a
minimum, check hydraulic fluids week: wheels, cables, fasteners, and
and coolants weekly. Look under fluid checks. Follow your owner’s
the motorcycle for signs of an oil manual to get recommendations.
or gas leak.
2 Test Yourself
• Headlights and Taillight — Check
them both. Test your switch to More than half of all crashes:
make sure both high and low A. Occur at speeds greater than 35
beams are working. mph.
B. Happen at night.
• Turn Signals — Turn on both right
C. Are caused by worn tires.
and left turn signals. Make sure all
D. Involve riders who have ridden
lights are working properly. their motorcycles less than six
months.
Answer — page 40
8KNOW YOUR • Be visible — wear proper clothing,
RESPONSIBILITIES use your headlight, ride in the best
KNOW YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
lane position to see and be seen.
“Accident” implies an unforeseen
event that occurs without anyone’s • Communicate your intentions —
fault or negligence. Most often in use the proper signals, brake light,
traffic, that is not the case. In fact, and lane position.
most people involved in a crash can • Maintain an adequate space
usually claim some responsibility for cushion — following, being fol-
what takes place. lowed, lane sharing, passing and
Consider a situation where some- being passed.
one decides to try to squeeze through • Scan your path of travel 12
an intersection on a yellow light turn- seconds ahead.
ing red. Your light turns green. You
• Identify and separate multiple
pull into the intersection without
hazards.
checking for possible latecomers.
That is all it takes for the two of you • Be prepared to act — remain alert
to tangle. It was the driver’s responsi- and know how to carry out proper
bility to stop. And it was your respon- crash-avoidance skills.
sibility to look before pulling out. Blame doesn’t matter when
Neither of you held up your end of someone is injured in a crash. There
the deal. Just because someone else is is rarely a single cause of any crash.
the first to start the chain of events The ability to ride aware, make criti-
leading to a crash, doesn’t leave any cal decisions, and carry them out sep-
of us free of responsibility. arates responsible riders from all the
As a rider you can’t be sure that rest. Remember, it is up to you to
other operators will see you or yield keep from being the cause of, or an
the right of way. To lessen your unprepared participant in, any crash.
chances of a crash occurring:
9RIDE WITHIN YOUR ABILITIES
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.
BASIC VEHICLE throttle. Also, adjust the handlebars
CONTROL so your hands are even with or
below your elbows. This permits
BODY POSITION you to use the proper muscles for
precision steering.
To control a motorcycle well:
• Knees — Keep your knees against
• Posture — Sit so you can use your
the gas tank to help you keep your
arms to steer the motorcycle rather
balance as the motorcycle turns.
BODY POSITION
than to hold yourself up.
• Feet — Keep your feet firmly on
• Seat — Sit far enough forward so
the footrests to maintain balance.
that arms are slightly bent when
Don’t drag your feet. If your foot
you hold the handlegrips. Bending
catches on something, you can be
your arms permits you to press on
injured and it could affect your
the handlebars without having to
control of the motorcycle. Keep
stretch.
your feet near the controls so you
• Hands — Hold the handlegrips can get to them fast if needed.
firmly to keep your grip over rough Also, don’t let your toes point
surfaces. Start with your right wrist downward — they may get caught
flat. This will help you keep from between the road and the footrests.
accidentally using too much
SHIFTING GEARS
There is more to shifting gears
SHIFTING GEARS
HOLDING HANDLEGRIPS
than simply getting the motorcycle to
pick up speed smoothly. Learning to
RIGHT use the gears when downshifting,
turning, or starting on hills is impor-
tant 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.
WRONG
10Make certain you are riding slow- occur if you apply too much brake.
ly enough when you shift into a lower Also, using the front brake
BRAKING
gear. If not, the motorcycle will lurch, incorrectly on a slippery surface
and the rear wheel may skid. When may be hazardous. Use caution and
riding downhill or shifting into first squeeze the brake lever, never
gear you may need to use the brakes grab.
to slow enough before downshifting • Some motorcycles have integrated
safely. Work towards a smooth, even braking systems that activate the
clutch release, especially when down- front and rear brakes together by
shifting. applying the rear brake pedal.
It is best to change gears before (Consult the owner’s manual for a
entering a turn. However, sometimes detailed explanation on the opera-
shifting while in the turn is necessary. tion and effective use of these sys-
If so, remember to do so smoothly. A tems.)
sudden change in power to the rear
wheel can cause a skid. TURNING
Riders often try to take curves or
BRAKING
TURNING
turns too fast. When they can’t hold
Your motorcycle has two brakes: the turn, they end up crossing into
one each for the front and rear wheel. another lane of traffic or going off the
Use both of them at the same time. road. Or, they overreact and brake too
The front brake is more powerful and hard, causing a skid and loss of con-
can provide at least three-quarters trol. Approach turns and curves with
of your total stopping power. The caution.
front brake is safe to use if you use it Use four steps for better control:
properly.
• SLOW
Remember:
• LOOK
• Use both brakes every time you
slow or stop. Using both brakes for • PRESS
even “normal” stops will permit • ROLL
you to develop the proper habit or SLOW — Reduce speed before the
skill of using both brakes properly turn by closing the throttle and, if
in an emergency. Squeeze the front necessary, applying both brakes.
brake and press down on the rear.
Grabbing at the front brake or LOOK — Look through the turn to
jamming down on the rear can where you want to go. Turn just
cause the brakes to lock, resulting your head, not your shoulders,
in control problems. and keep your eyes level with the
horizon.
• If you know the technique, using
both brakes in a turn is possible, PRESS — To turn, the motorcycle
although it should be done very must lean. To lean the motorcy-
carefully. When leaning the cle, press on the handgrip in the
motorcycle some of the traction is direction of the turn. Press left —
used for cornering. Less traction is lean left — go left. Press right —
available for stopping. A skid can lean right — go right. Higher
11speeds and/or tighter turns require
the motorcycle to lean more.
ROLL — Roll on the throttle 3 Test Yourself
through the turn to stabilize the
suspension. Maintain steady When riding, you should:
speed or accelerate gradually A. Turn your head and shoulders to
through the turn. This will help look through turns.
keep the motorcycle stable. B. Keep your arms straight.
C. Keep your knees away from the
NORMAL TURNS gas tank.
D. Turn just your head and eyes to
look where you are going.
Answer — page 40
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:
LANE POSITIONS
• Time to react.
• Space to maneuver.
In normal turns, the rider and the
motorcycle should lean together at
the same angle. LANE POSITIONS
In some ways the size of the
SLOW, TIGHT TURNS 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.
In slow tight turns, counterbalance
by leaning the motorcycle only and • Provide an escape route.
keeping your body straight.
12LANE POSITIONS
Select the appropriate path to Avoid riding on big buildups of oil
maximize your space cushion and and grease usually found at busy
make yourself more easily seen by intersections or toll booths.
others on the road.
In general, there is no single best FOLLOWING ANOTHER
FOLLOWING
position for riders to be seen and to VEHICLE
maintain a space cushion around the “Following too closely” could be
motorcycle. No portion of the lane a factor in crashes involving
need be avoided — including the motorcyclists. In traffic, motorcycles
center. need as much distance to stop as cars.
Position yourself in the portion of Normally, a minimum of two
the lane where you are most likely to seconds distance should be
be seen and you can maintain a space maintained behind the vehicle ahead.
cushion around you. Change position To gauge your following distance:
as traffic situations change. Ride in
path 2 or 3 if vehicles and other • Pick out a marker, such as a
potential problems are on your left pavement marking or lamppost, on
only. Remain in path 1 or 2 if hazards or near the road ahead.
are on your right only. If vehicles are • When the rear bumper of the
being operated on both sides of you, vehicle ahead passes the marker,
the center of the lane, path 2, is count off the seconds: “one-
usually your best option. thousand-one, one-thousand-two.”
The oily strip in the center • If you reach the marker before
portion that collects drippings from you reach “two,” you are following
cars is usually no more than two feet too closely.
wide. Unless the road is wet, the A two-second following distance
average center strip permits adequate leaves a minimum amount of space to
traction to ride on safely. You can stop or swerve if the driver ahead
operate to the left or right of the stops suddenly. It also permits a
grease strip and still be within the better view of potholes and other
center portion of the traffic lane. hazards in the road.
13FOLLOWING
A larger cushion of space is of the lane is usually the best place
needed if your motorcycle will take for you to be seen by the drivers
BEING FOLLOWED
longer than normal to stop. If the ahead and to prevent lane sharing by
pavement is slippery, if you cannot others.
see through the vehicle ahead, or if
traffic is heavy and someone may BEING FOLLOWED
squeeze in front of you, open up a Speeding up to lose someone fol-
three second or more following lowing too closely only ends up with
distance. someone tailgating you at a higher
Keep well behind the vehicle speed.
ahead even when you are stopped. A better way to handle tailgaters
This will make it easier to get out of is to get them in front of you. When
the way if someone bears down on someone is following too closely,
you from behind. It will also give you change lanes and let them pass. If
a cushion of space if the vehicle ahead you can’t do this, slow down and
starts to back up for some reason. open up extra space ahead of you to
When behind a car, ride where allow room for both you and the tail-
the driver can see you in the rearview gater to stop. This will also encour-
mirror. Riding in the center portion of age them to pass. If they don’t pass,
the lane should put your image in the you will have given yourself and the
middle of the rearview mirror — tailgater more time and space to react
where a driver is most likely to see in case an emergency does develop
you. ahead.
Riding at the far side of a lane PASSING AND BEING PASSED
may permit a driver to see you in a Passing and being passed by
sideview mirror. But remember that another vehicle is not much different
most drivers don’t look at their side- than with a car. However, visibility is
view mirrors nearly as often as they more critical. Be sure other drivers
check the rearview mirror. If the traf- see you, and that you see potential
fic situation allows, the center portion hazards.
14PASSING stay in the center portion of your
1. Ride in the left portion of the lane. Riding any closer to them could
PASSING
lane at a safe following distance to put you in a hazardous situation.
increase your line of sight and Avoid being hit by:
make you more visible. Signal and
check for oncoming traffic. Use • The other vehicle — A slight mis-
your mirrors and turn your head to take by you or the passing driver
look for traffic behind. could cause a sideswipe.
2. When safe, move into the left • Extended mirrors — Some drivers
lane and accelerate. Select a lane forget that their mirrors hang out
position that doesn’t crowd the car farther than their fenders.
you are passing and provides • Objects thrown from windows —
space to avoid hazards in your Even if the driver knows you’re
lane. there, a passenger may not see you
3. Ride through the blind spot as and might toss something on you or
quickly as possible. the road ahead of you.
4. Signal again, and complete mirror • Blasts of wind from larger vehi-
BEING PASSED
and headchecks before returning cles — They can affect your con-
to your original lane and then can- trol. You have more room for error
cel signal. if you are in the middle portion
Remember, passes must be com- when hit by this blast than if you
pleted within posted speed limits, are on either side of the lane.
and only where permitted. Know Do not move into the portion of
your signs and road markings! the lane farthest from the passing
vehicle. It might invite the other driv-
BEING PASSED er to cut back into your lane too
When you are being passed from early.
behind or by an oncoming vehicle,
PASSING BEING PASSED
15LANE SHARING no room for a lane change, adjust
Cars and motorcycles need a full speed to open up space for the merg-
LANE SHARING
lane to operate safely. Lane sharing is ing driver.
usually prohibited.
Riding between rows of stopped CARS ALONGSIDE
or moving cars in the same lane can Do not ride next to cars or trucks
leave you vulnerable to the unexpect- in other lanes if you do not have to.
ed. A hand could come out of a win- You might be in the blind spot of a
dow; a door could open; a car could car in the next lane, which could
turn suddenly. Discourage lane shar- switch into your lane without warn-
ing by others. Keep a center-portion ing. Cars in the next lane also block
position whenever drivers might be your escape if you come upon danger
tempted to squeeze by you. Drivers in your own lane. Speed up or drop
are most tempted to do this: back to find a place clear of traffic on
both sides.
• In heavy, bumper-to-bumper traffic.
• When they want to pass you.
• When you are preparing to turn at BLIND SPOTS
an intersection.
• When you are moving into an exit
lane or leaving a highway.
MERGING CARS
Drivers on an entrance ramp may
not see you on the highway. Give
them plenty of room. Change to
another lane if one is open. If there is
MERGING
4 Test Yourself
Usually, a good way to handle tail-
gaters is to:
A. Change lanes and let them pass.
B. Use your horn and make obscene
gestures.
C. Speed up to put distance between
you and the tailgater.
D. Ignore them.
Answer — page 40
16SEE • Road and surface characteristics
Good experienced riders remain — Potholes, guardrails, bridges,
SEE
aware of what is going on around telephone poles and trees won’t
them. They improve their riding strat- move into your path but may influ-
egy by using SEE, a three-step ence your riding strategy.
process used to make appropriate • Traffic control devices — Look
judgments, and apply them correctly for traffic signals, including regula-
in different traffic situations: tory signs, warning signs, and
• Search pavement markings, to help you
evaluate circumstances ahead.
• Evaluate
• Vehicles and other traffic — May
• Execute move into your path and increase
Let’s examine each of these steps. the likelihood of a crash.
Think about your time and space
SEARCH requirements in order to maintain a
Search aggressively ahead, to the margin of safety. You must leave
sides and behind to avoid potential yourself time to react if an emergency
hazards even before they arise. How arises.
assertively you search, and how much
time and space you have, can elimi- EXECUTE
nate or reduce harm. Focus even Carry out your decision.
more on finding potential escape
routes in or around intersections, To create more space and
shopping areas, school and construc- minimize harm from any hazard:
tion zones. • Communicate your presence with
Search for factors such as: lights and/or horn.
• Oncoming traffic that may turn • Adjust your speed by accelerating,
left in front of you. stopping or slowing.
• Traffic coming from the left and • Adjust your position and/or
right. direction.
• Traffic approaching from behind. Apply the old adage “one step at
a time” to handle two or more
• Hazardous road conditions.
hazards. Adjust speed to permit two
Be especially alert in areas with hazards to separate. Then deal with
limited visibility. Visually “busy” them one at a time as single hazards.
surroundings could hide you and your Decision-making becomes more
motorcycle from others. complex with three or more hazards.
Weigh the consequences of each and
EVALUATE give equal distance to the hazards.
Think about how hazards can
interact to create risks for you.
Anticipate potential problems and
have a plan to reduce risks.
17In potential high-risk areas, such INTERSECTIONS
as intersections, shopping areas and The greatest potential for conflict
INTERSECTIONS
school and construction zones, cover between you and other traffic is at
the clutch and both brakes to reduce intersections. An intersection can be
the time you need to react. in the middle of an urban area or at a
driveway on a residential street —
anywhere traffic may cross your path
of travel. Over one-half of motorcy-
5 Test Yourself cle/car crashes are caused by drivers
entering a rider’s right-of-way. Cars
To reduce your reaction time, you that turn left in front of you, includ-
should: ing cars turning left from the lane to
A. Ride slower than the speed limit. your right, and cars on side streets
B. Cover the clutch and the brakes. that pull into your lane, are the
C. Shift into neutral when slowing. biggest dangers. Your use of SEE
D. Pull in the clutch when turning. [p. 17] at intersections is critical.
Answer — page 40 There are no guarantees that
others see you. Never count on “eye
contact” as a sign that a driver will
yield. Too often, a driver looks right
at a motorcyclist and still fails to
“see” him. The only eyes that you
can count on are your own. If a car
can enter your path, assume that it
will. Good riders are always “looking
for trouble” — not to get into it, but
to stay out of it.
Increase your chances of being
seen at intersections. Ride with your
headlight on in a lane position that
provides the best view of oncoming
traffic. Provide a space cushion
around the motorcycle that permits
you to take evasive action.
SMALL INTERSECTIONS
18LARGE INTERSECTIONS
As you approach the intersection, BLIND INTERSECTIONS
select a lane position to increase your
visibility to the driver. Cover the
clutch and both brakes to reduce
reaction time.
Reduce your speed as you
approach an intersection. After enter-
ing the intersection, move away from
vehicles preparing to turn. Do not
change speed or position radically.
The driver might think that you are
preparing to turn.
BLIND INTERSECTIONS
If you approach a blind intersec-
tion, move to the portion of the lane
that will bring you into another dri-
ver’s field of vision at the earliest
possible moment. In this picture, the Remember, the key is to see as
rider has moved to the left portion of much as possible and remain visible
the lane — away from the parked car to others while protecting your space.
— so the driver on the cross street
can see him as soon as possible.
19STOP SIGNS PARKED CARS
PARKED CARS
If you have a stop sign or stop
line, stop there first. Then edge for-
ward and stop again, just short of
where the cross-traffic lane meets your
lane. From that position, lean your In either event, the driver might
body forward and look around build- cut into your path. Slow down or
ings, parked cars, or bushes to see if change lanes to make room for some-
anything is coming. Just make sure one cutting in.
your front wheel stays out of the cross Cars making a sudden U-turn are
lane of travel while you’re looking. the most dangerous. They may cut
you off entirely, blocking the whole
PASSING PARKED CARS roadway and leaving you with no
When passing parked cars, stay place to go. Since you can’t tell what
toward the left of your lane. You can a driver will do, slow down and get
avoid problems caused by doors the driver’s attention. Sound your
opening, drivers getting out of cars, horn and continue with caution.
or people stepping from between
cars. If oncoming traffic is present, it PARKING AT THE ROADSIDE
is usually best to remain in the Park at a 90o angle to the curb
center-lane position to maximize your with your rear wheel touching the
space cushion. curb.
A bigger problem can occur if the
driver pulls away from the curb with- PARKING AT CURBS
out checking for traffic behind. Even
if he does look, he may fail to see you.
6 Test Yourself
Making eye contact with other drivers:
A. Is a good sign they see you.
B. Is not worth the effort it takes.
C. Doesn’t mean that the driver will
yield.
D. Guarantees that the other driver
will yield to you.
Answer — page 40
20INCREASING Reflective material on a vest and
CONSPICUITY on the sides of the helmet will help
CLOTHING
In crashes with motorcyclists, drivers coming from the side spot
drivers often say that they never saw you. Reflective material can also be a
the motorcycle. From ahead or big help for drivers coming toward
behind, a motorcycle’s outline is you or from behind.
much smaller than a car’s. Also, it’s
hard to see something you are not HEADLIGHT
looking for, and most drivers are not The best way to help others see
looking for motorcycles. More likely, your motorcycle is to keep the
they are looking through the skinny, headlight on — at all times
two-wheeled silhouette in search of (although motorcycles sold in the
cars that may pose a problem to U.S. since 1978 automatically have
them.
the headlights on when running.)
Even if a driver does see you Studies show that, during the day, a
coming, you aren’t necessarily safe. motorcycle with its light on is twice
Smaller vehicles appear farther away, as likely to be noticed. Use low
and seem to be traveling slower than beam at night and in fog.
LIGHTS
they actually are. It is common for
drivers to pull out in front of motor-
SIGNALS
cyclists, thinking they have plenty of
time. Too often, they are wrong. The signals on a motorcycle are
similar to those on a car. They tell
However, you can do many others what you plan to do.
things to make it easier for others to
recognize you and your motorcycle. However, due to a rider’s added
vulnerability, signals are even more
important. Use them anytime you
CLOTHING
Most crashes occur in broad SIGNALING
daylight. Wear bright colored clothing
to increase your chances of being
seen. Remember, your body is half of
the visible surface area of the
SIGNALS
rider/motorcycle unit.
Bright orange, red, yellow or
green jackets or vests are your best
bets for being seen. Your helmet can
do more than protect you in a crash.
Brightly colored helmets can also
help others see you.
Any bright color is better than
drab or dark colors. Reflective, bright
colored clothing (helmet and jacket
or vest) is best.
21plan to change lanes or turn. Use If you are being followed closely,
them even when you think no one it’s a good idea to flash your brake
else is around. It’s the car you don’t light before you slow. The tailgater
see that’s going to give you the most may be watching you and not see
trouble. Your signal lights also make something ahead that will make you
you easier to spot. That’s why it’s a slow down. This will hopefully dis-
good idea to use your turn signals courage them from tailgating and
even when what you plan to do is warn them of hazards ahead they may
obvious. not see.
When you enter onto a freeway,
drivers approaching from behind are USING YOUR MIRRORS
more likely to see your signal While it’s most important to keep
blinking and make room for you. track of what’s happening ahead, you
can’t afford to ignore situations
Turning your signal light on
behind. Traffic conditions change
before each turn reduces confusion
quickly. Knowing what’s going on
and frustration for the traffic around
behind is essential for you to make a
you. Once you turn, make sure your
safe decision about how to handle
signal is off or a driver may pull
trouble ahead.
USING YOUR MIRRORS
directly into your path, thinking you
plan to turn again. Use your signals at Frequent mirror checks should be
every turn so drivers can react part of your normal searching routine.
accordingly. Don’t make them guess Make a special point of using your
what you intend to do. mirrors:
• When you are stopped at an inter-
BRAKE LIGHT section. Watch cars coming up from
Your motorcycle’s brake light is behind. If the driver isn’t paying
usually not as noticeable as the brake attention, he could be on top of you
lights on a car — particularly when before he sees you.
your taillight is on. (It goes on with • Before you change lanes. Make
the headlight.) If the situation will sure no one is about to pass you.
permit, help others notice you by
• Before you slow down. The driver
flashing your brake light before you
behind may not expect you to slow,
slow down. It is especially important
or may be unsure about where you
to flash your brake light before:
will slow. For example, you signal
• You slow more quickly than others a turn and the driver thinks you
might expect (turning off a high- plan to turn at a distant intersection,
speed highway). rather than at a nearer driveway.
• You slow where others may not
expect it (in the middle of a block
or at an alley).
22USING MIRRORS HEAD CHECKS
Checking your mirrors is not
HEAD CHECKS
enough. Motorcycles have “blind
spots” like cars. Before you change
lanes, turn your head, and look to the
side for other vehicles.
On a road with several lanes,
check the far lane and the one next to
you. A driver in the distant lane may
head for the same space you plan to
take.
Frequent head checks should be
your normal scanning routine, also.
Only by knowing what is happening
Some motorcycles have rounded all around you, are you fully pre-
(convex) mirrors. These provide a pared to deal with it.
wider view of the road behind than
HORN
do flat mirrors. They also make cars HORN
seem farther away than they really Be ready to use your horn to get
are. If you are not used to convex someone’s attention quickly.
mirrors, get familiar with them.
It is a good idea to give a quick
(While you are stopped, pick out a
beep before passing anyone that may
parked car in your mirror. Form a
move into your lane.
mental image of how far away it is.
Then, turn around and look at it to Here are some situations:
see how close you came.) Practice • A driver in the lane next to you is
with your mirrors until you become a driving too closely to the vehicle
good judge of distance. Even then, ahead and may want to pass.
allow extra distance before you
• A parked car has someone in the
change lanes.
driver’s seat.
• Someone is in the street, riding a
bicycle or walking.
In an emergency, press the horn
button loud and long. Be ready to
stop or swerve away from the danger.
Keep in mind that a motorcycle’s
horn isn’t as loud as a car’s, there-
fore, use it, but don’t rely on it. Other
strategies may be appropriate along
with the horn.
23RIDING AT NIGHT the lane is best able to help you
At night it is harder for you to see see, be seen, and keep an ade-
NIGHT RIDING
and be seen. Picking your headlight quate space cushion.
or taillight out of the car lights
around you is not easy for other CRASH AVOIDANCE
drivers. To compensate, you should: No matter how careful you are,
• Reduce Your Speed — Ride even there will be times when you find
slower than you would during the yourself in a tight spot. Your chances
day — particularly on roads you of getting out safely depend on your
don’t know well. This will ability to react quickly and properly.
increase your chances of avoiding Often, a crash occurs because a rider
a hazard. is not prepared or skilled in crash-
• Increase Distance — Distances are avoidance maneuvers.
harder to judge at night than
Know when and how to stop or
during the day. Your eyes rely
swerve, two skills critical to avoiding
upon shadows and light contrasts
a crash. It is not always desirable or
to determine how far away an
object is and how fast it is possible to stop quickly to avoid an
CRASH AVOIDANCE
coming. These contrasts are obstacle. Riders must also be able to
missing or distorted under swerve around an obstacle.
artificial lights at night. Open up Determining which skill is necessary
a three-second following distance for the situation is important as well.
or more. And allow more distance Studies show that most crash-
to pass and be passed. involved riders:
• Use the Car Ahead — The • Underbrake the front tire and
headlights of the car ahead can overbrake the rear.
give you a better view of the road • Did not separate braking from
than even your high beam can. swerving or did not choose swerv-
Taillights bouncing up and down ing when it was appropriate.
can alert you to bumps or rough
The following information offers
pavement.
some good advice.
• Use Your High Beam — Get all
the light you can. Use your high
beam whenever you are not QUICK STOPS
QUICK STOPS
following or meeting a car. Be To stop quickly, apply both brakes
visible, wear reflective materials at the same time. Don’t be shy about
when riding at night. using the front brake, but don’t “grab”
• Be flexible about lane position. it, either. Squeeze the brake lever firm-
Change to whatever portion of ly and progressively. If the front wheel
locks, release the front brake immedi-
7 Test Yourself ately then reapply it firmly. At the
Reflective clothing should: same time, press down on the rear
A. Be worn at night. brake. If you accidentally lock the rear
brake on a good traction surface, you
B. Be worn during the day.
can keep it locked until you have com-
C. Not be worn.
pletely stopped. Even with a locked
D. Be worn day and night.
rear wheel, you can control the motor-
Answer — page 40
24STOPPING DISTANCE pressure is possible. You should
“straighten” the handlebars in the last
SWERVING
few feet of stopping, the motorcycle
should then be straight up and in bal-
REAR ance.
FRONT SWERVING OR TURNING
QUICKLY
BOTH Sometimes you may not have
enough room to stop, even if you use
cycle on a straightaway if it is upright both brakes properly. An object might
and going in a straight line. appear suddenly in your path. Or the
Always use both brakes at the car ahead might squeal to a stop. The
same time to stop. The front brake only way to avoid a crash may be to
can provide 70% or more of the turn quickly, or swerve around it.
potential stopping power. A swerve is any sudden change in
If you must stop quickly while direction. It can be two quick turns,
turning or riding a curve, the best or a rapid shift to the side. Apply a
technique is to straighten the bike small amount of hand pressure to the
upright first and then brake. handgrip located on the side of your
However, it may not always be possi- intended direction of escape. This
ble to straighten the motorcycle and will cause the motorcycle to lean
then stop. If you must brake while quickly. The sharper the turn(s), the
leaning, apply light brakes and reduce more the motorcycle must lean.
the throttle. As you slow, you can Keep your body upright and
reduce your lean angle and apply allow the motorcycle to lean in the
more brake pressure until the motor- direction of the turn while keeping
cycle is straight and maximum brake your knees against the tank and your
SWERVE, THEN BRAKE BRAKE, THEN SWERVE
25feet solidly on the footrests. Let the CORNERING
motorcycle move underneath you. A primary cause of single-vehicle
CORNERING
Make your escape route the target of crashes is motorcyclists running wide
your vision. Press on the opposite in a curve or turn and colliding with
handgrip once you clear the obstacle the roadway or a fixed object.
to return you to your original direc-
tion of travel. To swerve to the left, Every curve is different. Be alert
press the left handgrip, then press the to whether a curve remains constant,
right to recover. To swerve to the gradually widens, gets tighter, or
right, press right, then left. involves multiple turns.
IF BRAKING IS REQUIRED, Ride within your skill level and
SEPARATE IT FROM SWERVING. posted speed limits.
Brake before or after — never Your best path may not always
while swerving. follow the curve of the road. Change
lane position depending on traffic,
road conditions and curve of the road.
CONSTANT CURVES MULTIPLE CURVES
DECREASING CURVES WIDENING CURVES
26If no traffic is present, start at the HANDLING DANGEROUS
outside of a curve to increase your SURFACES
DANGEROUS SURFACES
line of sight and the effective radius
Your chance of falling or being
of the turn. As you turn, move
involved in a crash increases
toward the inside of the curve, and as
whenever you ride across:
you pass the center, move to the
outside to exit. • Uneven surfaces or obstacles.
Another alternative is to move to • Slippery surfaces.
the center of your lane before • Railroad tracks.
entering a curve — and stay there
• Grooves and gratings.
until you exit. This permits you to
spot approaching traffic as soon as
possible. You can also adjust for UNEVEN SURFACES AND
traffic “crowding” the center line, or OBSTACLES
debris blocking part of your lane. Watch for uneven surfaces such
as bumps, broken pavement,
potholes, or small pieces of highway
trash.
Try to avoid obstacles by slowing
or going around them. If you must go
over the obstacle, first, determine if it
is possible. Approach it at as close to
8 Test Yourself a 90° angle as possible. Look where
The best way to stop quickly is to: you want to go to control your path
A. Use the front brake only. of travel. If you have to ride over the
B. Use the rear brake first. obstacle, you should:
C. Throttle down and use the front • Slow down as much as possible
brake. before contact.
D. Use both brakes at the same time.
• Make sure the motorcycle is
Answer — page 40
straight.
OBSTACLES
27• Rise slightly off the seat with your front wheel. Remember, gentle
weight on the footrests to absorb pressure on the rear brake.
the shock with your knees and • The center of a lane can be
elbows, and avoid being thrown off hazardous when wet. When it starts
the motorcycle. to rain, ride in the tire tracks left by
• Just before contact, roll on the cars. Often, the left tire track will
throttle slightly to lighten the front be the best position, depending on
end. traffic and other road conditions as
If you ride over an object on the well.
street, pull off the road and check • Watch for oil spots when you put
your tires and rims for damage before your foot down to stop or park. You
riding any farther. may slip and fall.
• Dirt and gravel collect along the
SLIPPERY SURFACES sides of the road — especially on
Motorcycles handle better when curves and ramps leading to and
ridden on surfaces that permit good from highways. Be aware of what’s
traction. Surfaces that provide poor on the edge of the road, particularly
traction include: when making sharp turns and
• Wet pavement, particularly just getting on or off freeways at high
after it starts to rain and before speeds.
surface oil washes to the side of the
• Rain dries and snow melts faster
road.
on some sections of a road than on
• Gravel roads, or where sand and others. Patches of ice tend to
gravel collect. develop in low or shaded areas and
• Mud, snow, and ice. on bridges and overpasses. Wet
• Lane markings (painted lines), surfaces or wet leaves are just as
steel plates and manhole covers, slippery. Ride on the least slippery
especially when wet. portion of the lane and reduce
To ride safely on slippery surfaces: speed.
• Reduce Speed — Slow down Cautious riders steer clear of
before you get to a slippery surface roads covered with ice or snow. If
to lessen your chances of skidding. you can’t avoid a slippery surface,
Your motorcycle needs more keep your motorcycle straight up and
distance to stop. And, it is proceed as slowly as possible. If you
particularly important to reduce encounter a large surface so slippery
speed before entering wet curves. that you must coast, or travel at a
• Avoid Sudden Moves — Any walking pace, consider letting your
sudden change in speed or direction feet skim along the surface. If the
can cause a skid. Be as smooth as motorcycle starts to fall, you can
possible when you speed up, shift catch yourself. Be sure to keep off
gears, turn or brake. the brakes. If possible, squeeze the
clutch and coast. Attempting this
• Use Both Brakes — The front
maneuver at anything other than the
brake is still effective, even on a
slowest of speeds could prove
slippery surface. Squeeze the brake
hazardous.
lever gradually to avoid locking the
28CROSSTRACKS—RIGHT pavement seams to cross at an angle
of at least 45°. Then, make a quick,
TRACKS AND GRATINGS
sharp turn. Edging across could
catch your tires and throw you off
balance.
GROOVES AND GRATINGS
Riding over rain grooves or
CROSSTRACKS—WRONG bridge gratings may cause a
motorcycle to weave. The uneasy,
wandering feeling is generally not
hazardous. Relax, maintain a steady
speed and ride straight across.
Crossing at an angle forces riders to
zigzag to stay in the lane. The zigzag
is far more hazardous than the
RAILROAD TRACKS, TROLLEY wandering feeling.
TRACKS AND PAVEMENT
SEAMS GRATE CROSSINGS—RIGHT
Usually it is safer to ride straight
within your lane to cross tracks.
Turning to take tracks head-on (at a
90° angle) can be more dangerous —
your path may carry you into another
lane of traffic.
For track and road seams that run
parallel to your course, move far
enough away from tracks, ruts, or GRATE CROSSINGS—WRONG
PARALLEL TRACKS—RIGHT
9 Test Yourself
PARALLEL TRACKS—WRONG When it starts to rain it is usually best to:
A. Ride in the center of the lane.
B. Pull off to the side until the rain
stops.
C. Ride in the tire tracks left by cars.
D. Increase your speed.
Answer — page 40
29MECHANICAL PROBLEMS STUCK THROTTLE
You can find yourself in an Twist the throttle back and forth
MECHANICAL PROBLEMS
emergency the moment something several times. If the throttle cable is
goes wrong with your motorcycle. In stuck, this may free it. If the throttle
dealing with any mechanical stays stuck immediately operate the
problem, take into account the road engine cut-off switch and pull in the
and traffic conditions you face. Here clutch at the same time. This will
are some guidelines that can help you remove power from the rear wheel,
handle mechanical problems safely. though engine noise may not
immediately decline. Once the
TIRE FAILURE motorcycle is “under control,” pull
You will seldom hear a tire go off and stop.
flat. If the motorcycle starts handling After you have stopped, check the
differently, it may be a tire failure. throttle cable carefully to find the
This can be dangerous. You must be source of the trouble. Make certain
able to tell from the way the the throttle works freely before you
motorcycle reacts. If one of your tires start to ride again.
suddenly loses air, react quickly to
keep your balance. Pull off and WOBBLE
check the tires. A “wobble” occurs when the
If the front tire goes flat, the front wheel and handlebars suddenly
steering will feel “heavy.” A front- start to shake from side to side at any
wheel flat is particularly hazardous speed. Most wobbles can be traced to
because it affects your steering. You improper loading, unsuitable
have to steer well to keep your accessories, or incorrect tire pressure.
balance. If you are carrying a heavy load,
lighten it. If you can’t, shift it. Center
If the rear tire goes flat, the back the weight lower and farther forward
of the motorcycle may jerk or sway on the motorcycle. Make sure tire
from side to side. pressure, spring pre-load, air shocks,
If either tire goes flat while and dampers are at the settings
riding: recommended for that much weight.
• Hold handlegrips firmly, ease off Make sure windshields and fairings
the throttle, and keep a straight are mounted properly.
course. Check for poorly adjusted
steering; worn steering parts; a front
• If braking is required, however,
wheel that is bent, misaligned, or out
gradually apply the brake of the tire
of balance; loose wheel bearings or
that isn’t flat, if you are sure which
spokes; and worn swingarm bearings.
one it is.
If none of these are determined to be
• When the motorcycle slows, edge the cause, have the motorcycle
to the side of the road, squeeze checked out thoroughly by a qualified
clutch and stop. professional.
Trying to “accelerate out of a
wobble” will only make the
motorcycle more unstable. Instead:
30• Grip the handlebars firmly, but ENGINE SEIZURE
don’t fight the wobble. When the engine “locks” or
• Close the throttle gradually to “freezes” it is usually low on oil. The
slow down. Do not apply the engine’s moving parts can’t move
brakes; braking could make the smoothly against each other, and the
wobble worse. engine overheats. The first sign may
be a loss of engine power or a change
• Move your weight as far forward
in the engine’s sound. Squeeze the
and down as possible.
clutch lever to disengage the engine
• Pull off the road as soon as you from the rear wheel. Pull off the road
can to fix the problem. and stop. Check the oil. If needed, oil
should be added as soon as possible
10 Test Yourself or the engine will seize. When this
happens, the effect is the same as a
If your motorcycle starts to wobble: locked rear wheel. Let the engine
A. Accelerate out of the wobble. cool before restarting.
B. Use the brakes gradually.
C. Grip the handlebars firmly and
close the throttle gradually.
ANIMALS
D. Downshift. Naturally, you should do
Answer — page 40 everything you safely can to avoid
hitting an animal. If you are in traffic,
however, remain in your lane. Hitting
CHAIN PROBLEMS something small is less dangerous to
A chain that slips or breaks while you than hitting something big —
you’re riding could lock the rear like a car.
wheel and cause your cycle to skid. Motorcycles seem to attract dogs.
Chain slippage or breakage can be If you are chased, downshift and
avoided by proper maintenance. approach the animal slowly. As you
• Slippage — If the chain slips when approach it, accelerate away and
you try to speed up quickly or leave the animal behind. Don’t kick
ride uphill, pull off the road. at an animal. Keep control of your
Check the chain and sprockets. motorcycle, and look to where you
Tightening the chain may help. If want to go.
the problem is a worn or For larger animals (deer, elk,
stretched chain or worn or bent cattle) brake and prepare to stop, they
sprockets, replace the chain, the are unpredictable.
sprockets, or both before riding
again.
11 Test Yourself
• Breakage — You’ll notice an
instant loss of power to the rear If you are chased by a dog:
wheel. Close the throttle and A. Kick it away.
brake to a stop. B. Stop until the animal loses interest.
C. Swerve around the animal.
D. Approach the animal slowly, then
speed up.
Answer — page 40
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