2008 motorcycle handbook

8/8/2019 2008 Motorcycle Handbook

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Motorcycleoperator

Manual


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2

preface

Operating a motorcycle saelyin trac requires special skills andknowledge. The Motorcycle SaetyFoundation (MSF) has made this manualavailable to help novice motorcyclistsreduce their risk o having a crash. Themanual conveys essential sae ridinginormation and has been designedor use in licensing programs. Whiledesigned or the novice, all motorcyclistscan benet rom the inormation thismanual contains.

The original Motorcycle OperatorManual was developed by the NationalPublic Services Research Institute (NPSRI)under contract to the National HighwayTrac Saety Administration (NHTSA)and within the terms o a cooperativeagreement between NHTSA and the

MSF. The manual and related testswere used in a multi-year study oimproved motorcycle operator licensingprocedures, conducted by the CaliorniaDepartment o Motor Vehicles undercontract to NHTSA.

The purpose o this manual is toeducate the reader to help avoid crasheswhile saely operating a motorcycle. For

this edition, the MSF has updated andexpanded the content o the originalmanual.

These revisions refect:

Thelatestndingofmotorcycle-saety research.

Commentsandguidanceprovidedby the motorcycling, licensing andtrac saety communities.

Expandedalcoholanddruginormation.

In promoting improved licensing

programs, the MSF works closely withstate licensing agencies. The Foundationhas helped more than hal the statesin the nation adopt the MotorcycleOperator Manual or use in theirlicensing systems.

Improved licensing, along with high-quality motorcycle rider education andincreased public awareness, has thepotential to reduce crashes. Sta at theFoundation are available to assist state,private and governmental agencies ineorts to improve motorcycle saety.

Tim BuchePresident,Motorcycle Safety Foundation

2 Jenner, Suite 150Irvine, CA 92618-3806

www.ms-usa.org


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THE TOP FIVE REASONS MOTORCYCLISTS CRASH ON UTAH HIGWAYSBASED ON 2005 STATISTICS PROVIDED BY THE UTAH DEPARTMENT OFPUBLIC SAFETYS HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICE:

Following too close 9.5%Driving under the influence 8.3%Improper lookout 6.2%Speeding 6.2%Reckless driving 6.2%


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CONTENTS

Motorcycling in Utah .....................UT 1

PREPARINGTO RIDE

WEAR THE RIGHT GEAR ....................4Helmet Use ........................................4Helmet Selection................................4Eye and Face Protection....................5Clothing..............................................6

Know Your Motorcycle........................6The Right Motorcycle for You.............6Borrowing and Lending ......................7Get Familiar with the

Motorcycle Controls ...........................7Check Your Motorcycle ......................8

Know Your Responsibilities ...............9

RIDE WITHINYOUR ABILITIES

Basic Vehicle Control..........................10Body Position.....................................10Shifting Gears ....................................10Braking...............................................11Turning...............................................11

Keeping Your Distance .......................12Lane Positions ...................................12Following Another Vehicle..................13Being Followed...................................14Passing and Being Passed ................14Lane Sharing......................................16Merging Cars .....................................16

Cars Alongside...................................16SEE .......................................................17Intersections ........................................18

Blind Intersections..............................19Passing Parked Cars .........................20Parking at the Roadside.....................20

Increasing Conspicuity .......................21Clothing..............................................21Headlight............................................21Signals ...............................................21

Brake Light.........................................22Using Your Mirrors .............................22Head Checks .....................................23Horn ...................................................23Riding at Night ...................................24

Crash Avoidance .................................24Quick Stops........................................24Swerving or Turning Quickly ..............25

Cornering ............................................26

Handling Dangerous Surfaces .........27Uneven Surfaces and Obstacles .....27Slippery Surfaces ............................28Railroad Tracks, Trolley Tracksand Pavement Seams .....................29Grooves and Gratings .....................29

Mechanical Problems .......................30Tire Failure ......................................30Stuck Throttle ..................................30Wobble ............................................30Chain Problems...............................31Engine Seizure ................................31

Animals ..............................................31Flying Objects ...................................32Getting Off The Road ........................32Carrying Passengers

and Cargo.......................................32Equipment .......................................32Instructing Passengers ....................33Riding With Passengers ..................33Carrying Loads ................................33

Group Riding .....................................34Keep the Group Small .....................34Keep the Group Together................34Keep Your Distance.........................34

BEING IN SHAPETO RIDE

Why This Information Is Important ..36Alcohol And Other Drugs In

Motorcycle Operation....................36Alcohol In The Body .........................37

Blood Alcohol Concentration ...........37Alcohol And The Law........................38

Consequences of Conviction...........38Minimize The Risks ...........................38Step Into Protect Friends .................39Fatigue ...............................................39

EARNING

YOUR LICENSE

Knowledge Test ..................................40On-Motorcycle Skill Test .....................41


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MOTORCYCLING IN UTAH

Motorcycling is a very popular form of recreation as well as transportation forthousands of residents through the Beehive State. Riding is fun, exciting andchallenging, but it has its risks because riders are exposed and vulnerable. The

greatest challenge you face when riding is to avoid accidents and injury.

The basic contents of this motorcycle operator manual have been developed andprovided by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and discuss motorcycle operationsin general. This section contains information pertaining specifically tomotorcycling in the State of Utah, and is only a part of what every goodmotorcycle rider should know. This section condenses or paraphrases the actuallanguage of the Utah Code. We hope this information will help you enjoy ridingand meet the challenges every rider faces on our streets and highways.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Every motorcycle and every other type of motor-driven cycle (bicycles withmotors, etc.) shall be equipped with the following items:

1 head lamp 1 tail lamp either a tail lamp or separate lamp to illuminate the rear license

plate with a white light one red reflector on the rear one stop lamp a braking system a horn or warning device a muffler and emission control system which complies with Utah

requirements a mirror depth of tire tread no less than 2/32 inch foot rests for any passenger handlebars not higher than shoulder height

It is unlawful for a person to operate a motor vehicle upon Utah highways unlessthe vehicle is in safe and good mechanical condition and all required equipmentis in good working order.

UT 1


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PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR (HELMETS)

Everyone is encouraged to always wear an approved helmet when riding amotorcycle. It is against the law for anyone under the age of 18 to operate or rideupon a motorcycle or any type of motor-driven cycle upon a public street or

highway unless he/she is wearing protective headgear which complies withFederal standards.

SAFETY INSPECTIONS

The law states that if a motor vehicle requiring State registration is operated onUtah streets or highways, then that vehicle must pass an annual safetyinspection. The safety inspection certificate will be needed at the time ofregistration or registration renewal. In addition to a safety inspection, some areasin the State also require an emission test.

REGISTRATION

Unless exempted, a person may not operate a motorcycle in Utah unless it hasbeen registered in accordance with Utah statutes. Utah registration is required forany motor vehicle within sixty days of the owner-establishing residency in thisState.

Residency in Utah is established when an individual has established a domicile

in the State; remains in the State for a period of six months or more during anycalendar year; engages in a trade, profession, or occupation in the State; oraccepts employment in other than seasonal work and does not commute into theState.

INSURANCE

You may be required to state in writing or present other reasonable evidence thatyou (not the bank, loan company or lien holder) have owners insurance (orsimilar security) in effect at the time of registering, obtaining license plates for, or

a safety inspection of your motorcycle. The law also states that any personoperating a motorcycle shall have in his/her immediate possession evidence ofinsurance for that vehicle. Failure to provide proof of insurance when requestedby a peace officer can result in having to surrender your driver license. Anyadditional violations of this law can result in having to surrender the registrationfor your vehicle.

LICENSE

License means the privilege to drive a motor vehicle. License certificate(usually referred to as a driver license) means the evidence of the privilegeissued to drive a motor vehicle.

UT 2


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Our laws require that everyone operating a motorcycle on Utah public roads andhighways must have in his/her possession a valid driver license with anendorsement for operating motorcycles. A temporary learner permit can beissued if the applicant is at least 16 years old, and has a valid Class D orCommercial Driver License and has passed the vision test and the required

motorcycle written test. To obtain a learner permit, you must go to a driverlicense office, complete the application process and pay the fee. A learner permitis valid for six months. For the first two months from the date a motorcyclelearner permit is issued, the operator of a motorcycle holding the motorcyclelearner permit may not operate a motorcycle on a highway with a posted speedof 60 miles per hour or more, may not carry passengers, and ride during thenighttime hours after 10 P.M. and before 6 A.M. For the third through sixthmonths from the date a motorcycle learner permit is issued, the operator of amotorcycle learner permit may operate a motorcycle without any restrictionsimposed.

NOTE: Anyone younger than 19 years old must hold the motorcycle learnerpermit for two months. The two-month requirement may be waived upon proof ofcompletion of the Beginning Rider Course (BRC). See page UT 9 for moreinformation.

You must provide your own motorcycle for the skill or driving test at the driverlicense office. Utah will be using tiered licensing for all motorcycle riding skillstests. If the motorcycle you use in the test is less than 90cc, you will be

authorized to ride motorcycles up to only 90cc in size. If the motorcycle you useduring the test is less than 249 cc, you will be authorized to ride any motorcycleless than 249 cc. If the motorcycle you use is less than 649 cc, you will beauthorized to ride any motorcycle less than 649 cc. If you test on a motorcycle650 cc or greater, you will be authorized to ride any size motorcycle.

NOTE: Motorcycle skills tests are given by appointment only in most offices.

MOTORCYCLE SKILL TEST

On the next page are drawings of the six parts of the motorcycle skill testapplicants must complete to obtain a motorcycle endorsement.

NOTE: Due to space availability at some driver license offices, the test maybe adjusted in some areas.

UT 3


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Sharp Turn Cone Weave & Quick Stop Obstacle Swerve& Normal Stop U-Turn

TRAFFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS

All operators of any motor vehicle, including motorcycles, must comply with thesame traffic rules and regulations. Some items that may be of specific interest toyou are listed below for your information. (All of the items pertain to motorcyclesand motor-driven cycles.)

When operating a motorcycle, you must have in your immediatepossession a valid driver license which authorizes operation of amotorcycle.

When operating a motorcycle, you must have proof of financialresponsibility (insurance) in your immediate possession.

Motorcycles are permitted to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)Lanes.

UT 4


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A person operating a motor vehicle in Utah is considered to havegiven his/her consent to a chemical test or tests for the purposeof determining whether he/she was operating the vehicle underthe influence of alcohol, any drug, or combination of alcohol andany drug. Failure to comply with the request of a peace officer totake a test or tests will result in revocation of driving privileges.

You must signal your intention to turn right or left or to changelanes for at least TWO seconds before beginning the turn or lanechange.

Upon the approach of an authorized emergency vehicle usingaudible (sirens, etc.) and/or visual signals (flashing lights, etc.),you must yield the right-of-way and immediately move to theright-hand edge or curb of the road or highway and stop. You areto remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed.

You cannot carry another person on a motorcycle unless it hasbeen designed to carry more than one person. The passengermust ride upon the permanent and regular seat, if designed fortwo persons, or upon another approved seat firmly attached tothe motorcycle. The additional seat must not degrade or interferewith the safe control of the motorcycle.

It is unlawful to operate a motorcycle while carrying a package,

bundle, or other article which prevents you from keeping bothhands on the handlebars.

All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane.

You may not overtake or pass in the same lane that is occupiedby the vehicle you are passing.

It is unlawful to ride a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or rowsof vehicles.

Motorcycles may not be operated more than two abreast in asingle lane.

It is unlawful to throw any lighted material from a moving vehicle.

Every vehicle shall be equipped, maintained and operated insuch a manner as to prevent excessive and/or unusual noise.

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No person under 16 years of age, whether resident ornonresident of Utah, may operate a motor vehicle upon any roador highway of the State. (Some exceptions to this rule do exist foroff-highway vehicles and for individuals with instruction orpractice permits.)

If a person moves from the address on his/her license applicationor on the license certificate issued to him/her, the person shallwithin ten days of moving, notify the Driver License Division inwriting of his/her new address.

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES

This section is included in the handbook for the many users of off-highwayvehicles (OHV) in Utah. The following items are not all-inclusive and do notcontain all pertinent information, but are provided only as a guide for those whomight be interested. For more information regarding OHV rules, regulations,registration information, etc., please contact the Utah Parks and RecreationDivision at 538-7435, or (800) 648-7433, or the web address ofwww.stateparks.utah.gov..

Any person operating an OHV is subject to the provisions of the

Utah traffic Rules and Regulations, unless specifically excluded.

OHV operators and passengers under 18 years of age arerequired to wear properly fitted, safety rated protective headgear.(It is recommended that everyone riding an OHV wear a helmet.)

A person may not operate an OHV unless he/she possesses avalid driver license issued by the Driver License Division or theappropriate safety certificate issued by the Division of Parks and

Recreation.

No person who is at least eight years old but still under 16 yearsof age may operate and no owner may give that personpermission to operate an OHV on any public land, trail, street orhighway unless the person has in his/her possession theappropriate safety certificate issued by the Division of Parks andRecreation. (This provision applies only to Utah residents.)

The Division of Parks and Recreation issue safety certificates to

individuals who successfully complete the OHV safety educationand training program or pass the knowledge and skills testestablished.

UT 6
http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/


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No person may operate or transport any OHV on any public land,trail, street or highway unless the OHV has been registered forthe current year.

Out of state OHV operated with in the State of Utah are requiredto be registered in their home state. Any nonresident owning an

OHV who operates or gives another person permission tooperate the OHV on any public land, trail, street, or highway inthis state shall: apply for an off-highway vehicle decal issued exclusively for

an OHV owned by a nonresident of the state; pay an annual OHV user fee; and Provide evidence that the person is a non-resident, and the

person is the owner of the OHV.

NOTE: The above does not apply if the OHV is registered in a state that offers

reciprocal operating privileges to Utah residents or if OHV is used in acompetitive event.

It is unlawful for an OHV to be operated along, across, or withinthe boundaries of an interstate freeway or controlled accesshighway.

An OHV may not be operated on any street or highway notdesignated as open to OHV use, except when crossing a street

or highway; loading or unloading an OHV from a vehicle or trailer;or when an emergency exists.

Snowmobiles may be operated on streets or highways whichhave been officially closed for the season to conventional motorvehicle traffic.

No person shall operate an OHV upon privately owned landwithout permission from the owner or a person in charge. It isunlawful to alter, deface or damage any fence, gate or other

enclosure.

Registered OHV shall be equipped with: brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and

hold the vehicle, headlights and taillights when the OHV is operated between

sunset and sunrise, a noise control device, and a safety flag when operated on sand dunes.

a spark arrester (except snowmobiles).

UT 7


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STREET LEGAL ATVSRegistrationA street-legal all-terrain vehicle is subject to a safety inspection the first time thata person registers an off-highway vehicle as a street-legal all-terrain vehicle. Astreet-legal ATV will also need to comply with county motor vehicle emissionsinspections and maintenance programs.

LICENSINGThe street-legal ATV shall comply with the same requirements as a motorcycleas to following traffic rules, licensing, registering, titling, odometer statement,vehicle identification, license plates, and registration fees.

NOTE: If you have a Class D or CDL license with a motorcycle endorsementyou are licensed to drive a street-legal ATV. If you do not have the motorcycleendorsement and you wish to drive a street-legal ATV it will be necessary for youto go to a Driver License office nearest you and take a written and riding skills

test on your street-legal ATV. After successfully completing the tests you willreceive a license with a motorcycle endorsement but you will be restricted toriding street-legal ATVs only.

Highway UseAll-terrain type I or type II vehicles that meet the requirements may be operatedas street-legal ATVs on a street or highway that is a highway with one lane ineach direction.

NOTE: The street-legal ATV operating on a highway may not exceed the lesserof the posted speed limit or 45 miles per hour.

RequirementsA street-legal ATV shall be equipped with:

One or more headlamps One or more tail lamps Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp to illuminate the rear license plate

with a white light One or more red reflectors on the rear

One or more stop lamps on the rear Amber electric turn signals, one on each side front and rear A braking system, other than a parking brake A horn or other warning device A muffler and emission control system which complies with Utah

requirements Rearview mirrors on the left side of the driver A windshield, unless the operator wears eye protection while operating

the vehicle A speedometer, illuminated for nighttime operation For carrying passengers a seat designed for passengers, a footrest, and

handholds for each passenger. For vehicles designed with side-by-sideseating, seatbelts are required for each passenger

REMEMBER: Anyone younger than18 years of age is required to wear a DOTapproved helmet.

UT 8


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UTAH RIDER TRAINING PROGRAM

Get Smart RideSmart

Motorcycling is not only fun and exciting; it is also a practical way to get around.There is no thrill quite like riding a motorcycle. To get the most enjoyment out ofriding and to do it safely, you need special skills and strategies to be able toknow you are in control. Dont learn through trial and error - thats the hard way!

Two rider training courses are offered through the Department of Public Safety tohelp you reduce and/or manage risks and to help make your riding moreenjoyable. The Utah Motorcycle Rider Training Program, which is part of theDriver License Division of the Department of Public Safety, administers thestatewide rider education program. The courses are conducted at approximately

10 sites throughout the State. These courses, developed by the MotorcycleSafety Foundation, will enhance your street survivor skills, whatever your age orexperience.

Basic Rider Course (BRC)

This is a 15-hour basic course (10 hours actual riding), which teaches physicaland mental skills and the responsible attitude necessary for safe, enjoyableriding. In the classroom, youll learn how to create a strategy for riding in traffic

and how to deal with critical situations. On the off-street, protected range, you willlearn in building-block order the proper methods for gear shifting, turning andstopping, as well as emergency braking, swerving and proper corneringtechniques. Motorcycles and helmets are furnished for this course.

BENEFITS The obvious and most important benefit you will have from thiscourse is that you will learn how to operate your motorcycle safely. In addition,many insurance companies offer reduced premiums to BRC graduates and, ifyou apply for a motorcycle endorsement on your Utah driver license within six

months after completing the BRC, the Driver License Division may waive the skill(road) portion of your motorcycle endorsement tests. Some motorcycledistributors/dealers and brand-sponsored clubs will reimburse part or all of thetuition.

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Experienced Rider Course (ERC)

This five hour course is designed specifically for the experienced rider and hassomething for you, whether you have been riding one year or for many years.Some of the things you will learn are how to manage risks, control rear-wheel

skids, detect and avoid hazards and manage traction. The range portion of thecourse will provide you an opportunity to safely reach new limits under the expertguidance of an experienced instructor. You will ride your own motorcycle, so youwill also be able to safely explore the limits of your motorcycle.

BENEFITSIn addition to honing your riding skills and fine-tuning the mental skillsyou need for survival in traffic, you will have a GREAT time! There are also manyinsurance companies which offer reduced premiums to graduates of the ERC. Ifyou apply for a motorcycle endorsement on your Utah driver license with-in sixmonths after completing the ERC, the Driver License Division may waive the skill

(road) portion of your motorcycle endorsement tests if you were tested at the endof the ERC by a certified motorcycle education instructor, and received aMotorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) ERC License WaiverRiderCoursecard.

NOTE: If you take the Basic Rider Course (BRC) or the Experienced RiderCourse (ERC) and you are planning on riding a motorcycle greater than 650 ccyou will either need to pass the riding skills test with the school or with driverlicense using a 650 cc or larger motorcycle.

If you have any questions about theState rider training program or

the classes, please call:1-800-532-7691

or online at

http://driverlicense.utah.gov

UT 10
http://driverlicense.utah.gov/http://driverlicense.utah.gov/


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What you do beore you start a trip goes a long way toward determiningwhether or not youll get where you want to go saely. Beore taking o onany trip, a sae 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

4 preparInG to rIDe

Wear the right gear

When you ride, your gear is righti it protects you. In any crash, you havea ar better chance o avoiding seriousinjury i you wear:

Anapprovedhelmet.

Faceoreyeprotection.

Protectiveclothing.

Helmet Use

Crashes can occur particularlyamong untrained, beginning riders.And one out o every ve motorcyclecrashes results in head or neck injuries.Head injuries are just as severe as neckinjuries and ar more common. Crashanalyses show that head and neckinjuries account or a majority o seriousand atal injuries to motorcyclists.Research also shows that, with ewexceptions, head and neck injuriesare reduced by properly wearing anapproved helmet.

Some riders dont wear helmetsbecause they think helmets will limittheir view to the sides. Others wearhelmets only on long trips or when

riding at high speeds. Here are someacts to consider:

Anapprovedhelmet lets you see

as ar to the sides as necessary. Astudy o more than 900 motorcyclecrashes, where 40% o the riderswore helmets, did not nd even onecase in which a helmet kept a riderrom spotting danger.

Mostcrasheshappen on shorttrips (less than ve miles long), justa ew minutes ater starting out.

Mostriders are riding slower than30 mph when a crash occurs. Atthese speeds, helmets can cut boththe number and the severity o headinjuries by hal.

No matter what the speed, helmetedriders are three times more likely tosurvive head injuries than those notwearing helmets at the time o the

crash.Helmet Selection

There are two primary types ohelmets, providing two dierent levelso coverage: three-quarter and ull ace.

Whichever style you choose, you canget the most protection by making surethat the helmet:


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IsdesignedtomeetU.S.Department o Transportation(DOT) and state standards. Helmetswith a label rom the Snell MemorialFoundation give you an addedassurance o quality.

Fitssnugly, all the way around.

Hasnoobviousdefectssuch ascracks, loose padding or rayedstraps.

Whatever helmet you decide on, keepit securely astened on your head whenyou ride. Otherwise, i you are involvedin a crash, its likely to fy o your head

beore it gets a chance to protect you.

Eye and Face Protection

A plastic shatter-resistant aceshieldcan help protect your whole ace in acrash. It also protects you rom wind,dust, dirt, rain, insects and pebblesthrown up rom cars ahead. Theseproblems are distracting and can be

painul. I you have to deal with them,you cant devote your ull attention tothe road.

Goggles protect your eyes, thoughthey wont protect the rest o your acelike a aceshield does. A windshieldis not a substitute or a aceshield orgoggles. Most windshields will notprotect your eyes rom the wind. Neitherwill eyeglasses or sunglasses. Glasseswont keep your eyes rom watering,and they might blow o when you turnyour head while riding.

To be eective, eye or aceshieldprotection ust:

Befree o scratches.

Beresistant to penetration.

Giveaclearview to either side.

Fastensecurely, so it does notblow o.

Permitair to pass through, toreduce ogging.

Permitenoughroom oreyeglasses or sunglasses, i needed.

Tinted eye protection should not beworn at night or any other time whenlittle light is available.

HelMets


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6 preparInG to rIDe

Clothing

The right clothing protects you ina collision. It also provides comort,

as well as protection rom heat, cold,debris and hot and moving parts o themotorcycle. It can also make you morevisible to others

Jacket and pants should coverarms and legs completely. Theyshould t snugly enough to keeprom fapping in the wind, yet

loosely enough to move reely.Leather oers the most protection.Sturdy synthetic material providesa lot o protection as well. Weara jacket even in warm weather toprevent dehydration. Many aredesigned to protect without gettingyou overheated, even on summerdays.

Bootsorshoes should be highand sturdy enough to cover yourankles and give them support. Solesshould be made o hard, durable,slip-resistant material. Keep heelsshort so they do not catch on roughsuraces. Tuck in laces so they wontcatch on your motorcycle.

Gloves allow a better grip and helpprotect your hands in a crash. Yourgloves should be made o leather orsimilar durable material.

In cold or wet weather, your clothesshould keep you warm and dry, aswell as protect you rom injury. Youcannot control a motorcycle well iyou are numb. Riding or long periods

in cold weather can cause severe chilland atigue. A winter jacket shouldresist wind and t snugly at the neck,wrists and waist. Good-quality rainsuitsdesigned or motorcycle riding resisttearing apart or ballooning up at highspeeds.

KNOW YOUr

MOtOrCYCLe

There are plenty o things on thehighway that can cause you trouble.Your motorcycle should not be oneo them. To make sure that yourmotorcycle wont let you down:

Read the owners manual rst.

Start with the right motorcycle oryou.

Befamiliar with the motorcyclecontrols.

Check the motorcycle beore everyride.

Keep it in sae riding conditionbetween rides.

Avoid add-ons and modicationsthat make your motorcycle harder

to handle.

The Right Motorcycle For You

First, make sure your motorcycle isright or you. It should t you. Youreet should reach the ground whileyou are seated on the motorcycle, andthe controls should be easy to operate.Smaller motorcycles are usually easier

or beginners to operate.

A plastic shatter-resistant aceshield:

A. Is not necessary i you have awindshield.

B. Only protects your eyes.

C. Helps protect your whole ace.

D. Does not protect your ace as wellas goggles.

test yourself 1

Answer - page 41


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7

At iniu, your street-legalotorcycle should have:

Headlight,taillightand

brakelight

Frontandrearbrakes.

Turnsignals.

Horn.

Twomirrors.

Borrowing and Lending

Borrowers and lenders o motorcycles,beware. Crashes are airly commonamong beginning riders especiallyin the rst months o riding. Ridingan unamiliar motorcycle adds to theproblem. I you borrow a motorcycle,get amiliar with it in a controlled area.And i you lend your motorcycle to

riends, make sure they are licensed andknow how to ride beore allowing themout into trac.

No matter how experienced youmay be, ride extra careully on anymotorcycle thats new or unamiliarto you. It takes time to adjust, so giveyoursel a greater margin or errors.

Get Familiar with theMotorcycle Controls

Make sure you are completely amiliar

with the motorcycle beore you takeit out on the street. Be sure to reviewthe owners manual. This is particularlyimportant i you are riding a borrowedmotorcycle.

I you are going to use an unamiliarmotorcycle:

Motorcycle controls

Light Switch (high/low)

Choke (varies)

Turn-SignalSwitch

Ignition Key(varies)

Engine Cut-OffSwitch

Horn Button

Clutch LeverSpeedometer& Odometer

Fuel Supply Valve(if equipped)

Gear-Change Lever

Throttle

Front Brake Lever

Tachometer(if equipped)

Rear Brake Pedal

Kick Starter(if equipped)

ElectricStartButton


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8 preparInG to rIDe

Make all the checks you would onyour own motorcycle.

Findoutwhereeverythingis,

particularly the turn signals, horn,headlight switch, uel-supply valveand engine cut-o switch. Find andoperate these items without havingto look or them.

Knowthegearpattern. Work thethrottle, clutch and brakes a ewtimes beore you start riding. Allcontrols react a little dierently.

Rideverycautiously and be awareo surroundings. Accelerate gently,take turns more slowly and leaveextra room or stopping.

Check Your Motorcycle

A motorcycle needs more requentattention than a car. A minor technical

ailure in a car seldom leads to anythingmore than an inconvenience or thedriver.

I somethings wrong with themotorcycle, youll want to nd outabout it beore you get in trac. Makea complete check o your motorcyclebeore every ride.

Beore ounting the otorcycle,ake the ollowing checks:

Tires Check the air pressure,general wear and tread.

Fluids Oil and fuid levels. At aminimum, check hydraulic fuidsand coolants weekly. Look underthe motorcycle or signs o an oil orgas leak.

HeadlightsandTaillight Checkthem both. Test your switch tomake sure both high and lowbeams are working.

TurnSignals Turn on both rightand let turn signals. Make sure all

More than hal o all crashes:A. Occur at speeds greater than 35

mph.

B. Happen at night.

C. Are caused by worn tires.

D. Involve riders who have ridden theirmotorcycles less than six months.

test yourself 2

Answer - page 41

lights are working properly.

BrakeLight Try both brakecontrols, and make sure each one

turns on the brake light.

Once you have mounted themotorcycle, complete the ollowingchecks beore starting out:

ClutchandThrottle Make surethey work smoothly. The throttleshould snap back when you let go.The clutch should eel tight andsmooth.

Mirrors Clean and adjust bothmirrors beore starting. Its dicultto ride with one hand while youtry to adjust a mirror. Adjust eachmirror so you can see the lanebehind and as much as possible othe lane next to you. When properlyadjusted, a mirror may show theedge o your arm or shoulderbut

its the road behind and to the sidethats most important.

Brakes Try the ront and rearbrake levers one at a time. Makesure each one eels rm and holdsthe motorcycle when the brake isully applied.

Horn Try the horn. Make sure itworks.

In addition to the checks you shouldmake beore every trip, check theollowing items at least once a week:Wheels, cables, asteners and fuidlevels. Follow your owners manual toget recommendations.


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9

KNOW YOUr

reSPONSiBiLitieS

Accident implies an unoreseenevent that occurs without anyones aultor negligence. Most oten in trac, thatis not the case. In act, most peopleinvolved in a crash can usually claimsome responsibility or what takes place.

Consider a situation where someonedecidestotrytosqueezethroughanintersection on a yellow light turning

red. Your light turns green. You pull intothe intersection without checking orpossible latecomers. That is all it takesor the two o you to tangle. It was thedrivers responsibility to stop. And it wasyour responsibility to look beore pullingout. Neither o you held up your endo the deal. Just because someone elseis the rst to start the chain o events

leading to a crash, it doesnt leave anyo us ree o responsibility.

As a rider you cant be sure that otheroperators will see you or yield the righto way. To lessen your chances o acrash occurring:

Bevisible wear proper clothing,use your headlight, ride in the bestlane position to see and be seen.

Communicateyourintentionsuse the proper signals, brake lightand lane position.

Maintainanadequatespacecushion ollowing, beingollowed, lane sharing, passing andbeing passed.

Searchyourpath o travel 12

seconds ahead.Identifyandseparate multiplehazards.

Bepreparedtoact remain alertand know how to carry out propercrash-avoidance skills.

Blame doesnt matter when someoneis injured in a crash. There is rarely a

single cause o any crash. The ability toride aware, make critical decisions andcarry them out separates responsibleriders rom all the rest. Remember, it isup to you to keep rom being the causeo, or an unprepared participant in, anycrash.


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10 rIDe wItHIn your abIlItIes

This manual cannot teach you how to control direction, speed or balance.Thats something you can learn only through practice, preerably in a ormalcourse o instruction like an MSF RiderCourse. But control begins with knowing

your abilities and riding within them, along with knowing and obeying the ruleso the road.

BaSiC VehiCLe CONtrOL

Body Position

To control a otorcycle well:

Posture Sit so you can use your

arms to steer the motorcycle ratherthan to hold yoursel up.

Seat Sit ar enough orward sothat arms are slightly bent whenyou hold the handlegrips. Bendingyour arms permits you to press onthe handlebars without having tostretch.

Hands Hold the handgripsrmly to keep your grip over roughsuraces. Start with your rightwrist fat. This will help you keeprom accidentally using too muchthrottle. Also, adjust the handlebarsso your hands are even with orbelow your elbows. This permitsyou to use the proper muscles orprecision steering.

HolDInG HanDGrIps

right

WrONg

Knees Keep your knees againstthe gas tank to help you keep yourbalance as the motorcycle turns.

Feet Keep your eet rmly on theootrests to maintain balance. Dontdrag your eet. I your oot catcheson something, you could be injuredand it could aect your control othe motorcycle. Keep your eet nearthe controls so you can get to themast i needed. Also, dont let yourtoes point downward they mayget caught between the road andthe ootrests.

Shifting GearsThere is more to shiting gears than

simply getting the motorcycle to pickup speed smoothly. Learning to use thegears when downshiting, turning orstarting on hills is important or saemotorcycle operation.

Shit down through the gears with

the clutch as you slow or stop. Remainin rst gear while you are stopped sothat you can move out quickly i youneed to.

Make certain you are riding slowlyenough when you shit into a lowergear. I not, the motorcycle will lurch,and the rear wheel may skid. Whenriding downhill or shiting into rst gear

you may need to use the brakes to slowenough beore downshiting saely.Work toward a smooth, even clutchrelease, especially when downshiting.


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11

It is best to change gears beoreentering a turn. However, sometimesshiting while in the turn is necessary.

I so, remember to do so smoothly. Asudden change in power to the rearwheel can cause a skid.

Braking

Your motorcycle has two brakes: oneeach or the ront and rear wheel. Useboth o them at the same time. Theront brake is more powerul and can

provide at least three-quarters o yourtotal stopping power. The ront brake issae to use i you use it properly.

Reeber:

Usebothbrakes every time youslow or stop. Using both brakes oreven normal stops will permityou to develop the proper habit orskill o using both brakes properlyinanemergency.Squeezetheront brake and press down on therear. Grabbing at the ront brakeor jamming down on the rear cancause the brakes to lock, resulting incontrol problems.

Ifyouknowthetechnique,using both brakes in a turn is

possible, although it should be donevery careully. When leaning themotorcycle some o the traction isused or cornering. Less tractionis available or stopping. A skidcan occur i you apply too muchbrake. Also, using the ront brakeincorrectly on a slippery suracemaybehazardous.Usecaution

and squeeze the brake lever, nevergrab.

Somemotorcycles have integratedbraking systems that activate theront and rear brakes together

when applying the rear brakepedal. (Consult the owners manualor a detailed explanation on theoperation and eective use o thesesystems.)

Turning

Riders oten try to take curves or turnstoo ast. When they cant hold the turn,

they end up crossing into another laneo trac or going o the road. Or, theyoverreact and brake too hard, causing askid and loss o control. Approach turnsand curves with caution.

Use our steps or better control:

SLOW Reduce speed beore theturn by closing the throttle and, inecessary, applying both brakes.

LOOK Look through the turnto where you want to go. Turn

just your head, not your shoulders,and keep your eyes level with thehorizon.

PRESS To turn, the motorcyclemust lean. To lean the motor-cycle, press on the handgrip in

the direction o the turn. Press lethandgrip lean let go let.Press right handgrip lean right go right. The higher the speed in aturn, the greater the lean angle.

ROLL Roll on the throttle tomaintain or slightly increase speed.Thishelpsstabilizethemotorcycle.


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In normal turns, the rider and themotorcycle should lean together at thesame angle.

slow, tIGHt turns

When riding, you should:

A. Turn your head and shouldersto look through turns.

B. Keep your arms straight.

C. Keep your knees away romthe gas tank.

D. Turn just your head and eyesto look where you are going.

test yourself 3

Answer - page 41

norMal turns

KeePiNg YOUr DiStaNCe

The best protection you can have isdistance a cushion o space allaround your motorcycle. I someone elsemakes a mistake, distance permits you:

Timetoreact.

Spacetomaneuver.Lane Positions

Insomewaysthesizeofthemotorcycle can work to your advantage.Eachtrafclanegivesamotorcyclethree paths o travel, as indicated in theillustration.

Your lane position should:

Increase your ability to see and beseen.

Avoid others blind spots.

Avoidsurfacehazards.

Protect your lane rom otherdrivers.

Communicate your intentions.

Avoid wind blast rom othervehicles.

Provide an escape route.

Select the appropriate path tomaximizeyourspacecushionandmakeyoursel more easily seen by others onthe road.

In slow, tight turns, counterbalance byleaning the motorcycle only and keepingyour body straight.


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13

In general, there is no single bestposition or riders to be seen and tomaintain a space cushion around themotorcycle. No portion o the lane needbe avoided including the center.

Position yoursel in the portion othe lane where you are most likely tobe seen and you can maintain a spacecushion around you. Change positionas trac situations change. Ride in path2 or 3 i vehicles and other potentialproblems are on your let only. Remain

inpath1or2ifhazardsareonyourright only. I vehicles are being operatedon both sides o you, the center o thelane, path 2, is usually your best option.

The oily strip in the center portionthat collects drippings rom cars isusually no more than two eet wide.Unless the road is wet, the averagecenter strip permits adequate traction

to ride on saely. You can operate tothe let or right o the grease strip andstill be within the center portion o thetrac lane. Avoid riding on big buildupso oil and grease usually ound at busyintersections or toll booths.

Following Another Vehicle

Following too closely could be a

actor in crashes involving motorcyclists.In trac, motorcycles need as muchdistance to stop as cars. Normally, aminimum of two seconds distanceshould be maintained behind the vehicleahead.

To gauge your ollowing distance:

Pickoutamarker, such as apavement marking or lamppost, on

or near the road ahead.

Whentherearbumper o thevehicle ahead passes the marker,count o the seconds: one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two.

Ifyoureachthemarker beoreyou reach two, you are ollowingtoo closely.

A two-second ollowing distanceleaves a minimum amount o space tostop or swerve i the driver ahead stopssuddenly. It also permits a better view opotholesandotherhazardsintheroad.

A larger cushion o space is neededi your motorcycle will take longer

lane posItIons


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than normal to stop. I the pavementis slippery, i you cannot see throughthe vehicle ahead, or i trac is heavyandsomeonemaysqueezeinfrontofyou, open up a three-second or moreollowing distance.

Keep well behind the vehicle aheadeven when you are stopped. This willmake it easier to get out o the wayi someone bears down on you rombehind. It will also give you a cushion ospace i the vehicle ahead starts to back

up or some reason.When behind a car, ride where the

driver can see you in the rearview mirror.Riding in the center portion o the laneshould put your image in the middle othe rearview mirror where a driver ismost likely to see you.

Riding at the ar side o a lane maypermit a driver to see you in a sideview

mirror. But remember that most driversdont look at their sideview mirrorsnearly as oten as they check therearview mirror. I the trac situationallows, the center portion o the lane isusually the best place or you to be seenby the drivers ahead and to prevent lanesharing by others.

Being Followed

Speeding up to lose someone

ollowing too closely only ends up withsomeone tailgating you at a higherspeed.

A better way to handle tailgatersis to get them in ront o you. Whensomeone is ollowing too closely,change lanes and let them pass. I youcant do this, slow down and open upextra space ahead o you to allow roomor both you and the tailgater to stop.This will also encourage them to pass.I they dont pass, you will have givenyoursel and the tailgater more time andspace to react in case an emergencydoes develop ahead.

Passing and Being Passed

Passing and being passed by anothervehicle is not much dierent than with a

car. However, visibility is more critical. Besure other drivers see you, and that youseepotentialhazards.

followInG


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15

Passing

1 Ride in the left portion o thelane at a sae ollowing distance

to increase your line o sight andmake you more visible. Signaland check or oncoming trac.Use your mirrors and turn yourhead to look or trac behind.

2.Whensafe, move into the letlane and accelerate. Select a laneposition that doesnt crowd thecar you are passing and providesspacetoavoidhazardsinyourlane.

3 Ride through the blind spot asquickly as possible.

4.Signalagain, and completemirror and headchecks beorereturning to your original laneand then cancel the signal.

Remember,passesmustbe

completed within posted speedlimits,andonlywherepermitted.Know your signs and road markings!

Being Passed

When you are being passed rombehind or by an oncoming vehicle,

stay in the center portion o your lane.Riding any closer to them could put youinahazardoussituation.

Avoid being hit by:

Theothervehicle A slightmistake by you or the passing drivercould cause a sideswipe.

Extendedmirrors Some driversorget that their mirrors hang outarther than their enders.

ObjectsthrownfromwindowsEvenifthedriverknowsyourethere, a passenger may not see youand might toss something on you orthe road ahead o you.

Blastsofwindfromlargervehicles They can aect yourcontrol. You have more room orerror i you are in the middle portionwhen hit by this blast than i youare on either side othe lane.

Do not move into the portion o thelane arthest rom the passing vehicle. Itmight invite the other driver to cut backinto your lane too early.

passInG beInG passeD


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Lane Sharing

Cars and motorcycles need a ull laneto operate saely. Lane sharing is usually

prohibited.

Riding between rows o stopped ormoving cars in the same lane can leaveyou vulnerable to the unexpected. Ahand could come out o a window;a door could open; a car could turnsuddenly. Discourage lane sharing byothers. Keep a center-portion position

whenever drivers might be temptedtosqueezebyyou.Driversaremosttempted to do this:

Inheavy, bumper-to-bumpertrac.

Whenthey want to pass you.

Whenyou are preparing to turn atan intersection.

Whenyou are moving into an exitlane or leaving a highway.

Merging Cars

Drivers on an entrance ramp maynot see you on the highway. Give them

plenty o room. Change to another lanei one is open. I there is no room or alane change, adjust speed to open up

space or the merging driver.Cars Alongside

Do not ride next to cars or trucks inother lanes i you do not have to. Youmight be in the blind spot o a car in thenext lane, which could switch into yourlane without warning. Cars in the nextlane also block your escape i you come

upon danger in your own lane. Speedup or drop back to nd a place clear otrac on both sides.

MerGInG

blInD spots

Usually, a good way to handletailgaters is to:

A. Change lanes and let them pass.

B. Use your horn and makeobscene gestures.

C. Speed up to put distancebetween you and the tailgater.

D. Ignore them.

test yourself 4

Answer - page 41


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17

See

Good experienced riders remainaware o what is going on around them.

They improve their riding strategy byusingMSFsSEESM strategy, a three-step process used to make appropriate

judgments, and apply them correctly indierent trac situations:

Search

Evaluate

Execute

Lets examine each o these steps.

Search

Search aggressively ahead, to thesides and behind to avoid potentialhazardsevenbeforetheyarise.Howassertively you search, and how muchtime and space you have, can eliminate

or reduce harm. Focus even more onnding potential escape routes in oraround intersections, shopping areasandschoolandconstructionzones.

Search or actors such as:

Oncomingtrafc that may turnlet in ront o you.

Trafccoming rom the let and

right.Trafc approaching rom behind.

Hazardous road conditions.

Be especially alert in areas with limitedvisibility. Visually busy surroundingscould hide you and your motorcyclerom others.

EvaluateThinkabouthowhazardscaninteract

to create risks or you. Anticipatepotential problems and have a plan toreduce risks.

Roadandsurfacecharacteristics Potholes, guardrails, bridges,telephone poles and trees wont

move into your path but mayinfuence your riding strategy.

Trafccontroldevices Look ortrac signals, including regulatorysigns, warning signs, and pavementmarkings, to help you evaluatecircumstances ahead.

Vehiclesandothertrafc Maymove into your path and increasethe likelihood o a crash.

Think about your time and spacerequirements in order to maintaina margin o saety. You must leaveyoursel time to react i an emergencyarises.

Execute

Carry out your decision.Tocreatemorespaceandminimize

harmfromanyhazard:

Communicate your presence withlights and/or horn.

Adjustyourspeed by accelerating,stopping or slowing.

Adjustyourposition and/ordirection.

Apply the old adage one step at atimetohandletwoormorehazards.Adjustspeedtopermittwohazardsto separate. Then deal with them oneatatimeassinglehazards.Decision-making becomes more complex withthreeormorehazards.Evaluatethe

consequences o each and give equaldistancetothehazards.


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iNterSeCtiONS

The greatest potential or confictbetween you and other trac is at

intersections. An intersection can bein the middle o an urban area or ata driveway on a residential street anywhere trac may cross your path otravel. Over one-hal o motorcycle/carcrashes are caused by drivers entering ariders right-o-way. Cars that turn let inront o you, including cars turning letrom the lane to your right, and cars on

side streets that pull into your lane, arethebiggestdangers.YouruseofSEE[p. 17] at intersections is critical.

There are no guarantees thatothers see you. Never count on eyecontact as a sign that a driver willyield. Too oten, a driver looks right at amotorcyclist and still ails to see him

or her. The only eyes that you can counton are your own. I a car can enter yourpath, assume that it will. Good ridersare always looking or trouble notto get into it, but to stay out o it.

Increase your chances o beingseen at intersections. Ride with yourheadlight on and in a lane position thatprovides the best view o oncoming

trac. Provide a space cushion aroundthe motorcycle that permits you to takeevasive action.

To reduce your reaction time, youshould:

A. Ride slower than the speedlimit.

B. Cover the clutch and the brakes.

C. Shit into neutral when slowing.

D. Pull in the clutch when turning.

In potential high-risk areas, such asintersections, shopping areas and schoolandconstructionzones,covertheclutch

and both brakes to reduce the time youneed to react.

test yourself 5

sMall IntersectIons

Answer - page 41


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19

As you approach the intersection, selecta lane position that increases your visibilityto the driver. Cover the clutch lever andboth brakes to reduce reaction time.

Reduce your speed as you approachan intersection. Ater entering theintersection, move away rom vehiclespreparing to turn. Do not change speedor position radically. The driver mightthink that you are preparing to turn.

Blind Intersections

I you approach a blind intersection,move to the portion o the lane that willbring you into another drivers eld ovision at the earliest possible moment.In this picture, the rider has moved tothe let portion o the lane awayrom the parked car so the driver onthe cross street can see him as soon aspossible.

Remember, the key is to see as muchas possible and remain visible to otherswhile protecting your space.

blInD IntersectIons

larGe IntersectIons


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I you have a stop sign or stop line,stop there rst. Then edge orwardand stop again, just short o where thecross-trac lane meets your lane. Fromthat position, lean your body orwardand look around buildings, parked carsor bushes to see i anything is coming.Just make sure your ront wheel stays

out o the cross lane o travel whileyoure looking.

Passing Parked Cars

When passing parked cars, staytoward the let o your lane. Youcan avoid problems caused by doorsopening, drivers getting out o carsor people stepping rom between

cars. I oncoming trac is present, itis usually best to remain in the center-lanepositiontomaximizeyourspacecushion.

A bigger problem can occur i thedriver pulls away rom the curb without

checkingfortrafcbehind.Evenifhedoes look, he may ail to see you.

In either event, the driver might cutinto your path. Slow down or changelanes to make room or someonecutting in.

Cars making a sudden U-turn are

the most dangerous. They may cutyou o entirely, blocking the wholeroadway and leaving you with noplace to go. Since you cant tell what adriver will do, slow down and get thedrivers attention. Sound your horn andcontinue with caution.

Parking at the Roadside

Park at a 90 angle to the curb withyour rear wheel touching the curb.

Making eye contact with otherdrivers:

A. Is a good sign they see you.

B. Is not worth the eort it takes.

C. Doesnt mean that the driver will yield.

D. Guarantees that the other driver willyield to you.

test yourself 6

stop sIGns parkeD cars

parkInG at curbs

Answer - page 41


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21

iNCreaSiNg

CONSPiCUitY

In crashes with motorcyclists, driversoten say that they never saw themotorcycle. From ahead or behind, amotorcycles outline is much smallerthan a cars. Also, its hard to seesomething you are not looking or,and most drivers are not looking ormotorcycles. More likely, they arelooking through the skinny, two-wheeled silhouette in search o cars thatmay pose a problem to them.

Evenifadriverdoesseeyoucoming,you arent necessarily sae. Smallervehicles appear arther away and seemto be traveling slower than they actuallyare. It is common or drivers to pull outin ront o motorcyclists, thinking theyhave plenty o time. Too oten, they are

wrong.However, you can do many things to

makeiteasierforotherstorecognizeyou and your motorcycle.

Clothing

Most crashes occur in broad daylight.Wear bright-colored clothing to increaseyour chances o being seen. Remember,your body is hal o the visible suracearea o the rider/motorcycle unit.

Bright orange, red, yellow or greenjackets or vests are your best bets orbeing seen. Your helmet can do morethan protect you in a crash. Brightlycolored helmets can also help others seeyou.

Any bright color is better than drabor dark colors. Refective, bright-coloredclothing (helmet and jacket or vest) isbest.

Refective material on a vest and onthe sides o the helmet will help drivers

coming rom the side to spot you.Refective material can also be a big helpor drivers coming toward you or rom

behind.Headlight

The best way to help others see yourmotorcycle is to keep the headlight on at all times (new motorcycles soldin the USA since 1978 automaticallyhave the headlights on when running).Studies show that, during the day, a

motorcycle with its light on is twice aslikely to be noticed. Use low beam atnight and in og.

Signals

The signals on a motorcycle are similarto those on a car. They tell others whatyou plan to do.

sIGnalInG


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However, due to a riders addedvulnerability, signals are even moreimportant. Use them anytime you plan

to change lanes or turn. Use them evenwhen you think no one else is around.Its the car you dont see thats going togive you the most trouble. Your signallights also make you easier to spot.Thats why its a good idea to use yourturn signals even when what you planto do is obvious.

When you enter a reeway, drivers

approaching rom behind are more likelyto see your signal blinking and makeroom or you.

Turning your signal light on beoreeach turn reduces conusion andrustration or the trac around you.Once you turn, make sure your signal iso or a driver may pull directly into yourpath, thinking you plan to turn again.Use your signals at every turn so driverscan react accordingly. Dont make themguess what you intend to do.

Brake Light

Your motorcycles brake light is usuallynot as noticeable as the brake lights ona car particularly when your taillightis on. (It goes on with the headlight.)I the situation will permit, help othersnotice you by fashing your brake lightbeore you slow down. It is especiallyimportant to fash your brake lightbeore:

Youslowmorequickly thanothers might expect (turning o ahigh-speed highway).

Youslowwhere others may notexpect it (in the middle o a block orat an alley).

I you are being ollowed closely, itsa good idea to fash your brake lightbeore you slow. The tailgater may bewatching you and not see somethingahead that will make you slow down.This will hopeully discourage them romtailgatingandwarnthemofhazardsahead they may not see.

Using Your MirrorsWhile its most important to keep

track o whats happening ahead, youcant aord to ignore situations behind.Trac conditions change quickly.Knowing whats going on behind isessential or you to make a sae decisionabout how to handle trouble ahead.

Frequent mirror checks should be parto your normal searching routine. Makea special point o using your mirrors:

Whenyouarestopped at anintersection. Watch cars coming uprom behind. I the drivers arentpaying attention, they could be ontop o you beore they see you.

Beforeyouchangelanes.Make

sure no one is about to pass you.

Beforeyouslowdown.The driverbehind may not expect you to slow,or may be unsure about where youwill slow. For example, you signal aturn and the driver thinks you planto turn at a distant intersection,rather than at a nearer driveway.


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23

Some motorcycles have rounded(convex) mirrors. These provide a widerview o the road behind than do fatmirrors. They also make cars seemarther away than they really are. Iyou are not used to convex mirrors,get amiliar with them. (While you are

stopped, pick out a parked car in your

irror. For a ental iage o howar away it is. Then, turn around andlook at it to see how close you cae.)Practice with your mirrors until youbecomeagoodjudgeofdistance.Eventhen, allow extra distance beore youchange lanes.

usInG MIrrorsHead Checks

Checking your mirrors is not enough.Motorcycles have blind spots like

cars. Beore you change lanes, turn yourhead, and look to the side or othervehicles.

On a road with several lanes, checkthe ar lane and the one next to you. Adriver in the distant lane may head orthe same space you plan to take.

Frequent head checks should be

your normal scanning routine, also.Only by knowing what is happeningall around you are you ully preparedto deal with it.

Horn

Be ready to use your horn to getsomeones attention quickly.

It is a good idea to give a quick beepbeore passing anyone that may moveinto your lane.

Here are soe situations:

Adriver in the lane next to youis driving too closely to the vehicleahead and may want to pass.

Aparkedcar has someone in the

drivers seat.Someoneisinthestreet, riding a

bicycle or walking.

In an emergency, press the hornbutton loud and long. Be ready to stopor swerve away rom the danger.

Keep in mind that a motorcycles hornisnt as loud as a cars thereore, use

it, but dont rely on it. Other strategies,like having time and space to maneuver,may be appropriate along with thehorn.


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Riding at Night

At night it is harder or you to seeand be seen. Picking your headlight

or taillight out o the car lights aroundyou is not easy or other drivers. Tocompensate, you should:

ReduceYourSpeed Ride evenslower than you would during theday particularly on roads youdont know well. This will increaseyourchancesofavoidingahazard.

IncreaseDistance Distances

are harder to judge at night thanduring the day. Your eyes rely uponshadows and light contrasts todetermine how ar away an objectis and how ast it is coming. Thesecontrasts are missing or distortedunder articial lights at night.Open up a three-second ollowingdistance or more. And allow moredistance to pass and be passed.

UsetheCarAhead Theheadlights o the car ahead can giveyou a better view o the road thaneven your high beam can. Taillightsbouncing up and down can alertyou to bumps or rough pavement.

UseYourHighBeam Get all thelight you can. Use your high beamwhenever you are not ollowing

or meeting a car. Be visible: Wearrefective materials when riding atnight.

BeFlexibleAboutLanePosition.Change to whatever portion o thelane is best able to help you see, beseen and keep an adequate spacecushion.

CraSh aVOiDaNCe

No matter how careul you are, therewill be times when you nd yoursel in a

tight spot. Your chances o getting outsaely depend on your ability to reactquickly and properly. Oten, a crashoccurs because a rider is not prepared orskilled in crash-avoidance maneuvers.

Know when and how to stop orswerve, two skills critical in avoidinga crash. It is not always desirable orpossible to stop quickly to avoid an

obstacle. Riders must also be able toswerve around an obstacle. Deter-mining which skill is necessary or thesituation is important as well.

Studies show that ost crash-involved riders:

Underbrake the ront tire andoverbrake the rear.

Didnot separate braking romswerving or did not chooseswerving when it was appropriate.

The ollowing inormation oerssome good advice.

Quick Stops

To stop quickly, apply both brakesat the same time. Dont be shy aboutusing the ront brake, but dont grabit,either.Squeezethebrakeleverrmly and progressively. I the rontwheel locks, release the ront brakeimmediately then reapply it rmly. Atthe same time, press down on therear brake. I you accidentally lock therear brake on a good traction surace,you can keep it locked until you havecompletely stopped; but, even with alocked rear wheel, you can control themotorcycle on a straightaway i it isupright and going in a straight line.

Refective clothing should:

A. Be worn at night.

B. Be worn during the day.

C. Not be worn.

D. Be worn day and night

test yourself 7

Answer - page 41


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against the tank and your eet solidly onthe ootrests. Let the motorcycle moveunderneath you. Make your escape

route the target o your vision. Presson the opposite handgrip once youclear the obstacle to return you to youroriginal direction o travel. To swerve tothe let, press the let handgrip, thenpress the right to recover. To swerve tothe right, press right, then let.

IFBRAKINGISREQUIRED,SEPARATEITFROMSWERVING.Brakebeforeor

ater never while swerving.

Cornering

A primary cause o single-vehiclecrashes is motorcyclists running wide in

a curve or turn and colliding with theroadway or a xed object.

Everycurveisdifferent.Bealerttowhether a curve remains constant,gradually widens, gets tighter orinvolves multiple turns.

Ride within your skill level and postedspeed limits.

Your best path may not always ollowthe curve o the road.

constant curves

DecreasInG curves(tIGHter turns)

MultIple curves

wIDenInG curves


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27

Change lane position depending ontrac, road conditions and curve othe road. I no trac is present, start at

the outside o a curve to increase yourline o sight and the eective radius othe turn. As you turn, move toward theinside o the curve, and as you pass thecenter, move to the outside to exit.

Another alternative is to move to thecenter o your lane beore entering acurve and stay there until you exit.This permits you to spot approaching

trac as soon as possible. You can alsoadjust or trac crowding the centerline, or debris blocking part o your lane.

haNDLiNg DaNgerOUS

SUrFaCeS

Your chance o alling or beinginvolved in a crash increases wheneveryou ride across:

Unevensurfacesorobstacles.

Slipperysurfaces.

Railroadtracks.

Groovesandgratings.

Uneven Surfaces andObstacles

Watch or uneven suraces such asbumps, broken pavement, potholes orsmall pieces o highway trash.

Try to avoid obstacles by slowing orgoing around them. I you must goover the obstacle, rst determine i it ispossible. Approach it at as close to a 90angle as possible. Look where you wantto go to control your path o travel. Iyou have to ride over the obstacle, youshould:

Slowdown as much as possiblebeore contact.

Makesure the motorcycle isstraight.

obstacles

The best way to stop quickly is to:

A. Use the ront brake only.

B. Use the rear brake rst.

C. Throttle down and use the rontbrake.

D. Use both brakes at the same time.

test yourself 8

Answer - page 41


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Riseslightly o the seat with yourweight on the ootrests to absorbthe shock with your knees andelbows, and avoid being thrown o

the motorcycle.

Justbeforecontact, roll on thethrottle slightly to lighten the rontend.

I you ride over an object on thestreet, pull o the road and check yourtires and rims or damage beore ridingany arther.

Slippery Surfaces

Motorcycles handle better whenridden on suraces that permit goodtraction. Suraces that provide poortraction include:

Wetpavement, particularly justater it starts to rain and beoresurace oil washes to the side o the

road.Gravelroads, or where sand and

gravel collect.

Mud,snow,andice.

Lanemarkings(paintedlines),steel plates and manhole covers,especially when wet.

To ride saely on slippery suraces:

ReduceSpeed Slow downbeore you get to a slipperysurace to lessen your chances oskidding. Your motorcycle needsmore distance to stop. And it isparticularly important to reducespeed beore entering wet curves.

AvoidSuddenMoves Anysudden change in speed or direction

can cause a skid. Be as smooth aspossible when you speed up, shitgears, turn or brake.

UseBothBrakes The rontbrake is still eective, even on aslipperysurface.Squeezethebrake

lever gradually to avoid locking theront wheel. Remember, gentlepressure on the rear brake.

Thecenterofalane can behazardouswhenwet.Whenitstartsto rain, ride in the tire tracks let bycars. Oten, the let tire track willbe the best position, depending ontrac and other road conditions aswell.

Watchforoilspotswhen you putyour oot down to stop or park. Youmay slip and all.

Dirtandgravel collect along thesides o the road especially oncurves and ramps leading to androm highways. Be aware o whatson the edge o the road, particularlywhen making sharp turns andgetting on or o reeways at highspeeds.

Raindriesandsnowmeltsfasteron some sections o a road thanon others. Patches o ice tend todevelop in low or shaded areas andon bridges and overpasses. Wetsuraces or wet leaves are just asslippery. Ride on the least slipperyportion o the lane and reducespeed.

Cautious riders steer clear o roads

covered with ice or snow. I you cantavoid a slippery surace, keep yourmotorcycle straight up and proceedasslowlyas possible. I you encountera large surace so slippery that youmust coast, or travel at a walking pace,consider letting your eet skim alongthe surace. I the motorcycle starts toall, you can catch yoursel. Be sure to

keepoffthebrakes.Ifpossible,squeezethe clutch and coast. Attempting thismaneuver at anything other thanthe slowest o speeds could provehazardous.


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29

RailroadTracks,TrolleyTracksand Pavement Seams

Usually it is saer to ride straight withinyour lane to cross tracks. Turning to taketracks head-on (at a 90 angle) can bemore dangerous your path may carryyou into another lane o trac.

crosstracksrIGHt

crosstrackswronG

parallel tracksrIGHt

Grate crossInGsrIGHt

parallel trackswronG

Grate crossInGswronG

For track and road seams that runparallel to your course, move ar enoughaway rom tracks, ruts, or pavementseams to cross at an angle o at least

45. Then, make a deliberate turn.Edgingacrosscouldcatchyourtiresandthrow you o balance.

Grooves and GratingsRiding over rain grooves or bridge

gratings may cause a motorcycle toweave. The uneasy, wandering eeling isgenerallynothazardous.Relax,maintaina steady speed and ride straight across.

Crossing at an angle orces riders tozigzagtostayinthelane.Thezigzagisfarmorehazardousthanthewanderingeeling.

When it starts to rain it is usuallybest to:

A. Ride in the center o the lane.

B. Pull o to the side until the rainstops.

C. Ride in the tire tracks let by cars.

D. Increase your speed.

test yourself 9

Answer - page 41


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MeChaNiCaL PrOBLeMS

You can nd yoursel in an emergencythe moment something goes wrong

with your motorcycle. In dealing withany mechanical problem, take intoaccount the road and trac conditionsyou ace. Here are some guidelinesthat can help you handle mechanicalproblems saely.

Tire Failure

You will seldom hear a tire go fat.

I the motorcycle starts handlingdierently, it may be a tire ailure. Thiscan be dangerous. You must be able totell rom the way the motorcycle reacts.I one o your tires suddenly loses air,react quickly to keep your balance. Pullo and check the tires.

I the ront tire goes fat, the steering

will eel heavy. A ront-wheel fat isparticularlyhazardousbecauseitaffectsyour steering. You have to steer well tokeep your balance.

I the rear tire goes fat, the back othe motorcycle may jerk or sway romside to side.

I either tire goes fat while riding:

Holdhandgrips rmly, ease o thethrottle, and keep a straight course.

Ifbrakingisrequired,however,gradually apply the brake o the tirethat isnt fat, i you are sure whichone it is.

Whenthemotorcycleslows,edge to the side o the road,

squeezetheclutchandstop.

Stuck Throttle

Twist the throttle back and orthseveral times. I the throttle cable is

stuck, this may ree it. I the throttlestays stuck, immediately operate theengine cut-o switch and pull in theclutch at the same time. This will removepower rom the rear wheel, thoughengine sound may not immediatelydecline. Once the motorcycle is undercontrol, pull o and stop.

Ater you have stopped, check thethrottle cable careully to nd the sourceo the trouble. Make certain the throttleworks reely beore you start to rideagain.

Wobble

A wobble occurs when the rontwheel and handlebars suddenly start

to shake rom side to side at anyspeed. Most wobbles can be traced toimproper loading, unsuitable accessoriesor incorrect tire pressure. I you arecarrying a heavy load, lighten it. I youcant, shit it. Center the weight lowerand arther orward on the motorcycle.Make sure tire pressure, spring pre-load, air shocks and dampers are at the

settings recommended or that muchweight. Make sure windshields andairings are mounted properly.

Check or poorly adjusted steering;worn steering parts; a ront wheel thatis bent, misaligned, or out o balance;loose wheel bearings or spokes; andworn swingarm bearings. I none othese is determined to be the cause,

have the motorcycle checked outthoroughly by a qualied proessional.


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31

Trying to accelerate out o awobble will only make the motorcyclemore unstable. Instead:

Gripthehandlebarsrmly, butdont ght the wobble.

Closethethrottlegraduallyto slow down. Do not apply thebrakes; braking could make thewobble worse.

Moveyourweight as ar orwardand down as possible.

Pullofftheroad as soon as youcan to x the problem.

I your motorcycle starts to wobble:

A. Accelerate out o the wobble.

B. Use the brakes gradually.

C. Grip the handlebars rmly and close

the throttle gradually.D. Downshit.

test yourself 10

Drive Train Problems

The drive train or a motorcycle useseither a chain, belt, or drive shat totranser power rom the engine tothe rear wheel. Routine inspection,

adjustment, and maintenance makesailure a rare occurrence. A chain or beltthat slips or breaks while youre ridingcould lock the rear wheel and causeyour motorcycle to skid.

I the chain or belt breaks, youllnotice an instant loss o power to therear wheel. Close the throttle and brake

to a stop in a sae area.On models with a drive shat, loss o oilin the rear dierential can cause the rearwheel to lock, and you may not be ableto prevent a skid.

Engine Seizure

When the engine locks orfreezesitisusuallylowonoil.The

engines moving parts cant movesmoothly against each other, and theengine overheats. The rst sign may bea loss o engine power or a change intheenginessound.Squeezetheclutchlever to disengage the engine rom therear wheel. Pull o the road and stop.Check the oil. I needed, oil should beadded as soon as possible or the engine

willseize.Whenthishappens,theeffectis the same as a locked rear wheel. Letthe engine cool beore restarting.

aNiMaLS

Naturally, you should do everythingyou saely can to avoid hitting ananimal. I you are in trac, however,remain in your lane. Hitting something

small is less dangerous to you thanhitting something big like a car.

Motorcycles seem to attract dogs. Iyou are chased, downshit and approachthe animal slowly. As you approach it,accelerate away and leave the animalbehind. Dont kick at an animal. Keepcontrol o your motorcycle and look to

where you want to go.For larger animals (deer, elk, cattle)

brake and prepare to stop they areunpredictable.

Answer - page 41

I you are chased by a dog:

A. Kick it away.

B. Stop until the animal loses interest.

C. Swerve around the animal.

D. Approach the animal slowly, thenspeed up.

test yourself 11

Answer - page 41


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FLYiNg OBJeCtS

From time to time riders are struckby insects, cigarettes thrown rom cars

or pebbles kicked up by the tires othe vehicle ahead. I you are wearingace protection, it might get smearedor cracked, making it dicult to see.Without ace protection, an objectcould hit you in the eye, ace or mouth.Whatever happens, keep your eyeson the road and your hands on thehandlebars. When sae, pull o the road

and repair the damage.

gettiNg OFF the rOaD

I you need to leave the road to checkthe motorcycle (or just to rest or awhile), be sure you:

Checktheroadside Make surethe surace o the roadside is rmenough to ride on. I it is sot grass,loose sand or i youre just not sureabout it, slow way down beore youturn onto it.

Signal Drivers behind might notexpect you to slow down. Give aclear signal that you will be slowingdown and changing direction.Check your mirror and make a headcheck beore you take any action.

Pullofftheroad Get as ar othe road as you can. It can be veryhard to spot a motorcycle by theside o the road. You dont wantsomeone else pulling o at thesame place you are.

Parkcarefully Loose and slopedshoulders can make setting the sideor center stand dicult.

CarrYiNg PaSSeNgerS

aND CargO

Only experienced riders should carrypassengers or large loads. The extraweight changes the way the motorcyclehandles, balances, speeds up and slowsdown. Beore taking a passenger or aheavy load on the street, practice awayrom trac.

Equipment

To carry passengers saely:

Equipandadjustyour motorcycleto carry passengers.

Instructthepassengerbeore youstart.

Adjustyourriding technique orthe added weight.

Equipent should include:

Aproperseat large enough tohold both o you without crowding.You should not sit any artherorward than you usually do.

Footrests or the passenger.Firm ooting prevents yourpassenger rom alling o andpulling you o, too.

Protectiveequipment the same

protective gear recommended oroperators.

Adjust the suspension to handle theadditional weight. You will probablyneed to add a ew pounds o pressureto the tires i you carry a passenger.(Check your owners manual orappropriate settings.) While yourpassenger sits on the seat with you,

adjust the mirrors and headlightaccording to the change in themotorcycles angle.


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33

Instructing Passengers

Evenifyourpassengerisamotorcyclerider, provide complete instructions

beore you start. Tell your passenger to:Geton the motorcycle only ater

you have started the engine.

Sitasfarforward as possiblewithout crowding you.

Holdrmly to your waist, hips,belt, or to the bikes passengerhandholds.

Keepbothfeet on the ootrests,even when stopped.

Keeplegsaway rom themufer(s), chains or moving parts.

Staydirectlybehindyou, leaningas you lean.

Avoidunnecessary talk or motion.

Also, tell your passenger to tighten his

or her hold when you:Approach surace problems.

Areabouttostart rom a stop.

Warnthatyou will make a suddenmove.

Riding With Passengers

Your motorcycle will respond more

slowly with a passenger on board. Theheavier your passenger, the longer itmay take to slow down and speed up especially on a light motorcycle.

Passengers should:

A. Lean as you lean.

B. Hold on to the motorcycle seat.

C. Sit as ar back as possible.

D. Never hold onto you.

test yourself 12

Answer - page 41

Ridealittleslower, especiallywhen taking curves, corners orbumps.

Startslowingearlier as youapproach a stop.

Openupalargercushion ospace ahead and to the sides.

Waitforlargergaps to cross,enter or merge in trac.

Warn your passenger o specialconditions when you will pull out,stop quickly, turn sharply or ride over abump. Turn your head slightly to makeyoursel understood, but keep your eyeson the road ahead.

Carrying Loads

Most motorcycles are not designedto carry much cargo. Small loads can becarried saely i positioned and astenedproperly.

KeeptheLoadLow Fastenloads securely, or put them insaddlebags. Piling loads against asissybar or rame on the back o theseat raises the motorcycles centero gravity and disturbs its balance.

KeeptheLoadForward Placethe load over, or in ront o, the rearaxle. Tankbags keep loads orward,but use caution when loading hardor sharp objects. Make sure thetankbag does not interere withhandlebars or controls. Mountingloads behind the rear axle can aecthow the motorcycle turns andbrakes. It can also cause a wobble.

DistributetheLoadEvenlyLoad saddlebags with about the

same weight. An uneven load cancause the motorcycle to drit to oneside.


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SecuretheLoad Fasten the loadsecurely with elastic cords (bungeecordsornets).Elasticcordswithmore than one attachment point

per side are more secure. A tightload wont catch in the wheel orchain, causing it to lock up and skid.Rope tends to stretch and knotscome loose, permitting the load toshit or all.

ChecktheLoad Stop and checkthe load every so oten to makesure it has not worked loose or

moved.

grOUP riDiNg

I you ride with others, do it in away that promotes saety and doesntinterere with the fow o trac.

Keep the Group Small

Small groups make it easier and saeror car drivers who need to get aroundthem. A small number isnt separatedas easily by trac or red lights. Riderswont always be hurrying to catch up.I your group is larger than our or veriders, divide it up into two or moresmaller groups.

Keep the Group Together

Plan The leader should look

ahead or changes and signal earlyso the word gets back in plentyo time. Start lane changes early topermit everyone to complete thechange.

PutBeginnersUpFront Placeinexperienced riders just behindthe leader. That way the moreexperienced riders can watch themrom the back.

FollowThoseBehind Letthe tailender set the pace. Useyour mirrors to keep an eye onthe person behind. I a rider allsbehind, everyone should slow downa little to stay with the tailender.

KnowtheRoute Make sureeveryone knows the route. Then, isomeone is separated they wonthave to hurry to keep rom getting

lost or taking a wrong turn. Planrequent stops on long rides.

Keep Your DistanceMaintain close ranks but at the same

time keep a sae distance to allow eachrider in the group time and space toreacttohazards.Aclosegrouptakesup less space on the highway, is easierto see and is less likely to be separated.

However, it must be done properly.

Dont Pair Up Never operatedirectly alongside another rider. There isno place to go i you have to avoid a caror something on the road. To talk, waituntil you are both stopped.

Staggered Formation This isthe best way to keep ranks close yetmaintain an adequate space cushion. The

leader rides in the let side o the lane,while the second rider stays one secondbehind in the right side o the lane.

staGGereD forMatIon


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35

A third rider maintains in the letposition, two seconds behind the rstrider. The ourth rider would keep atwo-second distance behind the second

rider. This ormation keeps the groupclose and permits each rider a saedistance rom others ahead, behind andto the sides.

PassinginFormation Riders ina staggered ormation should passone at a time.

First,theleadridershouldpullout and pass when it is sae. Ater

passing, the leader should return tothe let position and continue ridingat passing speed to open room orthe next rider.

Aftertherstriderpassessafely, the second rider should move upto the let position and watch or asae chance to pass. Ater passing,this rider should return to the right

position and open up room or thenext rider.

Group passInG (staGe 1) Group passInG (staGe 2)

Some people suggest that the leadershould move to the right side aterpassing a vehicle. This is not a goodidea. It encourages the second rider

to pass and cut back in beore thereis a large enough space cushion inront o the passed vehicle. Its simplerand saer to wait until there is enoughroom ahead o the passed vehicle toallow each rider to move into the sameposition held beore the pass.

Single-File Formation It is bestto move into a single-le ormation

when riding curves, turning, entering orleaving a highway.

When riding in a group,inexperienced riders should positionthemselves:

A. Just behind the leader.

B. In ront o the group.

C. At the tail end o the group.

D. Beside the leader.

test yourself 13

Answer - page 41

2008 motorcycle handbook

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