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8/2/2019 Colorado Motorcycle Manual | Colorado Motorcycle Handbook

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Colorado Motorcycle Operators Handbook

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DR 2336 (08/27/12)

This Motorcycle Operators Handbook has beenprepared to inform you of the basic knowledgeand skills necessary for the safe operation of a2- or 3-wheel motorcycle.

This handbook is a supplement to the Colorado DriverHandbook. For details on Colorado driving laws, pleaserefer to the Colorado Driver Handbook.

Motorcycling is fun and exciting. There is nothing likeseeing the world from behind the handlebars of yourown motorcycle, but you need to know what you aredoing. Unfortunately, many riders teach themselvesor rely on tips from friends. Even after several yearsof riding, many do not have the knowledge and skillsto avoid a crash.

If you are thinking about buying a 2- or 3-wheel motor-cycle for the rst time, or if you have been riding for awhile, think about motorcycle rider education now!

The Motorcycle Operator Safety Training (MOST)

program is designed to prepare you to ride amotorcycle in the safest possible manner. In theBasic Rider Course you will learn motorcycling skillsthrough on-cycle training as well as in the classroom.The curriculum used has been developed by theMotorcycle Safety Foundation and is based upon 25years of research.

The MOST program also offers the Advanced RiderCourse for experienced riders. In this course youwill learn advanced riding techniques and defensivestrategies. Call the telephone number listed on the backcover of this manual or visit www.comotorcyclesafety.comto locate a MOST training site near you.

This handbook also covers safe operation of a 3-wheelmotorcycle. It is important to understand there are

differences between 2- and 3-wheel motorcycles.Three-wheel motorcycle rider education is availablein Colorado. The curriculum used has been developedby Evergreen Safety Council Sidecar/Trike EducationProgram. In the Novice course, you will learn 3-wheeling skills through classroom instruction as wellas instruction on a 3-wheel vehicle. With the Advancedcourse, you will learn advanced techniques anddefensive strategies.

Keep this handbook for reference even after you havebecome a licensed rider and refresh your knowledge

occasionally to assure yourself and others that you area qualied rider.

For the purpose of this handbook, motorcycle willrefer to both 2- and 3-wheel motorcycles, except wherespecic notations of 3-wheels are noted.

Cover photo courtesy Tomas Vojtekwww.mindandsoulimages.com


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR LICENSING ......3

2. PREPARING TO RIDE ........................................ 32.1 Wear the Right Gear .............................................. 32.2 Check the Motorcycle ............................................ 42.3 Become Familiar with the Motorcycle ............... 5

3. CONTROL FOR SAFETY .................................... 53.1 Body Position and Posture .................................... 53.2 Turning ................................................................... 53.3 Braking .................................................................... 63.4 Shifting Gears ......................................................... 6

4. SEE AND BE SEEN .............................................. 64.1 Using Your Mirrors ............................................... 74.2 Head Checks ........................................................... 74.3 Horns ...................................................................... 7

5. LANE POSITION ................................................. 7

6. KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE ........................... 86.1 Distance in Front ................................................... 86.2 Distance Behind ..................................................... 86.3 Distance to the Side ............................................... 8

7. SIPDE ..................................................................... 9

8. DANGEROUS SURFACES ................................. 98.1 Slippery Surfaces .................................................... 9

8.2 Uneven Surfaces and Obstacles ..........................10

9. RIDING AT NIGHT ............................................11

10. COLLISION AVOIDANCE............................... 1110.1 Quick Stops ..........................................................1110.2 Swerving or Turning Quickly ............................. 1110.3 Riding in a Curve ................................................1210.4 Cornering ..............................................................12

11. MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ............................ 12

11.1 Tire Failure ............................................................1211.2 Stuck Throttle .......................................................1211.3 Wobble ...................................................................1311.4 Chain Problems ....................................................13

11.5 Engine Seizure ......................................................13

12. SPECIAL SITUATIONS .................................... 1312.1 Flying Objects .......................................................1312.2 Animals ..................................................................13

12.3 Getting Off the Road ............................................1312.4 Hills ........................................................................13

13. CARRYING PASSENGERS AND CARGO ..........14

13.1 Passengers .............................................................14

13.2 Carrying Loads .....................................................14

14. GROUP RIDING ....................................................14

14.1 Keep the Group Small .........................................1414.2 Keep the Group Together .................................... 1514.3 Keep Your Distance ..............................................15

15. YOUR MOTORCYCLE ...................................... 1515.1 The Right Equipment ..........................................1515.2 Motorcycle Care .................................................. 16

16. MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR SKILLS TEST... 1616.1 Sidecar/Trike Education Program

(S/TEP) Skills Test................................................

16 General Motorcycle Test Course ....... Inside Back

Cover


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1. MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR LICENSING

It is illegal for you to operate a motorcycle on a public streetor highway in Colorado unless you have a valid license thatspecically authorizes the operation of such vehicles. Thegeneral motorcycle endorsement M qualies you to ridea 2- or 3-wheel motorcycle. Colorado also issues a separateendorsement 3 that authorizes the operation of 3-wheel

motorcycles, only. Low-power scooters (engine size of 50ccor less or 4476 watts or less, if electric. 40 mph max.) do notqualify as motorcycles but Colorado law requires that youhave at least a basic drivers license to operate a low-powerscooter on public streets.

The State of Colorado no longer issues new MotorcycleOnly licenses. The motorcycle endorsement will be partof a regular or CDL license, only. The M will no longer beissued as a separate class of license.

To add a general or 3-wheel motorcycle endorsement to yourexisting Colorado drivers license you must be at least 16

years of age and pass all required examinations: Driving record review.

Physical aptitude review.

Vision test.

Pass a motorcycle written test (pass the basic written testrequirements if you do not have a valid drivers license).

Pass the motorcycle operators driving skill test at a StateDrivers License Ofce or with a certied third-partytester. State Drivers License Ofces are equipped to test

2/3-wheel motorcycles. If you pass a skills test on a three-wheel motorcycle, the endorsement 3 will appear onyour license.

Pay the required fees.

If you are under 18 years of age, your parent or guardian mustsign an Afdavit of Liability and Guardianship for you to beissued your instruction permit. You must hold your motor-cycle instruction permit for 12 months and be 16 years of agebefore you can add the endorsement to your drivers license.If you are between 15 and 16 years of age, you must have

completed a Motorcycle Operator Skills Training (MOST)program, and show proof of completion, prior to receivingyour instruction permit.

A motorcycle instruction permit allows you to oper-ate a motorcycle while under the immediate, proximatesupervision of an adult who is at least 21 years of ageand holds a valid COLORADO license endorsed formotorcycles. If you are under the age of 18, per Colorado Re-vised Statute 42-2-106, if you are not riding with your MOSTinstructor or the parent or guardian who signed your Afdavitof Liability, you must have your parent or guardians permis-

sion toride with another adult who meets the requiremeof having a valid drivers license endorsed for motorcycle

The driving test is the most important part of texamination because it provides you with the opportunitydemonstrate your ability to drive safely. You must providproperly registered and insured motorcycle to be used intest. Make certain you are familiar with it and all the contr

For drivers under 18 years of age, the DR 2324, Drive TiLog Sheet, required for a regular license, is not necessarythe addition of the M or 3 endorsement.

2. PREPARING TO RIDE

As a rider, what you do before you start a trip goes a loway toward determining whether or not youll get whyou want to go safely. Before taking a trip, a safe rider maa point to:

Wear the right gear.

Check the motorcycle equipment. Become familiar with the motorcycle.

2.1 WEAR THE RIGHT GEAR:When you ride, your gis right if it protects you. In any crash, you have a far betchance of avoiding serious injury if you wear:

An approved helmet.

Face or eye protection.

Protective clothing.

HELMET: Crashes are not rare events-particularly amo

beginning drivers. One of every ve motorcycle crasreported results in head or neck injuries. Head injurare just as severe as neck injuries, and far more commResearch shows that wearing a helmet reduces your riskneck or head injury. Colorado Revised Statute 42-2-1502 (4states that a person shall not operate or ride as a passengera motorcycle or low-power scooter unless each person un18 years of age is wearing an approved motorcycle helm

An approved helmet lets you see as far to the sides as necsary. A study of more than 900 motorcycle crashes, wherepercent of the riders wore helmets, failed to nd even o

case in which a helmet kept a rider from spotting dangerMost crashes happen on short trips (less than ve miles lojust a few minutes after starting out.

Even low-speed crashes can be fatal. Most riders are goslower than 30 M.P.H. when they get hurt. At these speehelmets can cut both the number and the severity of hinjuries by half.

No matter what the speed, unhelmeted riders are thtimes more likely to die of head injuries than are ridwho are wearing helmets at the time of the crash.


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HELMET SELECTIONS: There are two primary types ofhelmets, providing two different levels of coverage, three-quarter and full face.

Whichever style you choose, you can receive the mostprotection out of that type helmet by making sure it meetsU.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. Hel-mets with labels from the American National StandardsInstitute (ANSI), or the Snell Memorial Foundation giveyou added assurance of quality. It should t snugly all theway around and have no obvious defects such as cracks,loose padding, or frayed straps.

Whatever helmet you decide on, make sure to keep itsecurely fastened on your head when you ride. Otherwise,if you are involved in a crash, the helmet is likely to y offyour head before it has a chance to protect you.

EYE AND FACE PROTECTION: A plastic face shield canhelp protect your whole face in a crash. The helmet alsoprotects you from wind, dust, dirt, rain, insects, and stonesthrown up from cars ahead.

Goggles protect your eyes, but they wont protect the restof your face the way a face shield does. A windshield is no

substitute for a face shield or goggles. Most windshieldswill not protect your eyes from wind.

Tinted eye protection should not be worn at night or anyother time when little light is available.

To be effective, eye or face shield protection must:

Be free of scratches.

Be made of shatterproof material.

Give a clear view to either side.

Fasten securely, so it does not blow off.

Allow air to pass through, to reduce fogging.

Allow enough room for eyeglasses/sunglasses ifneeded.

E Y E P R O T E C T I O N F O R M O T O R C Y C L E

OPERATORS AND PASSENGERS IS REQUIRED BY

COLORADO LAW

CLOTHING: Adequate clothing can help protect you in acrash. In cold or wet weather, your clothes should keep you

warm and dry, as well as protect you from injury. You can-not control a motorcycle well if you are numb from coldRiding for long periods in cold weather can cause severechill and fatigue. A winter jacket should resist wind andt snugly at the neck, wrists and waist. Good quality rainsuits designed for riding resist tearing apart or ballooningup at high speeds.

Jacket and pants should cover your arms and legs com-pletely. They should t snugly, yet loosely enough to movefreely. Leather offers the most protection, but heavy denimdoes an adequate job in most cases. Sturdy synthetic mate-rial provides a lot of protection as well. Wear a jacket evenin warm weather. Many jackets are designed to protect youwithout getting you overheated, even on summer days.

Boots or shoes should be high enough to cover your anklesand sturdy enough to give them support. Soles should bemade of hard, durable material. Heels should be short, sothey do not catch on rough surfaces. Tuck laces in so they

wont catch on your motorcycle.Gloves give you a better grip and help protect your handsin a crash. Your gloves should be made of leather or heavycloth.

2.2 CHECK THE MOTORCYCLE: Make a completecheck of your motorcycle before you ride.

TIRES: Check the air pressure.

FLUIDS: Oil and fuel levels. Look under the motorcyclefor signs of oil and gas leaks.

HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHT: Test your dimmerswitch to make sure both high and low beams are working

TURN SIGNALS: Turn on both right and left turn signalsMake sure all four lights ash.

BRAKE LIGHT: Try both controls and make sure each oneturns on the brake light.

CLUTCH AND THROTTLE: Make sure they worksmoothly. The throttle should snap back when you let go

MIRRORS: Clean and adjust both mirrors before startingout.

BRAKES: Try the front and rear brake one at a time. Makesure each one feels rm and holds the motorcycle whenthe brake is fully applied.

HORN: Make sure the horn works.

2.3 BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE MOTORCYCLEMake sure you are completely familiar with the motor-cycle before you take it out on the street. Over half themotorcycle accidents occur to riders with less than sixmonths experience on the cycle. If you are going to usean unfamiliar motorcycle:


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Make all the checks you would on your own cycle.

Find out where everything is, particularly the turnsignals, horn, headlight switch, fuel control valve andengine cutoff switch. Make sure you can nd and oper-ate them without having to look for them.

Know the gear pattern. Work the throttle, clutch andbrakes a few times before you start riding. All controlsreact a little differently.

Ride more cautiously until you become more familiarwith the motorcycle.

3. CONTROL FOR SAFETY

This manual cannot teach you how to control direction,speed or balance. Thats something you can learn onlythrough practice. Control begins with knowing yourabilities and riding within them and the rules of the road.

3.1 BODY POSITION AND POSTURE: Sit far enoughforward with your arms slightly bent when you holdthe handle grips so that you can use your arms to steer

the motorcycle rather than hold yourself up. Bendingyour arms lets you turn the handlebars without havingto stretch.

HANDS: Hold the handle grips rmly. Keep your gripover rough surfaces. Start with your right wrist down.This will help you keep from accidentally using too muchthrottle - especially if you need to reach for the brakesuddenly. Also, adjust the handlebars so your hands areeven with, or below your elbows. This allows you to usethe proper muscles for precision steering.

KNEES: Keep your knees against the gas tank. This willhelp you keep your balance as the motorcycle turns. Thisis not necessary on a 3-wheel motorcycle.

FEET: Keep your feet rmly on the foot pegs to main-tain balance. Dont drag your feet. If your foot catcheson something, you could lose control of the motorcycleKeep your feet near the controls so you can get to thecontrols quickly if needed. Also, dont let your toes pointdownward - they may get caught between the road andfoot peg.

BASIC 3-WHEEL VEHICLE CONTROL: Tipover linesIt is possible when operating a 3-wheeler to have onlytwo wheels contacting the ground. This condition exists

whenever enough weight is transferred outside what areknown as tipover lines. The gure below illustrates thetipover line on trikes and sidecar-equipped motorcycles

3.2 TURNING: Riders often try to take curves or turns toofast. When they cant hold the turn, they end up crossing intoanother lane of trafc or going off the road, or they overreactand brake too hard causing a skid and loss of control. Untiyou learn to judge how fast you can safely take a curve, ap-proach all turns with caution. Use the following four stepsfor better control: SLOW, LOOK, LEAN, ROLL.

SLOW: Reduce speed before the turn by closing thethrottle and, if necessary, applying both brakes.

LOOK: Look through the turn to where you want to goTurn just your head, not your shoulders and keep youreyes level with the horizon.

LEAN: To turn, the motorcycle must lean. To lean themotorcycle, push on the handgrip in the direction of theturn. Press left, lean left, go left. Press right, lean right,go right.

1. Turn-Signal Switch2. Gear-Change Lever3. Tachometer4. Speedometer5. Rear Brake Pedal

6. Throttle

7. Clutch Lever8. Engine Cut-Off Switch9. Light Switch

10. Kick Starter11. Front Brake Lever

12. Horn Button


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In normal turns, the rider and motorcycle should leantogether. In slow tight turns, lean the motorcycle only andkeep your body straight. Higher speeds and/or tighterturns require more lean.

Unique to a 3-wheel motorcycle is the need toadjust your upper body position during cornering.

It is necessary to lean in the direction you intend toturn to avoid raising the inside wheel and, possibly,ipping over. Leaning like this is sometimes referred to ashanging off. This will be very important with a sidecar-equipped motorcycle if the sidecar has no weight in it.

ROLL: Roll on the throttle through the turn. Maintain steadyspeed or gradually accelerate. Avoid deceleration while inthe turn.

Three-wheel motorcycles CAN tip over. To turn a 3-wheelmotorcycle, you point the front wheel in the directionyou want to go, lean your body into the turn, roll on

the throttle to pull the 3-wheeler through the turn. On asidecar outfit, when accelerating, compensate for yawby steering towards the left. When decelerating,compensate for yaw by steering to the right. Yaw is veer-ing to the left or the right.

3.3 BRAKING: Your motorcycle has two brakes, one forthe front wheel and one for the rear wheel(s). Some side-car rigs also have a brake on their wheel. Use both brakesat the same time. The front brake on a 2-wheel motorcycleand on a sidecar rig provides the most power, while therear brake provides the most power on a trike. The front

brake is safe to use if you use it properly.Apply both brakes at the same time. Using both brakesfor even normal stops will permit you to develop theproper habit or skill of using both brakes in an emergency.To completely stop a motorcycle, roll off the throttle, applythe brakes and squeeze the clutch.

When leaning the motorcycle, some of the available trac-tion is used for cornering. So if you use the brakes whenleaning, less traction is available for stopping. A skid canoccur when too much brake is applied. Some motorcycleshave integrated braking systems which link the front and

rear brakes together by applying the rear brake pedalUsing the front brake incorrectly on a slippery surfacemay be hazardous.

3.4 SHIFTING GEARS: Learning to use the gearscorrectly when downshifting, turning, or starting on hillsis important for safe motorcycle operation.

Shift down through the gears as you slow down or stop

Remain in rst gear while you are stopped so you canmove out quickly if you need to.

Make certain you are going slowly enough when youshift into a lower gear. If not, the motorcycle will lurchand the rear wheel may skid. When riding downhill orshifting into rst gear, you may need to use the brakesto slow down enough to downshift slowly.

It is best to change gears before entering a turn,however, sometimes shifting in a turn is necessary. If soremember to do so smoothly. A sudden change in powerto the rear wheel can cause a skid.

4. SEE AND BE SEEN

A motorcycles outline is much smaller than a cars out-line. In crashes with motorcyclists, car drivers often saythat they never saw the motorcycle. You can do manythings to make it easier for others to recognize you andyour cycle.

CLOTHING: Most crashes occur in daylight. Wearbright clothing to increase your chances of being seenRemember, your body is half the visible surface area ofthe rider/cycle unit.

Bright orange, yellow or green jackets, or vests are yourbest bets for being seen. Your helmet can do more thanprotect you in a crash. Brightly colored helmets or reec-tive material can help others see you.

HEADLIGHT: The best way to help others on the road seeyour motorcycle is to keep the headlight on at all timesUse of the high beam in daylight increases the likelihoodthat you will be seen by oncoming drivers.

SIGNALS: Use your signals anytime you plan to turnchange lanes, or when using a freeway entrance/exit

ramp. Use them even when you think no one else isaround or even when what you plan to do is obviousOnce youve made your lane change or turn, check yoursignal to make sure it is off.

BRAKE LIGHT: Your motorcycles brake light is usuallynot as noticeable as the brake lights on a car. Help othersnotice you by ashing the foot brake lightly before youslow down, especially, when slowing more quickly thanothers expect (e.g. turning off a highway, turning intodriveways, when others are following too closely).


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4.1 USING YOUR MIRRORS: While its most importantto keep track of whats happening ahead, you cant affordto ignore situations behind. Frequent mirror checks shouldbe part of your normal scanning routine. Make a specialpoint of using your mirrors in these situations:

When you are stopped at an intersection, watch carscoming up from behind. If the driver isnt paying atten-

tion, he could be right on top of you before seeing you. Before you change lanes make sure no one is about to

pass you.

Before you slow down, check to see if the driver behindexpects to slow or if he may be unsure about exactlywhere you will slow. For example, he might see youturn and think you plan to slow for a turn at a distantintersection, rather than a nearby driveway.

Many motorcycles have rounded convex mirrors. Thesegive you a wider view of the road behind than do at

mirrors. They also make cars seem farther away than theyreally are. Practice with your mirrors until you become agood judge of distance.

4.2 HEAD CHECKS: Motorcycles have blind spots likecars. Before you change lanes, turn your head and look attrafc to the side to spot a car about to pass you.

On a road with several lanes, make sure to check the farlane as well as the one next to you. A driver in the far lanemay head for the same space you plan to take.

4.3 HORNS: Be ready to use your horn whenever youneed to get someones attention. It is a good idea to give aquick beep before you pass anyone you think may moveinto your lane. In an emergency, press the horn buttonloud and long. Be ready to stop or swerve from the danger.Here are some situations:

A driver in the lane next to you is getting too close tothe vehicle ahead and may want to pass.

A driver opening a door on a parked car.

Someone is riding a bicycle or walking in the street.

5. LANE POSITION

You can make the size of the motorcycle work to youradvantage. A car driver has very little choice aboutwhere he positions his car in a lane. However, eachmarked lane gives a motorcyclist three possible pathsof travel as indicated in the diagram. Remember,3-wheeled vehicles are larger than 2-wheel motorcyclesand require more space in a lane, similar to an automobile.

In general, there is no best position for riders tobe seen. Ride where it will be easiest for drivers tosee you. No portion of the lane need be avoided -

including the center. Unless the road is wet with rain, evthe average oily strip gives enough traction to ride safe

Do not ride next to cars or trucks in other lanes if you not have to. A car in the next lane could switch into yolane without warning. Do not ride in other vehicles blispots. Either pass the other vehicle ordrop back.

Let the driver ahead see you. When be-hind a car, try to ride where the drivercan see you in his rearview mirror. Rid-ing in the center portion of the lane

should put your image in the middleof the rearview mirror, where its mostlikely to be seen. Riding at the far side of a lane may you be seen in a side view mirror. But most drivers dolook at their side view mirrors nearly as often as they chethe rearview mirror.

As a motorcycle rider, you can put yourself in a positto see things that a car driver cannot see.

CURVES: You can move from one portion of a laneanother to get a better view through a curve. Movingthe center portion of your lane before a curve, and stayithere until you come out of the curve, lets you spot tracoming toward you as soon as possible. This also alloyou to adjust for trafc that is crowding the center linefor debris that is blocking part of your lane. With a 3-whmotorcycle on a curve, follow a path of travel that makthe most gradual turn.

ROADSIDE: Angle your motorcycle so that you can in both directions without straining and without havany part of the cycle in the lane of travel. A clear viewboth directions is particularly important if you plan to tuacross a lane of trafc.

6. KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE

The best protection you can have is distance, a cushionspace - all around your cycle. If someone else makes a mtake, distance gives you time to react and room to maneuv


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6.1 DISTANCE IN FRONT:Usually motorcycles do notneed as much distance to stop as do cars. Use the twosecond following rule as a guide. This leaves you enoughtime to stop or swerve if the driver ahead of you stopssuddenly. It also gives you a better view of potholes andother dangers in the road.

In some situations, you should open up a three-secondfollowing distance. This larger cushion of space is needed

if your motorcycle will take longer than normal to stop(i.e. if the pavement is slippery with rain) or if you cannotsee around the vehicle ahead.

Keep well behind the vehicle ahead even when you arestopped. This will make it easier to get out of the way ifsomeone bears down on you from behind. It will alsogive you a cushion of space if the vehicle ahead starts toback up for some reason.

6.2 DISTANCE BEHIND:If someone tailgates you, donttry to lose them by speeding up. Youll just end up beingtailgated at a higher speed.

A better way to handle tailgaters is to get them in frontof you. When someone is following too closely, changelanes and let them pass. If you cant do this, slow downand open up extra space ahead of you. This will encour-age them to pass. If they dont pass, you will have givenyourself and the tailgaters more time and space to reactin case an emergency does develop.

6.3 DISTANCE TO THE SIDE: By shifting from oneportion of a lane to another you can keep a safe cushionof space on both sides. An experienced rider changes

position within the lane as trafc conditions change. Hereare some conditions that require changes in lane position.

PASSING:

Ride in the left portion ofthe lane at a safe follow-ing distance to increaseyour line of sight andmake you more visible.Signal and check for on-coming trafc. Use yourmirrors and turn your

head to look for trafficbehind.

Move into the left lane and accelerate. Select a laneposition that doesnt crowd the car you are passing andprovides space to avoid hazards in your lane.

Ride through the blind spot as quickly as possible.

Signal again, and complete mirror and head checksbefore returning to your original lane.

**Remember, passing must be completed within posted speedlimits, and only where permitted.

BEING PASSED: When you are being passed from behindor by an oncoming vehicle, stay in the center portion ofyour lane. Do not move into the portion of the lane thatis furthest from the passing vehicle. It might invite theother driver to cut back into your lane too early. If youride any closer to them, you could be hit by the other

vehicle, something thrown from the windows, extendedmirrors, or blasts of wind from large vehicles.

PARKED CARS: When passing parked cars, stay towardthe left of your lane. You can avoid problems caused bydoors opening, drivers getting out of cars, people step-ping from between cars and cars pulling away from thecurb. A car making a sudden U-turn may cut you offentirely, blocking the whole roadway and leaving youwith no place to go.

LANE SHARERS: Cars and motorcycles need a full laneto operate safely. Dont ride between rows of stoppedcars in the same lane. Discourage lane sharing by ridingin a center lane position whenever other drivers mightbe tempted to squeeze by you. Drivers are most temptedto do this in heavy trafc, when passing, when you arepreparing to turn and at freeway entrance and exit ramps

MERGING CARS: Drivers onan entrance ramp may not seeyou on the highway. Give themplenty of room. Change to an-other lane, if it is open. If there isno room for a lane change, adjustspeed accordingly to open upspace for the merging driver topull into.

7. SIPDE

Good experienced riders remain aware of what is goingon around them. They improve their riding strategy byusing Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide and Execute (SIPDE)This is a ve-step process used to make judgments andtake action in trafc.


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SCAN: Search aggressively ahead, to the sides and be-hind to avoid potential hazards. Scanning provides youwith the information you need to make your decisionsin enough time to take action.

IDENTIFY: Locate hazards and potential conicts. Thehazards you encounter can be divided into three groupsbased on how critical their effect on you may be.

Vehicles and other motorcycles: May move into yourpath and increase collision impact.

Pedestrians and animals: Are unpredictable and makeshort quick moves.

Stationary objects: Potholes, guard rails, bridges,roadway signs, hedges, or rows of trees wontmove into your path, but may inuence your ridingstrategy.

PREDICT: Consider space and direction of a potentialhazard. Anticipating a vehicle moving away from you

is not as critical as a vehicle moving into your path.Predict where a collision might occur. This is the Whatif...? phase of SIPDE that depends on your knowledgeand experience.

DECIDE: Decide when, where, and how to act based ontypes of hazards you encounter:

Single Hazard Stationary

Multiple Hazards Moving

EXECUTE: In high potential risk situations, such as in-tersections, cover the clutch and both brakes to reducethe time you need to react. To create more space andminimize risk from any hazard:

Communicate your presence with lights and/or horn.

Adjust your speed by accelerating, stopping or slowing.

Adjust your position and/or direction.

Most motorcycle/automobile collisions occur at inter-sections. An intersection can be anywhere other trafcmay cross your path oftravel. Your use of SIPDE

at intersections is critical.Be especially alert at in-tersection with limitedvisibility. Be aware of vi-sually busy surroundingsthat could camouflageyou and your motorcycle.

8. DANGEROUS SURFACES

Your chance of falling or being involved in a crashincreases whenever you ride across slippery surfaces,

uneven surfaces or obstacles, railroad tracks, groovesand gratings.

8.1 SLIPPERY SURFACES: Motorcycles handle betterwhen ridden on surfaces with good traction. Surfacesthat provide poor traction include:

Wet pavement, particularly just after it starts to rainand before surface oil washes to the side of the road.

Gravel roads, or where sand and gravel collect.

Mud, snow, and ice.

Lane markings, steel plates and manhole covers, es-pecially when wet.

To ride safely on slippery surfaces:

REDUCE SPEED: Slow down before you get to a slip-pery surface to lessen your chances of skidding. It isparticularly important to reduce speed before enteringwet curves.

AVOID SUDDEN MOVES: Any sudden change inspeed or direction can cause a skid. Be as smooth aspossible when you speed up, shift gears, turn or brake

USE BOTH BRAKES: The front brake is still more ef-fective than the rear brake, even on a slippery surfaceApply it gradually and avoid locking up the frontwheel.

The center of a lane can become dangerous when wetWhen it starts to rain, ride in the tire tracks left by carsOften the left tire track will be the best position, depend-

ing on trafc and other roadway conditions. Watch foroil spots when you put your foot down to stop or parkYou may slip and fall.

Dirt and gravel collect along the sides of the road - espe-cially on curves and ramps leading to and from highwaysStay away from the edge of the road, particularly whenmaking sharp turns at intersections and when getting onor off freeways at high speed. Rain dries and snow meltsfaster on some sections of a road than on others. Ride inthe least slippery part of the lane at all times.

VERY SLIPPERY SURFACES: Cautious riders steer clear

of roads covered with ice or snow. You may nd yourselon a road with scattered patches or ice or snow. Patches ofice tend to develop in low or shaded areas and on bridgesand overpasses. If you encounter wet surfaces or wet leavesin the fall, these are just as slippery as an ice patch.

Avoid all of these surfaces if at all possible. If you cantkeep your bike straight up and proceed as slowly as pos-sible, letting your feet skim along the surface so you cancatch yourself if the bike starts to fall. Be sure to keep offthe brakes and squeeze the clutch and coast while youare on a very slippery surface.


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An advantage of a 3-wheel motorcycle over a 2-wheelmotorcycle is the inherent stability. A 3-wheel motorcyclecan slide sideways without falling down, similar to anautomobile. Slick pavement, unpaved roads or off-roadsituations are quite manageable on a 3-wheel motorcycle.

8.2 UNEVEN SURFACES AND OBSTACLES: Watchfor uneven surfaces such as bumps, broken pavement,potholes. If you have to ride over them, or obstacles such

as a piece of tire tread or tailpipe, slow down to reducethe jolt, make sure the motorcycle is straight up and riseslightly off the seat with your weight on the foot pegs soyou can absorb the shock with your knees and elbows.

Rising off the seat will cut your chances of being thrownoff the bike. However, controlling the throttle can besomewhat tricky. Practice this technique in a safe area(such as a deserted parking lot) before you try to do iton-street.

If you ride over an object on the street, pull off the road

and check your tires and rims for damage before goingany further.

RAILROAD TRACKS: A motorcycle can cross tracksat an angle as sharp as 45 degrees without difculty.Changing your course to take tracks head-on can bemore dangerous than crossing at an angle (It may carryyou into another lane of trafc).

You do need to change direction, however, to cross some-thing that runs in the same direction you are going. Forexample, you may wish to cross trolley tracks, ruts in themiddle of the road, or pavement seams that run parallelto your course.

To cross these safely, move far enough away to be ableto cross them at an angle as close to 90 degrees as pos-sible. Then, make a quick, sharp turn across. Do not tryto edge across. The tracks or seam could catch your tiresand throw you off balance.

GROOVES AND GRATINGS: Riding over rain groovesor metal bridge gratings will cause the motorcycleto weave. Its an uneasy feeling, but its generally notdangerous. Relax, stay on course, maintain speed, andride straight across. Trying to cross these surfaces at anangle may reduce the uneasy feeling, but it also forces

the rider to zigzag to stay in the lane. The zigzag is farmore dangerous than the weaving feeling.

9. RIDING AT NIGHT

At night it is harder for you to see and be seen. Otherdrivers may have a hard time picking your headlight ortaillight out of the greater number of car lights aroundyou. To compensate you should:

REDUCE YOUR SPEED: Ride more slowly at night thanyou would during the day, particularly on roads youdont know well.

INCREASE DISTANCE: Distances are harder to judge atnight than day. Your eyes rely upon shadows and lightcontrasts to judge both how far away an object is and howfast you are approaching. These contrasts are missingor distorted under the articial light at night. Open upa three-second following distance. Allow more distancein which to pass.

USE THE CAR AHEAD: The headlights of the car ahead

can give you a better view of the road ahead than evenyour high beam can. Taillights bouncing up and downcan alert you to bumps or rough pavement.

USE YOUR HIGH BEAM: Get all the light you can.Use your high beam whenever you are not followingor meeting a car.

LANE POSITION: Be exible about lane position, chang-ing to whatever portion of the lane is best able to helpyou see, be seen, and keep an adequate space cushion.

10. COLLISION AVOIDANCE

No matter how careful you are, there will be times whenyou nd yourself in a tight spot. Your chances of gettingout safely depend upon your ability to react quickly andproperly.

Knowing when and how to stop or swerve are two skillscritical to avoiding a collision. It is not always desirable orpossible to stop quickly to avoid an obstacle. Riders mustalso be able to swerve around an obstacle. Determiningthe skill necessary for the situation is important as well.

Studies show that most collision-involved riders un-


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der brake the front tire and over brake the rear tire andswerve at the same time.

10.1 QUICK STOPS:To stop quickly, apply both brakesat the same time. Dont be shy about using the frontbrake, but dont grab at it, either. Squeeze the brake le-ver steadily and rmly, applying the front brake as fullyas you can without locking the front wheel. At the sametime, apply the rear brake hard, without locking it.

If you are on a straight-away, even with a lockedrear wheel, keep it locked until you have completelystopped. Even with a locked rear wheel, you cancontrol a 3-wheel motorcycle on a straightaway if it isgoing in a straight line. Hard braking in a straight line isless likely to result in a tipover. If you must stop quicklywhile turning or riding in a curve, conditions may notalways permit you to straighten up the motorcycle andthen stop. Apply the brakes and start slowing the mo-torcycle. As you slow down, you can reduce your leanangle and apply more brake pressure until the motorcycle

is straight and maximum brake pressure is possible. Ifyou straighten the handlebar in the last few feet of stop-ping, you know the motorcycle will be straight up andin balance.

10.2 SWERVING OR TURNING QUICKLY: Some-times, you may not have enough room to stop, even ifyou use both brakes properly. An object might appearsuddenly in your path or the car ahead might suddenlystop. The only way to avoid a collision would be to turnquickly, swerve, or ride over the obstacle.

A swerve is any sudden change in direction. It can betwo quick turns, or a rapid shift to the side. Apply asmall amount of hand pressure to the handgrip in yourintended direction of escape. This will cause the motor-cycle to lean quickly. The sharper the turn(s), the morethe bike must lean.

Keep your knees against the tank and your feet solidlyon the pegs. Let the bike move underneath you. Makeyour escape route the target of your vision. Press on theopposite handgrip, once you clear the obstacle to returnto your original direction of travel. To swerve to the left,press left, then right to recover. To swerve to the right,

press right, then left.

Try to stay in your own lane. Change lanes only if youhave enough time to make sure there are no vehicles inthe other lane. You should be able to squeeze by mostobstacles without leaving your lane.

If braking is required, separate it from swerving. Brakebefore or after, never while swerving. On a 3-wheel mo-torcycle, you should be leaning your body into cornersnormally; this may help to avoid a rollover when swerv-ing with an empty sidecar.

10.3 RIDING A CURVE: A primary cause of singlevehicle collisions is motorcyclists running wide in a curveor turn and colliding with the roadway or a xed object

Every curve is different. Be alert to whether a curve remains constant, gradually widens, gets tighter, or involvemultiple turns.

Ride within your skill level and posted speed limits.

Your best path may not always follow the curve of the

road. Change lane position depending on trafc and roadconditions. If no trafc is present, and your riding abilitieare up to it, you may choose to start at the outside of acurve to increase your line of sight and the effective radiusof the turn. As you turn, move toward the inside of thecurve, and as you pass the center, move to the outside toexit. For 3-wheel motorcycles, following the center of thelane may produce the greatest tipover forces.

Another alternative is to move to the center of your lanebefore entering a curve, and stay there until you exit. Thispermits you to spot approaching trafc as soon as pos

sible. You can also adjust for trafc crowding the centeline, or debris blocking part of your lane.

10.4 CORNERING: Cornering with a 3-wheemotorcycle has unique characteristics that must beconsidered. You must keep in mind that a 3-wheemotorcycle can tip over if it is turned too sharplywhen going too fast for the corner. It is essential thatthe operator slow before entering a corner to avoidthis. When operating a sidecar-equipped motorcycle


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additional consideration needs to be given to the directionof the turn and the amount of weight in the sidecar. Sincethe sidecar generally sits on the right side of the motorcycle,left turns are less difcult because the sidecar wheel bearsthe additional cornering forces or weight. A right-handturn, however, may cause the sidecar wheel to lift off theground or y if the corner is taken at too great a speedor taken when braking. This is best avoided by slowing

before entering the turn, but can be controlled if the op-erator understands how to steer a 2-wheel motorcycle.The change from 3-wheel steering to 2-wheel steeringis called steering reversion. This happens if the sidecaris high off the ground and the entire rig is at the balancepoint. Turning the handlebars in the direction you wantto go turns 3-wheeled motorcycles, but 2-wheel turning isaccomplished by counter steering. To bring a sidecar that isying, or has its wheel in the air, to the ground, the op -erator needs to counter-steer to the right or steer to the left.

Other unique characteristics of 3-wheel motorcycles in

corners are drifting and sliding. Both of these characteris-tics are related to tires not holding traction or slipping onthe pavement. Sliding is the front tire slipping, resultingin a loss of steering. Drifting is the slipping of the rearwheel of the motorcycle and/or sidecar wheel. Drifting isunique to sidecar-equipped motorcycles. To initiate drift-ing, the operator shifts weight, rolls on the throttle whileapplying some front brake while turning (off camber turn).Done carefully, this technique may help to sharpen turns,particularly in left turns. Caution must be used while at-tempting to drift in a right turn since too much throttleand/or braking may cause the sidecar to y.

11. MECHANICAL PROBLEMS

You can nd yourself in an emergency the moment some-thing goes wrong with your motorcycle. In dealing withany mechanical problem, take into account the road andtrafc conditions you face. Here are some guidelines thatcan help you handle some mechanical problems safely.

11.1 TIRE FAILURE: If the cycle starts handling differently,pull off to check the tires. You will seldom hear a tire goat. You must be able to tell when a tire has lost air sud-denly from the way the cycle reacts.

If the front tire goes at, the steering will feel heavy. Ifthe rear tire goes at, the back of the motorcycle will tendto jerk from side to side.

If either tire goes at while riding:

Hold the handle grips rmly and keep a straight course.

If you know which tire is at, gradually apply theother brake.

When the motorcycle slows, edge to the side of the roadand stop.

11.2 STUCK THROTTLE: Twist the throttle back aforth, this may free it. If the throttle stays stuck, imediately operate the engine cut-off switch and pullthe clutch. This will remove power from the rear whthough engine noise may not immediately decline. Onyou have the motorcycle under control, pull to the sof the road and stop.

After you have stopped, check the throttle cable carefu

to nd the source of the trouble. Make certain the throtworks freely before you start to ride again.

11.3 WOBBLE: A wobble occurs when the front whand handlebars suddenly start to shake from side-to-siat any speed.

Most wobbles can be traced to improper loading, the uof unsuitable accessories, or the use of incorrect tires or tpressure. If you are carrying a heavy load, lighten it. If ycant lighten the load, shift it. Center the weight lowerthe ground and farther forward on the cycle. Make sutire pressure, spring pre-load, air shocks, and dampers at the levels recommended by the manufacturer for caring that much weight. If you have a windshield or fairimake sure it is mounted properly.

In addition to the above items, other things that mcontribute to wobble are poorly adjusted steering, wosteering parts, a front wheel that is bent, misaligned, or oof balance, loose wheel bearings, loose spokes and swarm bearings.

DO NOT try to accelerate out of the wobble. That wonly make the cycle more unstable. Instead:

Grip the handlebars rmly, but dont try to ght wobble.

Close the throttle gradually, and let the motorcycle sldown. Do not apply the brakes; braking could make twobble worse.

Move your weight as far forward and down possible.

Pull off the road as soon as you can to fix tproblem.

11.4 CHAIN PROBLEMS: If your chain slips or brewhile youre riding, it could lock the rear wheel and cauyour cycle to skid.

SLIPPAGE: If the chain slips when you try to speed quickly while riding uphill, pull off the road, and chethe chain sprockets. Tightening the chain may helpthe problem is a worn or stretched chain or worn or besprockets, replace the chain, the sprockets, or both beforiding again.

BREAKAGE: Youll notice an instant loss of power to twheel. Close the throttle and brake to a stop.


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11.5 ENGINE SEIZURE: Engine seizure means that theengine locks or freezes. Engines seize when they are lowon oil. Without oil, the engines moving parts cant movesmoothly against each other, and the engine overheats.The rst sign may be a loss of engine power or a changein the engines sound.

Squeeze the clutch lever to disengage the engine fromthe rear wheel. Pull off the road and stop. Let the engine

cool. You may be able to add oil and restart the engine.

12. SPECIAL SITUATIONS

12.1 FLYING OBJECTS: From time to time riders arestruck by insects, cigarettes thrown from cars, or rockskicked up by the tires of the vehicle ahead. If you arentwearing face protection, you could be hit in the eye, face,or mouth. If you are wearing face protection, it might getsmeared or cracked, making it difcult for you to see.Whatever happens, keep your eyes on the road and yourhands on the handlebars. As soon as it is safe, pull off theroad and repair the damage.

12.2 ANIMALS: Naturally, you should do everythingyou can to avoid hitting an animal. However, if you arein trafc, dont swerve out of your lane to avoid a smallanimal. Hitting something small is less dangerous to youthan hitting something big, like a car.

Motorcycles seem to attract dogs. If you are chased, dontkick at the animal, shift down and approach the animalslowly. As you reach it, speed up quickly. You will leavethe animal behind.

12.3 GETTING OFF THE ROADIf you need to leave the

road to check the motorcycle (or just to rest for awhile),be sure you:

Check the roadside. Make sure the surface of the road-side is rm enough to ride on. If it is soft grass, loosesand, or if youre just not sure about it, slowway down before you turn onto it.

Signal others. Drivers behind might not expectyou to slow down. As soon as you can, give a clearsignal that you will be slowing down and changingdirection. Make sure to check your mirror and make

a head check before you take any action. Pull well off the road - Get as far off the road as you

can. It can be very difcult to spot a motorcycle by theside of the road. You dont want someone else pullingoff at the same place you are.

12.4 HILLS: When riding uphill on a 3-wheel motor-cycle, some weight will shift to the rear, causing thefront to be lighter. This weight shift means there isless traction on the front tire for steering and braking.Riding downhill means that gravity increases the

amount of braking force required to stop or slow a3-wheel motorcycle. It is important to slow even earlierfor cornering or stopping.

13. CARRYING PASSENGERS AND CARGO

Only experienced riders should carry passengers or largeloads. The extra weight changes the way the motorcyclehandles, balances, turns, speeds up and slows down

Before taking a passenger or heavy load on the street,practice in a safe, off-road area.

13.1 PASSENGERS:To carry passengers safely you mustmake sure your motorcycle is equipped and adjusted tocarry passengers.

A proper seat. The seat should be large enough to holdboth you and your passenger without crowding. Youshould not sit any further forward thanyou usually do.

Foot pegs. The passenger must have his own set offoot pegs. Without a rm footing, your passenger canfall off and pull you off too.

Protective gear. Passengers should have the same typeof protective gear and clothing recommended for op-erators.

You should adjust the shocks to handle the extra weightWhile your passenger sits on the seat with you, adjust themirror and headlight to the change in the motorcyclesangle. It is a good idea to add a few pounds of pressureto the tires if you carry a passenger. Then adjust the sus-pension to handle the additional weight. (Check your

owners manual.)INSTRUCT PASSENGERS: Even if your passenger is amotorcycle rider, provide complete instructions beforeyou start. Instruct your passenger to:

Get on the motorcycle after you have started the engine

Sit as far forward as possible without crowding you.

Hold rmly to your waist, hips, or belt.

Keep both feet on the pegs, even when the motorcycleis stopped.

Keep legs away from the mufer.

Stay directly behind you, leaning as you lean.

Avoid unnecessary talk or motion.

For 3-wheel motorcycles, keep hands inside the sidecar

RIDING WITH PASSENGERS: Tell your passengerto tighten his/her hold when you approach surfaceproblems, or are about to start from a stop. Your mo-torcycle will respond more slowly with a passenger onboard. The heavier your passenger, the longer it will take


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to slow down, speed up or make a turn, especially on alight cycle.

Ride a little slower, especially when taking curves,corners, or bumps.

Start slowing earlier as you approach a stop.

Open up a larger cushion of space ahead and to thesides.

Wait for larger gaps when you want to cross, enter ormerge with trafc.

Warn your passenger of special conditions ahead suchas when you will pull out, stop quickly, turn sharplyor ride over a bump. Turn your head slightly to makeyourself understood, but keep your eyes on the roadahead.

13.2 CARRYING LOADS: Most motorcycles are not de-signed to carry much cargo, however, small loads can becarried safely if they are positioned and fastened properly.

KEEP THE LOAD LOW: Fasten loads to the seat, or putthem in saddle bags. Placing a load high against a baror frame raises the cycles center of gravity and disturbsits balance.

KEEP THE LOAD FORWARD: Place the load over orin front of the rear axle. Tank bags keep loads forward,but use caution when loading hard or sharp objects.Mounting loads behind the rear axle can affect how themotorcycle turns and brakes. It can also cause a wobble.

DISTRIBUTE THE LOAD EVENLY: Load saddle bags

with about the same weight. An uneven load can causethe motorcycle to drift to one side.

SECURE THE LOAD: Fasten the load securely withelastic cords (bungee cords). A loose load can catch inthe wheel or chain and the rear wheel may lock up andskid. Do not use rope as it tends to stretch and knots comeloose, permitting the load to shift or fall off.

CHECK THE LOAD: Stop and check the load often tomake sure it has not worked loose or moved.

14. GROUP RIDING

If you ride with others, you must do it in a way that pro-motes safety and doesnt interfere with the ow of trafc.

14.1 KEEP THE GROUP SMALL: A large grouptends to interfere with trafc. It makes it necessaryfor cars to pass a long line of motorcycles at a time.Also, large groups tend to get separated easily by traf-c or red lights. Those who are left behind often rideunsafely trying to catch up. If your group is larger thanfour or ve riders, divide it into two or more smallergroups.

14.2 KEEP THE GROUP TOGETHER:

PLAN AHEAD: The leader should look ahead forchanges. Give signals early so the word gets back inplenty of time. Start lane changes early enough to alloweveryone to complete the change.

PUT BEGINNERS UPFRONT: Place inexperi-

enced riders behind theleader, where they can bewatched by more experi-enced riders.

FOLLOW THOSE BE-HIND: Let the tailrider setthe pace. Use your mirrorsto keep an eye on the per-son behind. If a rider fallsbehind slow down a littleso the group will stay withthe tailrider.

KNOW THE ROUTE: Make sure everybody knows theroute. Then, if someone is separated for a moment, he orshe wont have to hurry to avoid getting lost or takinga wrong turn.

14.3 KEEP YOUR DISTANCE: Maintain close ranks aa safe distance. A close group takes up less space on thehighway, is easier to see, and is less likely to be separatedHowever, it must be done properly.

DONT PAIR UP: Never operate directly alongside an-other motorcycle rider. If one of you has to avoid a caror something on the road, there would be no place to goTo talk, wait until you are both stopped.

STAGGERED FORMATION: Riding in a staggeredformation is the best way to keep ranks close and yetmaintain an adequate space cushion. The leader ridesto the left side of the lane, while the second rider stays alittle behind and rides to the right side of the lane. A thirdrider would take the left position, a normal two-seconddistance behind the rst rider. The fourth rider would bea normal two-second distance behind the second riderThis formation keeps the group close and keeps each

rider a safe distance from the others ahead, behind, andto the sides.

A staggered formation can be used safely on an openhighway. However, it is best to move into a singlele formation when taking curves, making turns, orentering or leaving a highway.

PASSING INFORMATION: Riders in a staggered forma-tion should pass one at a time. First, the lead rider shouldpull out and pass when it is safe. After passing, the leadershould return to the left position and continue riding at


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a passing speed until he has opened up room for the nextrider. When the rst rider has passed safely, the secondrider should move up the left position and watch for asafe chance to pass. After passing, this rider should returnto the right position and open up room for the next rider.

NOTE:Some people suggest that the leader should move

to the right side after passing a vehicle. This is not a goodidea. It encourages the second rider to pass and cut backin before a large enough cushion of space has been openedup in front of the passed vehicle. Its simpler and safer ifeach rider waits until there is enough room ahead of thepassed vehicle to allow the rider to move into the sameposition held before the pass.

15. YOUR MOTORCYCLE

There are plenty of things on the highway that can causeyou trouble. Your motorcycle should not be one of them.To make sure your motorcycle wont let you down,

start with the right equipment, keep it in a safe ridingcondition and avoid add-ons or modications that makeyour cycle harder to handle.

15.1 THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT: First, make sure yourmotorcycle is right for you. It should t you. Your feetshould be able to reach the ground while you are seatedon the cycle.

Accidents are fairly common among beginning riders,especially in their rst six months of riding. Dont try abig bike until you have a lot of riding experience. Nomatter how experienced you may be, ride extra carefullyon any bike thats new or unfamiliar to you. More thanhalf of all accidents occur on cycles their riders have usedfor less than six months.

15.2 MOTORCYCLE CARE: A motorcycle needsmore frequent attention than a car. A minor mechanicalfailure in a car seldom leads to anything more than aninconvenience for the driver. When something goes wrongwith a motorcycle, it may cause an accident.

The only way to head off problems before they causetrouble is to inspect your motorcycle carefully and often.If you nd something wrong, x it right away. Refer to

your owners manual for proper care and maintenan

16. MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR SKILLS TEST

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) is a staapproved Skill Test for both two and three wheel vehiclThe test consists of exercises that evaluate your abilityperform basic vehicle control, riding judgment, and hazaresponse skills.

Prior to being tested, you must show valid proof insurance and valid registration for the motorcycle ywill be using on the test. A safety check of your motorcywill include; headlights, taillights, brake lights, tusignals, mirrors, and tire tread depth. The engine sizethe motorcycle must be rated at over 50 C.C.

The test consists of six riding exercises that measure yovehicle control and hazard response skills. You will scored on time and distance standards as well as paviolations and foot down violations. The test may be endfor point accumulation, committing an unsafe act, stalli

the vehicle four times, or failure to understand or folloinstructions. You may stop the test at any time, but ymust complete the entire test to pass it.

You will be tested on the following exercises:

2-Wheel Motorcycle

Cone Weave: There are ve cones spaced 12 feet apin a straight line. Do not skip or touch any cones or pyour foot down.

Normal Stop: Make a smooth, non-skidding stop.

Turn from a Stop: Make a right turn between the bounary lines. Do not touch either line or put a foot dow

Left U-Turn: Do not put your foot down or touch tsolid line or dashed line (depending on the size of yomotorcycle).

Quick Stop: From approximately 12 to 18 MPH, stthe motorcycle safely but as quickly as you can. Yare not marked down if you skid, but will loose poiif you lose control.

Obstacle Swerve: From approximately 12 to 18 MP

swerve the motorcycle safely to the right or left of tobstacle line, staying inside the indicated boundariDo not touch the obstacle line or the boundaries.

3-Wheel Motorcycle

Left Turn: Mark a sharp left turn between the outsiboundary line and the cone marker. Do not touch toutside line or the cone.

Normal Stop: Make a smooth, non-skidding stop wyour front tire inside the box (left front tire on vehicwith two front tires).


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Cone Weave: There are three cones spaced at 18 feetapart in a straight line. Do not skip or touch any cones.

Turn From A Stop: Make a right hand turn between theoutside boundary line and the cone. Do not touch theoutside boundary lines or the cone.

Quick Stop: From approximately 12 to 18 MPH, stop

the motorcycle safely but as quickly as you can. Youare not marked down if you skid, but will loose pointsif you lose control.

Obstacle Swerve: From approximately 12 to 18 MPH,swerve the motorcycle safely to the right or left of theobstacle line, staying inside the indicated boundaries.Do not touch the obstacle line or the boundaries.

16.1 SIDECAR/TRIKE EDUCATION PROGRAM(S/TEP) SKILLS TEST

This skills test is for 3-wheel motorcycles. Extra wide,

extra long custom 3-wheelers arenot

suitable for this test.The S/TEP skills test is four parts and is administeredonly by state-authorized, third-party testers. You will betested on the following:

Parts 1 and 2 Offset Weave and Cornering

Objective: To demonstrate your ability to properly judgethe width of the vehicle, while steering through an offsetweave, and utilize proper cornering techniques.

Part 3 Braking

Objective: To demonstrate your ability to perform a con-

trolled stop of the rig in the shortest distance.

Part 4 Swerving

Objective: To demonstrate your ability to swerve theoutt.

Do not touch the obstacle line or the boundariesNote: You must not stall the engine on any exercise.

Remember if at any time you feel an exercise is too

difcult, you may stop the testing. You, as the rider,are aware of your abilities and your experience on themotorcycle. The examiner is not. However, for safetyssake, the examiner may also stop the testing if it becomesapparent that you need more practice on the motorcycle

Three-wheel motorcycle information was developedthrough the joint cooperation of Evergreen Safety Counciand the Sidecar/Trike Education Program (S/TEP).


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2-Wheel Motorcycle Test Course

1 - Cone Weave, Normal Stop 2 - Turning from a

Stop, U-turn

3 - Quick Stop 4 - Obstacle

Swerve


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3-Wheel Motorcycle Test Course

1 - Left Turn, Normal Stop 2 - Cone Weave, Turn from a Stop

3 - Quick Stop 4 - Obstacle Swerve


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Make the mostof your ride

Experience the joys and thrills of motorcycle riding in Colorado.

If you are a new rider begin with the Basic Rider Course:

Motorcycles, helmets, and study material provided.

Successful completion waives the skills test for your

motorcycle endorsement.

The Experienced Rider Course:

For the experienced rider there is always more to

learn to increase your riding enjoyment and safety.

Ofce of Transportation Safety

For a Colorado Department of Transportation MOSTtester in your area,

please visit www.comotorcyclesafety.com

colorado motorcycle manual | colorado motorcycle handbook

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