Control for Safety

In This Section

This Manual cannot teach you how to control direction, speed, or balance. That's something you can learn only through a lot of practice. However, here are a few pointers to help you keep control and avoid crashes.

Body Position

To control a motorcycle well, your body must be in the proper position.

Seat - Sit far enough forward so that your arms are slightly bent when you hold the handlegrips. Bending your arms lets you turn the handlebars without having to stretch.

Hands - Hold the handlegrips firmly. This will help you keep your grip if the motorcycle bounces. Start with your right wrist down. This will help you keep from accidentally using too much throttle-especially if you need to reach for the brake suddenly. Also, ensure that the handlebars are adjusted so your hands are even with, or below your elbows. This allows you to use the proper muscles for precision steering.

Knees-Keep your knees against the gas tank. This will help you keep your balance as the motorcycle turns.

Feet-Keep your feet firmly on the footpegs. Firm footing can help you keep your balance. Don't drag your foot along the ground. If your foot catches on something, you could lose control of the motorcycle. Keep your feet near the controls. This lets you get to the controls fast if you have to use them. Also, don't let your toes drop down-they may get caught between the road and the footpeg.

Posture-You should sit fairly erect. This lets you use your arms to steer the motorcycle rather than to hold yourself up.
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Turning

New riders often try to take curves or turns too fast. When they can't hold the turn, they end up crossing into another lane of traffic or going off the road. Or, they overreact and brake too hard causing a skid and loss of control. Until you learn to judge how fast you can safely take a curve, approach all turns with caution. When turning use the following four steps for better control:

• SLOW
• LOOK
• LEAN
• ROLL

Slow-Reduce speed before the turn by closing the throttle and, if necessary, applying both brakes.

Look-Use your head and eyes for directional control. Look through the turn to where you want to go. Turn just your head, not your shoulders and keep your eyes level with the horizon.

Lean-To turn, the motorcycle must lean. To lean the motorcycle, push on the handgrip in the direction of the turn. Push left - lean left - go left. Push right - lean right - go right. Higher speeds and/or tighter turns require more lean.

In normal turns, the rider and motorcycle should lean together. In slow tight turns, lean the motorcycle only and keep your body straight.

Roll-Roll on the throttle through the turn. Maintain steady speed or gradually accelerate. Avoid deceleration while in the turn.
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Braking

Your motorcycle has two brakes. You need to use both of them. The front brake is more powerful. It provides about three-quarters of your motorcycle's total stopping power. The front brake is not dangerous if you learn to use it properly. Here are some things to remember about braking:

• Use both brakes every time you slow down or stop. If you use only the rear brake for "normal" stops, you may not develop the habit or the skill to use the front brake properly when you really need to stop quickly.
• Apply both brakes at the same time. Some people believe that the rear brake should be applied first. That is not a good idea. The sooner you apply the front brake, the sooner it will start slowing you down.
• Remember, you can use both brakes in a turn. Some motorcycles have integrated braking systems which link the front and rear brakes together, on application of the rear brake pedal. Using the front brake is dangerous only if the road is very slippery and you use the brake incorrectly. Otherwise, if you know the technique using both brakes in a turn is possible although it should be done very carefully. When leaning the motorcycle some of the traction available is used for cornering. So if you use the brakes when leaned, less traction is available for stopping. A skid can occur when too much brake is applied.

Shifting Gears

There is more to shifting gears than simply getting the motorcycle to pick up speed smoothly. Crashes can happen if you use the gears incorrectly when downshifting, turning, or starting on hills.

Downshifting

Shift down through the gears as you slow down or stop. And stay in first gear while you are stopped. This way you can move out quickly if you need to.

Make certain you are going slowly enough when you shift into a lower gear. If you're going too fast, the motorcycle will lurch, and the rear wheel may skid. This is more likely to happen when you are going downhill or shifting into first gear. Under these conditions, you may need to use the brakes to slow down enough to downshift safely.

Shifting for a Turn

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

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