WIXLIB

THERIDER AND THE MOTORCYCLE3RIDING ENVIRONMENTMotorcycling is a unique experience.Compared to a car, you don’t sit in amotorcycle, you become its upper half.Not as a passive driver, but as an activerider leaning into a string of smoothcorners, playing along with the rhythmof the road; shifting, accelerating, andbraking with precision. Whether youride to and from work or prefer thecamaraderie of a group ride on theweekend, motorcycling engages all yoursenses and creates an exhilarating senseof freedom.Along with that freedom comesresponsibility. All states require someform of license or endorsement todemonstrate you possess a minimumlevel of skill and knowledge. This bookletand other motorcycle publications canhelp prepare you to be successful. Youmight also consider taking a formalhands-on training course, even if yourstate doesn’t require that you completeone. You’ll learn how to improve yourriding skills and mental strategies, so youcan be a safer, more alert rider and enjoyriding that much more.The diagram above illustrates thecomplex environment that awaits you,and supports the concept that, as theMotorcycle Safety Foundation says, “Saferiding depends as much on the mentalskills of awareness and judgment as itdoes on the physical skill of maneuveringthe machine.”Successfully operating a motorcycle isa much more involved task than drivinga car. Motorcycling requires strength,coordination, and balance, as well asa heightened sense of awareness andposition amidst other roadway users. Amotorcycle is more responsive than acar, but is also more sensitive to outsideforces, like irregular road surfaces orcrosswinds. A motorcycle is also lessvisible than a car due to its narrowerprofile, and offers far less protection byexposing its rider to other traffic and theelements. All these risks can be managedthrough training and education.

4 PREPARING TO RIDEPREPARING TO RIDE 4What you do before you begin a ride goes a long way toward riding safelyand effectively. Before any ride, a safety-minded rider makes a point to:1. Wear the right gear.2. Become familiar with the motorcycle.3. Check the motorcycle parts and controls.WEAR THE RIGHT GEARWhen you ride, your gear is “right”if it protects you. In any crash, you havea far better chance of avoiding seriousinjury if you wear: A DOT-compliant helmet. Face or eye protection. Protective clothing.Helmet UseCrashes can occur — particularlyamong untrained, beginning riders.And one out of every five motorcyclecrashes results in head or neck injuries.Head injuries are just as severe as neckinjuries — and far more common. Crashanalyses show that head and neckinjuries account for a majority of seriousand fatal injuries to motorcyclists.Research also shows that, with fewexceptions, head and neck injuries arereduced by properly wearing a qualityhelmet.Some riders choose not to wear ahelmet. But, here are some facts toconsider: A DOT-compliant helmet lets yousee as far to the sides as necessary.Studies show that a helmet does notkeep a rider from spotting danger. Most crashes happen on short trips(less than five miles long), just a fewminutes after starting out. Most riders are riding slower than30 mph when a crash occurs. Atthese speeds, helmets can cut boththe number and the severity of headand neck injuries by half.No matter what the speed, helmetedriders are three times more likely tosurvive head injuries than those notwearing helmets at the time of thecrash. The single most important thingyou can do to improve your chances ifyou crash is to wear a securely fastened,quality helmet.Helmet SelectionRecommended are two primary typesof helmets, providing two differentlevels of coverage: three-quarter and fullface.Whichever style you choose, you canget the most protection by making surethat the helmet: Is designed to meet U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)and state standards. Helmets witha label from the Snell MemorialFoundation also give you anassurance of quality. Fits snugly, all the way around. Has no obvious defects such ascracks, loose padding or frayedstraps.Whatever helmet you decide on, keepit securely fastened on your head whenyou ride. Otherwise, if you are involvedin a crash, it might fly off your head

5 CONTENTS 5before it gets a chance toprotect you.HELMETSEye and FaceProtectionA plastic impact-resistantfaceshield can help protectyour whole face in a crash.It also protects you fromwind, dust, dirt, rain, insectsand pebbles thrown upfrom cars ahead. Theseproblems are distractingand can be painful. If youhave to deal with them, youcan’t devote your full attention to theroad.Goggles protect your eyes, thoughthey won’t protect the rest of your facelike a faceshield does. A windshieldattached to the motorcycle is not asubstitute for a faceshield or goggles.Most windshields will not protectyour eyes from the wind. Neither willeyeglasses or sunglasses. Glasses won’tkeep your eyes from watering, andthey might blow off when you turnyour head while riding, or in windyconditions.To be effective, eye or faceshieldprotection must: Be free of scratches. Be resistant to penetration. Give a clear view to either side. Fasten securely, so it does not blowoff. Permit air to pass through, to reducefogging. Permit enough room for eyeglassesor sunglasses, if needed.Tinted eye protection should notbe worn when little outside light isavailable.ClothingThe right clothing protects you. It alsoprovides comfort as well as protectionfrom heat, cold, debris and hot andmoving parts of the motorcycle. It canalso make you more visible to others. Jacket and pants should cover armsand legs completely. They should fitsnugly enough to keep from flappingin the wind, yet loosely enough toallow you to move freely. Leatheroffers the most protection. Sturdysynthetic material provides a lot ofprotection as well. Wear a jacketeven in warm weather to preventdehydration. Many are designedto protect without getting youoverheated, even on summer days.Some riders choose jackets and pantswith “body armor” inserts in criticalbody areas for additional protection. Boots or shoes should be high andsturdy enough to cover your anklesand give them support. Soles shouldbe made of hard, durable, slipresistant material. Keep heels short sothey do not catch on rough surfaces.Tuck in laces so they won’t catch onyour motorcycle. Gloves allow a better grip and help

6 PREPARING TO RIDEprotect your hands. Your glovesshould be made of leather or similardurable material. Hearing protection reduces noisewhile allowing you to hear importantsounds such as car horns or sirens.Long term exposure to engine andwind noise can cause permanenthearing damage even if you wear afull face helmet. Whether you choosedisposable foam plugs or reusablecustom molded devices, be sureyou adhere to state laws regardinghearing protection.In cold or wet weather, your clothesshould keep you warm and dry, aswell as protect you from injury. Youcannot control a motorcycle well ifyou are numb. Riding for long periodsin cold weather can cause severe chilland fatigue. A winter jacket shouldresist wind and fit snugly at the neck,wrists and waist. Good-quality rainsuitsdesigned for motorcycle riding resisttearing apart or ballooning up at highspeeds.CLOTHINGKNOW YOURMOTORCYCLEThere are plenty of things on thehighway that can cause you trouble.Your motorcycle should not be oneof them. To make sure that yourmotorcycle won’t let you down: Start with the right motorcyclefor you. It should fit you well. Read the owner’s manual. Be familiar with the controls. Check the motorcycle beforeevery ride. Keep it in safe riding conditionbetween rides. Avoid add-ons and modificationsthat make it more difficult to handle.The Right Motorcycle For YouFirst, make sure your motorcycle isright for you. It should “fit” you. Yourfeet should reach the ground whileyou are seated on the motorcycle, andthe controls should be easy to operate.Smaller motorcycles are usually easierfor beginners to operate.At a minimum, your street-legalmotorcycle should have: Headlight, taillight and brakelight.TEST YOURSELF1A plastic shatter-resistant face shield:A. Is not necessary if you have awindshield.B. Only protects your eyes.C. Helps protect your whole face.D. Does not protect your face as well asgoggles.Answer - page 45

7 Front and rear brakes.of experience on their motorcycle. Turn signals.Get Familiar with theMotorcycle Controls Horn. Two mirrors.Borrowing and LendingBorrowers and lenders of motorcycles,beware. Crashes are more likely to occuramong beginning riders — especiallyin the first months of riding. Riding anunfamiliar motorcycle adds risk. If youborrow a motorcycle, get familiar withit away from traffic. And if you lendyour motorcycle to friends, make surethey are licensed and know how to ridebefore allowing them out into traffic.No matter how experienced youmay be, ride extra carefully on anymotorcycle that’s new or unfamiliarto you. More than half of all crashesinvolve riders with less than five monthsMake sure you are completely familiarwith the motorcycle before you takeit out on the street. Be sure to reviewthe owner’s manual. This is particularlyimportant if you are riding a borrowedmotorcycle.If you are going to use an unfamiliarmotorcycle: Check it out thoroughly. Find out where everything is, particularly the turn signals, horn,headlight switch, fuel-supply valveand engine cut-off switch. Find andoperate these items without havingto look for them. Know the controls. Work thethrottle, clutch lever, brakes,MOTORCYCLE CONTROLS

8 PREPARING TO RIDEand shifter a few times beforeyou start riding. Be very familiarwith the friction zone for manualtransmissions. Ride very cautiously and be awareof surroundings. Accelerate gently,take turns more slowly and leaveextra room for stopping.Check Your MotorcycleA motorcycle needs more frequentattention than a car. A minor technicalfailure on a car is seldom more than aninconvenience for the driver. The samefailure on a motorcycle may result in acrash or having to leave your motorcycleparked on the side of the road. Ifanything’s wrong with your motorcycle,you’ll want to find out about it beforeyou get in traffic.The primary source of informationabout how a motorcycle should beinspected and maintained is its owner’smanual. Be sure to absorb all of itsimportant information. A motorcyclewill continue to ride like new if it ismaintained and routine inspectionsbecome part of its maintenance.A pre-ride inspection only takesa few minutes and should be donebefore every ride to prevent problems.It’s quick and easy to check the criticalcomponents and it should be as routineand automatic as checking the weatherforecast before heading out for the day.A convenient reminder developed byMSF is T-CLOCSSM. There is a T-CLOCS“tear-out” sheet at the back of thismanual for you to keep. A T-CLOCSinspection should be conducted beforeevery ride, and includes checks of:T — Tires and Wheels Check tire inflation pressure,treadwear and general condition ofsidewalls and tread surface. Try the front and rear brake levers oneat a time. Make sure each feels firmand holds the motorcycle when fullyapplied.C — Controls Make sure the clutch and throttleoperate smoothly. The throttle shouldsnap back to fully closed whenreleased. The clutch should feel tightand should operate smoothly. Try the horn. Make sure it works.L — Lights and Electrics Check both headlight and taillight.Test the switch to make sure bothhigh and low beams work. Turn on both right and left handturn signals. Make sure all lights areworking properly. Try both brakes and make sure eachone turns on the brake light. Clean and adjust mirrors beforestarting. It’s difficult to ride with onehand while you try to adjust a mirror.Adjust each mirror so you can seethe lane behind and the lane nextto you. When properly adjusted, amirror may show the edge of yourarm or shoulder – but it’s the roadbehind you and to the side that areimportant.O — Oil and Other Fluids Check engine oil and transmissionfluid levels. Check the brake hydraulic fluid andcoolant level, if equipped, weekly. Be sure your fuel valve is open, ifequipped, before starting out. Withthe fuel valve closed, your motorcyclemay start with only the fuel that isstill in the lines, but will stall once thelines are empty. Look underneath the motorcycle forsigns of an oil or fuel leak.

C — Chassis Check the front suspension. Ensurethere is no binding. The rear shocksand springs should move smoothly. If there is a chain or belt, adjustaccording to the manufacturer’sspecifications, and check thesprockets for wear or damage.S — Stands Ensure the side stand operatessmoothly and that the spring holds ittightly in the up position. If equipped,the center stand should also be heldfirmly against the frame whenever themotorcycle is moving.Additionally, regular maintenancesuch as tune-ups and oil changes areimportant. Wear and tear is normalwith use; routine maintenance willhelp prevent costly breakdowns.The schedule for regular upkeepfor motorcycle parts and controls iscontained in the motorcycle’s owner’smanual.KNOW YOURRESPONSIBILITIES“Accident” implies an unforeseenevent that occurs without fault ornegligence. In traffic, that is not thecase. In fact, most people involved ina crash should probably claim someresponsibility for what takes place.Consider a situation where someonedecides to drive through an intersectionon a yellow light turning red. Yourlight turns green. You pull into theintersection without checking forpossible traffic. That is all it takes for thetwo of you to crash. It was the driver’sresponsibility to stop, and it was yourresponsibility to look before moving out.Someone else might be the first to startthe chain of events leading to a crash,9but it doesn’t leave any of us free of ourresponsibility to reduce risk.As a rider you can’t be sure that otheroperators will see you or yield the rightof way. To lessen your chances of acrash occurring: Be visible — wear proper clothing,use your headlight, ride in the bestlane position to see and be seen. Communicate your intentions —use the proper signals, brake lightand lane position. Maintain an adequate spacecushion — when following, beingfollowed, lane sharing, passing andbeing passed. Search your path of travel 12seconds ahead. Identify and separate hazards. Be prepared to act — remain alertand know how to carry out propercrash-avoidance skills, like firmbraking or swerving.Blame doesn’t matter when someoneis injured in a crash. The ability to rideaware, make critical decisions and carrythem out separates responsible ridersfrom the rest. Remember, it is up to youto keep from being the cause of, or anunprepared participant in, any crash.TEST YOURSELF2More than half of all crashes:A. Occur at speeds greater than 35mph.B. Happen at night.C. Are caused by worn tires.D. Involve riders who have less thanfive months of experience on theirmotorcycles.Answer - page 45

10 RIDE WITHIN YOUR ABILITIESReading this manual does not teach you the physicals skills to controldirection, speed or balance. That’s something you can learn only throughpractice, preferably in a formal course of instruction like an MSF RiderCourse.But control begins with knowing your abilities and riding within them, alongwith knowing and obeying the rules of the road.BASIC VEHICLE CONTROLBody PositionTo control a motorcycle well: Posture — Position yourselfcomfortably so you are able tooperate all the controls and steereffectively. This helps you interact wellwith your motorcycle and allows youto react quickly to hazards. Seat — Sit far enough forward sothat arms are slightly bent when youhold the handgrips. Bending yourarms permits you to press on thehandlebars without having to reachtoo far. Hands — Hold the handgripsfirmly to keep your grip over roughsurfaces. Start with your right wristflat. This will help you keep fromaccidentally using too much throttle.Also, adjust the handlebars so yourhands are even with or below yourHOLDING HANDGRIPSelbows. This permits you to use theproper muscles for proper steering. Knees — Keep your knees againstthe gas tank to help you keep yourbalance as the motorcycle turns. Feet — Keep your feet firmly on thefootrests to maintain balance. Don’tdrag your feet. If your foot catcheson something, you could be injuredand it could affect your control ofthe motorcycle. Keep your feet nearthe controls so you can get to themeasily if needed. Also, don’t let yourtoes point downward — they mayget caught between the road and thefootrests.Shifting GearsThere is more to shifting gears thansimply getting the motorcycle to pickup speed smoothly. Learning to use thegears when downshifting, turning orstarting on hills is equally important forsafe motorcycle operation.The gearshift lever is located in frontof the left footrest and is operated bythe left foot. To shift “up” to a highergear, position your foot under the shiftlever and lift and release. To downshift,press the shift lever down and release.The shift lever changes one geareach time it is lifted or pressed down.Whenever the lever is released, springloading returns it to center, where themechanism resets for the next shift upor down. A typical gear pattern is 1-N2-3-4-5. The N is for neutral, which isselected by either a “half lift” from 1stgear or a “half press” from 2nd gear.

Most motorcycles have five gears, butsome have four or six gears.As your motorcycle increasesspeed, you will need to shift up to ahigher gear. Shift up well before theengine RPM reaches its maximumrecommended speed. As a general rule,shift up soon enough to avoid overrevving the engine, but not so soon tocause the engine to lug.SHIFTING GEARS11slightly while smoothly easing out theclutch lever can help the engine comeup to speed more quickly and make thedownshift smoother. Shifting t

Lincoln Area: Nebraska Safety Council 3270 Folkways Blvd., Ste 201 Lincoln, NE 68504-1264 Contact: Lisa Henning, 402-483-2511 Ext. 109 Email: Lhenning@nesafetycouncil.org Website: www.nesafetycouncil.org Lincoln Area: Southeast Community College Lincoln Campus Milford Campus 8800 O St. 600 State St. Lincoln, NE 68520 Milford, NE 68405