Ride Within Your Abilities - Part 1

Question 1

Body Position - To control a motorcycle well:

Answer 1

*Posture - Sit so you can use your arms to steer the motorcycle rather than to hold yourself up.
*Seat - Sit far enough forward so that arms are slightly bent when you hold the handlegrips. Bending your arms permits you to press on the handlebars without having to stretch.
*Hands - Hold the handgrips firmly to keep your grip over rough surfaces. Start with your right wrist flat. This will help you keep from accidentally using too much throttle. Also, adjust the handlebars so your hands are even with or below your elbows. This permits
you to use the proper muscles for precision steering.
*Knees - Keep your knees against the gas tank to help you keep your balance as the motorcycle turns.
*Feet - Keep your feet firmly on the footpegs to maintain balance. Don?t drag your feet. If your foot catches on something, you can be injured and it could affect your control of the motorcycle. Keep your feet near the controls so you can get to them fast if needed. Also, don?t let your toes point downward - they may get caught between the road and the footpegs

Question 2

When stopped, which gear should you be in and why?

Answer 2

Remain in first gear while you are stopped so that you can move out quickly if you need to.

Question 3

Do you shift up or down through the gears when slowing down?

Answer 3

Shift down through the gears with the clutch as you slow or stop.

Question 4

Do you shift up or down through the gears when accelerating?

Answer 4

Shift up through the gears with the clutch as you accelerate or increase speed.

Question 5

Should you use your front or rear brake most of the times when slowing down or stopping?

Answer 5

Trick question, use both of them at the same time. (aside from some special situations)

Question 6

Which break is more powerful: front or rear?

Answer 6

Front

Question 7

How much stopping power can be provided by the front break?

Answer 7

Three quarters or 75% of your total stopping power can be provided by your front brake

Question 8

Why is it advocated to use front and rear breaks at all times?

Answer 8

To develop the proper habit or skill of using both brakes properly in an emergency

Question 9

When braking the front break should be squeezed and the rear pressed down on. What can happen if you grab at the front brake or jam down on the rear?

Answer 9

Grabbing at the front brake or jamming down on the rear can cause the brakes to lock, resulting in control problems.

Question 10

When turning or going around a curve why is it important to use your brakes carefully?

Answer 10

• When leaning the motorcycle some of the traction is used for cornering. Less traction is available for stopping.
• A skid can occur if you apply too much brake.
• Also, using the front brake incorrectly on a slippery surface may be hazardous.
• Use caution and squeeze the brake lever, never grab.

Question 11

What are the main principles of turning?

Answer 11

• SLOW - Reduce speed before the turn by closing the throttle and, if necessary, applying both brakes.
• LOOK - 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.
• PRESS - To turn, the motorcycle must lean. To lean the motorcycle, press on the hand grip in the direction of the turn. Press left hand-grip ? lean left ? go left. Press right hand grip lean right ? go right. The higher the speed in a turn the greater the lean angle.
• ROLL - Roll on the throttle to maintain or slightly increase speed. This helps stabilize the motorcycle.

A few notes:

• Head turn is so important. Bike goes where your eyes go, not where your shoulders go
• Countersteering
• Despite what your brain tells you, speed in a turn is your friend. Too much though, makes it your enemy

Question 12

What is your body positioning for normal turning versus slow turning?

Answer 12

-In normal turns, the rider and the motorcycle should lean together at the same angle.

In slow, tight turns, counterbalance by leaning the motorcycle only and keeping your body straight.

A few notes:

• The test is only applicable to street riding so knowledge that you have about off-road from bike riding typically will not apply
• Slow turns—remember speed is your friend, if you are not going fast enough do not lean, counterbalance instead

Question 13

What advantage does keeping your distance or a “cushion of space” all around your motorcycle provide?

Answer 13

If someone else makes a mistake, distance offers you:

• Time to react.
• Space to maneuver.

Question 14

Your lane position should:

Answer 14

• Increase your ability to see and be seen.
• Avoid others? blind spots.
• Avoid surface hazards.
• Protect your lane from other drivers.
• Communicate your intentions.
• Avoid wind blast from other vehicles.
• Provide an escape route.

Question 15

Each lane provides how many different positions for a motorcyclist to choose from?

Answer 15

Three:

1. inside
2. center
3. outside

Question 16

What needs more stopping distance: car or motorcycle?

Answer 16

Trick question, motorcycles need as much distance to stop as cars

Question 17

What is normally the minimum distance to be maintained behind the vehicle ahead?

Answer 17

Normally, a minimum of four seconds distance should be maintained behind the vehicle ahead.

A four-second following distance leaves a minimum amount of space to stop or swerve if the driver ahead stops suddenly. It also permits a better view of potholes and other hazards in the road.

Question 18

How should you gauge your following distance?

Answer 18

• Pick out a marker, such as a pavement marking or lamppost, on or near the road ahead.
• When the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead passes the marker, count off the seconds: one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three, one-thousand-four.
• If you reach the marker before you reach four, you are following too closely.

Question 19

What is the best way to handle tailgaters?

Answer 19

A better way to handle tailgaters is to get them in front of you.

Speeding up to lose someone following too closely only ends up with someone tailgating you at a higher speed.

When someone is following too closely, change lanes and let them pass. If you can?t do this, slow down and open up extra space ahead of you to allow room for both you and the tailgater to stop. This will also encourage them to pass. If they don?t pass, you will have
given yourself and the tailgater more time and space to react in case an emergency does develop ahead.

Question 20

What are the steps for passing a vehicle?

Answer 20

1. Ride in the left portion of the lane at a safe following distance to increase your line of sight and make you more visible. Signal and check for oncoming traffic. Use your mirrors and turn your head to look for traffic behind.
2. When safe, move into the left lane and accelerate. Select a lane position that doesn’t crowd the car you are passing and provides space to avoid hazards in your lane.
3. Ride through the blind spot as quickly as possible.
4. Signal again, and complete mirror and head checks before returning to your original lane and then cancel signal.

Remember, passes must be completed within posted speed limits, and only where permitted. Know your signs and road markings!

Question 21

What are the steps for being passed?

Answer 21

When you are being passed from behind or by an oncoming vehicle, stay in the center portion of your lane. Riding any closer to them could put you in a hazardous situation.

Avoid being hit by:
? The other vehicle - A slight mistake by you or the passing driver could cause a sideswipe.
? Extended mirrors - Some drivers forget that their mirrors hang out farther than their fenders.
? Objects thrown from windows - Even if the driver knows you?re there, a passenger may not see you and might toss something on you or the road ahead of you.
? Blasts of wind from larger vehicles - They can affect your control. You have more room for error if you are in the middle portion when hit by this blast than if you are on either side of the lane.

Do not move into the portion of the lane farthest from the passing vehicle. It might invite the other driver to cut back into your lane too early.

Question 22

What is the 3-step process used to make appropriate judgements and apply them correctly in different traffic situations

Answer 22

S-E-E

S-Search
E-Evaluate
E-Execute

Question 23

What should a rider S-Search for?
As a component of the 3-step process used to make appropriate judgements and apply them correctly in different traffic situations

Answer 23

Search aggressively ahead, to the sides and behind to avoid potential hazards even before they arise.

Focus even more on finding potential escape routes in or around intersections, shopping areas, schools, and construction zones.
Search for:
-Oncoming traffic that may turn left in front of you.
-Traffic coming from the left and right.
-Traffic approaching from behind.
-Hazardous road conditions. Focus even more on finding potential escape routes in or around intersections, shopping areas, schools, and construction zones.

Be especially alert in areas with limited visibility. Visually ?busy? surroundings could hide you and your motorcycle from others.

Question 24

What should a rider E-Evaluate?
As a component of the 3-step process used to make appropriate judgements and apply them correctly in different traffic situations

Answer 24

• Road and surface characteristics ? Potholes, guardrails, bridges, telephone poles and trees won?t move into your path but may influence your riding strategy.
• Traffic control devices ? Look for traffic signals, including regulatory signs, warning signs, and pavement markings, to help you evaluate circumstances ahead.
• Vehicles and other traffic ? May move into your path and increase the likelihood of a crash.

Question 25

What should a rider Execute to create more space and minimize harm from any hazard?
As a component of the 3-step process used to make appropriate judgements and apply them correctly in different traffic situations

Answer 25

• Communicate your presence with lights and/or horn.
• Adjust your speed by accelerating, stopping or slowing.
• Adjust your position and/or direction.