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Motorcycling safely - a motorcycle riding program
Braking, humps and poor surfaces
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Even harder braking on a good surface. Both brakes together, the front
being used gently and then progressively harder once the bike goes down
on its front suspension. Do not allow your arms to transfer downward
force onto the handlebars - keep them bent and relaxed. Legs gripping
the motorbike and back straight as possible. Remember - the front brake
packs the stopping power. (Exception - cruisers and choppers are forced
to use the back brake more due to the rake angle of their front wheel.)
- Harder
braking on a good surface. Now use only the front brake.
Gently and then progressively harder once the bike goes down on
its front suspension
- As
for 1) but with better and better stopping distances. Arms bent,
relaxed, eyes
up, inner thighs gripping the motorbike.
- Braking
on a poor surface using mainly the rear brake.
-
Braking on a poor surface using mainly the rear brake and gearing down.
Release the clutch carefully so as not to lock up the rear
wheel. Do not release the clutch in the middle of the corner -
remember to change gears before the corner and to use the
throttle in the corner.
- Going
down a steep incline using a low gear ratio to control the speed and a
bit of rear brake as needed.
- Slowing
down for a speed hump and using the footpegs to lift one's body weight
off the saddle. This must be done by
standing up and not pulling one's self up using the handlebars.
-
The secret here is not to fixate on the poor surface. Look at it and
then look beyond it - the motorcycle will then follow the same path.
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