Motorcycle Handbook Preparing to Ride
What you do before you start a trip goes a long way toward determining whether you’ll get where you want to go safely. Before starting any trip, a safe rider makes a point to:
- Familiarize yourself with the motorcycle.
- Check the motorcycle equipment.
- Wear the right gear.
- Be a responsible rider.
Wearing the Right Gear
When you ride, your gear is “right” if it protects you. In any collision, you have a far better chance of avoiding serious injury when you wear:
- A motorcycle safety helmet approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
- Face or eye protection.
- Protective clothing; for example, leather or long sleeve jacket, long heavy pants, over the ankle boots, full fingered leather gloves.
More information on wearing the right gear is covered in the following pages.
Many collisions result in head injuries. All operators and passengers are required by law to wear a motorcycle safety helmet when riding a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle,or motorized bicycle. The motorcycle safety helmet must be certified by the manufacturer that the helmet complies with the Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218. Research shows that head injuries account for a majority of serious and fatal motorcyclist injuries and that with few exceptions, head injuries are reduced by properly wearing a motorcycle safety helmet. Here are some facts to consider:
- A motorcycle safety helmet allows you to see as far to the sides as necessary.
- Most collisions happen on short trips (less than five miles long) just a few minutes after starting out.
- Most riders are riding slower than 30 mph when a collision occurs. At these speeds, a motorcycle safety helmet can cut both the number and the severity of head injuries by half.
No matter what your speed in a collision, if you are wearing a motorcycle safety helmet you are three times more likely to survive a head injury than if you aren’t wearing one.
There are three types of helmets to consider: A half shell, three quarters or full face helmet. However, a full face helmet with a lock in visor, offers the best coverage and protection to the back sides of your head.
Whichever style you choose, you get the most protection by making sure the helmet:
- Meets the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) safety standards.
- Has the manufacturer applied DOT lettering on the back of the helmet for your safety.
NOTE: The DOT lettering should not be a stick-on label or easily removed. - Fits snugly, all the way around.
- Has no obvious defects such as cracks, loose padding or frayed straps.
Keep your motorcycle safety helmet securely fastened on your head when you ride. Otherwise, if you are involved in a collision, it may fly off your head before it gets a chance to protect you.
A plastic shatter-resistant face shield can help protect your whole face in a collision. It also protects you from wind, dust, dirt, rain, insects, and pebbles thrown up from the vehicles ahead. If you don’t have to deal with these types of problems, you can devote your full attention to the road.
Goggles protect your eyes, but they don’t protect the rest of your face as a face shield does. A windshield is not a substitute for a face shield or goggles. Most windshields will not protect your eyes from the wind, nor will eyeglasses or sunglasses. Glasses won’t keep your eyes from watering, and they might blow off when you turn your head.
To be effective, eye or face shield protection must:
- Be free of scratches.
- Be resistant to punctures.
- Give a clear view to either side.
- Fasten securely, so it does not blow off or up.
- Permit air to pass through, to reduce fogging.
- Permit enough room for eyeglasses or sunglasses, if needed.
Tinted eye protection should not be wornat night or anyother time when little light is available.
The right clothing protects you in a collision. It also provides comfort, as well as protection from heat, cold, debris, and the hot and moving parts of the motorcycle.
- Jacket and pants should cover arms and legs completely. They should fit snugly enough to keep from flapping in the wind, but still allow you to move freely. Leather or a sturdy synthetic material offers the most protection. Wear a jacket even in warm weather to prevent dehydration. Many are designed to protect without getting you overheated, even on summer days.
- Boots or shoes should be high and sturdy enough to cover your ankles and support them. Soles should be made of hard, durable, slip-resistant material. The heels should be short so they do not catch on rough surfaces. Tuck in laces so they won’t catch on your motorcycle.
- Gloves allow a better grip and help protect your hands. Your gloves should be made of leather or similar durable material.
Riding for long periods in cold weather can cause severe chill and fatigue. You cannot control a motorcycle well if you are numb. In cold or wet weather, layer your clothes to keep yourself warm and dry, as well as protect you from injury. A winter jacket should resist wind and fit snugly at the neck, wrists, and waist. Good quality rain suits designed for motorcycle riding resist tearing apart or ballooning up at high speeds.
Know Your Motorcycle
There are many things on the highway that can cause you trouble. Your motorcycle should not be one of them. To make sure that your motorcycle won’t let you down:
- Start with the right motorcycle for you.
- Read the owner’s manual first.
- Be familiar with the motorcycle controls.
- Check the motorcycle before every ride.
- Keep it in safe riding condition between rides.
- Avoid add-ons and modifications that make your motorcycle harder to handle.
First, make sure your motorcycle “fits” you. Your feet should reach the ground while you are seated on the motorcycle.
At minimum, your street-legal motorcycle must have:
- Tires with sufficient tread for safe operation.
- Headlight, taillight, brake light, and turn signals.
- Front and rear brakes.
- A horn and two mirrors.
Get Familiar With the Motorcycle Controls
Be completely familiar with the motorcycle before you take it out on the street.
If you use an unfamiliar motorcycle:
- Make all the safety and maintenance checks you would on your own motorcycle.
- Find out where everything is, particularly the turn signals, horn, headlight switch, fuel-supply valve, and engine cut-off switch. You should be able to find them without having to look for them.
- Know the gear pattern. Work the throttle, clutch and brakes a few times before you start riding. All controls react a little differently.
- Ride very cautiously and be aware of your surroundings. Accelerate gently, take turns more slowly, and leave extra room for stopping.
A motorcycle needs more frequent attention than a car. If something is wrong with the motorcycle, you’ll want to find out about it before you get in traffic. Make the following checks before every ride:
- Tires—Check the air pressure, general wear, and tread.
- Fluids—Oil and fluid levels. At a minimum, check hydraulic fluids and coolants weekly. Look under the motorcycle for signs of an oil or gas leak.
- Headlights and Taillight— Check them both.Test your switch to make sure both high and low beams work.
- Turn Signals—Turn on both right and left turn signals. Make sure all lights work properly.
- Battery—Check the battery condition and electrolyte level; that the terminals are clean and tight, and that the battery is fastened securely.
- Brake Light—Try both brake controls and make sure each one turns on the brake light.
- Chain or Belt—Check the tension, lubrication and sprockets.
- Kick-StandCheck the kick—stand for cracks, bent springs, and tension to hold position.
Once you are on the motorcycle, complete the following checks before starting out:
- Clutch and Throttle—Make sure they work smoothly. The throttle should snap back when you let go. The clutch should feel tight and smooth.
- Mirrors—Clean and adjust both mirrors before starting. Adjust each mirror so you can see the lane behind and as much as possible of the lane next to you. When properly adjusted, a mirror may show the edge of your arm or shoulder—but it’s the road behind and to the side that is most important.
- Brakes—Try the front and rear brake levers one at a time. Make sure each one feels firm and holds the motorcycle when the brake is fully applied.
- Horn—Make sure the horn works.
In addition to the checks before every trip, check the following items at least once a week: Wheels, cables, fasteners, and fluids. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Collisions are fairly common among new riders. Riding an unfamiliar motorcycle adds to the problem. Get familiar with any motorcycle that is new to you, preferably in a controlled area. (No matter how experienced you may be, ride extra carefully on any motorcycle that is new or unfamiliar to you.) Remember that more than half of all collisions occur on motorcycles ridden by riders with less than six months experience.
Know Your Responsibilities
“Accident” implies an unforeseen event that occurs without anyone’s fault or negligence. Most often in traffic, that is not the case. In fact, most people involved in a collision can usually claim some responsibility for what takes place.
Blame doesn’t matter when someone is injured in a collision. There is rarely a single cause of any collision. The ability to be aware, make critical decisions, and carry them out separates responsible riders from all the rest. It is up to you to keep from being the cause of, or an unprepared participant in, any collision.
As a rider, you can’t be sure that others will see you or yield the right of way. To reduce the chances of a collision:
- Be visible. Wear proper clothing, use your headlight, and ride in the best lane position to see and be seen.
- Communicate your intentions. Use the proper signals, brake light, and lane position.
- Maintain an adequate space cushion. Allow yourself enough space when following, being followed, lane sharing, passing, and being passed.
- Scan your path of travel. Look at least 10 to 15 seconds ahead.
- Identify and separate multiple hazards.
- Be prepared to act. Remain alert and know how to carry out proper collision-avoidance skills.
License Requirements | Table of Contents | Ride Within Your Abilities
