A motorcycle is delicately balanced on two wheels and handles better when ridden on surfaces that provide good traction. Any surface that affects the motorcycle's traction will affect its balance. Surfaces that provide poor traction include:

• Slippery surfaces.
• Uneven surfaces or obstacles.
• Railroad tracks, trolley tracks, and pavement seams.
• Grooves and gratings.
• Sloping surfaces.

SLIPPERY SURFACES

Some slippery surfaces are:

• Wet pavement, particularly just after it starts to rain and before surface oil washes to the side of the road.
• Gravel roads, or places where sand and gravel have collected on paved roads.
• Mud, snow, and ice.
• Wet painted lane markings and steel surfaces (manhole covers).

There are a number of things you can do to operate safely on slippery surfaces.

Reduce speed

It takes longer to stop on slippery surfaces. It is particularly important to reduce speed for curves. Remember, speed limits posted on curves apply to good surface conditions.

Use both brakes

The front brake is still more effective than the back brake, even on a slippery surface. Squeeze the brake lever gradually to avoid locking the front wheel. The front brake shouldn't be used if the surface is extremely slippery, like ice. Then, you shouldn't brake at all. If possible, squeeze the clutch and coast. However, attempting this maneuver at anything other than the slowest of speeds could be hazardous.

Avoid sudden moves

Any sudden change in speed or direction can cause a skid on slippery surfaces. You should turn, brake, accelerate, and change gears as little and as gradually as possible. On a very slippery spot, such as a patch of ice, make no changes at all until you are across it.

Avoid slippery areas

Try to find the best pavement possible and use it.

• Oil from cars tends to build up in the center of the lane, particularly near intersections where cars slow down or stop. On wet pavement, therefore, it is better to operate in the track created by the wheels of moving cars. Some people suggest using the left wheel track all the time. However, it is not always a good idea. Experienced riders change lane position for traffic and roadway conditions.
  
• Watch for oil spots when stopping or parking. If you put your foot down in the wrong spot, you may fall.
  
• Dirt and gravel tend to collect along the sides of the road. It is very important to stay away from the edge of the road when making sharp turns at intersections or entering and leaving freeway ramps at high speed.
  
• Certain sections of a wet road dry out faster or snow melts faster in certain areas. Try at all times to stay in the best part of the lane.

Very slippery areas

It is almost impossible to maintain balance in ice, hard-packed snow, or wet wooden surfaces. Cautious persons will not ride a motorcycle when the roads are covered with ice or snow. However, if you must ride on icy or snowy roads, keep your bike straight up and proceed as slowly as possible. If you have to cross a large slippery surface, you might consider letting your feet skim along the surface to keep from falling. If the bike starts to fall, you can catch yourself. Keep off the brakes and do this only when you are going very slowly on very slippery roads.

UNEVEN SURFACES

Watch for uneven surfaces such as bumps, broken pavement, "chuck holes,"railroad tracks, or small pieces of highway trash in the road. If you see something in the road, first determine if you can go over the obstacle. Approach it at a 90° angle. Look where you want to go to control your path of travel. If you have to ride over the object, you should:

• Slow down to reduce the impact.
  
• Make sure the motorcycle is straight up.
  
• Rise slightly off the seat with your weight on the footpegs.

Rising off the seat will reduce your chances of being thrown off the bike. You may have trouble controlling the throttle. If you do, practice this in an area away from traffic, such as an empty parking lot.

RAILROAD TRACKS, TROLLEY TRACKS, AND PAVEMENT SEAMS

It is usually safer to ride straight within your lane to cross railroad tracks. Turning to cross tracks head on at a 90° angle may be more dangerous than crossing at a slight angle because your path may take you into the next lane.

However, it is necessary to turn when crossing something that is running parallel to your course, such as trolley tracks, ruts in the middle of the road, or a pavement seam. To cross, move far enough away to be able to cross at an angle of at least 45°. Then, just make a quick sharp turn. Do not try to edge across it because it could catch your tires and upset your balance.

GROOVES AND GRATINGS

When riding over rain grooves or metal bridge gratings, the motorcycle will tend to wander back and forth. While this may give you an uneasy feeling, it is not generally hazardous. The best thing to do is relax, stay on course, "ride it out," and ride straight across.

SLOPING SURFACES

A road surface that slopes from one side to the other is not difficult to handle when going straight ahead. However, in a curve, a slope can make the turn harder.

Here is a picture of a rider turning left on a high crowned road, that is, a road that is higher in the middle than at the sides.

A turn to the left on a high crowned road is like a turn on a curve that is banked the wrong way. The crown makes the turn more difficult by:

• Cutting down on the clearance between the left footpeg and the surface.
• Adding the force of the downslope to the outward force of the turn, increasing the chance of a skid.
  
• Making it necessary to turn uphill.

The only way to handle the "wrong way banking" is to slow down. This will straighten the motorcycle and reduce the outward force.

At night, the ability to see and be seen is limited. With only one headlight, it is hard to see the condition of the road or something lying in your path. Also, other drivers have a hard time picking your headlight and taillight out of the stronger lights of other cars.

When you ride at night:

REDUCE SPEED

If there is something lying in the road ahead, you will not be able to see it until you are very close to it. If you are going too fast, you may not be able to avoid it. Reduce your speed at night, particularly on roads that you don't know well.

INCREASE DISTANCE

It is difficult to judge distance at nightboth for you and for other drivers. Your eyes rely on shadows and contrasts in the light to determine how far away an object is or how fast it is coming towards you. These contrasts are distorted or missing during the hours of darkness or dark, overcast days. To compensate for this, follow other vehicles at a greater distance, leave more room at your side when riding next to cars, and allow yourself more room to pass safely.

Be flexible about lane position. Change lane position as your need to see and be seen changes.

USE THE CAR AHEAD

If there is a car ahead, its lights can give a better view of the road ahead than your own lights. Car taillights bouncing up and down can alert you to bumps or rough pavement.

USE THE HIGH BEAM

Get all the light possible. Use the high beam whenever you are not following or approaching an oncoming vehicle.

Back || Table of Contents || Next