The cut-off switch usually sits on the right handlebar within reach of your thumb, so you can shut the engine down quickly, for instance if the throttle sticks, while both hands stay on the grips. It is not a check on the ignition key or a fuel shutoff.
Prior to a long trip, both the inflation pressure and the remaining tread on every tire need checking, and you should also look for cuts, bulges or objects stuck in the rubber. A tire failure at highway speed can lead to a serious crash.
A motorcycle that fits lets you put your feet down while seated, so you can hold it up at stops and in slow traffic. You should also be able to reach and work every control without stretching.
An overfilled engine builds up extra pressure that can force oil past the seals, leading to leaks, smoke, or damaged seals. Remove the surplus so the level sits between the marks on the dipstick or sight glass.
A minor mechanical fault that would only inconvenience a car driver can make a rider lose control, so a motorcycle has to be looked after more often. Inspecting it before every ride lets you find problems at home rather than in traffic.
Under the seat, the transponder is surrounded by the seat, the frame, and other metal parts that can block its signal, so the toll reader may never register it. On the windshield or in a pocket, it stays where the reader can pick it up.
Each letter in T-CLOCS names an area to inspect: Tires and wheels, Controls, Lights and electrics, Oil and fluids, Chassis, and Stands. Covering all of them before you set out lets you spot a defect while the motorcycle is still parked.
On two wheels, a small fault such as a worn tire, a loose chain or weak brakes can quickly cause a loss of control, so defects matter far more than they would on a car. That is why a motorcycle should be checked more often, ideally before every ride.
A cut in the sidewall weakens the part of the tire that flexes and carries the load, and the tire can fail suddenly at speed. Do not keep riding on it; have it dealt with at once, which for sidewall damage usually means replacing the tire.
Oil keeps the engine's moving parts from grinding against one another. Without enough of it, friction heats those parts until they bind together and the engine can no longer turn. Running out of fuel simply makes the engine quit; it does not lock it.
Controls vary from one motorcycle to another, so get a feel for the throttle, clutch and brakes and find out how the gears shift while the bike is standing still. Then nothing about the controls will catch you off guard once you are in traffic.
Wheels, cables, fasteners and fluid levels deserve a look at least weekly, in addition to the inspection you do before each ride. Spotting wear, looseness or leaks early keeps a minor fault from turning into a breakdown.
Every question in this set has its own page with the correct answer and an explanation.
