Posture, Shifting, Braking and Turning — Motorcycle Test

Staying in first gear with the clutch lever pulled in lets you move off right away when the way is clear, or get out of the path of a vehicle coming up behind you. Waiting in neutral costs you time, because you must shift before you can go.

Use the front lever and the rear pedal at the same time to make a short, steady stop. If you apply one brake ahead of the other, or only one, you need more room to stop and you are more likely to skid.

Too much speed in a curve carries the motorcycle toward the outside edge, where it may cross into the next lane or run off the pavement. Slow down before the curve begins, because hard braking while leaned over can cause a skid.

Downshifting as you slow keeps the engine in a useful range so you can speed up again if needed, and you should be in first gear when you stop, ready to pull away quickly. Shifting up or staying in one gear leaves you without power when traffic demands a fast response.

Bring your speed down on the approach, by rolling off the throttle and braking if needed, so you can lean through the turn smoothly. Heavy braking partway through a curve uses traction the tires need for cornering and can make them slide.

With counterweighting, the rider tips the motorcycle into the turn while keeping the torso upright, which shifts body weight toward the outside of the turn and helps balance the bike in tight, slow maneuvers such as U-turns. At normal and higher speeds, rider and motorcycle lean together instead.

Braking moves weight forward onto the front tire, so the front brake handles most of the work, about 70% of the stopping power. Still, use both the front and the rear brake at the same time whenever you stop, so you come to a halt as fast and as steadily as possible.

Changing gears in the middle of a turn can send an abrupt surge or drop in power to the rear wheel, which may cause a skid. Select the gear you need before the turn starts, while the bike is still upright.

A slight bend at the elbows lets you steer with light pressure on the handlebars and absorb bumps without stretching. Locked, straight arms pass every jolt into your body and make steering harder.

At normal riding speeds a motorcycle follows a curve by leaning, so lean the same way the road bends. Cut your speed before the turn rather than in it, and remember that turning the handlebars by itself will not carry the bike around.

The vehicle keeps moving while you recognize a hazard (perception distance), while you get your hands and feet to the brakes (reaction distance), and while the brakes bring it to a halt (braking distance). Those three distances added together make up the total.

The safest plan is to be in the right gear before the curve begins. If you have no choice but to shift partway through, do it gently, since a sudden change of power at the rear wheel can break its grip and start a skid.

On an upgrade, gravity pulls the motorcycle back as you release the clutch, so it can roll into a vehicle stopped behind you. Hold the bike with a brake while you add throttle and ease out the clutch, then let go of the brake as the engine begins to pull.

In an everyday turn, lean with the motorcycle so your body and the bike tilt at the same angle. Staying upright while the bike leans works against it and makes smooth steering harder.

Swivel just your head to look ahead through the curve, keeping your shoulders square and your eyes level with the horizon. Rotating your shoulders or upper body can tug on the handlebars and pull you off your intended path.

Your feet should stay on the footrests the whole time you ride, which helps your balance and keeps the rear brake pedal and gear lever within reach. A dangling foot can strike the pavement or get caught and injured.

Holding the fuel tank lightly between your knees steadies you on the seat and helps you balance as the motorcycle leans and turns. Your feet belong firmly on the footrests, and your arms should stay relaxed and free to steer rather than prop up your body.

When no other vehicle is involved, a common pattern is a rider who enters a curve too fast or misjudges it, drifts toward the outside, and strikes the roadside or something next to it. Slowing before the curve and looking through the turn helps prevent this kind of crash.

Applying the front lever and the rear pedal together gives the shortest, most controlled stop. The front brake supplies most of the stopping power, while the rear adds stability, so relying on just one of them wastes braking ability.