Handling Special Situations

In the best of all worlds the temperature would always be 78 degrees, the wind would be at our backs, and no emergencies would arise. Since it is a slightly imperfect world we live in, we should be prepared for whatever happens.

Emergency Braking

Sometimes you have to stop as quickly as possible. Here are some tips on how to get you and your motorcycle halted pronto:

• Apply both brakes to their maximum, just short of locking them up. Practice in an open, good-surfaced place, such as a clean parking lot.
• Keep the motorcycle upright and traveling in a straight line; and look where you’re going, not where you’ve just been.
• You don’t want to lock the front brake. If the wheel does chirp, release the brake for a split second, then immediately reapply without locking it up.
• If your rear wheel locks up, do not release the brake. If your handlebars are straight, you will skid in a straight line, which is all right. You have a more important priority and that is to get stopped! Read on and we will talk more about “skids.”

Braking While Leaned Into a Curve

You should try to avoid this, but sometimes it might be necessary. You can brake (with both brakes) while leaned over, but you must do it gradually and with less force than if the bike is standing up straight. For maximum braking efficiency in an emergency (when traffic and roadway conditions permit), stand the bike up straight; brake hard.

Coping With a Skid

A skid - that’s when your heart leaps up to your throat because your wheels have lost traction!

Riding Across Poor Road Surfaces

Here are a few simple rules you should follow when you anticipate coping with sand, mud, water or any loose surface or obstruction in the road:

• Downshift and slow before you reach the problem area.
• If there is traffic in the area, make sure that the drivers are aware you are slowing.
• Try to cross the bad surface in a straight line, or at least do not change direction or speed abruptly.
• Stay ready to maintain the balance of the motorcycle.
• If you are moving along and have to go over an obstruction that is lying across the road, like a 2x4 piece of wood, rise up on the foot pegs and shift your weight toward the back of the saddle as your front wheel comes up to the obstacle. This will make it easier for the front wheel to bounce up and over. Then move your weight forward to help your rear wheel get over.
• Do not accelerate until your bike is completely over the obstacle.

Steel Bridge Gratings and Rain Grooves

Steel-mesh bridges can be extremely unnerving. Keep an even throttle and keep the bike straight. Don’t grip the handlebars too hard. If there is a vibration in the handlebars, do not fight it. This is a natural feedback from your tires going over these thousands of little squares. Some parts of the country have rain grooves in the highways. They’re not very popular among motorcyclists. This is when the road surface, usually concrete, has several dozen grooves running lengthwise down each lane. The purpose of the grooves is to prevent cars and trucks from losing traction when it rains. The reaction of the bike to these grooves often has to do with the tread pattern on the tires. Sometimes it feels as though the motorcycle is getting a flat tire, with a squishy back-and-forth sideways motion. Don’t worry, just keep going straight. Don’t fight the handlebars. There is nothing dangerous about these rain grooves – it just feels funny to ride on them.

Rain

Haul out the raingear you’ve stowed in a handy spot. Make sure your rain gloves and rain boots fit properly. Poorly fitted ones can lessen your ability to brake and shift.

Be most cautious when it first starts to rain.

That is when the water goes into all the dimples in the road, and the oil residue from passing vehicles floats to the top. That gets slippery! A wise motorcyclist will stop for a cup of coffee when it starts to rain; who knows, it could all be over in 15 minutes, and you won’t even have to put on the rain suit. After a while the oil will be washed off to the side of the road. However, traction on a wet surface may not be as good as on a dry road. Be careful.

Wind

Strong winds can create problems for a motorcyclist. A constant 25-mph wind from the side can make for less than- happy riding. Gusty wind is the worst. You might have to lean a bit into the wind to maintain your position. Keep the motorcycle on the side of the lane that the wind is coming from. This is in case a big blast moves you over a bit. Expect it and be ready to react.

Animals

The biggest problem is with domestic animals. Most seem to have an urge to chase motorcycles. Those that don’t chase often are known to blunder into the path of moving vehicles. Don’t let one distract you and cause a spill. Here are three rules:

• Slow down well before you reach the animal.
•  Do not – repeat – do not kick at the animal. 
• If the animal looks like he’s going to intercept you, speed up just as you are about to reach him. It will throw his timing off.

If a deer jumps out in front of you on a country road, but is far enough ahead not to be worried about – watch out for its mate. They tend to travel in pairs. Hitting a deer with a motorcycle is a tough way to put venison on the table.

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Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation