30 « December « 2008 « Better Motorcycling

Harley Davidson ABS

12/30/2008 · 5 Comments

Categories: Video
Tagged: ABS, Braking, cornering, Steering

Developing Skill at Positioning

12/30/2008 · Leave a Comment

Positioning is a crucial element in motorcyle control.

The ideal road position depends on many things:

safety
observation
road and traffic conditions
road layout
cornering
maneuverability
assisting traffic flow
making your intentions clear

Position is critical to safety. By carefully choosing your position you can do much to reduce the risk of having a collision.

Zones of Different Risk

To the nearside of the road edge there is a risk of coming into conflict with emerging vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, parked vehicles and their occupants.

To the outside near the centerline there is a risk of coming into conflict with oncoming vehicles and vehicles crossing from the opposing lane.

Between these two extremes there is a relatively safe zone. This is toward the right of the center of the road, giving sufficient clearance to pedestrians and other nearside hazards. This is only a very general area of safety and you must adapt your position to the actual circumstances.

Categories: Practical Lessons
Tagged: nearside, pedestrians, Position, Risk, skill

Myth Exposed: “Avoid Using the Front Brakes Because it Will Throw You Over the Handlebars”

Myth: Avoid using the front brakes because it will throw the rider over the handlebars. ***** Comment: In reality, the front brake is responsible for 60 to 70 percent of the bike's stopping power and should be used. In emergency braking situations, the effective center of mass of the bike shifts forward toward the front wheel and tire, which creates a higher adhesion value to the front tire that tends to prevent the front wheel from locking unless the brake torque is extremely high. Another consequence is that the traction force in the rear wheel and tire is reduced, allowing the rear wheel to lock up and slide. With braking action on the front wheel, the rear wheel, even if locked, will not move from side to side and the bike will continue straight. *****

Myths Exposed: “Accelerate Around a Turn to Regain Control”

Myths: Accelerate around a turn to regain control. ***** Comment: The safest way to approach a turn on a curve is to slow down before entering it. Acceleration should be undertaken only near the end of the curve. Rapidly applying the throttle in the turn, when the bike is in a lean could result in the rear tire breaking traction and the bike going into a slide. The same effect may occur with substantial rear-brake application. *****

Myths Exposed: “Speed up when bike Weaves or Wobbles”

Myth: Accelerate to recover from high speed instability (wobble or weave). ***** Comment: In actuality the rider should gently ease off the throttle, place his upper body on the gas tank to effectively change the center of gravity and graduall slow down. Initially accelerating may slow the wobble or weave until the next oscillation occurs, but then the result will be a much more pronounced instability. Hard braking will alter the suspension characteristics and may likewise cause a crash. *****