Crash avoidance
Questions and answers
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Which two skills does the manual call critical in avoiding a crash?
Knowing when and how to stop or swerve
Riders must be able to stop quickly and swerve around obstacles, and know which one the situation needs.
Crash Avoidance · Crash Avoidance ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Is stopping quickly always the best way to avoid an obstacle?
No, it is not always desirable or possible, so you must also be able to swerve
Sometimes there is not enough room to stop, and swerving around the obstacle is the way out.
Crash Avoidance · Crash Avoidance ↗PDF, 8 MB -
According to studies, how do most crash-involved riders use their brakes?
They underbrake the front tire and overbrake the rear
Riders in crashes tend to use too little front brake and too much rear brake.
Crash Avoidance · Crash Avoidance ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Besides poor braking, what mistake do studies find among most crash-involved riders?
They did not separate braking from swerving
Many riders braked while swerving or did not choose to swerve when it was the right move.
Crash Avoidance · Crash Avoidance ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How do you stop quickly?
Apply both brakes at the same time
A quick stop uses both brakes together, without being shy about the front brake.
Crash Avoidance · Quick Stops ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How should you apply the front brake in a quick stop?
Squeeze the lever firmly and progressively
Use the front brake fully but do not grab it. Squeeze it firmly and progressively.
Crash Avoidance · Quick Stops ↗PDF, 8 MB -
The front wheel locks during a quick stop. What should you do?
Release the front brake immediately, then reapply it firmly
A locked front wheel must be released at once, then braked again firmly while you keep pressing the rear brake.
Crash Avoidance · Quick Stops ↗PDF, 8 MB -
You accidentally lock the rear brake on a good traction surface. What can you do?
Keep it locked until you have completely stopped
On good traction, a locked rear wheel can stay locked to the stop if the motorcycle is upright and going straight.
Crash Avoidance · Quick Stops ↗PDF, 8 MB -
When can you still control a motorcycle with a locked rear wheel?
On a straightaway, if it is upright and going straight
A locked rear wheel is controllable only when the motorcycle is upright and moving in a straight line.
Crash Avoidance · Quick Stops ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Why is less traction available for stopping when the motorcycle is leaning?
Some of the traction is used for cornering
In a lean, part of the tires' grip is already used to turn, so too much brake can cause a skid.
Crash Avoidance · Stopping Quickly in a Curve ↗PDF, 8 MB -
You must stop quickly while turning in a curve. What should you do first?
Straighten and square the handlebars, then stop
Straightening first lets you use full braking without the traction lost to cornering.
Crash Avoidance · Stopping Quickly in a Curve ↗PDF, 8 MB -
You must stop in a left-hand curve and straightening first could run you off the road. How should you brake?
Apply the brakes smoothly and gradually
When you cannot straighten first, brake smoothly and gradually, adding pressure as the motorcycle straightens.
Crash Avoidance · Stopping Quickly in a Curve ↗PDF, 8 MB -
As you slow while braking in a curve, what can you do?
Reduce your lean angle and apply more brake pressure
As speed drops, straighten up and add brake until the motorcycle is straight and full braking is possible.
Crash Avoidance · Stopping Quickly in a Curve ↗PDF, 8 MB -
When stopping in a curve, when should you always straighten the handlebars?
In the last few feet of stopping
Straightening at the end of the stop helps you keep your balance and stay upright.
Crash Avoidance · Stopping Quickly in a Curve ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What is a swerve?
A sudden change in direction
A swerve can be two quick turns or a rapid shift to the side.
Crash Avoidance · Swerving or Turning Quickly ↗PDF, 8 MB -
To start a swerve, where do you apply a small amount of hand pressure?
On the handgrip on the side of your escape direction
Pressing the grip on the side you want to go makes the motorcycle lean quickly that way.
Crash Avoidance · Swerving or Turning Quickly ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How does the sharpness of a swerve affect the motorcycle?
The sharper the turn, the more it must lean
A sharper turn needs more lean.
Crash Avoidance · Swerving or Turning Quickly ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What should your body do during a swerve?
Stay upright while the motorcycle leans beneath you
Keep your body upright, knees against the tank and feet on the footrests, and let the motorcycle move under you.
Crash Avoidance · Swerving or Turning Quickly ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Where should you look during a swerve?
At your escape route
Make the escape route the target of your vision, not the thing you are avoiding.
Crash Avoidance · Swerving or Turning Quickly ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How do you swerve to the left?
Press the left handgrip, then press the right to recover
Press the grip on the side you want to go, then the opposite grip to return to your original direction.
Crash Avoidance · Swerving or Turning Quickly ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How do you swerve to the right?
Press the right handgrip, then press the left to recover
To swerve right, press right first, then press left once you clear the obstacle.
Crash Avoidance · Swerving or Turning Quickly ↗PDF, 8 MB -
If braking is needed when you swerve, when should you brake?
Before or after the swerve, never while swerving
Separate braking from swerving. Braking during the swerve can cause a skid.
Crash Avoidance · Swerving or Turning Quickly ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How is maximum straight-line braking done?
Fully applying both brakes without locking either wheel
Maximum braking means using all the front and rear brake you can without a wheel locking.
Crash Avoidance · Maximum Straight-Line Braking ↗PDF, 8 MB -
During maximum straight-line braking, where should your body and eyes be?
Body centered, looking well ahead
Staying centered and looking ahead keeps the motorcycle straight and reduces the chance of losing traction.
Crash Avoidance · Maximum Straight-Line Braking ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What does a front-wheel skid cause?
Immediate loss of steering control and balance
A locked front wheel takes away steering and balance at once.
Crash Avoidance · Front-Wheel Skids ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What happens if you fail to fully release the front brake right away in a front-wheel skid?
It will result in a crash
Release the front brake immediately and completely, then reapply it smoothly.
Crash Avoidance · Front-Wheel Skids ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What causes a rear wheel to lock up?
Too much rear brake pressure
Pressing the rear brake too hard locks the rear wheel.
Crash Avoidance · Rear-Wheel Skids ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What do you lose as soon as the rear wheel locks?
Your ability to change direction
With a locked rear wheel you cannot steer to change direction until the brake is released.
Crash Avoidance · Rear-Wheel Skids ↗PDF, 8 MB -
When does a high-side crash occur?
When the wheels are out of alignment and a locked rear wheel is released
The motorcycle can snap upright and throw the rider. Even slight misalignment can cause a high-side.
Crash Avoidance · Rear-Wheel Skids ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What is a primary cause of single-vehicle motorcycle crashes?
Running wide in a curve or turn
Riders who run wide in a curve hit the roadway or a fixed object. Ride within your skill and posted limits.
Crash Avoidance · Curves ↗PDF, 8 MB -
With no traffic present, where should you start a curve?
At the outside of the curve
Starting on the outside increases your line of sight and the effective radius of the turn.
Crash Avoidance · Curves ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Using the outside-inside-outside path through a curve, what do you do as you pass the center?
Move to the outside to exit
Start outside, move toward the inside as you turn, and move to the outside to exit.
Crash Avoidance · Curves ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What is the advantage of moving to the center of your lane before a curve and staying there?
You can spot approaching traffic as soon as possible
The center position also lets you adjust for traffic crowding the center line or debris in your lane.
Crash Avoidance · Curves ↗PDF, 8 MB