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Motorcycling safely - a motorcycle riding program
Riding on a dirt, sand or gravel road
Note: The Hurt study showed that riders with
experience on dirt roads had fewer accidents. This is because their
ability to monitor the road surface is more developed.
- Safe
dirt road riding taking into account the type of motorcycle, its size,
weight and tyres (tires) e.g. a sportbike, a cruiser and a dual sport
motorcycle with knobblies can all be ridden on a dirt road - they are
just ridden differently.
- Importance
of keeping up a brisk speed even if the surface gets bad.
- Leaning forward, arms bent
and relaxed. Legs and inner thighs gripping the motorcycle, soles of
the feet firmly on the foot pegs.
- Eyes
up and looking ahead, never down. Always looking past and beyond the
obstacles and not fixating.
- Moving
the motorcycle slowly around obstacles in a large open area with a
gravel surface. Sitting up straight and keeping the bike upright while
at riding at walking speeds. This is a difficult skill and takes a lot
of practice. It should be practiced at suitable times for the first 12
months of riding.
- Do
not rigidly fight the bikes movement beneath you. Allow the motorcycle
to move around and to find the best traction. When it cannot find a
good surface - gas it a little.
- Keeping
the tyres perpendicular to the road surface.
- Slowing
before a bad patch and then gently accelerating through.
- Choosing
the correct gear - not so much torque as to cause the transmission to
constantly snatch - not so little as to have no power to spare
when you need it
-
Do not drag your feet over a bad surface as you will break an ankle with
your boot catches on a root or stone.
- Choosing
a good line around a corner with loose material
- Appropriate
braking i.e. slow in, fast out. Using the back brake only and with careful gearing down.
- Moving
the bike over technical surfaces and around obstacles both slowly and
more quickly
- Lifting
one's body weight off the saddle when going over a large hump or ditch
in the
road
- Riding
standing up when the surfaces become really technical
- Keeping a
lookout for the tell tale dust trails of other
motorbikes and vehicles - both in front and behind
- Executing
a 180° turn (U turn) in a narrow trail. Caution. This is a
difficult exercise!! If the bike is heavy and has a high saddle it
is even more difficult. Tip: Master this skill with the saddle
removed and sitting on a thick towel. Not only does this bring the
height down considerably but will give you confidence at very slow
speeds. Remember to keep your head up and your eyes focus on where
you want to go i.e. don't look down at the front wheel.
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