CONTENTS

o Introduction 4
o Total Control Motorcycling 5
o Body Position 6
o Pre Ride Check 7
o Motorcycle Parts 8
o Counter steering 9
o Active Safety 10
o Advantages & Disadvantages Which Motorcyclists Have 11
o Buffers and Escape Routes 12
o Headlight Usage 13
o Emergency Procedures 14-17
o Fuel Efficient Motorcycling 18
o Effective Braking Techniques 19,20
o Staged Braking 21
o How to Be Quick and Safe 22
o How to Ride Smoothly 23
o Cornering 24-27

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o Motorcycle Geometry 28
o Habits which should be avoided 29-31
o Skills Every Rider Should Know 32
o Motorcycle Handling and Dynamics 33,34
o Good Riding Habits 35
o Road Survival 36
o Hydroplaning/Aquaplaning 37
o Wind Chill Factor 38
o Dealing with Crosswinds 39
o Sources of Emissions 40
o Mental Exercise for Increasing Rider Awareness 41
o Riding With a Pillion 42
o Riding Etiquette 43
o The Ideal Commute 44
o General Motorcycling Tips 45
o Terms You Must Know 46,47
o A Good Rider 48
o End Note 49

3
 Introduction
Congratulations on being a part of Total Control Motorcycling. Motorcycling is a
dynamic activity which demands a calm and focused mindset on part of the rider.

The rider is the most important element in motorcycling. This manual aims to create a
total control motorcyclist. In this manual you will learn:

 How to ride in complete control

 How to remain focused
 Importance of mindset in motorcycling

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 Total Control Motorcycling
Total Control Motorcycling has 2 aspects: Motorcycle Control and Situational
Awareness. Motorcycle control can be vastly improved with practice.

Motorcycle
Control

Total Control
Motorcycling
Situational
Awareness

5
 Body Position
The correct body position is of the utmost importance while riding.

6
 Pre-ride check
The pre-ride check constitutes the following:

Tires: Check the air pressure, wheels and brakes (check brake oil level and brake pads
for signs of wear and tear).

Controls: Check the clutch and brake levers, hoses, cables and throttle (ensure that the
throttle grip functions freely).

Electrical: Make sure all the lights, indicators, etc. are working properly.

Fluids: Check the engine oil level, brake oil level and coolant level. Check for any oil
leaks from the suspension too.

Chassis: Check the frame for signs of damage, chain and suspension for proper
functioning.

7
Motorcycle Parts

8
 Counter steering

Motorcycles steer via counter-steering. Counter steering is used by single-track vehicles

to initiate a turn toward a given direction by momentarily steering opposite to that
direction. This is because to initiate a turn, the rider and motorcycle must lean in the
direction of the turn. This leaning is caused by steering briefly in the opposite direction.
Once the required lean is established to sustain the turn, the rider then steers into the
turn to complete the turn.

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 Active Safety
Active Safety means accident prevention by being focused and aware. The rider can
ensure his/her Active Safety with these tips:

 Maintain 2 second buffers

 Ensure correct riding position
 Look where you want to go
 Look far ahead and anticipate traffic movements
 Remain focused
 Adapt according to the changing traffic situations

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 Advantages Which Motorcyclists Have
 Ability to change directions quickly
 Ability to swerve within a lane
 Unobstructed Field of View
 Easier parking
 Individual braking control for each wheel
 Less blind spots
 Flexibility and maneuverability in traffic

Disadvantages Which Motorcyclists Have

 No weather protection for the rider
 Challenging to ride in low grip conditions like mud, loose sand, etc.
 More affected by winds

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 Buffers and Escape Routes
Buffer – The gap/safety cushion that the rider maintains between the bike and the
other vehicle as precautionary protection.

 Maintain a 2-second gap/buffer between the bike and the vehicle in front.
 As speeds increase the gap should increase too.
 During rainy season or in low grip conditions the buffer should be extended to 3 or 4
seconds.

Escape Route – The route taken by the rider to ensure that he/she escapes safely in
case of a sudden unexpected maneuver by the other driver/rider.
Escape routes keep changing with traffic movements and road conditions. So,
concentrate fully and make it a habit to always mentally plan escape routes while riding.

12
 Headlight Usage
Low beam: Low beam is meant for short range illumination.

High beam: High beam is meant for long range illumination. It should ideally be used
when there are no oncoming vehicles and where visibility is very low. The glare of the
high beam is very strong and obstructs the other person’s vision. The headlights should
be dimmed when there are oncoming vehicles or if the rider is approaching a vehicle
from behind.

CAUTION: Sometimes the High Beam will not improve visibility, in fact, it will do the
opposite. This happens in conditions of fog, rain, snow because in such situations the
light will reflect back and cause glare. It is better to switch to Low Beam in such
conditions.

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 Emergency Procedures
Any motorcyclist can face emergency situations. Some of these situations and their
solutions are given below:
1) Tire Failure: If one of the tires suddenly fails, react in the following way :

 Front tire failure: Front tire failure affects steering. Steering may feel heavy.
o Hold handgrips firmly, gradually ease off the throttle. Keep going straight.
o Gradually apply the rear brake and slow down.
 Rear tire failure: The back of the bike may sway from side to side and/or start to
jerk.
o Hold handgrips firmly, gradually ease off the throttle. Keep going straight.
o Gradually apply the front brake and slow down.

Apply the brake of the tire which is not flat. When the motorcycle slows, ride to the side
of the road and stop.

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2) Stuck Throttle: If the throttle gets stuck at a certain position while riding,
immediately use the engine kill/cut-off switch to switch off the engine and pull the
clutch lever simultaneously. Use both brakes along with this to slow down.

3) Skidding due to Braking: Skidding on a motorcycle can be a frightening experience

but it can be controlled if the technique is known. A skidding/sliding tire takes more
time to stop than one which is not skidding.

 Front wheel skid: Leave the front brake (both while turning as well as in a straight
line).
 Rear wheel skid: While turning, if the rear wheel begins to slide then keep the rear
brake applied. Concentrate on the front portion. Leave the rear brake only after
straightening up otherwise the bike may high-side/low-side depending on the
situation.
While going straight, if the rear wheel begins to skid then simply let off the rear
brake.

4) Too much lean: Sometimes the rider may lean the motorcycle too much. Slow
speed behavior of the motorcycle is different than that at high speed.

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 At slow/walking speeds add more throttle. It will straighten the bike up.
 At higher speeds the following 4 things can be done to control the amount of lean:
o Counter steer in the opposite direction of the lean. This is the most effective
method of controlling lean angle.
o Reduce/lessen the amount of throttle. It will straighten the bike up.
o Feather the rear brake (apply it very gently). This will help stabilize the bike.
o Lean into the turn. The rider should lean his/her body into the turn (not the bike,
only the body). This will help lower the center of gravity of the bike and the bike
itself will straighten up.

5) Failed Brakes: If this happens, it should be controlled with the help of engine
braking. Automobile engines have a built in braking system called the “engine brake”.
This is the retardation force provided by the engine when the rider/driver closes the
throttle (this decreases the fuel supply) without pulling the clutch lever. If brake failure
occurs, the following can be done:

 Downshift from the current gear to the lowest gear and then stop.

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6) Riding with a broken clutch cable: This is a tricky situation. But it is manageable
for a short time if handled well. The following can be done:

 Ride very slowly so that there is no need to shift gears repeatedly.

 Clutch-less shifting requires careful matching with the Engine R.P.M.
o Up-shifting: Ease off the throttle when about to up-shift. Apply a bit of
upward/downward pressure (depending on the shifting pattern of your
motorcycle) at the gear lever and add a little throttle, the bike will up-shift.
o Down-shifting: This is more difficult but can be managed. The method is similar
to up-shifting.
NOTE: Shifting without the use of the Clutch is hard on the transmission and
leads to faster wear and tear.

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 Fuel Efficient Motorcycling
For fuel efficient motorcycling, follow these tips:

 Accelerate gently.
 Maintain a constant speed wherever possible.
 Anticipate traffic movements. Minimize braking and acceleration inputs as far as
possible.
 Don’t ride in a zigzag manner. This means that more distance is being covered for the
same route. Hence, more fuel is being used.
 Make sure that the tire pressure is correct. Correct tire pressure means better
handling, better acceleration, better braking and better fuel economy. Never over-
inflate/under-inflate the tires.
 Avoid unnecessary idling.

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 Effective Braking Techniques
Effective braking requires smoothness. The correct braking technique is to apply both
the brakes gradually at first, then progressively harder, until the bike slows down or
stops completely. The front brake provides about 70% of the braking power while the
rear brake provides about 30% of the braking power.

 Apply both the brakes progressively, modulating pressure as needed.

 Never suddenly apply the front or the rear brake. The bike may skid as the brakes
can reach full brake-force before weight transfer commences, leading to a skidding
tire.
 Remember that Stopping Distance = Reaction distance + Braking distance.
 When braking while turning, apply the rear brake gently followed by the front brake.
This is because applying the rear brake transfers weight to the front tire which
increases its traction, so it grips the road surface better. It also helps in stability.

NOTE: Applying either one of the brakes suddenly may cause a skid. Always be
smooth while braking, not sudden.

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Relative comparison of braking distances

Rear Brake Only

Front Brake Only

Both Brakes

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 Staged Braking
STAGE I The rider applies the brakes where they are just on (friction point) and the
bike slows down very gently, rolling to a stop.

STAGE II The rider applies the brakes firmly to bring the bike to a normal/firm,
smooth stop. So, Stage II is where the rider applies the brakes to Stage I (friction point)
before applying a steady force at Stage II.

STAGE III The rider applies the brakes with a strong pull to stop in time. So, Stage III
is where the rider applies the brakes till Stage I, then onto a firm pull of Stage II before
applying pressure with a strong pull at Stage III.

STAGE IV This is the final stage of braking - the rider needs all the braking he/she has
got. The rider has to use the maximum brake-force to stop safely. So, in Stage IV, the
rider applies the brakes till Friction Point (Stage I), moves onto the firm pull of Stage II,
then a strong pull at Stage III before giving it all he/she has got at Stage IV.
NOTE: Never grab the brake levers, squeeze them progressively, modulating pressure as
needed. Grabbing a handful of the brakes is a major reason for unintended skidding.

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 How to Be Quick and Safe
Being quick and safe is all about anticipating traffic. Follow these tips:

 Look far ahead – motorcyclists have an amazing, unobstructed field of view – take
full advantage of it.
 Look where you want to go – focus on where you want the bike to go.
 Keep a safe distance between the bike and the vehicle in front (buffers/safety
cushions).
 Always be prepared with an Escape Route.
 Anticipate traffic movements and adjust acceleration and braking inputs accordingly.
 Keep a calm and alert mindset in spite of all distractions; take a break when needed.
 Ride with the correct riding posture.

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 How to Ride Smoothly
Smooth riding is a subtle art. It comes from two things: mental preparation and flawless
execution. Tips for smooth riding:

 Accelerate and decelerate gently.

 Be in the right gear at the right time.
 Slow down with the help of both brakes (rear brake followed by front brake) as well
as engine braking.
 Shift gears quickly and smoothly. The following can be done to make gear shifts
quick:
o Cover the clutch lever to lessen the response time of pulling it.
o Position the foot very close (but not touching) to the gear shift lever so that gears
can be engaged immediately/as soon as possible after pulling the clutch lever.
 Roll off the throttle completely during gear-shifting.
 The transition between throttle closing and braking should be smooth.

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 Cornering

Cornering involves active and coordinated usage of the upper body (head and eyes,
arms and torso) and lower body (legs). A corner consists of 3 parts – Entry, Middle/Apex

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and Exit. A combination of Lean angle, Rake, Trail, Wheelbase, Weight Distribution,
Chassis Design and Motorcycle Speed determine the mixture of forces involved in
Cornering. Follow these steps for to gain confidence in cornering:

 Scan the horizon to ensure that there are no oncoming vehicles/pedestrians and also
look in the Rear View Mirrors to check for vehicles/pedestrians.
 Reduce the corner Entry Speed to a comfortable one.
 Turn the head and eyes in the direction you want to go. Look through the turn and
use the widest possible arc to gain the best and earliest view out of the corner.
 Counter steer gently to initiate the lean into the direction of the turn. Remember to
keep the elbows slightly bent to allow for natural settlement of the steering into the
turn.
 Gently roll on the throttle to allow the bike to settle into the turn and follow a
smooth line.
 Counter steer gently in the opposite direction to get the bike to straighten up at the
corner Exit.

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 The 3 parts of a corner: Entry, Apex and Exit

To increase lean angle – Counter steer in the direction of the turn.

To decrease lean angle – Counter steer in the opposite direction.
The aim in cornering is to maintain the right speed in the right gear at the most
suitable lean angle for that particular corner at the given speed. The rider should

26
always be riding at a speed which allows him/her to brake to a standstill within the
distance that he/she can see.

NOTE: All gear changes and braking maneuvers should be done before entering
the corner. Braking and accelerating while cornering leads to weight transfer, which
demands more grip from the tires. Tires should be free from braking and weight
transfer stresses when possible so that grip is available solely for cornering forces.

CAUTION: Do not lean the bike excessively.

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 Motorcycle Geometry

Motorcycle Geometry is the geometrical relationship between the motorcycle frame,

the angle of the front suspension and the position of the front tire. It determines the
handling and dynamic behavior of the motorcycle to a large extent.

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 Habits which should be avoided

 Prolonged/unnecessary engine idling at red lights, etc.

 Revving the engine unnecessarily while idling and/or in neutral.
 Sitting very rigidly/stiffly on the motorcycle. This is incorrect body position. The
rider’s elbows should not be locked while riding as this hinders the natural steering
mechanism of the motorcycle. A motorcycle’s steering is designed to adjust/self-
center in case of minor road shocks, undulations, etc. Keeping the arms locked
prevents this from happening. This is the worst mistake on a motorcycle as it hinders
the natural dynamic behavior of the motorcycle.
 Honking unnecessarily. Instead avoid traffic by driving/riding at off-peak times. This
saves fuel as well. Also, it eliminates excessive use of the clutch and brakes because
of peak-hour traffic, maintaining the useful service life of those parts.
 Being in the inappropriate gear according to the speed and load conditions.
 Skipping a gear while up-shifting or down-shifting. Up-shifting or down-shifting two
gears at once is bad practice.

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 Not giving enough space for other vehicles to overtake. Maintain suitable buffers all
around the motorcycle. It is good etiquette to give sufficient space and yield to
others whenever possible.
 Suddenly applying either one of the brakes. It may lead to skidding.

NOTE: Never honk at animals. Animals can be very unpredictable. It is best to slow
down and stay at a safe distance from them.

The following temptations must be avoided while riding:

1) Being provoked into racing/over-speeding.

2) Unnecessary overtaking, especially between narrow gaps and spaces.
3) Leaning at a greater angle than needed/necessary.
4) Tight cornering. Cornering very near to the curb/edge. This is dangerous because
the rider is not able to see the road ahead clearly because of being too near to
the edge.
5) Riding in haste. The “haste mindset” is the worst mindset to ride.
6) Sudden speeding as soon as the light turns green. In the interest of the rider’s
own safety, it should never be assumed that the road ahead is clear of traffic.

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 Proper head-check should be done on both sides of the road to ensure that no
one is coming from either side.
7) Riding in a zigzag fashion. This can be confusing for others behind the bike as they
will not get to know where the rider eventually wants to go.

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 Skills Every Rider Should Know
1) Swerving: Motorcycles are naturally good at swerving. A motorcyclist should know
how to swerve. This is a very useful skill for obstacle avoidance.
2) Panic Braking: Panic Braking is about using the full potential of the motorcycle’s
brakes to stop safely in time in emergency situations. It needs practice. Panic Braking
is Staged Braking done quickly.
3) U turns: Knowing how to U turn properly is an essential skill.
4) Riding/balancing in tight spaces: Tight spaces like those found in traffic queues
and parking lots can be managed with ease if one knows how to modulate the
clutch, throttle and rear brake effectively to balance the motorcycle.

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 Motorcycle Handling and Dynamics
Every movement made on a motorcycle has an effect on its handling and dynamics.
Motorcycles/scooters are sensitive to the following:

 Weight Transfer and Weight Distribution (Front to Rear and Side to Side)
o Accelerating- rearward weight transfer and Braking- forward weight transfer
o Amount of fuel present in the fuel tank
o Carrying luggage on the bike and its position and distribution
o Rider position - crouched forward or sitting upright
o Rider standing on the pegs or sitting
 Body Position and Body Weight of the rider
o Hand grip pressure
o Bent/straight arms
o Amount of weight on the handlebars
o Knees gripping/not gripping the tank
o Crouched or upright riding position
o Single rider or with a pillion rider

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 Lean Angle
 Handling and Stability depend on
o Revolutions Per Minute (RPM – at higher RPMs the bike is more stable)
o Suspension Compression and Extension (like during acceleration and braking)
o Clutch engagement (traction is available) /disengagement (less traction)
o Amount of fuel present in the fuel tank
o Neutral or in Gear
o Gear position
o Application of Brakes
o Vehicle speed
o Throttle Position: Open/Closed, Amount of throttle being used
o Wheelbase, Rake and Trail (Frame characteristics)
 Changes in wind conditions
 Tire Pressure, Tire Width and Tire Profile
 Combined Centre of Gravity of the rider, motorcycle and luggage (if any)

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 Good Riding Habits
 Look where you want to go. Look as far ahead as possible. Use the head and eyes
well to look around and scan the horizon. Field of View is a rider’s strength.
 Apply both the brakes simultaneously.
 Always keep the Rear View Mirrors adjusted.
 Always maintain Buffers between the bike and the vehicle in front.
 Always plan an Escape Route to take in case of emergency maneuvers by other
drivers/riders.
 Before changing lanes, do an over-the-shoulder head-check to ensure that there is
no one coming from behind.
TIP: The rider can look at the tires of cars to know in which direction they are about
to turn before overtaking.

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 Road Survival
 Lifesaver Check/over the shoulder check: While overtaking, always check over your
shoulder to ensure that there is no one coming from behind.
 Check the direction of car tires before overtaking to know in which direction the car
is likely to turn.
 At intersections try and ensure that there is a car beside you. It acts as a safety
buffer.
 Look far ahead. Use the head and eyes to look around for objects/hazards/people
and accordingly adjust the acceleration and braking inputs. This ensures Active
Safety.
 Focus on where you want to go.

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 Hydroplaning/Aquaplaning
Hydroplaning/Aquaplaning occurs when a layer of water builds up between the wheels
of the vehicle and the road surface, leading to a loss of traction.

Hydroplaning is more probable in the following situations:

 The faster the speed

 The wider the tires
 The lower the air pressure in the tires
 The deeper the water

To prevent aquaplaning slow down on wet roads and avoid pools of water.

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 Wind Chill Factor
Wind chill is the perceived decrease in air temperature felt by the body on exposed skin
due to flowing air.

The human body is designed to maintain its normal body temperature of 98.6 ºF. Any
extreme deviation from this temperature can harm the person. The human body
attempts to use its own mechanisms (like shivering in winters or perspiring in summers)
to maintain this temperature.
In winters, Wind Chill makes the rider feel colder than the ambient air temperature. This
combination of cold temperature and winds blowing makes the body feel colder than it
actually is. Wind Chill depends on the wind speed and temperature.
The faster the rider goes, the more Wind Chill he/she is likely to experience. So, always
take proper precautions in winters.

NOTE: Remember to always wear protective clothing when going out to ride,
especially in the morning and at night.

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 Dealing with Crosswinds
Crosswinds are those winds which blow perpendicular to the direction of travel. Every
vehicle on the road is affected, but to different extents – cars, trucks, buses, tractors,
bicycles and yes, motorcycles too. The extent to which crosswinds disturb the path of
travel depends on the size, shape/profile and weight of the bike apart from other
factors. When dealing with crosswinds, the following should be done:

 Keep the handgrips relaxed – not too tight, not too loose. Remember, the steering is
only for controlling the bike, not for holding on tight.
 Keep the elbows bent so that the steering can easily make automatic
corrections/adjustments due to wind deflections.
 Counter steer into the wind direction if the wind tries to push off-path. For example,
if the wind is coming from the left then counter steer by pushing on the left hand
grip and turn leftwards.

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 Sources of Emissions
There are mainly 3 sources of emissions on a motorcycle, which are as follows:

 Evaporative Emissions – Fuel lost due to Evaporation is part of evaporative

emissions.

 Refueling Losses – Fuel evaporates while refueling.

 Exhaust Emissions – These are emitted from the exhaust pipe when combustion
takes place inside the engine.

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 Mental Exercise for Increasing Rider Awareness
Motorcycling needs focus. Here is a short exercise which can be done to enhance
control and increase situational awareness:

Visualization: Visualization means seeing images in the mind. Visualizing before the
ride can help the rider prepare his/her mind for the commute/journey.

 Close your eyes. Relax completely and pay attention to your breathing. Take few and
deep breaths.
 Now, concentrate on your coming commute/journey.
 Visualize the road, the vehicles, the twists and turns, the traffic signals, the wind on
your face, the sound of the motorcycle’s engine, the speed at which you are
travelling – everything, in as much detail as possible.
 Visualize that you are in total control of every riding situation and you are riding
smoothly with a calm mindset.
 When the visualization is done the rider should feel calm and more aware.

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 Riding With a Pillion
Pillion Riding alters the dynamics of the motorcycle due to the changed weight
distribution. Acceleration, braking and handling change significantly.

Acceleration: The pillion should slightly bend his/her torso forward while the rider is
accelerating.

Braking: The pillion should grip the rider’s pelvis with the knees along with putting
downward pressure on the passenger foot-pegs while braking. This will keep weight
transfer towards the rider to a minimum. While stopping, the pillion should not
suddenly keep either foot down without prior permission from the rider as this affects
the balance of the motorcycle.

Cornering: If the rider is leaning, the pillion should lean only as much as the rider, not
more/less and he/she should look over the rider’s shoulder in the direction of the turn
while cornering.
NOTE: Any movement made by the pillion should be kept to a minimum as it may
upset the bike’s balance.

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 Riding Etiquette
Remember that good riding etiquette means that the rider’s behavior is good and
his/her riding habits are ethical.

 Give the right of way to pedestrians.

 Don’t honk unnecessarily. If possible use hand gestures to communicate. Bike riders
have a distinct advantage of using hand gestures.
 When another driver/rider goes out of their way to help you, acknowledge it.
 Don’t overtake from the left side.
 Don’t tailgate anyone. It is risky for a motorcyclist as it gives less time to react in case
of sudden maneuvers by the other driver/rider.
 Don’t ride below the posted speed limits. This can cause traffic bottlenecks behind
the rider, thus reducing the overall speed of traffic and causing delays.
 Give the right-of-way to other vehicles, wherever applicable.
 Changing lanes and turning without signal: This is another reason for accidents. The
rider should always signal his/her intention well in advance so that others know
where the rider is likely to turn.

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 The Ideal Commute
The ideal commute happens when the rider is fully focused on the commute – his/her
mind is concentrating only on the road ahead. When fully focused, the rider should be
aware of the following:

 Speed
 Gear position
 Correct body position
 Vehicles appearing in the Rear View Mirrors (RVMs) and at the sides of the
motorcycle (there may be some vehicles in the rider’s Blind Spot)
 Buffers/gap between the motorcycle and the vehicle in front
 Escape Routes
 Looking far ahead to anticipate traffic movements and make changes in control
inputs accordingly
 Head checks/over-the-shoulder checks while overtaking

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 General Motorcycling Tips
Riding in a straight line: Look far ahead and anticipate traffic movements. Maintain
buffers and plan escape routes. Look where you want to go. While at intersections use
your eyes to scan all around and be aware of other vehicles and pedestrians.

Riding in a curve/corner: Look where you want to go, look through the turn. All
braking, gear changes, speed adjustments, etc. should be done before entering the
corner. Take a wide corner entry so that everything can be seen clearly before entering
the corner. Be smooth.

Riding in rains: Be smooth. Accelerate and brake gently. Use down-shifting and engine
braking to slow down. Apply both brakes with gradually increasing pressure. Maintain
extra buffers because there is less road-grip during rains.

45
 Terms You Must Know
 Apex: The vertex of the tightest (centre) point of a curve.
 Aquaplaning: A layer of water can build up between the tire and the road when
riding in rain. This causes loss of directional control and braking ability. This is called
aquaplaning.
 Blind Corner: A turn in the road that is partially hidden by visual obstructions such
as trees or an embankment, making it so that a rider cannot see the path around the
rest of the turn.
 Blind Spot: Blind spot is an area where a person’s view is obstructed.
 Counter-steering: Counter steering is a method of steering single-track vehicles
(motorcycles, scooters, bicycles) to initiate a turn in a given direction by momentarily
steering counter (opposite) to it.
 Engine cut off switch (Kill Switch): Usually located on the right handlebar switch
housing, this switch allows the motorcyclist to turn off the engine without removing
his or her hand from the handlebar.
 Feathering the brake: Gently applying the brake.
 Feathering the clutch: Gently allowing the clutch to engage. This makes for a slow,
smooth start.

46
 Friction Zone: The point where the clutch just starts to engage with the
transmission.
 Over steer: The situation that occurs in cornering when the rear of a vehicle tends
to skid before the front.
 Pillion Rider: A passenger
 Short-legging: A situation where the rider attempts to put down a foot on
pavement or solid ground when stopping a motorcycle but finds that no pavement
exists where it was expected.
 Steering Geometry: The geometrical relationship between the motorcycle frame,
the angle of the forks, and the position of the front tire.
 Target Fixation: When a rider’s eyes focus on a point in the distance, line or debris
on the road, causing him/her to inadvertently steer the bike toward that area rather
than on the intended path.
 Traction: A tire’s ability to grip the road.
 Under steer: The situation that occurs in cornering when the front of a vehicle
tends to skid before the rear.
 Wear Bar: Raised ridge in the tire tread to indicate when the tire needs
replacement.
 White Lining: Driving on the broken white line that separates traffic lanes.

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 A Good Rider
Total Control Motorcycling is about you, the rider. As a good rider it is your
responsibility to ensure that:

- You have good moral behavior

- You give right of way to pedestrians
- You maintain buffers
- You mentally plan Escape Routes
- You perform head checks when and where necessary for assured safety
- You look far ahead
- You maintain a calm mindset
- While riding you focus only on the ride
- Your riding style is smooth
- You maintain the correct body position as far as possible

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 End Note
Riding is about enjoying the motorcycling experience while being fully aware of the
present riding situation. You have the power to ride in total control at all times if you
remain focused. This way you can ensure your own safety at all times. Remember
that your mindset is of the utmost importance while riding.

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