APRILIA RS 50 - 1999 Manual page 22

Never race other motorcycles with your
motorcycle.
Brake with both the front and rear brakes.
The use of one brake only for sudden brak-
ing may cause the motorcycle to skid or
make the rider lose control of the motorcy-
cle itself.
When riding down a steep hill, use the en-
gine as a brake by selecting the same gear,
or a lower gear, than you would use to
climb the hill. Use front and rear brakes
sparingly.
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22 use and maintenance RS 50
Always ride at the appropriate speed and
avoid unnecessary hard acceleration.
This not only is safer, but also reduces
fuel consumption and increases the life of
the motorcycle.
If you must ride your motorcycle in rainy
weather, or on loose surfaces, remember
that traction is greatly reduced. Under
these conditions, all handling of the motor-
cycle must be done gradually and smooth-
ly. Sudden acceleration, braking or turn-
ing may make you lose control of your
motorcycle. When traction is reduced, ac-
celerate and slow using your motorcycle's
engine braking insofar as possible. Avoid
rapid, harsh application of the brakes.
Gradually open and close the throttle, to
avoid spinning or skidding the rear wheel.
On rough road surfaces, slow down and
ride with particular care.
Try to avoid wide open throttle accelera-
tions, unless they are necessary for such
things as passing.
Don't allow your engine to "lug," that is,
run at too low an rpm. Shift down to a low-
er gear. Also, don't over-rev the engine.
Observe the redline on the tachometer.
Remember that excessively aggressive
cornering can cause your motorcycle's
tires to lose sideways traction, which can
result in an upset and serious injury or
even death.