Vermont Castings MOTORCYCLE Manual page 66


Front-Wheel Skids
If the front wheel locks, release the
front brake immediately and completely.
Reapply the brake smoothly. Front-
wheel skids result in immediate loss of
steering control and balance. Failure to
fully release the brake lever immediately
will result in a crash.
Rear-Wheel Skids
A skidding rear tire is a dangerous
condition that can result in a violent
crash and serious injury or death. Too
much rear brake pressure causes rear-
wheel lockup. As soon as the rear wheel
constantcurves
decreasingcurves
(tighterturns)
locks, your ability to change direction is
lost. To regain control the brake must
be released. However, if the rear wheel
is out of alignment with the front, there
is a risk of a high-side crash. This occurs
when the wheels are out of alignment
and a locked rear wheel is released. The
motorcycle can abruptly snap upright
and tumble, throwing the rider into the
air ahead of the motorcycle's path. Even
slight misalignment can result in a high-
side crash.
Cornering
A primary cause of single-vehicle
crashes is motorcyclists running wide in
MultiPlecurves
wideningcurves
29