Basic Vehicle Control - Vermont Castings MOTORCYCLE Manual

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• Operate all the controls before
you start riding. Know the
gearshift pattern and operate the
throttle, clutch and brakes a few
times. Controls react differently
on different motorcycles, and
exact locations of controls may
vary slightly. Additionally, some
motorcycle conversions may be
equipped with a single brake pedal
or lever control, automatic clutch, or
automatic transmission.
• As you begin to ride, start out
slowly and carefully and be aware of
your surroundings. Accelerate gently,
take turns a little more slowly, and
leave extra room for stopping.

BaSiC VehiCLe CONtrOL

Steering & Tip
Three-wheel motorcycles handle
differently than two-wheel motorcycles.
With three wheels on the ground,
they are naturally more stable than a
two-wheel motorcycle. They also steer
differently. Because conventional three-
wheel motorcycles cannot lean, they
cannot countersteer. Instead, the front
wheel is pointed in the direction the
rider wants the motorcycle to go.
tiP-overlines
three-wheelsuPPleMent
Under some conditions during the
operation of a three-wheel motorcycle,
it is possible to have only two wheels
in contact with the road surface. This
could occur during turning or tight
maneuvers whenever enough weight is
transferred outside of what are called
tip-over lines. This tendency requires
careful load and passenger positioning
inside the tip-over lines to help maintain
maximum stability.
Body Position
As with any motor vehicle, operator
position is important for control and
for reducing or preventing fatigue. The
operator should be able to reach both
handgrips comfortably, since more
handlebar movement is necessary than
when riding a two-wheel motorcycle.
While it is not necessary for the rider
of a three-wheel motorcycle to move
drastically during operation, shifting
weight in the direction of the turn can
improve control.
Braking
On a motorcycle with a sidecar,
during braking in a sharp turn, the
sidecar wheel may lift off the ground.
Motorcycle and sidecar tires have limited
traction or grip on the road surface, and
traction is greater when the motorcycle
is rolling, not skidding or slipping.
During turning, some of the available
tire traction is used for cornering, so less
is available for stopping. Thus, a skid
can occur if you brake too hard.
Turning
The tendency of the rear inside
wheel to lift during turning is greater
with increased speed and tighter curve
radii. During a turn, inertia causes the
center of gravity of the motorcycle to
shift sideways and outward toward the