Related Manuals for MSF 16th Edition
Summary of Contents for MSF 16th Edition
- Page 1 Edition otorcycle perator anual With Supplementary Information for Three-Wheel Motorcycles MSF LICENSING PROGRAMS...
- Page 2 The Motorcycle Safety • Guide riders in preparing to ride Foundation (MSF) has made this manual safely available to help novice motorcyclists • Develop effective street strategies reduce their risk of having a crash. The manual conveys essential safe riding •...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
contents contents THE RIDER AND BEING IN SHAPE TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE ���������������������������4 Why This Information Is Important ���������������������������������������42 PREPARING TO RIDE Alcohol and Other Drugs in Wear the Right Gear ����������������������������5 Motorcycle Operation ��������������������42 Know Your Motorcycle ������������������������7 Alcohol in the Body ����������������������������42 Know Your Responsibilities ���������������10 Alcohol and the Law ��������������������������44 Minimize the Risks �����������������������������44... -
Page 4: The Rider And The Motorcycle
theriderandtheMotorcycle Motorcycling is a ridingenvironMent unique experience. Compared to a car, you don’t sit in a motorcycle, you become part of it. Not as a passive driver, but as an active rider arcing into a string of smooth corners, playing along with the rhythm of the road;... -
Page 5: Preparing To Ride
PreParingtoride What you do before you start a trip goes a long way toward determining whether or not you’ll get where you want to go safely. Before taking off on any trip, a safe rider makes a point to: 1� Wear the right gear�... - Page 6 PreParingtoride Whatever helmet you helMets decide on, keep it securely fastened on your head when you ride. Otherwise, if you are involved in a crash, it’s likely to fly off your head before it gets a chance to protect you. Eye and Face Protection A plastic shatter-resistant...
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Page 7: Know Your Motorcycle
KNOW YOUr • Gloves allow a better grip and help protect your hands in a crash. Your MOtOrCYCLe gloves should be made of leather or There are plenty of things on the similar durable material. highway that can cause you trouble. •... -
Page 8: Motorcycle Controls
PreParingtoride • Front and rear brakes� involve riders with less than five months of experience on their motorcycle. • Turn signals� Get Familiar with the • Horn� Motorcycle Controls • Two mirrors� Make sure you are completely familiar Borrowing and Lending with the motorcycle before you take Borrowers and lenders of motorcycles, it out on the street. -
Page 9: Check Your Motorcycle
O — Oil and Other Fluids A convenient reminder developed by MSF is T-CLOCS . There is a T-CLOCS • Check engine oil and transmission “tear-out” sheet at the back of this fluid levels. -
Page 10: Know Your Responsibilities
PreParingtoride • Look underneath the motorcycle for responsibility to look before pulling out. signs of an oil or fuel leak. Both of you are at fault. Someone else might be the first to start the chain of C — Chassis events leading to a crash, but it doesn’t •... -
Page 11: Ride Within Your Abilities
This manual cannot teach you how to control direction, speed or balance. That’s something you can learn only through practice, preferably in a formal course of instruction like an MSF RiderCourse. But control begins with knowing your abilities and riding within them, along with knowing and obeying the rules of the road. - Page 12 ridewithinyourabilities for neutral, which is selected by either enough before downshifting safely. a “half lift” from 1st gear or a “half When downshifting, use a 3-step press” from 2nd gear. Most motorcycles process: 1) Roll off the throttle as you have five gears, but some have four or squeeze the clutch lever, 2) press the six gears.
- Page 13 slow or stop. The front brake is more To stop as quickly and as safely as powerful and can provide at least 70% possible in a curve, and depending on of your total stopping power. The front road and traffic conditions, try to get the brake is safe to use if you use it properly.
- Page 14 ridewithinyourabilities Turning In normal turns, the rider and the motorcycle should lean together at the Approach turns and curves with same angle. caution. Riders often try to take curves or turns too fast. When they can’t hold norMalturns the turn, they end up crossing into another lane of traffic or going off the road.
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Page 15: Keeping Your Distance
KeePiNg YOUr DiStaNCe • Avoid windblast from other vehicles. The best protection you can have is • Provide an escape route. distance — a “cushion of space” — separating yourself from other vehicles • Set up for turns. on the roadway. This will provide you Many motorcyclists consider the left with a clear view of emerging traffic third of the lane –... -
Page 16: Following Another Vehicle
ridewithinyourabilities following average center strip permits adequate count off the seconds: “one- traction to ride on safely. You can thousand-one, one-thousand-two.” operate to the left or right of the grease • If you reach the marker before strip and still be within the center third you reach “two,”... -
Page 17: Being Followed
Passing When behind a car, ride where the driver can see you in the rearview mirror. 1� Ride in the left portion of the Riding in the center portion of the lane lane at a safe following distance should put your image in the middle of to increase your line of sight and the rearview mirror —... -
Page 18: Lane Sharing
ridewithinyourabilities Being Passed Do not move into the portion of the lane farthest from the passing vehicle. It When you are being passed from might invite the other driver to cut back behind, stay in the center portion of into your lane too early. your lane. -
Page 19: Merging Cars
Merging Cars Cars Alongside Drivers on an entrance ramp may Do not ride next to cars or trucks in not see you on the highway. Give them other lanes if you do not have to. You plenty of room. Change to another lane might be in the blind spot of a car in the if one is open. -
Page 20: See
ridewithinyourabilities riderradar Good, experienced riders are always aware of what is going on around them. They reduce their risk by using MSF’s three- step SEE strategy: • Search • Evaluate • Execute SEE will help you assess what is going on... -
Page 21: Intersections
• Hazardous road conditions that Apply the old adage “one step at a require you to be alert, especially in time” to handle two or more hazards. areas with limited visibility. Visually Adjust speed to permit two hazards “busy” surroundings could hide you to separate. - Page 22 ridewithinyourabilities largeintersections There are no guarantees that Increase your chances of being others see you. Never count on “eye seen at intersections. Ride with your contact” as a sign that a driver will headlight on and in a lane position that yield.
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Page 23: Blind Intersections
the intersection, move away from the blindintersections vehicle. Do not change speed or position radically, as drivers might think you are preparing to turn. Be prepared to brake hard and hold your position if an oncoming vehicle turns in front of you, especially if there is other traffic around you. -
Page 24: Increasing Conspicuity
ridewithinyourabilities A bigger problem can occur if the Parkingatcurbs driver pulls away from the curb without checking for traffic behind. Even if he does look, he may fail to see you. In either event, the driver might cut into your path. Slow down or change lanes to make room for someone cutting in. -
Page 25: Brake Light
Once you turn, make sure your signal is signaling off or a driver may pull directly into your path, thinking you plan to turn again. Use your signals at every turn so drivers can react accordingly. Don’t make them guess what you intend to do. Brake Light Your motorcycle’s brake light is usually not as noticeable as the brake lights on... -
Page 26: Head Checks
ridewithinyourabilities from behind. If the drivers aren’t usingMirrors paying attention, they could be on top of you before they see you. • Before you change lanes� Make sure no one is about to pass you. • Before you slow down� The driver behind may not expect you to slow, or may be unsure about where you will slow. -
Page 27: Crash Avoidance
CraSh aVOiDaNCe Keep in mind that a motorcycle’s horn isn’t as loud as a car’s — therefore, use it, No matter how careful you are, there but don’t rely on it. Other strategies, like will be times when you find yourself in a having time and space to maneuver, may tight spot. - Page 28 ridewithinyourabilities Stopping Quickly stoPPingdistance in a Curve If you know the technique, using both brakes in a turn is possible, although it should be done very carefully. When leaning the motorcycle some of the traction is used for cornering. Less traction is available for stopping.
- Page 29 Front-Wheel Skids locks, your ability to change direction is lost. To regain control the brake must If the front wheel locks, release the be released. However, if the rear wheel front brake immediately and completely. is out of alignment with the front, there Reapply the brake smoothly.
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Page 30: Handling Dangerous Surfaces
ridewithinyourabilities a curve or turn and colliding with the possible. Approach it at as close to a 90˚ roadway or a fixed object. angle as possible. Look where you want to go to control your path of travel. If you Every curve is different. - Page 31 obstacles and overpasses. Wet surfaces or wet can cause a skid. Be as smooth as leaves are just as slippery. Ride on the possible when you speed up, shift gears, turn or brake. least slippery portion of the lane and reduce speed.
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Page 32: Grooves And Gratings
ridewithinyourabilities Railroad Tracks, Trolley Tracks For track and road seams that run parallel to your course, move far enough and Pavement Seams away from tracks, ruts, or pavement Usually it is safer to ride straight within seams to cross at an angle of at least 45˚. -
Page 33: Mechanical Problems
MeChaNiCaL PrOBLeMS power from the rear wheel, though engine sound may not immediately You can find yourself in an emergency decline. Once the motorcycle is “under the moment something goes wrong control,” pull off and stop. with your motorcycle. In dealing with After you have stopped, check the any mechanical problem, take into throttle cable carefully to find the source... -
Page 34: Animals
ridewithinyourabilities Drive Train Problems approach it, accelerate and leave the animal behind. Don’t kick at the animal. The drive train for a motorcycle uses Keep control of your motorcycle and either a chain, belt, or drive shaft to look to where you want to go. transfer power from the engine to For larger animals (deer, elk, cattle) the rear wheel. -
Page 35: Getting Off The Road
• Pull off the road — Get as far off the motorcycle about 10 feet from a the road as you can. It can be very wall in an unlighted garage and mark hard to spot a motorcycle by the the headlight beam location on the side of the road. -
Page 36: Riding With Passengers
ridewithinyourabilities As you prepare for your ride, tell your • Approach surface hazards such as bumps or uneven road surfaces. passenger to: • Get on the motorcycle only after • Are about to start from a stop or you have started the engine and begin moving into traffic. - Page 37 it does not catch any of the brake Tips for Traveling with lines or cables in the area of the Passengers and Cargo steering head. • Keep the load forward. Pack heavier • Secure loads low, or put them in items in the front of the tank bag.
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Page 38: Group Riding
ridewithinyourabilities Pre-Ride Test Plan Before starting out, hold a rider’s Prior to starting out, take a test meeting to discuss the route, length of ride with your fully loaded motorcycle riding segments, rest stops and locations through some familiar neighborhood for fuel, meals and lodging. -
Page 39: Keep Your Distance
Keep Your Distance Interstate Highways and Freeways Maintain close ranks, but at the same time, maintain an adequate space A staggered formation is essential cushion to allow each rider in the group when riding on freeways and interstates. time and distance to react to hazards. However, enter in single file and form up A close group takes up less space on only after all riders have safely merged... - Page 40 ridewithinyourabilities Passing in Formation grouPPassing (stage1) When the group wants to pass slow traffic on a freeway or interstate, the group may pass as a unit. On a two-lane highway, riders in a staggered formation should pass one at a time. •...
- Page 41 Ten Rules of Group Riding • Do not pass in the group, except in the case of emergency. • Base the length of the route and • Place inexperienced riders just segments on ability of the least behind the leader so they can keep experienced rider.
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Page 42: Being In Shape To Ride
beinginshaPetoride beinginshaPetoride Riding a motorcycle is a demanding and complex task. Skilled riders pay attention to the riding environment and to operating the motorcycle, identifying potential hazards, making good judgments and executing decisions quickly and skillfully. Your ability to perform and respond to changing road and traffic conditions is influenced by how fit and alert you are. - Page 43 Blood Alcohol Concentration A 12-ounce can of beer, a mixed drink with one shot (1.5 ounces) of liquor, Blood Alcohol Concentration or BAC and a 5-ounce glass of wine all contain is the amount of alcohol in relation to the same amount of alcohol. blood in the body.
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Page 44: Alcohol And The Law
beinginshaPetoride – Four drinks over the span of two If you are convicted of riding under hours, you would have at least two the influence of alcohol or drugs, (4 – 2 = 2) drinks remaining in your you may receive any of the following system at the end of the two hours. -
Page 45: Step In To Protect Friends
Or Don’t Ride — If you haven’t It helps to enlist support from others controlled your drinking, you must when you decide to step in. The more control your riding. people on your side, the easier it is to be firm and the harder it is for the rider to •... -
Page 46: Earning Your License
earningyourlicense Safe riding requires knowledge and skill. Licensing tests are the best measurement of the skills necessary to operate safely in traffic. Assessing your own skills is not enough. People often overestimate their own abilities. It’s even harder for friends and relatives to be totally honest about your skills. Licensing exams are designed to be scored more objectively. - Page 47 On-Motorcycle Skill Test • Stop, turn and swerve quickly� • Make critical decisions and carry Basic vehicle control and crash- them out. avoidance skills are included in on- motorcycle tests to determine your Examiners may score on factors ability to handle normal and hazardous related to safety such as: traffic situations.
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Page 48: Three-Wheel Supplement
three-wheelsuPPleMent SUPPLeMeNtarY • Saddle seating iNFOrMatiON – Seating in which the rider/ passenger straddles the FOr three-WheeL vehicle. MOtOrCYCLeS – If designed for a passenger, the passenger must be Many states require a separate license seated behind the operator endorsement to operate a three-wheel (or in a separate passenger motorcycle. - Page 49 Three-Wheel handlebars without excessive upper body movements that could jeopardize Motorcycle Designs stability and control. Three-wheel motorcycle designs Borrowing and Lending vary among manufacturers. Unlike traditional motorcycles, which are Borrowers and lenders, beware. considered single-track motorcycles, Crashes are fairly common among three-wheel motorcycles could be either beginning operators, especially in dual or triple track design.
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Page 50: Basic Vehicle Control
three-wheelsuPPleMent • Operate all the controls before Under some conditions during the you start riding. Know the operation of a three-wheel motorcycle, gearshift pattern and operate the it is possible to have only two wheels throttle, clutch and brakes a few in contact with the road surface. - Page 51 tip-over line. The reduced weight over When turning right on a motorcycle with sidecar: the opposite side wheel can cause it to lift slightly. • Anticipate the degree of turn required. The weight of a three-track motorcycle is distributed almost equally •...
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Page 52: Lane Position
three-wheelsuPPleMent Lane Position the sidecar will feel as though it is lagging behind you, causing the vehicle The track of the dual wheels of a to feel as though it is being steered three-wheel motorcycle or motorcycle to the right. During deceleration or with a sidecar is almost the same braking, the momentum of the sidecar width as some automobiles. -
Page 53: Carrying Passengers And Cargo
Many three-track motorcycles will have Paththroughacurve built-in storage compartments for cargo, either in front of, or behind the rider. On these motorcycles, center the load and keep it low in the storage areas so it is positioned within the tip-over lines and balanced side-to-side. -
Page 55: Hand Signals
handsignals 1 Single File – 2 Double File – arm and index arm with index finger extended and middle finger straight up. extended straight up. 4 Speed up – 3 Stop – arm extended arm extended straight out, straight down, palm facing up, palm facing swing upward. - Page 56 handsignals 8 Hazard in roadway – on the left, point with left hand; on the right, point with right foot. 9 Highbeam – ap Fuel – tap on top of arm out to side helmet with open pointing to tank with palm down.
- Page 59 Consult your local regulatory agencies for informa tion concerning the operation of motor- cycles in your area. Although the MSF will continue to research, field test and publish responsible viewpoints on the subject, it disclaims any liability for the views expressed herein.
- Page 60 Motorcycle Safety Foundation 2 Jenner, Suite 150 Irvine, CA 92618-3806 www�msf-usa�org...
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