Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128322
T -CLOCS Accordi ng to the MSF. a preride inspection of the mo torcycle sho uld be as rou tine and automatic as checking the weather for ecast be fore heading o ut for the day. The Basic RiderCourse teaches this in the fo nn of T-C LOCS. Below is a chart of a T-CLOCS inspection, all of which shou ld be checked before every ride . T - Tires and wheels: air pressure, tread, cracks, dents, loose spokes, bearings , brakes C - Co ntro ls: levers, SWitc he s, cab les. hoses. throttle L - Lights and electrics: working condition o - Oi l and other fluids (coolant, hydraulic fluid, fuel): levels, leaks C - Chassis: suspension, drive components (chain, belt . or driveshaft) S - Sidestand FINE-C Another reminder used by the Basic RiderCourse involves starting the motorcycle. It is a procedure called FINE-C F • Fuel : Tum the fuel vatve O N ("vacuum " valves do not have on "off" posftlcn}, I - Ig n it io n : Tum the ignition switch to the ON position. Th e indicator lights should come on. N • N eutral: Shift the tran smission to neutral; check t o be sure by r olling the motorcycle with the clutch lever released and fro nt brake re leas ed (don 't re ly on the green light in the instrument cluster). E - En gin e cut-off sw itch: Put the switch in the Run/O n position C - Choke/Clutch: Set the choke as needed (On for a cold engine) . Some mo torcycles req uire that the clutc h be squee zed be fore the starter will operate. Even if th is is not req uired, it is a good habit to squ ee ze the clutc h lever as a precau tion against sta rting in gear, just in case Ne utra l has not bee n se lecte d prior to starting . SEE A simple and powerful stra tegy taught by the Basic RiderCo urse is SEE - to Search, Evaluate , Execute. It is the strategy to he lp you understa nd what is going on in traffic and to be constantly planning and impleme nting a course of action. To SEE is to Search for factors that might lead to trouble, Evaluate how the factors might interact to create risk, and to Execute an action to maintain a margin of safety. To SEE is to ask yoursel f such questions as: What's the other person going to do? What if that driver doesn't see me? What if there's gravel in that curve ahead? What if that car doesn't provide the right-of-way at that inte rsecti on ? These everyday riding situations have something in common: If a strategy for dealing with them isn't employed. they can easily lead to a crash. To put it simply, you must continuously SEE. FRICTION ZONES RNO FRONT BRRKES The friction zo ne is that area in the travel of the clutch lever that begins where the clutch starts to transmit power to the rear wheel and ends just before the clutch becomes fullyengaged . It is a region of partial engagement in which the clutch "slips" to permit you to control engine power to the rear wheel prec isely. Proper use of the frict ion zone is one of the most important skills you must develop, as it is how motorcyclists get moving smoothly fro m a stop. The front brake provides around 70 percent of the stopping power for your motorcycle. To stop. the hands and fee t work togethe r in a coordinated and smooth fashion. Squeeze the clutch and the fro nt brake lever whi le pressing o n the rea r brake pedal and do wnshifting. FOUR BRSIC STEPS The re are fou r basic steps to turning a mo torcycle: slow, loo k. press. and roll. Slow: Reduce speed before a turn as need ed by ro llin off th e throttle and applying both g bra kes; dow nshift if necessary. Look: Turn your head to loo k wh ere you wan t the mot orcycle to go. Keep yo ur eyes up. looking as far as possible th rough and beyond a tum , and kee p your eyes leve l with th e horizon. This helps you maintain a smoo th pat h of tra vel. Press: To initiate motorcycle lean . pr ess forward on the handgrip in the direction of the turn. This is called countersteering. Press left. lean left, go left. Press right, lean right, go right. Roll: Roll on t he th rottle thro ughout the tum. (Be sure to slow e nough before the tum so this can be acco mplished .) Maintaining o r slightty increasi ng speed will stabilize the suspension and improve overall control. Avoid dece lerat ion or rapid acceleration while in a tum . RBOUTMSF The Motorcycle Safety Fo undation is the internationally recognized develope r of the comprehensive , research-based Rider Education and Training System (MSF RETS). RETS curricul um promotes lifelong learning for motorcyclists and continual profession al deve lopme nt for certified Rider-Coaches and othe r trainers. MSF also actively participates in govemmen t relations, safety research. public awareness campaigns and the provision of tec hnical assistance to state training and licensing programs. For more information on the organization a nd a n availa b le Rjde rCourse ne a r you , check out Its website at www.msf-u sa .org