| Interested in motorcycles? Who can blame you! | | | | going to take a bit of practice to get it |
| Motorcycles reek of coolness, but before you | | | | right. It'll be difficult to grasp at first, |
| jump into the motorcycle riding scene, you | | | | but with some practice, it becomes second |
| need to learn the basics of the bike! | | | | nature. |
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| Stand Up Straight Please | | | | Stopping the Motorcycle |
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| It's mind boggling how they do it, but | | | | Now that you know how to "go," it's time to |
| motorcycles stay upright while they are | | | | learn how to stop! Attached onto the right |
| moving due to some pretty advanced physics. A | | | | handle grip is the front brake lever. This |
| still motorcycle will lean over without some | | | | lever gives the motorcycle most of the |
| sort of support. But a moving motorcycle will | | | | friction it needs to slow down (about 80%). |
| stay upright without much effort thanks to a | | | | The friction is caused by pads squeezing |
| couple of little things called angular | | | | against a metal disc (or drum in older bikes) |
| momentum and torque. | | | | in the center of the wheel. Since this |
| | | | particular lever is so powerful, it can even |
| To see these physics at work, imagine that | | | | flip a bike if it's pulled too fast |
| you're holding a bat in your palm with the | | | | especially on downward slopes. |
| heavy end up. It's going to tip over, right? | | | | |
| It's too unsteady. Now imagine that you're | | | | The rear brake lever is next to the right |
| wiggling your palm in an effort to always | | | | footrest. When it's pressed, it engages the |
| keep it directly under the heavy end of the | | | | rear brake mechanism. Push it too hard and |
| bat. Suddenly the bat is steady. That's how | | | | you will make your rear tire skid. |
| motorcycles stay upright. | | | | |
| | | | Both, the rear brake lever and the front |
| Driving forward on a motorcycle thanks to the | | | | brake lever, will eventually bring a bike to |
| power and torque provided by the engine, the | | | | a complete (but not necessarily) controlled |
| rider (or the palm in our example) is | | | | stop if used individually. It's the correct |
| constantly moving the bike (the bat in our | | | | combination of front and rear break power |
| example) to keep it directly inline with the | | | | that will bring a bike to a smooth stop. |
| center of gravity (that is, the heavy end of | | | | Constantly pumping either one however will |
| the bat in our example). | | | | unduly wear your brakes down and loosen their |
| | | | effect ahead of time. |
| Yes, I know I am over-simplifying with this | | | | |
| example. But in fact, it's basically the | | | | Bikes that have linked braking systems work a |
| forward momentum and the rider constantly | | | | little differently. With this kind of system, |
| adjusting the center of gravity that will | | | | the rear brake works with the front break |
| keep the motorcycle upright. | | | | because it engages part of it. As with the |
| | | | more traditional types of brake systems on a |
| Going, Going, Go | | | | motorcycle, it's the combination and |
| | | | simultaneous use of both brakes that creates |
| Regardless of the varying motorcycle designs | | | | smooth stops. |
| produced over the years, most bikes include | | | | |
| some pretty standard operating | | | | So now you know how to go and stop. But what |
| configurations. | | | | about turning the motorcycle off in an |
| | | | emergency? Almost every motorcycle today has |
| One of those is the arrangement of elements | | | | a kill switch you can use in case need to |
| in the steering mechanism (the handlebar). On | | | | hurry up and turn the thing off for whatever |
| the right handle is the throttle and twisting | | | | reason (failing brakes, you fall off, etc.). |
| it backward will give the engine more gas so | | | | |
| the machine will accelerate (as long as the | | | | Is that all I need to know? |
| brakes are off). On the left handle is the | | | | |
| clutch lever. Pulling it in and then | | | | Of Course not! There's a lot more to |
| releasing it will enable you to change gears. | | | | motorcycle riding but the above should give |
| Some motorcycles have automatic shifting, but | | | | you a good idea of the overview. |
| they are far and few between. | | | | |
| | | | Not all motorcycles operate in the same |
| The gearshift on a motorcycle is normally | | | | manner so some of things will work |
| under the rider's left foot. Riders will | | | | differently -- especially if you're |
| squeeze the clutch lever (left hand), ease | | | | attempting to ride an older bike that uses a |
| off the gas (right hand), and move the gear | | | | kick starter! Newer models may offer GPS |
| shift up or down (left foot). Releasing the | | | | systems, custom suspension, and electronic |
| clutch (left hand) and twisting the throttle | | | | de-fogging mirrors -- things that I haven't |
| backward (right hand) will make the | | | | even touched on. |
| motorcycle move forward. | | | | |
| | | | Remember to always wear your protective gear |
| As you can see, there's a lot of left-right | | | | and enjoy the ride! |
| hand and foot action going on here and it's | | | | |