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