...

everything you need

to become a good rider
vi
 vii

Wings or wheels
Dear motorcyclist! - ”pilots” must
know what they
M otorcycle riders must not only deal with
a demanding vehicle without protective
bodywork. We are so vulnerable that we also
I n order to make the right decisions, one must
have a basic understanding of traffic, though
through strategies and good self-awareness. We
are doing
must take responsibility for errors and mistakes know from research that the risks of taking incor-
by other road users. Therefore many motorcy- rect decisions are dramatically reduced when you
cle organisations claim that motorcyclists must get some experience, so in the second part of the
become an elite amongst road users. book we have gathered most of what experien-
ced motorcyclists know about the road, traffic,

O ne condition for safe riding is to master a

precise riding technique. A motorcyclist
motorcycles, equipment and accessories.

must be able to steer, brake and accelerate - the

only three operations that can be done on a mot-
orcycle. This is the theme for the first part of this
I t is difficult to gain true experience by reading
a book, but it probably helps to get some qua-
lified advice on the way. Although Full Control
book. is intended primarily for new motorcyclists of all
ages, we also believe that experienced riders can

B ut, a good riding technique is not enough to

be a safe motorcyclist. Riding technique is
onlya tool to implement the tactical and opera-
benefit from reading this book - if only to nod in
recognition. Full Control is written by motorcy-
clists for motorcyclists.
tional choices you constantly have to make on
the road. Good luck!
6

A short introduction to practical physics

To master
the laws How can the motorcycle keep upright? How does gravity. Balance restored.
of physics is it steer and why does it turn when leaned over? You balance the motorcycle
Among motorcyclists there are unfortunately few the same way when it is
like dancing precise answers to these questions. Most of the rolling. If the bike tilts towards
explanations are fairly inaccurate and based on the left (falls), and you want it
with Isac notions and interpretations of own experiences. to move straight ahead, you use
Newton with- That is why many motorcyclists give their mount the handlebar to move the bike’s
imprecise – and even erroneous – commands. In contact patches back under the
out stepping on this chapter we will explain some of the physical mass centre. In practice, it means
forces so important to understand in order to that you steer the same direction
his toes fully cooperate with the bike. that the bike falls, enough
for the wheels to move in
Active balance. back under the centre of gravity.
The motorcycle has to make do with two tiny Balance is restored. The effect of this
contact patches with mother earth and cannot manoeuvre increases with speed – a
keep upright when still. You have maybe watched small steering input moves the contact patches
trial riders keep their balance almost endlessly quicker at 90 km/h than at walking speed.
even though the bike does not move? So it is
possible, but we will not detail on such acrobatics Inherent balance and directional
here. We will focus on what makes the two- stability
wheeler keep its balance when rolling. Have you watched road racing on the Eurosport
Ever tried to balance a hammer upright with channel? Then perhaps you have noticed that
the handle resting on your palm? What do you riderless motorcycles sometimes continue on
do when the hammer begins to tilt towards the their own, stable as projectiles, straight ahead
left? You move your hand the same direction, of after the rider has been thrown off. The reason
course. Thus you move the hammer’s contact they can do this is mainly to be found in the
patch (in your palm) back under the centre of steering geometry. The motorcycle’s fork is
 7

If you want to see for

yourself how this works,

Ste
ingan
gle straddle the bike with both

erin
Steer feet solidly planted on the

g
axi
ground. Lean the bike a bit

s
to one side. Make sure you
support it firmly with your
thighs so it does not fall.
Let go of the handlebar and
watch what happens. If the
friction between tyre and
ground is not too much, you
will see the front wheel steer
to the same side that you
lean the bike. The effect of
this, at speed, is that the bike
on its own, without aid from
the rider, will try to steer
under the centre of gravity
when it cants to one side or
Front wheel trail
the other, and in this way
Rear wheel trail manages to keep balance
and directional stability.
Many advocate that also the
Inherent balance: The front fork geometry is a precondition for gyroscopic effect is important
inherent balance and directional stability for balance and stability. The
gyroscopic effect arises when
oblique, so that an extension of its centreline hits a wheel rotates and leads
the ground a bit ahead of the front tyre’s contact to a resistance to sideways movement. The effect
point with the ground. The distance between is present, truly, and increases with speed, but
these two points is called trail. The geometry it is small compared to the effect of the steering
of the front fork is a prerequisite for the bike’s geometry.
inherent balance and directional stability.
8

How do you make a motorcycle motorcycle tyre leaned over. Give the glass a
turn? push and watch how it turns rather than roll
In the last passage we explained how the straight ahead. The reason is that the side with
handlebar, fork and wheel “falls” to the right the longest circumference (the top of the glass)
when you lean the bike to the right. The front rolls farther for each revolution. The same is true
fork geometry makes the front wheel turn when for your front tyre and this affects the tyre to steer
the bike is leaned over. the same way that the bike leans.
There is another reason too, that leaning the The front fork geometry and the tyre profile
bike makes the wheel turn. Motorcycle tires, makes the bike turn automatically as soon as it is
contrary to car tyres, have a round profile. The leaned over.
circumference is thus longer along the middle of
the tyre than on the shoulders. Balancing act in a curve
Imagine two conical drinking glasses set Newton taught us that an object that is not
together like the picture shows. Set one of subjected to any forces, would continue to move
the glasses on its side on a table, to emulate a with the same speed and direction. If moving, it
will go on straight ahead. If it is still, it will keep
still. If you affect it with a force in one or the
other direction, the object will
change course and/or speed.
Imagine a motorcycle at
speed. Seen from behind. When
the bike is straight, the contact
patches are directly under the
mass centre. It means that gravity
points straight down through
the contact patches and that the
counterforce from the ground
points straight up through the
bike’s centre of gravity. The two-
wheeler is in balance.
When the bike leans,
for example to the
The rolling circumference decreases: The front fork geometry and the rounded
right, the mass centre
profile of the tyre makes the bike turn automatically when leaned over.
 9

is no longer directly above the contact point. example to the right, Newton tells us there is a
Gravity and the counterforce from the ground force pushing right. This sideways force “attacks”
still point straight down and straight up, but past in the contact points between tyres and ground,
each other and displaced sideways in relation to and since these are far below the mass centre,
each other. The bike would have fallen, impels the motorcycle to “fall” toward the
were it not for a third force working to left (read: straighten up). When the force
keep it upright. that impels the bike to “fall” to the left
As explained earlier, (sideways force) and the force that tries to
when the bike leans make the bike fall to the right are equal,
at speed, it also the motorcycle is in balance in the curve.
turns. When the Given balance and constant speed, the
bike turns, that motorcycle will perform a perfect part
is changes of a circle. If you did not have to
course, for control the throttle with your right
hand, you could have let go of the
handlebar and followed the bike
through a perfect curve.

Green arrow A: Gravity

Green arrow B: Counterforce from the
ground
Red arrow C: A sideways force that
attacs the tyres in the
contact patch
Red arrow D: ”Centrifugal force”, a
force you ”feel” a result of
Forces at work in a curve: when the forces that try to tilt sideways acceleration in
the bike to the left (sideways force) and to the right (gravity) a curve
balance each other, the motorcycle is in balance.
Blue arrow E: The sum of the forces
equal balance
10

How do you initiate a turn?

To make the front wheel steer the way you want
it to go, it follows that you must first lean the
bike over. This is absolutely necessary to make a
motorcycle turn. Thus, if you are scared to lean,
you are in fact scared to turn. A bit unfortunate,
isn’t it, if the road curves?
So how do you make the bike lean over – cant?
It may be done by body language, to move your
own body relative to the bike, to one side or the
other. We emphasize, however, that this is a slow
and imprecise way of steering that results in long,
slow “banana-turns”.
An extremely more efficient way to initiate a
turn is to give a short push on the handlebar, on
the same side that you wish to turn towards. This
push makes the front wheel steer away from the
wanted direction. The contact patch of the front Gyroscopic precession: When wheel is turned to
wheel moves away from the general direction of the left, it reacts by leaning to the right
the “rest of the bike”. This makes the bike swivel
around its own mass centre, that is to lean into with the handlebar. Can you feel that the wheel
the desired curve. Elegant, isn’t it? reacts with a powerful cant to the right? This
Gyroscopic forces also contribute in this phenomenon is called gyroscopic precession.
“opposite” steering movement. You can try it for If you initiate a curve by a short moment
yourself: Take off the front wheel on your pedal steering the opposite way of your intention, you
bicycle. Grip the wheel by the front axle and hold immediately achieve the lean you need in order
it out before you on straight arms. Get a friend to turn the right way. This steering technique is
to help you accelerate the wheel so it turns fast called…..
in the direction it would turn if you rode the
bike. Now move the wheel straight up and down Countersteering
in a vertical plane. No problem, right? Next try Counter in this context means ”opposite”.
to steer the wheel to the left as if you steered
 11

Countersteering means that you, for a short gravity will try to make the bike fall inwards.
moment, in fact steer the opposite direction of When in balance, these two forces make the bike
what you want. This short, opposite steering go beautifully through the curve. Countersteering
movement effectively makes the bike lean to the enables you to quickly and precisely achieve the
side you want to turn. We have already stated that right lean angle. The result is that you spend a If you think you
leaning is absolutely necessary in order to turn a very short rolling distance to achieve the change
two-wheeled vehicle. of direction. You get a very precise “turning point”. can steer the
The countersteering is performed by giving a
push forward on the handlebar on the side that
Imagine you are going into a right-hander.
When you reach the turning point you give a
bike using your
you intend to turn. If you want to turn right, you short, precise push on the right handle bar end. bodyweight, we
give a short, precise push forward on the right This done, the front wheel steers left for a short
handlebar. If you intend to turn left, you give a moment. The “rest of the bike” will, because of are happy you can
short push on the left end of the handlebar. We
call this“push”a steering command henceforth.
its mass and inertia, try to go on straight ahead,
while the front wheel steers left. This cants the
read this, because
bike effectively to the right, a prerequisite for with a little less
Conscious countersteering is the supremely turning right. The angle of the front fork and the
most effective way of steering a motorcycle. trail impels the front wheel first to straighten and luck you might
Immeasurably more effective than the “body
language technique”, where you try to make the
then to turn into the curve when the bike leans.
The bike now finds, all by itself, a perfect balance
as well be dead
bike lean and turn by moving your body to the between the outward force and gravity, so that
side. the lean becomes stable. A perfect, sensitive
You can always use countersteering to change harmony between the outward and inward
the direction of the motorcycle – presuming
your bike moves at more than walking pace. It
is, however, extremely important that you learn
exactly how hard you need to push. At normal
speed, very little force is, indeed, needed to
achieve a serious change of direction.
When entering a turn, the sideways forces will
try to tip the bike outwards (read: hold it upright).
To counter this, there must be an equal force
that“pulls”the bike inwards. That is one of the
Counter steering: If you want to go right, give
reasons you must lean the bike into the turn:
the right hand side of handlebar a gentle push
12
1 2 3

Countersteering: A gentle push ... the bike leans ... and steers to the right
on the right handlebar ...

forces. Amazing, isn’t it? swerve, countersteering is the only effective way.
But remember this: The higher your speed, the
stronger the self-stabilizing properties of the front Acceleration and braking in a curve
end. You feel the bike as sluggish, hard to turn. It It is a fact that a motorcycle “straightens up” or
means that when speed goes up, your steering drift towards the outside of the curve when you
command must also be more powerful to make accelerate out of a curve. Why is that? When
the bike turn when and where you want. In the the forces that work inward and outward on
chapter about steering, we will go into this in the bike while turning are equal, the bike may
detail. continue the curve endlessly. When you gas it,
the motorcycle will accelerate and the sideways
We recommend you to start practising conscious force that tries to pull the bike out of the curve
countersteering and make it your only steering will increase. It exceeds the inward force and thus
technique. This will give you one single working the bike straightens up and follows the road out
habit that you can use in all situations. When of the curve.
you have to make a quick change of direction or It is also a fact that the bike straightens up and
 13

drifts toward the outside of the curve when you calm them down. The hydraulic oil in the shock
apply the front brake in a curve. How can that absorbers holds the bouncing in check when the
be explained? In a right-hand curve, leaned over, wheel rockets upwards and also slows it on the
the centre of the contact patch is to the right of return so it does not bounce back full force. For
the centre of the tyre – and thus also to the right when the upward wheel travel is stopped, the
of the imagined extension of the steering axle. spring is compressed, and will “shoot” the wheel
When braking, the braking forces will “attack” in back down again with almost the same power as
the centre of the contact patch and thus try to it was kicked upwards. The shock absorber and
turn the wheel, fork and handlebar towards the the oil that has to flow through restricting holes,
right. In fact the braking forces make the bike retards the downward travel an puts the tyre
steer more right and the lean angle changes. In a neatly back on the ground.
curve this feel like the bike is straightening up. Thus the tyre is forced to keep as much as
possible in touch with the road, where road grip
A few words about the suspension is found, and at the same time keeps the rest
system of the motorcycle calm and stable. It would not
The suspension system gives us comfort on the be without danger, but you should try to ride a
ride. But the system has a task that is far more bike without shock absorbers, just to learn to
important than comfort: appreciate the job they do.
The tyre is like a football. It bounces. And it There is also another extremely important“shock
bounces hard! Imagine what happens when the absorber” on the bike, which can both stabilize
rolling tyre at highway speed hits a hump in the the bike or disturb it. Yourself. The wind pushes
road. It is compressed by the hump and then and jolts you when you ride. Humps or potholes
bounces back with ferocious energy. This energy make your body bounce and jolt. If you sit stiff-
rockets the wheel upwards. backed and grip the handlebars hard your body’s
The springs are designed to absorb this movement is fed into the bike and interferes with
rocketing energy and gradually slow the wheel’s its job. A relaxed body when you ride is essential.
upward travel so that the shock is not fed into the Under section 3.2,“Riding position”, you will find
bike. When the movement is softly stopped, the more about this.
compressed spring pushes your wheel back to the
ground again to restore your precious road grip.
The springs alone, however, do not suffice to
control the wheel’s bouncing. The springs just
continue their pogo dance if there is nothing to
14

”The dangerous instincts”

By ”instinctive faulty reactions” we here mean straightening your arms and you back, to create
those unconscious, panic-like actions you do distance from the threat, to protect yourself.
when you get scared. They come like a reflex, That is the absolute opposite to what is needed
before you can think, without you planning to steer a motorcycle, namely loose arms, lower
them. The human body really is not built for arms horizontal and shoulders low. Been there?
riding a motorcycle. It is built to walk or run. Done that? It happens to us all.
During evolution we have been equipped A second faulty reaction is that when scared
with instincts and reflexes meant to protect you tend to fix your stare at the danger, what
us when in danger, triggered lightning-quick. you want to avoid. And it is with motorcycles as
An example is how you wink your eyes when with other weapon: you hit where you aim. Such
some sudden movement startles you. Another ”target fixation” is probably a reason behind
is when you retract your hand, before you can many accidents. This faulty reaction may come
think of it, when touching something hot. These into play for example when you ride into a
are unconscious reflexes designed to keep you curve on the road and feel that the speed is too
from harm. The problem is that some of these high or when a car does not yield for you and
reactions can be life threatening when you ride suddenly blocks your way.
a motorcycle. Instinctive faulty reactions are A third one is the tendency to suddenly and
a major cause behind motorcycle accidents. quickly rolling off the throttle in the middle of
More often than not they worsen a situation a curve because you get worried about the road
that you easily could have mastered if only you grip. This reaction is almost like hitting the rear
knew what you were doing wrong. And how to brake in a curve, as the engine suddenly brakes
do it right. Each one of these instinctive faulty the rear wheel and you risk a slide. A second
reactions has the power to override reason. consequence of rolling off the throttle is that you
The most common of them is that you in a transfer a lot of weight to the front wheel and
scary situation ”push away form the fear” by the bike becomes truckish to steer.
 15

How can you learn to conquer these primitive the motorcycle’s physical properties or the
instincts in order to handle the situation principles behind a precise riding technique. In
properly? There are really only three ways: the following chapters we will show you how
you can practise techniques that are appropriate
• Always be conscious of the problem – and with their help conquer your instincts.
• Learn to recognize the situations that
usually trigger them and the faulty
reactions
• Learn and drill precise riding
technique to become a correct working
habit (new reflex) so that you may
override the instinctive reaction

You are not the only one to get scared every now
and then. Seasoned riders and instructors have
long since identified what triggers cold sweat on
your forehead:

• You are suddenly scared not to come

safely through the curve
• You suddenly experience your speed to
be too high into a curve
• Your lean angle is bigger than you are
comfortable with
• Sudden worry about road grip
• An obstacle right in your way

Use this knowledge positively. No matter if

the danger is real or imagined, the instinctive
reaction is an effort to save you from harm.
None of them, however, are in harmony with
16

A precise riding technique

A motorcycle
is a precision-
The riding technique we describe
instrument and is founded on the motorcycle’s
physical properties. The technique
a correct puts you in control of the vehicle.
riding technique Established as correct working
habits this competence yields both
will make you joy in the riding and safety. Correct
working habits in this context
play like Eric means well drilled operating
Clapton commands that gradually become
automatic and are triggered as a
reflex when you need them most.
We know many motorcyclists who
regard themselves as skilled even
though they time after time act in
a way that makes it impossible for
the bike to function properly. They
experience that their way of riding trouble in a difficult situation.
works for them – so everything is just fine, isn’t Tips and good advice from fellow motorcyclists
it? With low demands and a lot of luck most can be valuable, but may be vague, inaccurate
things work out fine. It does not mean you are and lead you astray. The lack of precise
doing everything right, though. It may be that textbooks on he subject is one of the reasons
you always have a lot of margin. That is good in there are so many assumptions and so little
itself. But still: the honoured word “experience” concrete knowledge about riding technique. The
can mean that you during long practice have formal driver training probably has not given
established wrong working habits. They may be you the precise riding technique that you need
adequate in the everyday, but may cause you in an adverse situation on the road.
 17

Anchored push
The basics of precise To countersteer you must push precisely at
the handlebar end. In order for the steering
riding technique command to move the handlebar precisely,
and not only push you body backwards, you
To be able to describe the riding technique must have “anchoring”. Just try it; stand with
precisely, we will have to introduce a few terms your side towards a wall with your feet close
that may be new to you. We recommend that together. Raise your arm and give the wall a
you take the time to really get the grip on these firm push. Not to fall you must step out with the
terms and their meaning, in order to get the full foot furthest from the wall to support you. You
profit of the explanations and exercises. must “anchor” yourself. On the bike, the natural
anchoring point is the outside footpeg, the peg
Countersteering / steering command facing outward from the centre of the curve.
Countersteering is the most effective way to An “anchored push” means that you anchor
steer a motorcycle. You give a short and precise yourself on the outward footpeg (consciously
push at the end of the handlebar on the side feel the peg under your foot), contract your leg
to which you want to turn. That is, you give a muscles just like a small kick-off, and transfer
steering command. If you want to turn right, you this force to the opposite handlebar end. The
push the right end of the handlebar. For a short term “anchored push” signifies that you both
moment you actually steer the opposite way anchor and push at the same time in order to
of where you are going. This moves the front achieve precision in your steering command.
tyre’s contact patch with the road outwards from In a normal corner, the anchored push is
the centre of the turn so that the bike quickly experienced more as a “feeling” than an exertion
achieves the right lean angle and turns. For of raw power. But in higher speeds, not to
details, see the chapter “A short introduction to mention emergency swerving, you really need
practical physics.” muscle in order to achieve the necessary effect
of the steering command. That is why the habit
Steering point of anchored push is so important.
This is the exact point on the road where you
choose to give the steering command that Throttle Control
makes the bike turn precisely into the turn. When you lean the bike, a situation arises that
you must realize. The rolling circumference
of the tyre is smaller towards the shoulder
18

of the tyre. Hence, the tyre must turn faster fork would give less ground clearance, right?
when leaned in order to keep the same speed. Do you remember how the motorcycle
Therefore you have to open the throttle a little “balances” the sideways forces and gravity in
immediately after the steering command in a curve? This balance demands steady speed
Throttle control order to avoid that the engine brakes the rear and lean. Conscious Throttle Control gives
wheel. this constant speed. Good anchoring gives
is necessary to Throttle Control thus means that you open you a steady lean. Together these two gives
maintain the the throttle a bit immediately after the steering
command. The effect is that weight is transferred
you optimal stability and road grip throughout
the corner. You know when you do it right: it
”harmony” from the front tyre to the rear tyre and that the gives you the exhilarating feeling of safety and
bike feels more willing to steer. In addition, control – and it keeps the dangerous instinctive
through this little acceleration makes the front fork rise reactions at bay!
a turn a bit, goes back to a medium position, which
is required Anchoring points
for the fork to Precision steering demands good contact with
work optimally, the bike without “clinging”. You need anchoring
and keep your points. Footpegs, saddle and fuel tank are the
tyres securely most important ones. By conscious use of these,
planted on the you achieve effective steering commands and
ground. Also, total control under braking – while it allows you
a compressed a relaxed upper body, arms and hand.
In the following chapters we will elaborate on
this foundation and describe a Precise Riding
Technique that gives you total control over the
tree things a motorcycle can do, namely to steer,
Throttle control:
accelerate and brake. But before that, we will
Weight is transferred look into some other prerequisites for success
from front wheel to that you need to know and master.
rear wheel.
 19

Riding
Position and
anchoring:
Toeball on pegs,
relaxed arms, Your bike is
bowed elbowes,
loose grip and very good at
upper body
leaned slightly riding, so don't
forward disturb it while
it is doing its job

Riding position and You must be prepared mentally and physically,

set your body to alert, and assume a riding
anchoring position that enables you to act correctly and
Your riding position is crucial for control. A precisely.
wrong riding position can ruin the motorcycle’s
possibility to help you out of a pinch. When you Anchoring
ride into a situation, for example a corner, you Your riding position influences steering, braking,
have to be ready to handle what is coming up. stability, suspension, ground clearance and
20

weight transfer by acceleration. An inadequate as needed. You keep the weight on the outward
riding position may lead to failure to do the peg. This gives the bike stability because your
manoeuvre you intended or hamper the bike in weight is fed into the bike low down – and you
doing its job. will not disturb the bike while it is working.
The rider You achieve precise steering with your toe balls You may also move your bottom slightly toward
is the most on the foot pegs, loose arms bent at the elbow,
a relaxed grip at the handlebar and your body
the inside of the saddle before you enter the
curve. This achieves better ground clearance and
important leaning slightly forward. A swerve succeeds
only if you are correctly anchored as well as
less lean angle. You make the job easier for the
bike. If, for example you hit a spot of gravel and
”shockabsorber”your torso and arms in the proper position. Your the bike slides, you will make its job easier if
arms and grip must be relaxed for the bike to you lift your bottom slightly off the saddle and
be stable, Done right, you will sense that you anchor yourself in pegs and fuel tank.
hardly need to hold on to the handlebar at all, if Suspension and springs carry the weight of
it were not for throttle control. both you and the motorcycle itself. Some times
Without an “anchored push” much of the also the weight of passenger and luggage. In
power in a steering command will be spent some situations it may be too much for the
pushing your body backwards rather than the suspension. For example if you hit a serious
bar forwards. In a slight forward crouch, you bump, a dead badger or a chunk of wood that
can tension your abdomen muscles, weight the you fail to avoid. Then you can help your bike
outward peg and transfer the steering power by lifting your buttocks off the saddle. The
effectively to the handlebar. In normal curves, advantages are threefold: you anchor your
this steering command is a subtle, sensual push. weight low down, your knees will function as
But the higher the speed, the more force you additional suspension, and your body keeps
need in your push. still even if the bike is jolted violently. Thus
you quickly regain control and avoid clinging
Riding positioning a curve desperately to the handlebar.
When you approach the steering point, you
prepare yourself by assuming the right seating Riding position while braking
position; weight the outer footpeg to prepare Directional stability depends on your riding
for an anchored push. At the steering point you position. A relaxed seating position, -with loose
give the steering command, which is a quick arms and a relaxed grip on the handlebar is
push at the handlebar, just powerful enough crucial.
and long enough to make the bike lean as much
 21

Modern motorcycles have very good brakes. But

faulty riding position and braking technique
can ruin the bike’s braking prowess. During
hard braking, anchoring and sight are essential.
Relaxed arms and a relaxed grip on the Weight on
handlebar are necessary for the motorcycle the contrary, you support your weight, with stiff
to brake straight and strong. You need to be arms, on the handlebar, the bike will be unstable outer footpeg
anchored solidly on pegs and fuel tank. If, on and tend to dive alarmingly and lift its rear. through a turn
stabilizes the
bike

Achoring:

Toeballs on foot.-
pegs and weight
on outer peg
22

will automatically move to check it out. This is

Attention and visual a reflex. It happens before your can think. It is
called the warning reflex.
focus Wide attention and active visual search
It is not gift by birth to use your eyes correctly, An adept motorcyclist is not just sitting there,
but it can be practised. To be fully in control you waiting for his warning reflex to wake him up.
must have a complete picture of the situation He is continuously and actively searching for
– that is to be consciously aware of all the crucial information in the scene around him.
important elements of the situation in front of You have to search far ahead of you to detect
you, at your sides and behind you, so as not to which factors will be important in the next few
be surprised. seconds. Also, you have to check the mirrors
To be attentive is not the same as to “look at”. frequently to survey what is happening behind
If you focus on a point ahead of you, you can, you.
with a little practising, have a fairly clear picture Using focus area, you identify everything
of what is happening in the rest of your field relevant to you. You have to move your eyes,
of vision, without moving your focus. When actively search for important information. The
you ride through a curve on the road and your further ahead you work, the smaller the eye
focus is far ahead to where you are going, it is movement you need and you will not tire so
still possible to see the white borderline in the easily.
periphery of you sight. You can detect if you When you have identified the points or factors
are drifting towards that line or away from it relevant for you, you know their position,
without looking directly at it. and can survey them with your peripheral
The part of your field of vision where you see vision – without focusing them directly. These
sharply is called the focus area. The rest of the points are called reference points. It may be a
field of vision is a little blurred, but you can still child by the road, a car on a side road or exit
detect movement, colour and form. Your eyes – things you need to keep track of. A reference
are actually more sensitive to movement and point can also bee the steering point you have
light outside your focus area. This is called the chosen, the white border line, a patch of gravel
peripheral vision. on the blacktop. With wide attention, you can
keep track of them – keep them under control
When your peripheral vision detects a – without looking at them directly.
movement – it may be a car on a side road or You must practise to become skilful in visual
a moose at the edge of the forest – your focus search. Hunt actively for information, ahead,
 23

at your sides and behind. Well ahead in time

search and sort out the factors that are relevant The use of focus and attention in
to you. Foresee what is going to happen. curves on the road
Monitor them consciously with your attention. Many riders choose at steering point much too
Discover if something moves or changes. You Look where you
can practise this every time you are out riding:
work far ahead in time, consciously note want to go!
reference points, - and track them with your
attention while your focus stays ahead. Motorcycles
To let the wide attention, the peripheral vision,
work for you is much less exhausting than
are like other
focusing every element. This is one of the reason "weapons": You
novice drivers experience fatigue long before a
seasoned rider. usually hit what
Speed and attention you aim at
When you increase speed it becomes
increasingly demanding to maintain a complete
picture of the scene around you. All the factors
that you must take into consideration come
racing towards you. If you loose your grip on the
picture, the dangerous instincts sneak out: you
can become disoriented and react with target
fixation, tunnel vision or frantic search.

We take it for granted that you will choose a

speed that allows you to see all that you need
to see to maintain a complete picture of the
situation. The complexity of the scene, the
number of relevant factors that you must keep
track of decide how fast you can ride – and
stay in control. And of course you choose a
speed that enables you to avoid the dangerous
Visual focus in a turn:
elements you are tracking.
Look into the curve, in the direction you want to go
24

early in the curve and thus often cut the corner

or have to make corrections. Others give their
steering command at the proper spot, but their
steering command is not precise enough and
they feel the bike is going wide. Both situations
can trigger fear and faulty instinctive reactions.
Two important things you must be conscious
about by cornering: where you will start curving,
and, – not less important, – where you want to
steer. Choose your steering point early. When
you get close to it, move your focus into the
curve, to where you are going. Let the peripheral
vision keep track on the steering point. When
you give the steering command you have to
know where to point the bike. That is why it is
so essential to move your focus into the curve
before you reach your chosen steering point.
Your wide attention, through your peripheral
vision, knows when you reach your steering Head angle: Keep head horizontal, even when
point, even if your focus is far ahead into the leaning the bike in a curve.
curve. Rehearse this until it becomes a habit. horizontal to perceive your ambience correctly
and to keep the body balanced. When you brake
To let the bike go straight till it reaches the or accelerate, you know how essential this is. You
steering point can be difficult. Instinctively you have probably experienced how your head tends
will want to steer as soon as you move your to fall forward under hard braking and you stare
focus into the curve and steer too early. This at the ground right ahead of the bike. Then it is
is the instinctive “follow your eyes reaction”. difficult to keep perfect balance. Your body loses
Practising and conscious trust in the peripheral its reference points and becomes disoriented.
vision will help you resist this instinctive By cornering, head angle is extremely
tendency. important. When you lean the bike, you must
make sure that you keep your head horizontal in
Head angle order to perceive the situation correctly and to
Sight is essential for balance. Your body relates to be in control. Check with yourself that you really
the horizon and it needs to have your head near do this consciously when you ride.
26

Steering

”The ideal turn”

 27

You are approaching a curve on the road. At The preparative phase:

the steering point you give a precise steering 1. Assume the correct riding position
command, follow up with throttle control, keep 2. Adjust speed and chose a suitable gear
your weight on the outward footpeg, and then 3. Choose your steering point
relax again. The rest of the curve follows just 4. Consciously weight the outward peg
perfectly, as if by magic. The motorcycle runs 5. Immediately ahead of the steering
through the curve like on rails. Gorgeous, isn’t point, move your focus to where you are going
it? But how is it possible? 6. Softly release the brake
The answer is conscious cornering technique.
The technique, based on physics and the
motorcycle’s construction, and established as The steering phase
a natural working habit gives you precision, 7. Give a precise steering command at the
control, security, safety, joy of riding and the steering point
experience of mastering the bike.
In order to be able to master cornering, you Throttle control
must train, train and train. In cornering the 8. Roll on the throttle a bit to keep the revs
adrenaline may rush and the dangerous instincts constant
threaten to attack. Correct working habits are 9. Loose arms, keep weight on the outward
the main weapon to meet these attacks. footpeg
10. Roll the throttle on gradually and carefully
The ideal curve throughout the curve
Imagine yourself on your own motorcycle
approaching a curve on the road. This is how The exit phase
you prepare yourself and carry out the curve: 11. Keep your focus on where you are going
12. Straighten the bike by acceleration or by
pushing the outward handlebar end
28
”The steering circle”
5. Just before steeringpoint, 6. Softly release brakes
look where you
want to go

7. Steering command
at steering point

4. Put weight on outer footpeg

3. Choose your steering point
2. Adapt speed and choose correct gear
1. Correct riding position

12. Straighten the bike 8. Carefully open throttel

10. roll on throttle throughout 9. Loos arms,

the entire turn weight on
outer footpeg
11. Look where you want to go
 29

shifting down. Choose the gear that will give

The preparative phase you proper power through the curve. Softly
This phase is as important as the rest of the release the brake. A common error is to let go
curve. Assume the correct riding position well of the brake too quickly and thus upset the
ahead of the curve. Relaxed upper body, lower bike since it then raises suddenly on the front Listen carefully
arms close to horizontal, elbows loose. Many suspension.
riders move their buttocks a bit inward and Consider the curve, its radius and how much to the whispering
anchor the inside of their outward thigh firmly
towards the fuel tank. Place your toe balls on the
force you will need in the steering command.
A too early steering point results in cutting into
feedback from
footpeg. the curve so that you will have to correct mid- the bike during
On your way toward the curve, you choose corner. To find the correct steering point is a
your steering point, – the spot where you intend matter of conscious practising. normal riding
to give your steering command. Your speed Close to the steering point, you press down on
must be adjusted to the wanted cornering speed the outward footpeg. Crouch forward a little,
before you reach the steering point. Apply “into the bike”, let your upper body “collapse”
the front brake if necessary. Brake softly while so you can feel your arms relax and your lower
arms almost horizontal. Immediately ahead of
the steering point, when you know where it is
without looking directly at it, you move your
focus to where you are going, into the curve.

The steering phase

Reaching the steering point, you give the
steering command. You tension the muscles in
the leg anchored on the outward peg, tension
your abdominal muscles, and push on the
opposite handlebar end. The quickness of your
steering command decides how quickly you
change course. Normally you give a subtle push,
Forberedelsesfasen: almost a caress and keep the pressure till you
Rett før svingpunktet – når du vet hvor det befinner have achieved the wanted lean angle. On a wet
seg uten å se direkte på det – flytter du blikket dit road it is, of course, crucial with soft movements
du skal, inn i svingen. and a careful steering command.
30

engine braking.
If, however, you want to swerve in emergency, Then you roll on the throttle carefully
you must push quicker and harder. Then you are throughout the rest of the curve. This careful
completely dependent on conscious anchoring acceleration transfers weight to the rear
and anchored push to get the necessary force wheel so that you achieve an optimal weight
and precision in the steering command. That is distribution between front and rear. The goal
why it is imperative to practise anchored push is to have just a little more weight on the rear
in all corners, so you will have it established as a wheel than on the front. The bike the steers
reflex when you really need it. willingly, just as you want it to. You also get an
optimal road grip, because the bike rises on the
Throttle control front fork, to achieve more travel, right in its best
Immediately after the steering command, you working area – and thus swallows bumps more
roll on the throttle a bit. This small movement easily.
on the throttle grip is necessary to avoid the

Forbredelsesfasen Styrefasen
 31

The exit phase alarm clocks in your mind that can wake up
When you have achieved the right lean and the slumbering instincts! They are often ready
applied throttle control, the cornering is almost to take control of your mind and change the
finished. Let your eyes work far ahead. Start situation for the worse.
working with the stretch of road that follows That is when it is important to trust your bike Don't ride so
and the technique. Collapse your upper body,
the corner. You straighten the bike by increasing
throttle and/or pushing the outer handlebar to get your lower arms horizontal, anchor fast: You don't
away from you. your push and roll n the throttle a bit. With
knowledge and practising you can conquer the
learn anything
Corrections in the curve. instincts that tempt you to roll back the throttle, if you scare
Without precise working habits or because of straighten your body and clutch the handlebar
changes in the picture, you will not always be desperately. yourself all the
spot-on with your steering command. You will time
have to correct. That’s OK. But beware of the

Gasskontroll Utgangsfasen
32

Steering exercises command (anchored push).

on the road Exercise 2

Once again a familiar road, low speed. Practise
You can practise the precise riding techniques choosing the steering point consciously.
every time you are out riding. Practise on a Riding position and anchoring as in exercise
stretch of road that you are familiar with. Start 1. Immediately before reaching the steering
with a speed that makes you feel absolutely point, move your focus into the curve. Give your
comfortable in the curves. The exercises are steering command, correctly anchored on the
set in a systematic order for you to learn the outward footpeg, and also against the fuel tank.
single elements and combine them to a whole
that becomes a working habit and gives you
smoothness. The exercises are laid out in to
Exercise 3
Throttle control. Familiar road, low speed.
parts: The first five are cornering without
Riding position, steering point, anchoring on
braking before the curve. When you master
the outward peg and visual focus as above. First
these, you can start working on the sixth, which
you ride through the curves with the throttle
includes braking.
rolled back after your steering command. Notice
how the engine brakes slightly and your speed
Exercise 1 decreases. Feel how the bike is reluctant to steer
Choose a stretch of road that you know well. into the curve.
Choose a gear that gives you smooth power Now repeat, but this time you roll on the
through the curve. First focus your riding throttle slightly immediately after your steering
position. Make sure that your upper body command. Notice how the bike steers more
is relaxed and your grip on the handlebar willingly and is more harmonious. Practise this
loose. Your arms should bee relaxed, your until it has become a habit to roll on the throttle
elbows should be able to swing loosely. On a after your steering command.
motorcycle with a low handlebar, your arms Next you can try to roll on the throttle
must be near horizontal. As you approach the gradually throughout the curve. Remember to
curve, consciously weight the outward footpeg. choose a gear that gives you smooth power.
Be conscious that you steer by pushing on the Think back on the section about throttle control
inward handlebar end (countersteering). Make and how weight is transferred from front wheel
sure that you are properly anchored on the to rear wheel. Can you feel that the motorcycle
outward footpeg when you give your steering is in perfect harmony? Is it steering willingly?
 33

Practise this procedure until it has become situation, there is probably nothing wrong with
a habit. Now you can increase your speed the “banana-curves”, but it is in your interest
gradually, but still without braking before the to practise precise riding technique even when
curve. If you suddenly find yourself smiling, you changing lanes. Without conscious practising,
are doing it right. old habits are hard to change.

Exercise 4 Exercise 6
Moving your buttocks. In order to increase In this exercise you shall combine exercise 3
ground clearance through the curve, you can and eventually exercise 4 with braking. On your
move your buttocks slightly in the saddle way towards the curve you reduce your speed
– inward in the curve – so that your outward by applying the brake(s). Shortly before the
knee and thigh are firmly anchored against the steering point, you softly release the brakes. The
fuel tank. Perform this movement well ahead rest is like before.
of the curve. Then you will not upset the bike. Gradually increase your approach speed
Feel how well anchored you are when you have and brake harder. If you choose to move your
firm pressure on the outward peg and knee and buttock inward on the saddle, you should do
thigh against the tank. this before you brake, in order not to unsettle
Once through the curve, you move back to the the bike. Practise until you are comfortable with
centre of the saddle. You do this by gradually the complete steering technique as described
moving your weight from the outward to the above. The goal is to achieve controlled, fluid
inward peg and lifting your body a bit. Make movements through the whole procedure.
sure you do not pull at the handlebar. You will find more exercises in chapter 8
“Exercises in secluded area”.
Exercise 5
Lane changes on multi lane roads. Next time
you ride on a multi lane highway, you can
practise steering technique while changing
lanes. The precise steering technique gives you
a precise change of direction. The goal is to
achieve “straight lines” between the steering
commands. This is very different from the
sloppy “banana-curves” so often seen. In this
34

Braking
of them come with a front brake powerful
enough to do all the braking alone. On most
motorcycles, the front brake is the main brake.
Motorcycles are different, however. A custom
motorcycle or a touring bike has more weight
on the rear wheel. Passenger and luggage also
lead to more weight at the rear. It may therefore
be necessary to learn and master the use of
both brakes at the same time. You have to learn
to brake your own bike – in all situations with
and without passenger and luggage. In the
real world it is more demanding to control two
brakes than one.
The front brake is the main brake. But, the fear
Braking:
To brake effectively you must pratice
of locking the front wheel scares a lot of riders
good working habits from learning to use it properly. That is why you
have to learn to trust the front brake and apply
After all it is not difficult to brake, brake hard. pressure correctly. If the front wheel locks, all
But serious braking can release an avalanche you have to do is let up the pressure a trifle, so
of faulty reactions in a motorcyclist. In order to that the wheel turns anew, and then the bike
be in control, you need to have practised good stabilizes itself. It is no worse than that.
working habits. A correct braking technique Rear wheel locking can lead to serious
stops the motorcycle effectively, stably and consequences, if you are not quick to release the
reliably. pedal pressure. On most bikes it is absolutely
preferable to use only the front brake, and let
Front brake or rear brake? the rear wheel rotate, to avoid a rear slide.
Modern motorcycles have good brakes. Most Remember that if you drive a car more than
 35

you ride a bike, it’s a danger that you bring your the last phase. Take care to keep your eyes level
braking reflex to the bike….that heavy foot. If and look far ahead.
you are not consciously aware of this danger, If you do it right, you will be able to sit on the
you may find yourself stomping the pedal bike, in complete balance, after it has stopped,
instinctively when panic hits. This will more while it rises on the front forks. Only then
often than not lead to a locked rear wheel and a should you put your feet on the ground. If you
subsequent slide. catch yourself red-handed setting down your
The conclusion is: if you ride a bike where feet before the bike has stopped completely, you
the front brake alone can handle the braking are out of balance and have not done it right.
task, concentrate on mastering the front. If, on
the other hand, you ride a bike with mediocre Regulating the brake pressure
brakes or much weight on the rear wheel, Let us focus on the front brake first. Effective
(long customs and touring with passenger and braking results from reaching full brake pressure
luggage), you must learn to use both brakes and quickly and smoothly. Too many riders brake too
combine them effectively. meekly initially and have to squeeze increasingly
harder as they approach the hazard. The braking
Riding position distance becomes longer than necessary.
Your riding position is of great importance when Thus you must practise to apply the brakes
you brake. A common error is to straighten effectively once you realize you have to brake.
your back and cling to the handlebar with To do this, you must apply the brake smoothly
stiff arms. This destabilizes the bike, transfers and determinedly. Smoothly to let the front
much of the weight to the front wheel, high up, suspension compress in a controlled way.
and invites rear wheel lift. When you anchor Determinedly to achieve effective braking as
yourself properly in fuel tank and pegs, with soon as possible. Just remember that the bike
relaxed arms, you feed the inertia into the fuel moves 22 metres per second at 80 km/h. There is
tank and saddle, 60-80 centimetres further back no time to waste!
and lower down. The result is that you keep A common error is to grab the brakes
your rear wheel down much longer and avoid desperately and powerfully at once. This makes
overstraining the suspension up front. Hug the the front suspension “bottom” and the front
fuel tank firmly with your knees, let the muscles wheel skid and stomp. Therefore: smoothly
in your legs, abdomen and lower back hold your and determinedly. How smoothly and how
body back and relieve your arms. determined? Sorry, but only practice on your
Even your eyes influence braking, especially in own bike can give you the answer.
36

The rear brake is more difficult to modulate to transfer the weight of the two of you to the
effectively. When the rear brake locks up handlebar and to keep your eyes level!
depends on how hard you brake with the front The passenger must transfer as much of his
brake and how much weight is thus transferred weight as possible low down on the bike. He
to the front wheel. If your front brake is really (or she) must anchor himself by hugging your
effective, it may be better to leave the rear hips with his knees. It is also important that he
alone, because the rotating rear wheel actually tensions his abdomen, back and neck muscles
stabilizes the bike. BUT: when you load up the to hold his upper torso back. This way he will
bike with passenger and luggage, the effect of not crash into your upper back, which inevitably
the rear brake may be considerable. You just would force you to stiffen your arms. And your
have to practise braking with luggage and passenger will not force your head forward and
passenger as well as solo. down. Done right, you will be able to keep your
head level and look far ahead.
The passenger’s riding position under
braking. Braking in a curve
When you brake hard, your passenger may be It is not advisable to use the rear brake in a
thrown forward and hit you hard in you back. curve, because the risk of a slide is considerable.
If you have not taken the time to instruct your When you use the front brake in a curve, the
passenger how to react under braking, you two-wheeler tends to straighten up; it steers
risk that he hits you in the back like a freight heavily and feels like it wants to go straight
train. Then you will have a real challenge not ahead, towards the ditch. To keep the bike
on the right course you must countersteer
simultaneously. This is the most efficient way of
braking in a curve. It is worth mentioning that
you must relieve the pressure on the handlebar
when you reach low speed. If you do not you
may risk that the bike falls.
The fact that the bike straightens when you
apply the front brake in a curve, can be exploited
in different, more demanding braking technique:
You brake, the bike straightens itself, you can
brake hard for a short distance, then release the
brake and steer into the curve again.
 37

Riding position during hard braking

Let muschles in stomach and

back take up the forces
Look up and forward

Loose arms

Front fork
is compressed

Little load Press knees Great load

on rear tyre against petroltank on front tyre
38

If it is not, you will have to adjust riding position

Braking exercises on and the way you use your eyes.

the road Exercise 2

Think about this: Under normal riding, you can Get familiar with the rear brake. If you have a
travel hundredscore kilometres without even bike that does not stop effectively with front
touching your brakes. This can make you ”rusty” brake only or a motorcycle with much of the
and unprepared. Therefore you will profit from weight on the rear wheel, you must practise rear
brake practising every time you are out riding. brake use. It is absolutely necessary, for instance
Practising gives you good working habits. To when you ride with passenger and/or luggage.
practise safely on the road you must make sure Learn how much pressure you must apply to
you do not disturb other traffic. If you want to the pedal in different situations to make the
practise real emergency braking, find an area rear wheel lock. Lock the rear wheel for a short
devoid of all traffic – a restricted area with lots moment, then let up. Practise until you feel
of space, allowing you to err without unwanted confident about brake pressure. Learn to identify
consequences. locking both on dry and wet surfaces, blacktop
and gravel. Practising with the rear brake should
Exercise 1 be done very carefully.
Conscious practising with front brake only. Brake
preparedness means to move your fingers to the Exercise 3
brake handle and carefully take up the play in the Combined use of front and rear brakes. Notice
handle. Practise brake preparedness consciously that the rear locks earlier when you apply front
every time you approach a situation where brake as well, because you transfer much load to
danger can be expected. The goal is that you the front tyre. Have your focus first and foremost
always apply the front brake first and have the on the front brake. See if you are able to apply the
shortest possible response time. Practise using proper pressure on the rear at the same time.
the front brake in all speed reductions when you To make do with the front brake alone is the
are riding. best. That gives you only one brake to focus your
Gradually increase brake pressure, for example attention on, when you’re in trouble. Anyway, the
by braking a little later when approaching a front brake is absolutely the most important one
familiar curve on the road. Do it gradually. Make and must be given priority. But if your motorcycle
sure you are always comfortable and in control. has a considerable part of its braking effect at the
Watch your riding position and your eyes. rear wheel, you must practise to use it effectively.
Consciously assume braking preparedness every
time you approach a road crossing where you Exercise 4
expect to have to stop completely. Be alert and Braking in a curve. Choose a familiar curve on
always make sure the bike is in complete balance. the road on a day with dry surface. Choose a
 39

speed that makes you feel comfortable, so that

you have ample road grip and wide margins.
Brake carefully with the front brake. Notice how curve again. Be sure your riding position is
the bike wants to stand up when you brake correct.
and steer straight ahead. The steering becomes Gradually increase speed and brake pressure
heavy, that is, it feels reluctant to steer. When until you feel comfortable with this technique. If
you become familiar with this reaction, try to you feel most comfortable in right-handers, start
oppose this stand-up tendency by simultaneously there. When you master them, start practising in
countersteering to make the bike follow your left-handers. Remember that the goal is effective
intended course through the curve. Practise until speed reduction, not necessarily braking to full
you are comfortable balancing the stand-up stop.
tendency with pressure on the handlebar.
You have complete control under braking in Exercise 6
a curve when you are able to find the right Braking and swerving is best practised in an area
balance between braking pressure and steering free of traffic. You can still practise the technique
command, so that the bike both brakes and steers and establish the working habit when you are out
and is in complete balance at the same time. This riding on the road. Make sure you are alone on
is the best way to perform a controlled braking in the road. Choose a point on the blacktop ahead
a curve. of you, for example a repair patch. Brake carefully
on your way towards the chosen point. When
Exercise 5 you get closer, release the brake softly. Swerve
Braking in a curve. Imagine that you suddenly by applying a light anchored push (steering
see an obstacle in the curve in front of and you command) and throttle control. Immediately
have to brake hard. You have become familiar straighten the bike with a new steering command
with the motorcycle’s tendency to stand up when the opposite way, follow up with a new steering
you brake while the bike is leaned over. When command/throttle control and steer the bike
you have to brake hard, you can consciously use back to your original course. Be conscious that
this stand-up tendency. Remember that in order you anchor yourself on the outward footpeg, give
to use your entire grip to brake, the bike must go a precise steering command and immediately
straight ahead. follow up with throttle control. Gradually
Start at moderate speeds and moderate braking. increase the force with which you swerve and the
Brake carefully with the front brake, the bike quickness in the manoeuvre.
stands up, brake hard until you have reduced the You also must practise real emergency braking
speed as much as you want, release the brake combined with swerving. But then you need
softly and steer into the curve again. Notice that an area with lots of space and no traffic. In the
when you have reduced your speed and release chapter “Exercises in a secluded area” you will
the brake, the bike steers effortlessly into the find a description of two good exercises.
40

Acceleration
Complete control under acceleration also
demands knowledge and practising. Some
times, too weak acceleration can be as bad as
too hard acceleration.
Under acceleration much load is transferred to
the rear wheel. This gives you a good road grip
for speed increase. At the same time, the front
wheel is unloaded. This can lead to steering
problems and front wheel lift. The engine power
is transferred to the ground through the contact
patch between rear tyre and the road surface.
This power propels the motorcycle forward.
The rear tyre is literally trying to “pass” the rest
of the bike – under it. The motorcycle’s mass is
Acceleration:
“holding back” higher up, in such a way that Full control during hard acceleration demands correct
the bike tends to lift its front wheel. By extreme riding position.
acceleration the bike may lift its front wheel
high in the air, even somersault. With passenger handlebar under acceleration the bike wheelies
and luggage its tendency to “wheelie” increases. more easily.
To have complete control under acceleration,
Riding position your riding position must be right. Lean your
The tendency to wheelie under acceleration is body forwards and anchor yourself on the
related to the bikes centre of gravity, its actual footpegs. This moves some of your body mass
mass centre. If you ride upright, high in the forward and downward and you feed much
saddle, the mass centre will be high up. Under of your weight into the footpegs, low down,
acceleration the body’s mass (inertia) will hold disinviting wheelies. Your arms shall be relaxed,
it back. If you sit upright and hang on to the your grip loose on the handlebars and your eyes
 41

far ahead. car ahead, and starts as early as possible when

the chance occurs.
Choose the right gear
As you know, the motorcycle’s power Accelerating onto the motorway
depends on engine speed and gear. Almost all Whether you are entering a motorway from the
motorcycles increase their power with increased ramp or entering another high-speed road, you
engine speed all the way to redline. A high gear have to choose an appropriate gap in the row
and low revs gives the bike weak acceleration. of vehicles and quickly accelerate to the needed
A low gear and high revs gives the bike strong speed to enter it safely. If you accelerate hard on
acceleration. entering, the bike tends to go wider than you
want it to. You must correct for this tendency by
Acceleration by passing anchored push, more steering.
Proper acceleration is crucial for safe passing. When accelerating onto a road with much
Too weak acceleration can be as dangerous as traffic from a standstill, you also need to master
too hard acceleration. You want to pass quickly both clutch engagement and throttle control,
and safely in complete control. in order to get the needed acceleration and not
To plan ahead, see the possibility for passing stop the engine in a critical moment. In order
early and then use the free stretch of road to fully exploit the “anchored push” in such a
effectively. This is the key. A common error is curve from a standstill both your feet must come
to start the passing manoeuvre too late. That quickly onto the pegs, as soon as the bike moves
puts you in a hurry in the end phase. Another forward. In the chapter “Exercises in a secluded
error is to start out in too high a gear and not area” you will find an exercise to practise for this
get sufficient acceleration. That too hazards the type of situation.
end phase of the passing. Starting out in too
high gear often leads to hectic downshifting
midway. Then you lose time and speed and
distance covered. A fourth problem is too hard
acceleration in the initial phase. You can easily
loose control because the front wheel hardly
touches the ground and you cannot steer. A
successful passing is planned ahead in time, well
prepared with correct gear and distance to the
42

Acceleration exercises Exercise 2

Entering motorway or two-lane highway.
on the road Choose gear consciously. Keep an eye on the
speed of the traffic on the road. Accelerate
quickly, get into the gap and adjust your speed
Exercise 1 to the other traffic. Focus on riding position and
Acceleration on a straight road. When you travel gear. To get into the gap in the traffic should be
straight stretches of road with no traffic, you can totally relaxed and undramatic. Use of your eyes,
practise acceleration and riding position. Choose riding position and right gear are the keys.
different gears and make yourself familiar with
the bike’s power in different gears and speeds. Exercise 3
Be conscious of your riding position. When you Riding with passenger and luggage. Instruct
give throttle, lean your upper body forwards so the passenger about how to act when you
as not to “hang from the handlebar”. Tension accelerate. Your passenger may disturb the
the muscles in your abdomen and lower back to bike as much as the driver. Remember that
counter the “pull backwards”. Transfer some of also the passenger’s body feels like it is pulled
your weight to the footpegs. Anchor yourself by backwards under acceleration. The passenger
hugging your knees around the fuel tank. Make must also anchor himself on the footpegs and
sure that your elbows are loose and that your lean forwards during acceleration. Calmness,
grip on the handlebar is relaxed. predictability and smoothness create balance
When there is no other traffic on the road, and safety.
When the motorcycle is loaded with passenger
you can simulate a passing. Choose a point
and luggage it behaves differently from when
where you want to start the passing manoeuvre. you ride solo. It is heavier, accelerates slower,
Choose a gear that gives you smooth power. Do has a higher centre of gravity, increases tendency
the proper visual search and use your indicator to wheelie and steers slower. Listen closely to
as if it were a real passing. Carry through with what the motorcycle tries to tell you. In the
the passing manoeuvre and return to your lane. chapter “Exercises in a secluded area” you will
Do not forget to use your mirrors and check the find a very useful acceleration exercise.
“blind zone”.
44

Other aspects of riding technique

To ride a motorcycle is a demanding sport. Good instincts.
machine control is necessary to become a skilled
and safe rider. But, rider competence is much Lane position and choice of line
more than riding technique. Below you will through a curve
find some short reminders of other aspects of You have the right to choose your position
riding proficiency. More on this type of subjects within the lane. The situation determines which
is found in the textbooks used in the rider position is most suitable at the moment. There
education. is no standard solution. You must continuously
analyse the situation and choose the position to
Road grip your advantage. Do you wish to see better? To
The contact patches between tyre and road be seen? Are you waiting to pass? Do you want
surface are approximately the size of the palms to avoid obstacles in the road? You need to ask
of your hands. The friction in these patches are these questions to yourself in order to find the
called road grip. Dry road surface gives you good most suitable position at the moment.
grip, wet surface offers less grip.
Correct riding technique is crucial whatever Line choice in curves is often debated. Even
the road condition and even more important on here no solution is permanent. Position on the
wet road than dry. Conscious throttle control in approach depends on the circumstances and
a curve assures maximal road grip and helps you your needs. The traffic rules opens for using the
conquer the inclination to roll back the throttle whole lane width. You must create your own
when you get scared. Anchoring on the footpegs advantages and safety by strategic lane position
gives stability and balance. and line choice.
Simplified, you have to learn to “trust your road To think strategically can for example be to ask
grip”. If you do not, your steering commands yourself the following questions:
will be irresolute. Speed adaptation is the key • Which line will be best in order to use
word. With the right speed it is much easier to minimum road grip for turning (wet
trust your road grip and fend off the dangerous road)?
 45

• How do I position myself to achieve a • Do you give him a chance to assess the
complete picture of the situation? gap correctly?
• Is it possible that an oncoming car may • Remember that you look small and
cut the corner? farther off than you really are.
• Can I expect obstacles around the • How do you think the car driver will
curve? react if you have a speed far over the
• What lane position do I want to have if normal speed in the situation?
I must brake?
Speed choice
You must be able to detect, react to and act on
One thing is for sure: If you master the precise what you meet on the road. Your ability to do
steering technique, a “wrong” line through the so depends on your speed. Speed adaptation is
curve is not that dramatic. If you are skilled at about choosing a speed that:
precise steering technique you’ll be able to make • Enables you to maintain a complete
line changes quickly and precisely. picture of the situation
• Enables you to detect hazards in time
Traffic rules • Enables you to stop when a danger
The traffic rules make it possible for you to shows up
predict what another road user will do. Think • Gives you confidence to trust the road
about it! The traffic rules are thus not an grip
instrument for the Authorities to control your • Makes you confident enough to
behaviour. They are created in order to facilitate practice throttle control in every curve
predictability and cooperation. Predictability • Enables other road users to judge
greatly reduces the chance of misunderstanding correctly how far off you are (distance)
intentions, surprises and accidents. Just think • Takes into account the well being of
about how furious you become when someone people who live along the road
else fails to yield. In other words: does not
behave predictably. Technical control of the motorcycle
• Are you predictable to other road Your motorcycle is an extremely able partner – if
users? it is in technically good shape. It does not matter
• Do you actually have the speed that how good you are if the bike is not technically
the car driver on the side road expects able to do its part of the job. Make technical
when he is entering your road? control a daily drill. Learn to interpret the bike’s
46

language. The feedback it gives you. It tells you both bungees and straps with solid buckles.
all the time how it is. Motorcycle magazines Check your luggage often.
and textbooks tell you a lot about technical
check routines. Read it and practice. Here are six Out of hibernation
simple, but important points: No matter how seasoned a rider you are, you
• Do all lights, signal lights and warning must re-practise skill and smoothness after the
lamps work? winter break. Your body forgets a lot during
• Is air pressure in the tyres correct and winter. Your head too. Give yourself plenty of
thread sufficient? time to wake up dormant knowledge and skill
• Do the brakes “feel” normal? after hibernation. Practise braking – watch out
• Is the drive chain oiled and have for the “heavy right” (the car-foot). Find the right
correct play? riding position. Be especially conscious about
• Any leaks from brake system, each of the elements of riding technique. Repeat
suspension or engine? risk factors, for example that many car drivers
• Any odd sounds from the bike? fail to yield to motorcycles – especially in spring.

Riding with luggage Force yourself to ride the first 500 kilometres
The properties of the motorcycle are influenced slower and more consciously than you used to
by mounted equipment and luggage. With at the end of last season. Rebuild knowledge
luggage, the mass centre becomes higher. The and skill systematically. The faulty instincts are
danger of front wheel lift increases. Heavy especially active in spring!
luggage should be placed in the tank bag or low
in the saddlebags. Only light items in the top Borrowed or rented bike
box. Acquaint yourself with the motorcycle’s Not two motorcycles are alike. You must get
properties when loaded: how it steers, mass acquainted with each one. Be humble and take
centre, braking behaviour and stability. Consider time to learn the properties and language of
this when riding. the unfamiliar bike. Many accidents happen on
Luggage can be dangerous when not properly borrowed or rented bikes. Be restrictive about
secured. Many riders bungee their sleeping lending out your own motorcycle. Restrict
bags on top of the saddlebags. This is not good yourself and learn the new bike if you yourself
enough. Some times sleeping bags have moved, borrow or rent a bike.
come in contact with the sticky rear tyre and
been “sucked” in to block the rear wheel! Use
 47

Riding in the rain

Rain reduces sight and road grip. If you
are worried about road grip, watch out for
the dangerous instincts: the urge to roll off
the throttle, the temptation to sit straight
up and cling wide-eyed to the handlebar
and the fear to give steering command. All
of these instinctive actions only make the
situation worse. Throttle control rules, also
when the road is slippery, but you have to
be very smooth and soft with throttle.

If sight is reduced, you must reduce your

speed. A foggy visor makes it even more
difficult. Anti-fog inner visors that you stick
to the inside of your helmets visor are good
help. They work like insulated windows and
greatly reduce fogging. They are good value
for the money.

Dress properly to keep you snug and dry.

Wet and cold you will be stiff and unable to
maintain a smooth riding technique. If you
are freezing, concentration and attention
will also be adversely affected.

Riding in rain:
Throttle control is important,
even in the wet
48

EXERCISES ON A SECLUDED
AREA
When you practise riding technique on the motorcyclists ample margins on dry surface.
road, you have to consider other traffic and Before you start, we recommend you to repeat
practise carefully. A secluded area offers you the ”The basics of a precise Riding Technique” in the
possibility to focus on the exercises and practise chapter ”A precise riding technique”. Essential
effectively. You will want an area with a dry terms that you must be familiar with are:
surface, hardtop and free from gravel. As you counter steering, steering command, anchored
get familiar with the exercises and feel that you push, throttle control and anchoring points.
master them, you can also perform them on a Repeat also the section on riding position and
wet surface. visual focus.
Below we have described four exercises that
you should practise carefully, with lots of space Important:
around you, such as an empty parking lot. You Do you find it embarrassing to be seen
can set up the exercises with cones or plastic practicing like this alone in a parking lot?
bottles. In our descriptions we will use the term Worried other riders may giggle and ridicule
”cones”. you? Well, rise above it – your goal is to become
Even here it is important to start carefully and a good rider, isn’t it? Well, then you have to
gradually build up confidence and mastery. exercise.
The goal is to hone your skills at precise riding
techniques in order to master difficult situations
at realistic speeds. That implies wet surface
practising is important. The speed and the
braking distances we refer to, will give most
 49

The practising ground

A suitable area may be a large asphalt paved
parking lot or the like, big enough to set up a
marked area 110 x 50 m. The exercises are set up
with chalk, cones, coke bottles of something of the
sort.

It is important to have enough space lengthwise to

stop safely after each manoeuvre.

Swerving:
Length: about 100 m
Width: 6 m

Braking to full stop, straight:

Length: about 70 m
Width: 3 m

Braking in a curve:
Length: about 90 m (incl. 40 m curve)
Width: 3 m
Radius of curve: 25 m

Acceleration:
Length: 30 m
Width: 3 m
50

EXERCISE 1:
SWERVING FOR A CAR THAT FAILS TO YIELD

The exercise gives you the possibility to master The exercise is correctly performed when the
a quick change of direction by anchored push, motorcycle changes direction midway between
throttle control, anchoring points and correct the cones and follows a straight line from gate
use of your eyes. to gate. It is not properly performed if your line
The 30-m long area simulates a 6-m wide road looks like a banana, that is slow, wide curves;
with mid line and border line. At the starting which is what you get if you do not actively use
point two cones are placed 3m apart, on both anchored push to make the bike turn. Neither
sides of the 3m wide right lane so as to form is it correctly performed if you do not hit the
a gate. About 15 m further down you create a middle of the gates or your speed drops to less
similar “gate” that spans the left lane. Another than 30 km/h.
15 m further you make a third “gate” in the right The goal is that you realize how efficient the
lane (see illustration). You need about 50 m room anchored push technique really is and to master
for acceleration. the technique to achieve effective avoidance
You accelerate to about 40 km/h (2nd gear?). of a hazard. The effectiveness of your steering
Exactly in the middle of the first gate you shall command depends on your anchoring on the
perform a quick and precise change of direction outward footpeg. Throttle control makes the
towards left, by an anchored push. Using throttle bike steer willingly, which is essential for quick
control, anchor points and your eyes to where change of direction.
you are going, you ride a straight line to a point
midway between the next two cones.
Exactly when you are in the middle of gate
two, you make a quick and precise change of
direction towards the right, and ride a straight
line to the midpoint of gate three. At that point,
you change direction again, quick and precise, to
ride a straight line, exactly in the middle of the
right lane.
 51

Swerving: Between the second cones you should

steer firmly to the right

Swerving:

Length: 30m +
Width: 2 x 3m
In-run: 50m
Distance between cones: 15m

Cone:
Steering point:
Correct line:
52

EXERCISE 2:
OPTIMAL STRAIGHT LINE BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP
Even in this manoeuvre, cones are a great help. able to keep the bike absolutely straight, along a
The exercise will train you, by correct application straight line, by correct riding position, correctly
and modulation of brake pressure, correct riding feeding your weight into the fuel tank, loose
position and correct use of your eyes, to perform arms and eyes level. Your feet shall stay on the
an optimal emergency braking to a complete footpegs at all times. A short, controlled locking
stop. of a wheel is OK as long as you quickly reduce
You can use the same area as in exercise 1. brake pressure to make it roll anew.
Gate 1 marks where you start braking. Gate 2 The exercise is not correct if the whole braking
is moved in line with gate one and the distance is done with locked wheel(s), if the handlebar
between them is 12 m. flips to one side, if the bike does not follow a
You accelerate to 50 km/h. When your front straight line or if you have to set your feet down
wheel is between the cones in gate 1, you before the bike has come to a complete stop.
activate the brakes. Whether you use only front To master optimal braking at 50 km/h is an
brakes or a combination of front and rear brakes, absolute minimum! It would be wise to practise
depends on your bike. If you ride a modern maximal braking at highway speeds 90 km/h).
sport bike, for example a Honda CBR 600, it is
quite natural to use only the front brake.
If you ride a Harley-Davidson Soft-Tail, you
will have to apply both front and rear for
optimal retardation. Whichever bike you ride,
you must learn to brake in a straight line and
to a complete stop in the shortest possible
distance. At 50 km/h you must be able to stop
within 12 metres.
The exercise is correctly performed when you
brake optimally by correct brake pressure and
without locking either wheel. You must also be
 53

You just increase the distance between gate 1

and 2 according to speed. You also need some
more room for acceleration. Increase gradually
so that you are in complete control at all times.
Ask yourself this question: if you are not
comfortable with hard braking at 50, how do
you dare the high speeds on the highways?

• From 50 km/h you must be able to stop

within 12 metres
• From 60 km/h you must be able to stop
within 18 metres
• From 70 km/h you must be able to stop
within 24 metres
• From 80 km/h you must be able to stop
within 32 metres
• From 90 km/h you must be able to stop
within 40 metres

These stopping distances pertain to dry asphalt

surface and should give you ample margins.

Hard braking:

Length: 12m +
Width: 3m
In-run: 50m
Distance between cones: 12m

Cone:
Correct line:
54

EXERCISE 3:
BRAKING TO WALKING PACE IN A CURVE
This exercise teaches you, by use of anchored braking point), when you brake in complete
push, anchoring and correct use of your eyes, to control down to walking pace and the bike
compensate for the outward drifting that arises follows the exact middle of the lane. When
when you have to brake in a curve. passing gate 3 the bike should point directly at
Set up the exercise with a 3-m wide ”lane” the last cone.
with border lines. Use chalk, cones or plastic The exercise is not correctly performed when
bottles. Room for acceleration and starting the speed reduction after the braking point
point as in exercise 1. After the starting point is not considerable or when the bike at the
the ”lane” goes into a curve with a radius of approach to gate 3 is drifting out of the lane
25 m. (Measure it out with a 25-m length of towards left or right. The exercise is a complete
string). The two cones at the starting point failure if the motorcycle at any point crosses the
represent the steering point. 10 m further down border line. You can also “turn” the exercise and
you place a gate to mark the braking point. Still practise braking in a left-hand curve.
15m further you place a gate to mark where you
stop braking. And finally, 10m after that the end
point is marked with a single cone in the middle
of the ”lane” (see illustration).
Accelerate to 40/50 km/h. Between the cones in
gate 1 you start the curve by the anchored push
technique. In gate 2, you start braking down
to walking pace by applying the front brake.
You should not stop the bike completely, as this
easily leads to a fall and unnecessary damage
to the bike. When you pass gate three, the bike
shall point to the last cone in the middle of the
lane.
The exercise is correctly performed when the
speed is maintained until you enter gate 2 (the
 55

Stop

End braking

Start braking

Radius
Steering point
ca. 25m

Braking in a curve:

Length: 35m +
Width: 3m
Radius: 25m
In-run: 50m
Between cones: 10+15+10m

Cone:
Correct line:
56

EXERCISE 4:
TURNING RIGHT AND LEFT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STANDSTILL
The exercise enables you to master entering a The exercise is not correct if your feet drag
highway with speed limit 80 km/h and dense or “paddle” or if the bike does not accelerate
traffic, from a side road, from standstill, by sufficiently. It is also failed if the motorcycle
correct use of anchored push technique, throttle ends up outside the lane to the left or right.
control, anchoring points and correct use of your
eyes.
The track is 3m wide, does not demand room
for acceleration and can be set up as in the
illustration. You shall make a quick start and
immediately place your feet on the footpegs.
The starting phase is controlled by clutch and
throttle. The bike is to be steered to the right
(and left) by use of anchored push while at the
same time increasing throttle opening. Your sight
should be far ahead and point to where you
want to go, namely to a place in the middle of
the right lane on the road you enter.
The exercise should be practised both right and
left, that is a right turn with acceleration from
standstill and a left turn with acceleration from
standstill.
The manoeuvre is correctly performed when
you immediately put your feet on the footpegs,
accelerate considerably and follow an imaginary
line exactly in the middle of the 3-m wide lane.
Accelerating and turning from standstill:
Put feet on pegs immediately after start
 57

That was
the chords:
Now you can
start composing
your song

Acceleration and turning from standstill:

Length: ca. 30m +

Width: 3m
In-run: 0

Correct line:
58

The traffic game

T here are those that equate never experien-

cing dangerous situations in traffic to being a
good road user. At the same time there are mot-
well-worn cliché to say “to ride a motorcycle is to
think motorcycle”. If you don’t use your head in
traffic, chances are that you won’t bring it home
orcyclists who only narrowly escape being killed safely.
every day, without even knowing that they were Riding a motorcycle is in the highest degree
involved in a dangerous situation. It is not only a to actively participate in your own transport. You

Interaction: Traffic is complex interaction demanding

”players” to learn the rules of the game - and comply
with these rules.
 59

should ride with a high degree of self-awareness indicators to give a signal to other road users that
and demand your own space on the road and in you are planning to turn right or left.
traffic. Since we ride the smallest vehicles, our
self-awareness must be higher.
B ut whether you use the indicator switch or
not you send signals to other road users. For
example by the speed you chose. It is fair enough
A dialogue without words that you find the speed limits too low and that
Actually, one can compare a using a vehicle in you feel that they delay your journey. But you
traffic with a game. Let’s call it the Traffic Game. can’t suspend them and create your own rules
It’s an unusually nice game for those who know that other road users do not understand.
the rules and like to play. But, like any other In order to be an active participant in the traf-
game, you should know the rules to appreciate fic game, it is important to “speak” a language
the game. In the traffic game, they consist of a that everyone understands. If you fail to perceive
mixture of formal traffic rules and the road users’ and understand the signals given, it is easy to
own unwritten rules. become an outsider. Then you have to add a lot
of concentration on something other than riding

T he first category is easy to understand, but

they are nevertheless enshrined in every nati-
onal traffic regulation and will, so it is thought,
the motorcycle.

act as a common tool in the traffic. The traffic

rules have been designed to create predictabi-
lity. They give you the opportunity to predict the
actions of other road users.
The traffic rules create predictability and an
opportunity for interaction. Predictability reduces
the risk of misunderstandings, surprises and acci-
dents. Imagine how pissed off you are as a mot-
orcyclist when a car driver does not respect your
right of way - in other words, does not behave
predictably. You don’t use, for example, indicators Wordless: One has to learn how to communicate
just because it is written in a paragraph. You use with other roadusers without using words.
60

A good example of such exclusion, in what we

might call an “advanced traffic game”, is the air
traffic controllers at Charles de Gaulle airport in
Paris. They consistently talk French to the French
It is not wise pilots, although the official language in the air is
English. This means that all other pilots who do
using your mot- not understand French are excluded from large
orcycle to edu- parts of the “advanced traffic game” that takes
place in the skies over the French capital.
cate taxidrivers Basically it’s all about teamwork. If you under-
and older men stand the game, you can save both your own skin
and the skin of the other players. Indeed, the
wearing hats. actions you perform in traffic also affect the other
You are smaller players’ actions. Therefore it is wise to give clear
signals and actively invite to the dialogue wit-
and have more hout words. And with a dialogue without words Teamwork: Being vulnerable road users, riders
are dependent of teaming up with motorists.
to gain by being we don’t mean to be rude and give the finger to
cocky taxi drivers.
friendly. On the German autobahn you soon disco-
ver the extreme version of the traffic game. You example of being seen and understood is when
do not suddenly change lane if you see a bright approaching a zebra crossing where someone
red Ferrari doing 250 km/h in the other lane in obviously has planned to cross. Then it is wise
your mirror. It is not necessarily only the other to slow down, gradually, well before the zebra
road user’s responsibility to take you into account crossing. Then you signal with all possible clarity
– it is also your responsibility to look after them. for the pedestrians that you have understood the
Remember that you, as unprotected motorcyclist, situation and that you intend to let them pass.
are the one who has most to gain from a more There are motorcyclists who ride with a philo-
forgiving traffic environment. sophy that “if the others do not notice that I exist,
I’m pretty happy - and if I am to be noticed it

T o see and be seen are basically the same as

to understand and be understood. A good
shall it be in a positive way”. It’s basically a noble
thought, but if it is going to work in practice it is
 61

necessary to know both the written and unwrit- example be that when you perceive something
ten rules. Besides, one must always be careful to dangerous, you automatically move two fingers
invite the other road users to the dialogue wit- to the hand brake lever - without releasing the
hout words. But you should still never take for throttle. In reality, you have not really done anyt-
granted that it will work every time. hing at all, but you have nonetheless effectively
put yourself in a state of readiness.

I n short, it’s not smart to force other road users

to undertake unexpected actions because you
didn’t give them clear information about what
Preparedness is also to create the safety zone
you need as a motorcyclist to correct your own or
other road users’ mistakes. Without preparedness,
you were supposed to do. you will not have enough time for action. Experi-
Although it initially may seem as if you have a enced motorcycle riders instinctively know what
clear path - where you, for example, have placed to do in most situations and are always attentive
yourself in order to overtake a long truck, it can to having enough space and time to perform the
nevertheless happen that a car suddenly appears necessary actions. Remember that something as
in the oncoming lane. Then you are at the mercy basic as emergency braking is as much in the head
of the truck driver, who if he is aware of the situa- as in the two to three fingers you have placed on
tion, can slow down and let you sneak in front of the brake lever. Readiness to brake gives you a
his grill. time advantage, and time means space.
But the opposite can also happen. Many mot- In order to create room for manoeuvres you
orcyclists have experienced aggressive car drivers must be able to control the bike and to get it
who instead of showing helpfulness, step on the where you want it to be. In other words: The
throttle and refuse to let you pass. worse your riding technique is, the less space you
will be able to give yourself.
We have already concluded that time allows
Right place at right time space and even though you may not have expe-

O ne of the main tasks as a motorcyclist is to rienced that a truck suddenly appears on your
understand and perceive the risks. From ini- left, most riders instinctively know that to be in
tial rider training you might perhaps remember a the right place at the right time is essential for a
term like “the riding process”. It is about seeing, motorcyclist. It is all about not being in the same
perceiving, deciding and acting. To be able to act place, at the same time as another road user.
you must be prepared. Preparedness could, for Therefore, you should always ensure that you
62

Emergency preparedness : You interpret a situation as potentionally dangerous and automatically move to
fingers to the brake lever.

have the possibility to perform the actions you not, but that is the reality. Not even a Gold Wing-
want and don’t let others decide what to do. The rider, stuffed like a Michelin man, can expect to
key words here are visibility, safety distance and survive in a harsh and unexpected encounter
the necessary time and space to correct your own with a truck without getting wounds to both
or others’ mistakes and errors. their self-reliance and their motorcycle. That
unexpected situations occasionally may occur on

T o ride and kiss the tail lamps of the car in

front of you and then overtake it is, for exam-
ple, pretty stupid. Manoeuvres like that block
the road was obvious to the inhabitants of a small
European town a few years ago, when they got
their first roundabout. It was built according to
others from participating in the traffic game. The all engineering rules and a nifty stone sculpture
motorcycle is basically a flexible and manoeuvra- was placed in the middle. On the opening day an
ble vehicle, but often bikes are left too little room elderly motorist was asked what he thought of
for manoeuvres from other road users. And it the first roundabout in the city. He said:
doesn’t matter how big and important you may
feel when you ride your bike, you as a motor- “Well, it’s beautiful. But it is very narrow when
cyclist will always be the weaker part. Like it or you meet oncoming cars”.
 63

Acting
clearly
and destincti-
vely makes it
easier for other
roadusers to
understand
your inten-
tions. To be
seen is often
about making
oneself under-
stood.
64

As a new motorcycle rider, it might be difficult

to understand that the other drivers don’t see
you. Unfortunately, the traffic game is not always
played by its own rules. Thus it is important that
we, as motorcyclists, ensure that we always make
ourselves as visible as possible for the other road
users. One important factor is our position on the
road.
You are riding in the right lane on a highway.
Suddenly you decide to change lane, but instead
of just throw yourself out into the other lane, you
accelerate and slowly move towards the centre
line. You place yourself there for a few seconds
to double check the blind spot and then change
lane. Imagine what a difference this means for
car drivers in the left lane. Such behaviour creates
predictability and visibility and benefits both you
and other road users. Another good example is to
place yourself on the far left side of the lane for a
“blind” right turn in order to get a better view at
a long distance.
A well thought-out riding style means that
you have the chance to make alternative mano-
euvres, and can, in an emergency use the famous
plan B. But you do not have a chance even thin-
king about plan B if you have not put yourself in
readiness - or if you do not have the necessary
riding skills.
 65

Good to see you overlooked by motorists.

One of the reasons that drivers “do not see”
I f you disregard towns with tens of thousands of
mopeds and motorcycles like Saigon, Bangkok
or Rome, it is actually quite easy to ignore powe-
motorcyclists is that a motorcycle is not percei-
ved as a physical threat for the motorist to the
same extent as for example a truck. It is not by
red two wheelers (PTWs) in the daily traffic pic- intent that the motorcyclist is overlooked. Two
ture. Although motorcycles are well beyond the classic situations where motorcycles are likely to
threshold of visibility, they are amazingly often become “invisible” to the motorist are when the
car is making a left turn or enter a priority road.

U nless you look at actively make yourself

visible to the other road users, you cannot
expect that they will see you. Riding in the middle
of the road behind a truck is, for example, a bad
idea, both in terms of being seen and for your
own vision. If you are not visible, you have auto-
matically missed a part of your preparedness.
Where you place yourself on the road is of
great importance to your safety as a motorcy-
clist. Being in the right place also makes you
bigger than you actually are. You don’t have to
be nuclear physicist to work out that an object
that is moving relative to the background is more
likely to be discovered than one that stays still. If
you have an urgent need to be seen, it is a smart
to move sideways on the road, doing slow pen-
dulum motions from side to side. When you are
riding behind a car, it is important to ensure that
Visibility: Several producers of high quality the car driver can see you in his mirrors. Try to
riding gear offer models with high-viz details on ride in a way that you always will be seen, either
arms and shoulders. in his side mirrors or rear view mirror.
66

Motorists often
throw their
vehicle illegally
into the buslane,
right in front of
riders
 67

H i-viz vests are no longer just for road wor-

kers and police officers, but are now used
by many
motorcycle riders in the belief that they are
easier to be seen. Of course it does not hurt to
use a hi-viz vest, but it can also give a false sense
of safety. Often it is actually few who can see
that you have a vest on you when you sit behind
fairing and windscreen ore are hidden behind a
sturdy top box.
There are motorcyclists who rely on high beam
to be seen, where others rather think that it’s
just idiocy. As long as it does not dazzle others,
the high beam can be useful when, for example, Lane-splitting: If lane-splitting makes you
overtaking a queue. But don’t expect all motorists insecure, why don’t you just stay in the queue?
to discover you for this reason. We do not live in a
perfect world and therefore we must relate to the
traffic situation where we are in the moment. embarrassing to suddenly hit a car to the right
or left of you, just because you didn’t manage to
keep your balance. An important rule is: Look far
Slow moving queues ahead - clutch and throttle control.

I t is incredibly boring to be stuck in a traffic jam.

Many chose to ride a motorcycle instead of sit-
ting in a cramped and hot car. In most European
You should also keep in mind that car drivers
stuck in a traffic jam can become aggressive.
They would never take out their aggression by
countries it is not forbidden to ride between cars ramming the car in front of them, but they might
standing still or moving slowly in a queue in consider blocking motorcyclists that filter.
same direction. This is called “filtering”. Filtering Some use the high beam light when riding bet-
can be a risky activity and requires a substantial ween cars in a queue and this can be a wise to
amount of good nerves, good riding techniques signal what you are doing. But don’t take for
and a high level of attention. Good balance is a granted that every motorist will see you in the
prerequisite for success. It is both dangerous and mirrors. Nevertheless, be sure to thank motorists
68

that see you and allow you the pace you need to
pass.
If you want to filter with your bike you must
be in total control. Both forward and backward,
because it is not unlikely that there are filtering
motorcyclists who want to pass you. For an inex-
perienced “filterer” it is advisable to follow in the
wheel track of another biker and let him lead the
way.
Filtering is an exercise best practiced at low
speeds. When your speed is 70 km/h in a 60-zone
filtering is both silly and forbidden. And remem-
ber that it is not shameful to stay in the queue
- but it is time consuming and not least, very, very
boring!
ception amongst motorcyclists that a double

R egardless of what some believe, the bus lane road

is not a free zone where motorcyclists can do marking line shall be considered as a separate
what they want. Some European countries and “motorcycle lane”. Some believe that passing
cities allow motorcycles in bus lanes, but you such a line is a trifle in the grand scheme of
are rarely alone in them. One group is the road things, but the oncoming traffic does not neces-
users who have their rightful place there, such as sarily have the same view. But you have your full
buses and taxis. A completely different matter are right - when it is not signposted with an overta-
the motorists who insist on “borrowing” the bus king ban - to overtake other vehicles in the same
lane when it suits them. They have a tendency to lane, as long as you do not cross the centerline
throw their cars into the bus lane, as if they want and overtake in a safe way.
to hide that they are doing something illegal.
Also, those who ride and drive in the bus lanes
are also the first to make contact with junctions Car drivers
on the right. There is a widespread myth among motorcyclists
It has become an increasingly common con- that all car drivers are “stupid” and “bad drivers.”
 69

But as much as the theory is known, it is also dangerous by roaring by a car at high speed wit-
wrong. Experienced motorcyclists actually rarely hout first having given the slightest warning. An
or never experience car drivers ignoring them. equally annoying hazard can be four older men
The veterans take this well known problem into on Japanese cruisers insisting on riding 70 km/h
on a 90-road to enjoy the view. In such a situation,
you can be pretty sure that it annoys the truck
driver who is stuck behind the motorcyclists and
has little time to catch the ferry.
Basically it’s all about something as simple as
acquiring the skill of putting yourself in the
situation of other users and show some “traffic
empathy.”

S ome equate never experiencing a dangerous

situation in traffic with being a good road
user, while others claim that to be a good road
user is to never be surprised about the dan-
gers that might arise. If you constantly feel that
you end up in dangerous situations in the traf-
fic, it’s most likely you, and not the other road
account in order to give themselves room for
manoeuvre, which helps to prevent dangerous
situations. In other words, they expect the unex-
pected and takes fro granted that not everyone
follows the rules.

H owever, it is easy to turn the problem

upside-down. Many of us have experien-
ced that motorcyclists can create unexpected and
dangerous situations for other road users. As a
motorcyclist, you can make motorists scared and
70

users, who should be blamed. Or as one of our or using the finger. Instead, steer away and give
acquaintance’s grandfather said with a high them space.
degree of self-awareness: No matter how annoying it may be, there
is usually a reason why the car in front of you
“Every time I was out driving my car there were drives slowly. It may be a slow-moving vehicle,
more and more idiots on the road - until one day I for example a tractor, or other items on the road
realized that I was the idiot”. that causes the car in front of you to lower their
speed. Deer are good for dinner but is less appre-

M otorists are the majority in traffic and they

actually have every right to be there. As mot-
ciated as a sticky mound on the road.

orcyclists we don’t pose a threat to them, so we

have to be clever find ways round the problems
created by inattentive car drivers. We ride on two
W hen you come up behind a slow moving
vehicle like a tractor, it is important to be
observant, because it can quickly change direc-
wheels without protective bodywork around us tion, turn off the road or stop completely. Try to
and must therefore also take responsibility for look for signs that may indicate such behaviour.
mistakes made by other road users. Thus, it may If you choose to pass such a vehicle, it may be
be wise to learn and recognize the behaviour pat- dangerous to overtake at full speed. You should
tern for different kinds of drivers. Although it is a rather ease of the throttle and ride slowly by.
little too easy to stereotype different drivers - an As a participant in the traffic game, commu-
elderly man with hat, a Polish minibus, German nication between the various road user groups
tourists or a cocky preppie in an Audi Q7 - one is important. One research report says that eight
must always relate to these drivers and one way out of ten collisions between cars and motor-
or another manage to communicate with them. cycles can be blamed on inattentive car drivers.
Being on the road is a bit like betting. There But it doesn’t help that car drivers have the legal
might be some secure matches, but it’s always responsibility when it is the motorcyclists who
wise to hedge your bet. One thing you can be end up in hospital. Therefore, motorcyclists have
sure of is that the worst drivers are the easiest to to take responsibility for errors made by other
spot. Signals that tell you to be on your guard are road users. If you don’t, the consequences can
for example: Uneven speed, wobbling in roadway even be fatal.
and hesitant driving when entering a motorway. Eye contact may be good, but it works poorly
Do not try to educate drivers by using the horn with dark visors. It’s better to see if the car moves
 71

Be sceptical to
motorists and
take responsibi-
lity for solving
problems they
may cause

Responsibility: To a certains extent, riders must also take responsibility for mistakes other
road users make - and thus make ourselves visible through a conscious riding style.

in a way that indicates that the driver has seen that something is about to happen. But don’t lock
you. If a car is standing still, but quite clearly is your eyes only at one point. It’s better to get a
about to turn out of the way, it is a good idea to comprehensive picture of the situation by using
look at the front wheels. If there are any move- what we call “broad vision” and “wide attention”.
ment or rotation of the wheels, it’s a sure sign
72

Inside the head of a motorcyclist

Take command!

R iding a motorcycle can in many ways be com-

pared to ski jumping. They are both activities
B ut you can’t make the right choice if you do
not have the right tools. Without prepared-
ness there will be no action. And the correct tools
that can’t be done in a half-hearted manner. You when you have to take action are precise and effi-
simply can’t jump ”just a little”in a huge ski jum- cient riding techniques. You may be able to plan
ping hill. Either you jump, or you don’t. You must for a lot, but not everything!
have the courage to do what is right. On the When your mind is fully occupied with recei-
motorcycle, you can’t, for example, choose to lean vingand processing information, it hasn’t the
the motorcycle just a ”bit” if the corner requires a capacity to think about riding technique. It must
30 degree lean. function by itself. Automatically. Therefore, the
We have already concluded that a motorcycle riding technique must be practiced as natural
is a flexible and manoeuvrable vehicle. But it’s of work habits. It is you who should tell your bike
little help little if you aren’t able to manoeuvre it what it should do.
where you want it to go. Or perhaps more impor- But almost as important is not to disturb the
tantly, to avoid that the bike goes where you defi- bike when carrying out the manoeuvres you have
nitely don’t want it to go. decided. You should also listen to the signals you
Unquestionably it is often difficult to deter- get from the bike and do something before it
mine who was actually in command: The biker or starts to protest.
the motorcycle …? It is not only when speed is high, and the
One example of a situation where you have to potential dangers can cause fatal outcomes, you
be good at taking decisions is when you ride at should take command. Imagine that you ride on
moderate speed in a residential area and a child to a packed ferry. The bike is fully loaded for the
suddenly appears on the road ahead. You see the summer trip round Europe, it’s hot under the
child, perceive that there is a dangerous situation, helmet, the ferry crew are stressing you and the
decide that something must be done, brake and ramp is both steep and slippery. The whole situa-
manoeuvre away. You take command! tion feels anything but comfortable but you can’t
 73

choose to enter the ramp ”just a little”. You must

have the courage to do what is right and to take
control of the situation.
It can be equally unpleasant to enter a mot-
orcycle rally site on a rainy day. Bike fully loaded When the
and the spot where you have decided to put up
your tent being on the top of a steep grass-grown
”harddisc” is
hill. If you don’t have the speed to ride up the hill busy receiving
without stopping you will fall. However, if you
take command and carry through what you had
and proces-
originally planned, the chances of success are sing traffical
generally good.
information,
T aking control is also about riding a motorcycle
that you actually manage to master. Regretta-
bly, it is a relatively common misconception that The right bike: If the bike of your dreams is a size
machine control
must be auto-
too big it is difficult to have ”full control”.
if you buy an R1, you automatically become as mated
good at riding as Valentino Rossi.
Of course, you should choose a bike with your
heart, but it is equally important that you also use promise. No motorcycle is dangerous as long as
your head. If you are a short person, you should you are aware of what you are doing and take
avoid the tallest adventure bikes. But there are into account that your bike might be a bit too
ways to bypass physical barriers. Quite a few large or a bit too agile.
bikes can be modified and there are lots of ”bolt- Some use excuses to avoid learning proper
on” kits available that allow you to customize a riding techniques. You can hear people say ”they
bike to your needs. run so gently and so few kilometres per year that
You should definitely not ignore buying the they don’t need to know very much”. Or that
bike of your dreams because it might be chal- they ”only ride a cruiser bike”. Of course, those
lenging. Motorcycle riding is first and foremost arguments are neither valid nor true. Every mot-
about emotions, and you will never be satisfied orcycle riders must learn precise and efficient
with anything that you perceive as a boring com- riding techniques and dare to use them. And you
74

have to practise. The license is only a certificate disappears from your head. Your arms and back
that allows you to practice on your own! are completely rigid. It feels as if you have an iron
stick in your spine and your gaze is fixed exactly
at the tree you definitely do not want to hit!
Petrified This is a situation the vast majority of mot-

T he weather is good, the road is nice and your orcyclists have experienced many times. We can
speed is comfortable. A perfect day for just summarize the phenomenon as instinctive reflex
relaxing and enjoying the ride. But then you enter reactions, originally there to protect us from
into a curve and suddenly you discover that it is danger. On a bike however, these instinctive
sharper than you originally thought. reflex reactions makes you petrified and unable
The instinctive feeling of danger is so intru- to act.
sive that you become totally paralyzed. The blood They are reflexive reactions that come auto-
matically, without you thinking or planning
them. The human body is not really built to ride
a motorcycle. It is built to walk or run. Through
evolution, we have been equipped with a series
of reflexes that are there to protect us and that
strike instantly when we sense danger. For
example, you close your eyes automatically when
something is moving towards your eyes. And if
you touch something hot you quickly remove
your hand.

T hese are subconscious reflexes that could

save you from getting hurt. However, when
riding a motorcycle of these instinctive reactions
can be really dangerous. Instinctive “error” reac-
Petrified: Blood disappears from your head. Arms
are completely rigid. Eyes locked on the object you tions are a major cause of motorcycle accidents.
absolutely don’t want to hit. The only thing that can These reactions often make a situation worse.You
save you is an auotmated efficient riding technique easily could have come out unscathed if you had
overriding the dangerous instincts ... only been able to control your reactions. All these
 75

instinctive reactions have enough power to drive riding a motorcycle is to “show off”, you really
away reason and logic and leave us to panic. should consider a different activity. To “show off”
How shall is never synonymous with mastering a bike, and
we learn to big gestures does not mean you have full control
overcome - rather the opposite.
these innate Such a riding style usually results in you pre-
instincts? There venting the bike from doing its job. And one of
are really only the reasons for motorcycle riding is the incredi-
three solutions. bly nice feeling that you get when you feel at one
First, to always with the bike and are able to control it with tiny
be aware that inputs. That feeling gives you euphoria like not-
the problem hing else!
exists. Second, If it’s solely the entrance of the next corner that
learn to recog- you focus on, you have crossed a limit (and we’re
nize the situa- not talking about speed limits). You enter into a
tions that psychological state where one can lose the sense
trigger panic of time and space and become almost impervi-
and thus the ous to external signals. In psychology this state is
instinctive reactions. And third, to practice a pre- called “flow”, and it’s not just motorcyclists who
cise and effective riding technique until it is fully may experience this. Such a floating sensation is
automated. Then the learned habits will overrule also quite common with people who get stuck on
and control your dangerous instincts. slot machines or internet surfing.

The joy of speed T he condition is characterized is if the sense of

time and space disappear, and you have an

T he kicks one can get when riding a motor-

cycle is for many the very foundation and
reason for originally choosing the activity as their
extreme focus on the task, almost like being in
a kind of “tunnel”. When you experience this as
a motorcyclist, it is becoming really dangerous.
personal adrenaline injection. They could instead It’s actually when everything seems perfect that
have chosen, for example, parachute jumping or a warning bell should start calling somewhere
climbing mountains. However, if your goal of deep inside your helmet. Experienced motorcy-
76

J ust admit it, sometimes we go a lot faster than

we really want. It’s actually quite possible to
become intimidated by our own speed. Such
a condition is characterized by the riding style
becoming more and more inhibited and edgy.
Riding over the top of our own capacity can
be dangerous when you are out on a ride with
others, and the pace is about to exceed your own
limits.
Speed is, like many other aspects of motorcyc-
ling, about choosing the right time and place. It’s
easy to be tempted to increase your speed when
the traffic in front of you is packed and the chan-
Floating: The phsycological phenomenon ”floating”
is fantastic, but dangerous because you tend to ride ces of overtaking one after the other are there.
much too fast. But remember that there is always something
that stops you in the end. The dynamics of such a
situation can be illustrated by a true story, which
clists know what they should do when these war- is certainly not unique:
ning bells start to ring and they manage to slow
down before it’s too late. The most honest among “I was heading north in the dense Sunday traffic,
us admits to have had experiences like this: doing 90 km/h until a motorist reduced the speed
to 88 and I overtook him in an elegant manner.
“We were two bikes following each other and we When the speed of the queue gradually increased
were looking forward to some really nice corners to almost 100, I continued to pass cars in front
a little further down the road. But suddenly my of me, following the logic that, if I’ll take that,
mate in front of me brakes hard just before the first I’ll take that, I’ll take that ... In the end I rode so
corner. I thought, what in the world is he doing? I recklessly that I did not dare stop at the next fuel
changed down, turned the throttle and was about station to fill up the tank. I simply thought that it
to overtake him when I suddenly saw the tractor would be too embarrassing to maybe meet some of
with a long pitchfork that was in the process of the people that I had just overtaken”.
crossing the road”.
 77

Accept a bad day riding technique you’ve learned and take a quiet
ride instead.
S ome days you can have the feeling that the
whole motorcycle is warped. 70 km/h is per-
ceived as 120, everything shakes, vibrates and
It can be hard to admit that you have a bad
day on the bike. But everyone, even professional Don’t hesitate
riders, experience it once in a while. Sometimes
creaks and the brakes do not work like they you know it when the bike rolls out from the to inform your
should. Days like that you press the horn button
instead of the turn signals and smooth corners
garage. riding compani-
You have a gut feeling that this is not your day
suddenly feel like squares. and it’s a feeling you shouldn’t ignore. It does not ons if you have
Obviously, something might be wrong with
your bike. But often it is just an indefinable
need to be a particular reason, but we know that
strong moods can trigger the phenomenon. The-
a ”bad day” and
feeling in your head. This is definitely not the day refore it is not advisable to use the motorcycle to need a lower
to engage in demanding riding. let off steam, for example, if you have had a quar-
rel at home.
pace
T ry not to urge yourself by saying, “push
harder, you need to clear this, you could do
this yesterday, keep on pushing”. The result will
be (at the best) only stiff arms and high shoul-
Technical anxiety
ders. These days you just have to rely on the
T echnical anxiety usually strikes when you
have the least use for it. Additionally it’s often
reinforced by stress, rain and darkness. It’s defi-
nitely not fun to ride on the German Autobahn
at 200 km/h and suddenly start worrying about
whether the chain will go to pieces or if you actu-
ally tightened the front wheel bolts.
Technical anxiety is very distracting and takes
away concentration from the tasks you have as a
rider. The best medicine for such anxiety is regu-
lar safety checks on the motorcycle.
It is understandable if you don’t acquaint your-
Sunday morning ride: If you have a bad day, tell self with all the features work on a new wash-
your fellow riders so they can take it into account.
78

technical gadgets you really need to read the user

manual and learn the most basic elements of
maintaining your motorcycle. For example how
The best medi- to check the oil level, to check the tyre pressure
(when cold) and to ensure that the chain is lubri-
cine against cated and has the right tensioning. Before every
tchnical anxi- ride.
Check also from time to time, crucial nuts and
ety is frequent bolts - especially after you’ve had the bike servi-
safety controls ced in a workshop. There are examples of even
truly professional motorcycle mechanics not
on your bike always having done the job properly.
Also: If you know the bike is in perfect con-
dition, it will dramatically enhance the Good
Riding Experience

Maintenance: Good maintenance prevents

unwanted episodes and makes the riding expe-
rience better.

ing machine or a mobile phone. But there is an

essential difference between washing machines
and motorcycles. The worst result of improper
use of the washing machine is that your white
shirts turn red.
It is different with a motorcycle, where it can
be fatal if you don’t learn how it works and how
it should be managed. Even if you don’t like
 79
On a good day, when everything
feels right, it is very nice, and
very safe, to ride a motorcycle
80

Always something in the way

L ike it or not, but we have the roads we have,

and we have to live with them. After all, there
is a difference between dangerous roads and bad
roads. Poor roads we must live with, dangerous
roads we must report to the responsible road aut-
hority. If we refuse to deal with the road network
that we have, we have to stay at home.

Road traps

T his means we must learn to deal with loose

gravel on the roadway, cracks in the asphalt
and slippery diesel spillage. Therefore it is impor-
tant that you as a motorcyclist learn to recognize
the signals of such road traps so you don’t panic
when they unexpectedly pop up. The most obser-
vant have probably already figured out that once
again it’s about being prepared. Actually, not all
so-called road traps are as dangerous as they
seem.
Obviously, it is frightening to suddenly disco-
ver that someone has spilled a load of gravel just
when you are about to lean the bike in a curve. In
that situation the most important thing is never Sand or gravel: if you spot sand or gravel on the
to panic and freeze. Indeed, the best solution is roadway the best solution is often to be totally
relaxed and do nothing at all.
 81

often to do nothing at all. There is guaranteed - do not brake! If you let the instinctive reactions
better grip ahead and your bike is more stable take control you will brake and fall, maybe even
than you think. before you come to the gravel.
Help yourself out of danger by lowering your Typical examples of where you can expect to
find sand and gravel on the road surface is at exits If you get into
from farms and industrial areas, at road repair
and on secondary roads after heavy rain.
loose gravel
Longitudinal cracks and potholes do not make keep calm and
motorcyclists jump with joy. They must be dealt
with in the same manner as gravel and sand. First
look far ahead.
and foremost, do not panic brake. It is exceptio- And most
nally stupid to hit a hole in the road with a locked
front wheel. To open the throttle a wee bit in this important: Do
situation is actually best, because then you pre- not brake!
vent the suspension from totally compressing
when you hit the hole. As in many other situa-
tions it is also best to not disturb the bike when
it is doing its job.
Motorcyclists who have travelled in eastern
Mud: If there is a quarry or a large construction European countries can tell stories about streets
site by the way, chances are big that there will be where manhole covers have been stolen and sold
mud on the roadway. as scrap. However, as far as we know, few motor-
cyclists have been hauled up from Russian sewer
manholes.
shoulders and looking far ahead. The dangerous

I
instinctive reaction in this situation will tell you t’s amazing what obstacles you can overcome if
to go hard on the brakes. But that is the worst you you don’t get petrified. Like this one:
can do. It usually leads to the exact opposite of
what you had in mind. If you suddenly find your- “I was riding on the highway and the traffic flowed
self in loose gravel, stay calm with good ancho- at just over 90 km/h. Suddenly, a pallet fell off the
ring in the bike and look far ahead. And above all truck in front of me. It happened so quickly that
82

Remember that
diesel spill most
often occur in
roundabouts
and near petrol
stations

Diesel spills: It is quite common diesel spills occur on steep, wind9ing roads, but
fortunately one can actually smell diesel spills when you ride a bike.

there was no time to react at all, so I just to rode

straight across the pallet with the throttle open.
The shock absorbers on the bike obviously got a
I n conjunction with resurfacing of roads, the old
asphalt is usually milled away. In such condi-
tions many of us have experienced (or at least
beating, but that was all. The bike was never even imagined us) that the bike behaves like a lump
close to falling over”. of jelly. This is, however, more of a mental per-
 83

ception of the situation than a real danger. Good spot it on the road. This applies, for example, on
anchoring, loose arms and looking far ahead steep, winding roads where diesel splashes over
solves the “problem”. from over-filled tanks on heavy goods vehicles.
Diesel spills can instantly transform the driest But even without oil and diesel spills summer
summer roads to veritable “skating rinks” for roads can be horribly slippery. Especially after the
motorcycles. There are many ways to detect diesel first rain after a period of drought, the roads get
spillage and it can be wise to learn some warning really slippery. Again good anchorage in the mot-
signs to look out for. At the first roundabout after orcycle, loose and free arms, looking far ahead
a gas station you can almost certainly assume and riding extra smoothly solves the problems.
that it will be slippery. Diesel also has the cha- Other examples of slippery roads traps are road
racteristic that you can smell the spill before you markings, railroad tracks and cattle guards. Of

Slippery asphalt: Newly laid asphalt can be slippery when wet, but it is not
a problem if your riding technique is good and you ride extra smoothly.
84

Tramrails: When it is raining it is smart to cross tramrails transvers.

course, everyone knows that it’s stupid to acce- king of the forest, and down in size they have a
lerate on a railroad track and that it is best to aim nasty tendency to often be at the wrong place
between the zebra stripes on a zebra crossing. at the wrong time. As previously stated, all traf-
fic signs and other reminders of dangers which
authorities install are placed where they are for
Hairy road traps a reason. Warning signs for moose and deer are
Other elements that can create dangerous situa- clearly not put up for the German tourists to
tions on the road are animals. From moose, the bring them home as souvenirs. Such signposting
 85

Milled road surfaces are

uncomfortable - but not
dangerous
86

are put up where moose and deer usually cross When you discover a moose or a deer, don’t lock
the road. Dawn and dusk are the most active your eyes on the animal. What you look at you
periods for moose, but you should still be aware will hit!
of wild animals during the entire day, especially Small animals, like cats and badgers, are actu-
in signposted areas. ally less dangerous to motorcyclists than you
Moose or deer are not team players you can might think. Obviously, it is in every way uncom-
trust. There are in fact examples of moose that fortable to ride over a cat or another small furry
have actually attacked cars and motorcycles. And animal at 90 km/h, but it is certainly better than
remember, moose or deer rarely come alone. panic braking and crashing.

Moose warning signs: These signs are put up on the advice of wild-
life experts and you can be absolutely certiain that they are placed
exactly where moose use to cross
 87

Moose war-
ning sign are
always put up
where moos
use to cross.
Don’t fix your
eyes on the
moose - you
hit what you
stare at.
88

Out on the road

Get a grip In conclusion we can say that fresh tyres in
hot and dry conditions provide good grip, while
I f traction becomes an issue when you ride on a
normal road, you have already exceeded some
limits. Although the interface between the tyres
worn tyres on cold and wet roads provide less
grip. Nevertheless, a smooth and proper riding
technique compensates for the less traction you
on your bike and the road is not bigger than a
will have on wet and cold roads. It is foolish to
few square centimetres, it is important to trust
ride off the road just because you did not trust
the grip - because it is important to dare to do
the grip. If you choose to rely on the traction, you
what is correct. At the same time, one should not
also dare to do what is right, namely to conduct
underestimate quitting while the going is good.
the manoeuvres the situation requires.
And always use correct riding technique and a
It may feel uncomfortable to experience a
riding style that challenges traction as little as
small loss of traction. But as a rule it is not dan-
possible - determined but smooth.
gerous - although it may feel as if you are sitting
In order to trust that you always have an
with your heart in your throat. Often the wheels
adequate grip, your bike obviously must have
are only slipping a few millimetres before the
good tyres. Tyres are perishable goods, and even
tyres again are glued to the road surface.
though there may be several millimetres of tread
depth left before they must be replaced, an old
tyre is nonetheless totally unusable if it has been
sitting too long on the bike and the rubber has
T yres need heat to function optimally. A good
example is road racing where you always use
tyre warmers before a race. In other words, the
become hard.
closer to optimum operating temperature, the
By traction we mean the friction between the
better traction you get. Even in the rain and cold,
tyres and the road surface. All forces will work
ordinary road tyres are hot enough, but remem-
through these two contact points and it goes
ber that riding in such weather conditions affects
without saying that if one or more of factors are
traction negatively in other ways. Another contri-
not optimal, it will radically inhibit the process of
buting factor has to do with tyre air pressure. Too
transferring forces.
 89

low pressure can make a brand new tyre totally

useless after only a few kilometres. Additionally,
incorrect pressure has major consequences on
how the bike behaves on the road. For example,
too low pressure in the front tyre makes the bike
incredibly heavy to steer.
Brand new tyres have a slippery wax surface
that must be worn off before they function pro-
perly. Ride very carefully for 20-30 kilometres
after a tyre change, or roughen the tyre
surface before using the tyre, then you will be
safe.

Rain and darkness

Y ou just have to face it. If you can’t ride in rain,

the chances of getting any particular return
on the investment of a motorcycle in the north of
Europe are relatively marginal. We’ve all experi-
enced that you start the ride in the finest summer
weather you can imagine, but end up going back
in heavy rain. Indeed, it may still be perfectly
okay to ride in the rain if both yourself and your
bike are properly equipped. With proper clothing
and good tyres, rainy weather often gives a truly
great riding experience.
Sometimes the trip simply can’t be put off, but
as with other things in life, riding a motorcycle in
rain is down to good planning. Dew inside the
visor and a steady flow of rainwater down your
neck are not nice. But you can avoid the dew
90

problem by using a special inner visor or other reliable solution.You find them in almost all sizes.
similar products. And you can actually stay pretty Although it may seem as if the designers of your
dry for quite a long ride in the rain with quality bike would have preferred that you attach loose
Gore-Tex riding gear or a good rain suit outside luggage with elastic bands, it is not recommen-
your leathers. ded. You should rather use pack straps that you
Still, there’s probably some who are reluctant can buy in any sports shop or gas station.
to go off on a trip when the rain pours down. No matter what type of bags you use, it is
But rain and darkness are often more a mental important not to overload the bike. A normally
than a physical danger in motorcycling, especi- functioning motorcycle can quickly lose its riding
ally if your entire focus is on cursing the rain and capacity due to heavy packing and how the lug-
the dark. One thing is true though: When rain is gage is placed. A good “rule of thumb” is to pack
pouring down and visibility is almost zero a pre- heavy items, like the tool kit, at the bottom and as
cise and efficient riding technique is crucial. Just far forward as possible.
remember to conduct all commands smoothly
and gently.
I t’s usually very nice to bring a passenger on
the trip. Some even think that the bike is more
stable with a pillion passenger. Ideally, your
With passenger and luggage very first passenger is an experienced motorcy-

I t’s amazing what you can actually pack on a clist since this person knows how a motorcycle
motorcycle. The trick is to compress and think behaves. Similarly, it is important to allow an
smart - both in terms of what you actually need inexperienced person to learn how to be pillion
for the trip and how you place it on the bike. passengers. Remember that you yourself have
The best is of course to have panniers mounted used quite some time to learn how to ride the
on the motorcycle. But if you use“loose”baggage, bike. So if necessary, you must give your passen-
it is important that it is well strapped on to the ger proper instructions of how to sit on a mot-
bike. A sleeping bag or pack roll that suddenly orcycle.
loosens and enters the rear wheel is an unplea- You must be aware that the performance of
sant way to end a motorcycle holiday. the motorcycle changes with a passenger. You get
Today there is a good selection of luggage a higher total weight, an offset centre of gravity
solutions available suitable for motorcycle use. and balance point, increased load on the shock
A “sailor bag” for motorcycle use is a smart and absorbers and a larger mass to slow down. Addi-
 91
Listen to, and
respect, the signals
you get from your pillion
passenger
92

tionally, you must be aware that when there are

two of you on the bike, it’s actually the pillion
who should be in charge. Not necessarily in the
choice of route, but in terms of pauses and espe-
Before the trip cially speed and riding style.
It is really, really stupid to ride the pillion pas-
you have to senger “religious” on the first trip. Always keep in
give proper mind the passenger’s experience of being out of
control and totally dependent on being able to
instructions on trust the driver.
how to behave If you can’t handle close physical contact with
others, it is not advisable to ride with a pillion
as a pillion pas- passenger. It is not very much space for two adults
senger on a motorcycle, and you must, in order not to Close: A pillion passenger has to sit close to the
disturb the bike, sit close together. Of course, the driver and follow the movements of the bike.
driver should make the effort to accelerate, brake
and switch gear as soft as possible. This also eli-
minates helmets colliding. Experienced passen- how a motorcycle leans in the turns and that
gers gradually develop their own technique on he/she must follow the rider’s movements - but
how to sit hold on. leave it to the rider to control and steer. An old
trick is that the passenger should look over the

M any bikes have handlebars behind the seat,

but not all passengers feel comfortable sit-
ting with their arms backwards. Some choose to
driver’s left shoulder in left turns and over the
right shoulder in the right turns.

sit with their hands on their knees, others are

holdeing on to the rider - or on the rider’s clot-
hing. No matter how you choose to sit and hold
I t’s obviously nice to bring your girlfriend/boy-
friend one on a motorcycle tour, but it is impor-
tant to ensure that you don’t become single again
on, it is important that the passenger is actively when the trip is over.
using the thighs to “squeeze firmly” and get good If you ride with a pillion passenger, predictabi-
anchoring. lity is important.You have to beforehand agree on
The pillion must also have information about what you have in mind. As driver you have a big
 93

responsibility, and you probably want to make the namely to wave to oncoming motorcyclists and
passenger feel safe and comfortable. Therefore show the whole world that they are enjoying
the passenger must be involved in the decision their motorcycle tour!
making process. Listen and respect the signals
you get and always find out the passenger’s mot-
orcycle experience before you dash off. Children on bikes

Y
Although it may seem a bit too simple, you ou can’t ignore the fact that all forms of mot-
actually have to start with the basics, such as how orcycling involve some risk. It is also more
to get on and off the bike. There is nothing to demanding to have a child as pillion passenger
dampen the mood as much as having to start the than an adult. Therefore, it is the parents or guar-
trip lifting up a 300 kg motorcycle from the gravel. dians that must decide whether to take children
With experienced riders and passengers a small on a motorcycle tour or not. Motorcycle organi-
nod is usually enough to say that it is all right to sations shall not interfere in these decisions and
get on or off the bike. The driver should always therefore neither recommend nor discourage
be on the bike before the passenger climbs on to
the pillion.
Once you are out on the road, it is also good
to be able to provide signals about what you as
a driver are supposed to do. A light tap on the
thigh of the passenger before quick acceleration
is often enough to inform about what is going
on. Riding with an inexperienced and perhaps
simultaneously inattentive passenger can quickly
affect both the bike handling and your concen-
tration. Avoid sudden moves. For example it is
not wise for passengers to stretch stiff muscles in
the middle of a curve.
But it is important to let passengers be allo-
wed to “move” on the bike. Just think of how you
as driver constantly move buttocks, legs and feet. Properly dressed: The kids in this family join
Lastly the passenger has another important task, adapted rides - always wearing proper riding gear
94

requirement also applies to children in sidecars.

In addition, the child should wear at least as good
protection as you yourself are using. It is possible
to buy excellent equipment in children’s sizes at
most major retailers. Children grow rapidly and
many therefore choose to buy used safety equip-
ment.
Should you bring children on motorcycles
on long tours, sidecars are a very good option -
especially if you want to bring small children. In
the sidecar, the child can be strapped in a child
seat. With crackers, juice and drawing books, the
Sidecar: This little fellow feels comfortable
and happy in his child seat in the sidecar.
trip becomes a lot more interesting for the child,
and at the same time, less strenuous for you as
an adult.
anyone to ride with children as passengers. We On a solo motorcycle, the child should be able
do not know of any research in this area, so our to reach the foot pegs. If the legs are not long
advice is exclusively arriving from motorcyclists’ enough it’s usually possible to move the foot pegs.
own experiences. It is a problem that children on motorcycle tours
often fall asleep. Some therefore choose a solu-

R oad Traffic Regulations decide if and how

children are allowed on a motorcycle, both
on the passenger seat of a motorcycle or in a
tion where they buckle the child with the rider
with a custom-made harness that can be bought
in many motorbike stores. The inappropriateness
sidecar. The law also states if children must have of such a solution is that the child may become
an approved helmet and at what age they are the adult’s “airbag” if you crash. Many therefore
allowed on a motorcycle. A summary of national choose to ride with a belt with handles that the
laws concerning children on bikes can be found child can hold on in. More and more people are
on the FEMA website. also using a custom-made child seat strapped to
A helmet does not mean hockey or ski helmet, the motorcycle seat. It is also helpful if the bike is
but a standard, approved motorcycle helmet that fitted with a top box so the child has something
should fit the head of the child. The helmet to lean backwards against.
 95

Intercom is a good tool for having continuous

contact with the child and check that he/she is
enjoying the ride. But whatever transport solu-
tion, a motorcycle ride with children must always
be planned and implemented with the child’s
interests in mind. This means, amongst other
things, that the daily trips should not be too long
and that there must be frequent breaks with fun
activities like eating ice cream and playing.

Comfortable equipment

I n Europe it’s only the helmet that it is a legal

requirement to use as a motorcyclist. But many
argue that back protection is almost as important
as the helmet. For some riders, it’s as impossible
to sit on the bike without back protection as it is
to ride off without a helmet.
To go out on a motorcycle ride is a bit like
Alpine skiing. Most people understand that you
need good and proper equipment on a skiing trip
in the high mountains. It’s exactly the same with
motorcycling. But remember that the equipment
you choose should fit - both to your body and to
the trip you will go on. You will not be able to ride
with “loose arms” if you are like a stuffed sausage
in your personal safety equipment.
Some feels that it is more comfortable to buy
cloths that are a little too big. But that is wrong
when it comes to motorcycle equipment. If you
afraid of freezing it is better that you buy your-
96

self a warm jacket to wear outside the riding

suit. Padding and other protective equipment
are placed exactly where they are to protect the
exposed areas of the body if an accident should
Better buy occur. If your biker clothing is too big, you can be
absolutely sure that the protection will shift place
your helmet if you fall off the bike. You do not necessarily have
and riding to buy the most expensive equipment, but often
there is a correlation between price and the qua-
gear one size lity of the equipment.
too small
than one size T here is an eternal debate among motorcy-
clists as to what is best, leather or textile. The
too big person who rides a bike in all weather will pro-
bably thrive best with textile clothes, not least for
reasons of convenience. In addition, the textile
clothes with Gore-Tex or other types of mem-
branes are clearly more comfortable when the
temperature is creeping down into the red zone
and the rain pours down. If you ride in leather,
you usually have an extra jacket available, and if it
rains you have to stop to put on rain gear.
But if you look to the roadracing environment
you will see that leather is preferred, one of the
reasons being that textile clothing has slightly
poorer performance than leather if you slide
along the asphalt. One thing you should remem- Leather or textile: 80 km/h skid tests with crash test
ber when it comes to “Gore-Tex clothes” is that dummies dressed in leather and textile riding gear
the membrane of these garments is dependent from the same manufacturer showed no significant
on temperature differences to work. If it is colder difference in safety performance.
on the inside of the jacket, boot or glove than it
 97

is on the outside, the water will penetrate. The- Also, try to avoid bringing wet “Gore-Tex-stuff”
refore, it is not smart to warm up the gloves on inside if you stop at a roadside café to have a cup
the engine when you take a break in the rain. of coffee.
Gloves are not only to keep your hands warm.
They also have an important safety function. If
you wonder what it’s like to crash without gloves,
you can try to open the car door at 50 km/h and
put your palm on the asphalt. That will answer
your question! When you buy motorcycle gloves,
they should have “curved fingers” that allows a
more comfortable grip to the handlebars.
We have already noted that it is important
that your equipment fits and that you should not
have too much underneath the riding suit. But
you obviously must wear something. Opinions
differ on what to use. While some consistently
choose wool or cotton, other chooses thermal
“super underwear” - especially if you must drive
in hot weather.

W hen choosing a helmet, the most impor-

tant thing is that the helmet fits your head
shape. The helmet should sit really tight. When
buying and testing a motorcycle helmet there
are some rules to stick to. The helmet should fit
so tightly that it will not move very much to the
sides of your head. When the chinstrap is tight,
Back protector: Many jackets come with
you should not be able to pull it forward.
an ”in-built” back protector, but we will still While in the United States so-called motorcy-
recommend a separate protector like this. cle helmets marked with“only for looks”are sold,
all helmets sold in Europe are approved and CE
98

marked. Despite an often the imaginative and

colourful design the helmet is not something
you primarily use to look good. Still, it might be
smart to choose a slightly more startling colour
than black.
Something you should consider when you
want to invest in a new helmet is how easy or
difficult it is to change visors. The visor gets scrat-
ched and needs to be changed from time to time.
In addition, many choose to ride with dark visors
in the day and replace it with a clear visor when
it gets dark.
If you ride mostly in the chilly Nordic coun-
tries, it initially might seem a bit unnecessary to
worry about if the helmet has good ventilation.
But in the south of Europe good ventilation in
the helmet is crucial for keeping your head cool.
Besides, ventilation actually prevents fogging.

Riding in a group
It’s summer, it’s sunny and it’s Sunday and you
are up early to ride with good friends. It’s a
really enjoyable activity, which however, quickly
can become a nightmare if you do not take into
account the experience level of those who are
attending the ride. Riding many motorcycles in
a group is nice, but it requires discipline and dili-
gence. We all have different riding styles. What
is perceived as undramatic for an experienced
motorcyclist may be perceived as dangerous and
 99

stressful for someone who is inexperienced or

on a new, unfamiliar bike. Done right, however,
a group ride with experienced riders could be a
joyful and eye-opening experience, providing a
steep learning curve. But it could just as easily be When riding
the opposite if one is forced to push the envelope
too far.
in groups, the
The experienced riders might want to know a inexperienced
little about your experience level before pulling
away, and you have to be really honest in terms
riders should
of your own level of performance. Remember, it always ride
is always you who is responsible for your own
riding. Even if you are riding in a group, it is not behind the lead
“follow the leader” that is the rule. The rider of bike
the bike in front of you can actually make mis-
takes. It is also important to be brave enough to
speak up if the speed is too high. Perhaps ask a
question like, “is it just me, or did we ride very
fast in the last couple of corners”?
It is not uncommon for beginners to think
like, “because I do not have much experience, it
is probably best to be at the back”. This is com-
pletely wrong! Whoever is last must actually
ride faster than the lead bike because of the so-
called “accordion effect”. Thus, when riding in
groups, the inexperienced rider should always
ride immediately behind the lead bike. The first
and last in the formation should be experien-
ced motorcyclists. They monitor that the speed
level is right and make sure that no one is falling
behind.
100

I n many ways, group riding is a bit like figh-

ter pilots practicing a formation flight. When
conditions permit, ride in a zigzag formation. It
reduces the length of the formation and gives a
satisfying safety distance to the rider ahead of
you. To minimize irritation from other road users,
move towards the roadside and let traffic coming
from behind pass when necessary.
Never ride too close to the person in front and
under no circumstances up alongside of him. The
area at the side of the bike is “owned” by him,
and it can quickly become necessary to change
track, for example, to avoid a pothole. Keep track
of the location on the road and do not wobble
from side to side. Keep a steady pace and avoid
jerky riding.
If the bike in front of you changes track in the
formation then you also need to change your
track. On winding roads, and where circumstan-
ces otherwise determine, you need to ride in an
individual track and with a good distance to the
rider in front of you.
When you overtake, remember that there are
riders behind you. Ride quickly past and don’t
slow down at once when you have passed to
make room for those who come after you. Don’t
overtake in a jerky style, ride smooth and calcu-
Group rides: On a group ride it is vital to be late margins. The bike behind you might trust
honest with regard to own level of performance.
your judgment and stick with you.
If you are, a group ride with experienced riders
could be a joyful and eye-opening experience.
Actively use your mirrors. If the bike behind is
slowing down and you’re about to lose contact,
 101

stay back and let a large gap be formed in front

of you so that the bikes later have the chance to
discover that someone has fallen behind. Make
sure that the bike behind you can see where the
formation is going when you come to a junction
(blinkers). Tell in advance if you have to leave the
group during the ride
If the formation comes to an unusually curvy
and pleasant route, some of the most experienced
riders located at the back might want to overtake
to ride in a slightly sportier pace. Let them pass
and proceed at your own pace. If you are inexpe-
rienced, don’t try to catch up - they will wait for
you further down the road!

Group rides are alway

more successful when
making clear agreements in
advance
102

Always be prepared
Good planning a tour in European and have decided to stop at
the big motorcycle dealer Detlev Louis in Ham-
R iding a motorcycle is always more comforta-
ble and safer if you can find some good riding
strategies. Strategy is a word that may seem
burg to look for a new helmet. The traffic in Ham-
burg is dense and fast and if you do not know the
direction and try to ride at random, it is easy to get
slightly pretentious, but translated into everyday stressed. And a stressed rider is not safe and often
language, it simply means, ”having a good plan”.
Planning provides safety and the more strategic
you think, the better prepared you are for surpri-
ses during the trip.
It’s not just professionals like military per-
sonnel, airline pilots and navigators at sea who
must have clear strategies for their operation.
Also motorcyclists must have a master plan. Not
just a plan for where you’re going and how to get
there, but also a plan for how to behave in case of
unexpected situations during the trip. The more
detailed and elaborate plans you have, the easier
it actually is to deviate from them when things
do not go as you planned. In other words: If you
have clear riding strategies, it is easier to imple-
ment tactical and operational choices during the
trip.
An important element in this process is to Planning 1: if you want to get to a particular
obtain as much information as possible about place a big foreign city and don’t have a GPS
the trip, and make strategic plans based on that it is wise to memorize your route, so you don’t
information. A good example is when you are on get dangerously stessed.
 103

makes tactical and operational mistakes. If you’ve

carefully gone through the route in advance and
know the name of main streets, famous buildings
and parks you must pass, you can pretty quickly
correct if you take a wrong direction. Then you Good planning
will be much less stressed and minimize the
chances of having an accident - and you might
reduces anxiety
even see a bit of the city of Hamburg. of the unknown
Maps or a GPS are fundamental tools. But it
helps little to have the map if you need reading
and makes you
glasses that are left at home. Bringing your glas- less stressed
ses in the chest pocket of your jacket is a small,
but important example of being well prepared.

B ut no matter how well you have read the map,

and how much you have memorized highway
exits in your head, you can actually still miss the
Planning 2: If you are not accustomed to
exit you intended to take. Then it is important to riding in heavy traffic it is not recommendable
have a strategic on how to deal with such a situa- to enter big cities during rush hour.
tion. Instead of panicking and abruptly cross two
motorway lanes in heavy, high speed traffic, it is
better to have the attitude that“there will soon be
another exit”. And it’s not necessarily a disaster to around the city. Although it might be longer, it
ride in the wrong direction. Many motorcyclists can also be a much nicer road.
can tell you that the best experiences they’ve had If you are scared of heights, and want to ride
on two wheels was when they got lost. from Germany to Italy, it is an extremely long
When planning, it may be wise to take your detour to ride around the Alps. Then it is a good
own strengths and weaknesses into account. If strategy to find a pass where there aren’t seve-
it feels uncomfortable to ride in heavy traffic, it ral hundred meters straight down. Compared to
is a good strategy to avoid rush hour in big cities. Passo Stelvio, the Brenner Pass and the Gotthard
The best may even be to find an alternate route Road Tunnel are pretty undramatic.
104

B efore the different stages of a European tour

it is smart to go through the route in advance
and make clear notes about important motorway
exits, road numbers and other reference points in
the map pocket of the tank bag. However, it is
not always easy to interpret the map when the
rain pours down or when cruising speed is 130 +.
A strategically placed note with key words in big
fonts is easier to read.
It is also foolish to test how far you can ride on
the last drop of petrol. Therefore it should be part
of your riding strategy to refuel before the engine
starts to cough. For one reason or another, this is
a situation that often occurs when it rains and is
dark. And you’re guaranteed to not even know in
which direction the nearest fuel station is loca-
ted. An empty tank is not only impractical. If you
have to call the breakdown service it may at worst
indicate a substantial disruption of travel funds.
The tank must be filled and the chain has to
be lubricated. A pretty easy job, but a job that
makes your hands greasy. A couple of disposa-
ble gloves under the seat eliminate having to
stab your oily fingers in the expensive motorcycle
gloves. Simple and smart.
There are also a few other small items that
can be practical to carry under the saddle. For
Planning 3: If you are scared of hights it is example, a tyre puncture repair kit. Punctures
not smart to choose a steep Alpine pass like always seem to happen at the most inconvenient
Passo Stelvio. Passo Brennero is a better times, such as in the middle of nowhere on a dark
choise. autumn evening. Then it is incredibly convenient
 105

Chain lube
Puncture kit with CO-cartriges

Disc brake lock Rapid glue

Luggage straps
Fuses

Tissues
Leatherman multitool

Micro Mag-Lite
Original tool kit

Tire gauge

Angled valve
Light bulbs

Insulating tape
Locking strips
Disposable gloves
Planning 4: Usefull
items to have stowed
under the seat of ... pluss the instruktion manual for your bike
your bike
106

to have tyre plugs, rubber solution and a couple

of CO2 cartridges available. And do the job in
the light of the Mini Maglight you always bring
with you. Without such a repair kit, a puncture is
an almost impossible obstacle. With a tyre repair
kit worth a few Euros, you are on the road again
after barely half an hour.

Tactical choices

O ne should not suffer a drop in confidence if

one chooses the safe choice when an unple-
asant and unidentifiable feeling of vague danger
Tactical choise: It’s gale force wind and rough
sea and the small ferry does not have lashing
appears. If, for example, you are riding at high opportunities. To avoid struggling with a 250
speed in the left lane on the Autobahn in Ger- kg motorcycle, and mayby loose it, it is wise to
many it may be wise to immediately“seek refuge” insted take the long ride around the fjord.
between the trucks in the right lane if you feel
danger. Would the gut feeling prove to be true,
and there will be a huge crash on the left side
of the motorway, you’re relatively safe between Gotthard Road Tunnel, it is not advisable to ride
the heavy trucks. HGV drivers are extremely pro- in the nauseating exhaust when you can instead
fessional and rarely do something quick and ill get fresh air and great outdoor experiences by
considered. taking the mountain road. Maybe this is obvious
Another example of a good tactical choice to some, but nevertheless a good tactical choice
is to ride in the lee of a large HGV when wind you can only make if you are prepared and actu-
cones are straight out on long, open bridges. The ally know that another route exists.
professional driver will probably understand that Often it’s good to give up while the going is
you have a problem and do everything to help good. It goes pretty much without saying that you
you. are not a particularly good rider if you are extre-
When you perceive that there are road works, mely cold and wet. It may well be that in some
an accident or anything that hinders traffic in the situations you should make a tactical choice to
 107

simply cancel the tour - or change the route in cyclist, you simply have to adapt to the traffic
relation to the weather. culture that you are experiencing. If you can’t do
this, or don’t want to, you should rather stay at
home.
On unfamiliar roads The most obvious example is when you are in

Y ou’ve probably heard the saying “when in the UK. If you come from Italy or Sweden you
Rome, do as the Romans”. It’s a survival rule may think that it is “unnatural” to drive on the
that it is relatively easy to transfer to motorcycle left, but you obviously can’t insist on riding in the
riding in unfamiliar environments. As a motor- UK like you do in the rest of Europe. Then you’ll
crash. And it will be your fault.
In Germany, where everything runs very
smoothly, it is expected that you will follow the
German driving pattern. That means precision,
concentration and following the rules. It can be
dangerous to insist on riding differently.
In Italy, the motorists drive with small mar-
gins. It is not uncommon to find that two moto-
rists drive side by side in the same lane when it is
queued and it is wide enough for two cars. Illegal
yes, but very practical, and something you as a
tourist simply has to relate to.

Self-awareness

W ho you are as a person means a lot to who

you are as a motorcyclist. If you are a person
with a short fuse, you can be pretty sure that it
”When in Rome, do as the Romans”: Italians will boil under the helmet if you are standing
drive with smaller margins than Norwegians and for hours in a queue. Then you can easily make
Germans, and we just have to adapt when we wrong choices. A good strategy then is to et out
visit Italy. of the queue and take a time-out. But to imple-
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ment this, you need to think about whom you are

and how you react in different situations.
Self-awareness is not just a mental thing, it will
definitely be a physical factor on the occasions
when your personality affects your operational
choices - choises that will allow you to survive
- or not. If you are on a group ride with the club,
and know that you are a bit aloof and don’t have
the best riding technique, it is a good strategy to
decide to yield if the pace gets too high.
Another question you should ask yourself
once in a while is if the other road users per-
ceive you as friendly or hostile. If you really are
a decent and tolerant person, and yet constantly
find yourself in situations where you think it is
necessary to give “the finger”, you have chosen
some pretty crazy riding strategies.
There is a place and a time for everything.
When it comes to riding a motorcycle, it is best
to choose a time and a place that does not dis-
turb others, especially if you want to ride in an
inspired style.
One does not necessarily have to violate the
speed limits in order to feel the power of the bike
and get the kick a good riding experience pro-
vides. Therefore it is a good strategy to seek out
Safer: Research shows that a fri-
endly rider is less accident prone the gentle feedback a harmonious, soft and safe
than an aggressive rider. riding technique provides, rather than always
pushing the bike to the limit. It is dangerous and
rather stupid to get used to very strong stimuli to
thrive on a motorcycle.
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It is important to choose the right time and

right place. You can surely find a favourite stretch
where you can get great mastery experiences wit-
hout provoking anyone or risking anything.
If you basically
Also … are a friendly
and tolerant
T he large ferries, operating on open waters,
usually have good solutions for securing the
motorcycle. Put the bike in first gear and always
person and still
place available rubber pads in front/ behind the often end up
wheels. Remove heavy luggage and strap the
bike standing on the side stand. Not all ferry
in situations
companies have suitable straps, so it may be wise where you feel it
to bring your own straps. Common rope works
very poorly. is necessary to
Mount straps from the mount rings on the car give the finger,
deck to both sides of the bike, and then tighten
so you compress the bike suspension. Tighten the On the overnight ferry: If you strap your you probably
bike properly you will sleep better!
strap on the left side of the bike first. If you have have chosen
a sidestand that pops up by itself, attach a strap
between the sidestand and the front wheel (turn completely
and the sidestand can sink through and make
the handlebar fully to the left).
Be very careful about securing your motorcycle the bike fall. To prevent that from happening wrong strategies
properly. It is sad to find the motorcycle “spread” you should put a small plastic plate under the for your riding
all over the car deck when you come down to the side stand. Additionally, if you attach a string to
car deck the next morning. And remember, the the plate and tie it around the handlebars, you
ferry company will try to shirk all responsibility. can easily lift it up and put it back in your inside
Tie properly and you can sleep soundly - even if pocket before riding off.
you get rough seas on the trip.
Asphalt that can get quite soft in hot weather,
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Few things in life are

better than riding
with your good
friends on a warm
autumn afternoon