Idaho STAR Motorcycle Safety Program Precision Riding Clinic www.idahostar.org WELCOME! Welcome to the Idaho STAR Precision Riding motorcycle where you want, when you want, SKILLS AND SKILL SETS: COURSE REQUIREMENTS Clinic. We couldn’t be happier that you have every time. We will also work on higher speed • Braking – low speed and higher speed, to • Attendance - mandatory for all sessions taken this opportunity to refi ne your riding braking and countersteering drills. include maximum braking skills. • Participate in discussions This course is not designed to be • Swerving – countersteering at higher • Participate in riding sessions This two-day advanced skills development competitive although many riders fi nd it speeds workshop will help you take your motorcycling challenging. There is no test at the end of the • Head and eye placement skills to the next level and become a master of course, and it is not a ‘pass/fail’ class. You • Low speed control – clutch/throttle/balance your machine. may fi nd that you master some of the skills quicker than others - that’s OK. We do lots of • ‘Working’ the bike – turning the bars while You’ll be guided in this process by Idaho STAR repetitions for skills building. leaning the bike professional rider training instructors who will • Transitions (turning left to turning right, promote your self-discovery with lots of hands- We encourage everyone to participate in each braking to swerving, etc.) on practice. exercise to gain the most out of the class. We are here to assist in your learning and Many of the exercises are focused on slow- development as a precision rider. The more speed maneuvability and precision riding - we you practice, the better you’ll get! defi ne that as knowing how to put your

1 2 REQUIRED RIDING GEAR MOTORCYCLE INSPECTION RANGE RULES 7. If you have a problem, move out of the way ● DOT approved helmet To participate in the range activities, your All participants must adhere to the range rules and signal your instructor. ● Eye protection – a helmet faceshield, motorcycle must be in safe working order. at all times or risk losing the privilege of riding 8. If your motorcycle falls over, wait for goggles or glasses At a minimum, we will check for the following: on the STAR course. The rules are for the someone to assist you to pick it up - do not protection of you, fellow students, instructors, attempt to pick it up by yourself. ● Sturdy, over-the-ankle footwear; low heels ● Tire tread and property. 9. If you hear a referee-style whistle, stop are preferred ● Leaking fl uids 1. Don’t practice without permission. smoothly and immediately and wait for ● Full-fi ngered gloves We strongly recommend that you check for: 2. Stay with each exercise as it’s being further directions. 10. Horseplay, stunts, or showing off will not be ● Pants – full length sturdy material such as ● Tire pressure practiced. denim 3. Wear all protective gear when on the tolerated. ● Smooth control operation motorcycle. 11. If you don’t understand an exercise, ask ● Motorcycle riding jacket, preferably with the instructor for clarifi cation. armor ● Fuel and oil 4. Always check around you – front, sides, and behind – before moving. 12. If you become frustrated, angry, or over- ● Rain gear if the weather is threatening - 5. Don’t crowd other riders – leave plenty of whelmed, take a break. courses are not cancelled because of rain space between you and them. 13. Notify your instructor if you are too 6. Use the engine cut-off switch to stop the uncomfortable to ride safely. engine, and then turn off the ignition. 14. Report any and all injuries to an instructor immediately.

3 4 MAXIMUM BRAKING ● Keep your knees against the tank and your Advanced Braking Systems Check your owner’s manual for information Stopping a motorcycle quickly and safely is a eyes up, looking well ahead. This helps Modern motorcycles are equipped with about your motorcycle’s braking system and skill that takes time to develop and continual you stop the motorcycle in a straight line. excellent braking systems and stop very become familiar with how it works. practice to keep sharp. Failure to apply the ● Apply light to lighter pressure to the rear quickly with a skilled rider at the controls. brakes properly is a leading cause of brake pedal to prevent a rear wheel skid. HANDLING SKIDS motorcycle crashes. As weight transfers forward, less traction is Some models are equipped with braking The best way to handle a skid is to avoid available at the rear. systems that apply braking force – causing one in the fi rst place. But we all make Maximum Braking Technique both front and rear – when the rear brake is mistakes. Here is how to correct the problem: Maximum straight-line braking is accomplished Stopping Distances activated, and some apply proportional by fully applying front and rear brakes without Skilled riders should aim to stop their braking forces to both brakes when either Front-Wheel Skids locking either wheel. To do this: motorcycles in these distances: brake is applied. Front-wheel skids result in immediate loss of ● Squeeze the front brake smoothly, fi rmly, ● 20mph – 15 feet or less steering control and balance. The same loss of and with increasing force. Do not grab the ● 25mph – 25 feet or less Other bikes are equipped with Anti-Lock control can occur from applying the front brake brake lever or use abrupt pressure. ● 30mph – 35 feet or less Braking Systems (ABS), which prevent wheel too much as it can from applying it too fast. lock up in a maximum straight-line stop. ● As the motorcycle’s weight transfers If the front wheel locks, release the front brake forward, more traction becomes available Some models provide a combination of linked immediately and completely. Reapply the at the front wheel, so the front brake can brakes smoothly and properly. be applied harder after braking begins. braking and ABS. 5 6 SWERVING Rear-Wheel Skids Note - ABS is designed to prevent wheel lock- ● Keep your body upright and allow the ups in straight-line braking. Swerving Technique motorcycle to move independently of you - A skidding tire is a dangerous condition that the motorcycle will react more quickly that can result in a violent crash and serious injury Skilled motorcyclists can swerve away from way or death. danger in less space than it takes to stop. It is critical to develop good “at-speed” swerving As soon as the rear wheel locks, your ability to skills and practice these skills to keep them Caution: Swerving consumes a lot of traction change direction is lost. To regain that control, sharp. Here is how it’s done: leaving little in reserve for braking. Therefore, immediately release the rear brake and reapply never attempt to brake during a swerve. smoothly and properly. ● Look to your escape path (not at the obstacle you are trying to avoid!) It is important to immediately release the rear Even the slightest braking force can induce an ● Press fi rmly on the handgrip to initiate the brake in the event of a skid - here’s why. If the immediate and forceful crash. Hold a steady swerve (press right, go right; press left, go rear wheel has fi shtailed out of alignment with throttle while swerving. If braking is required, left) the front, there is a risk of a high side crash. brake before or after swerving, never during! ● Hold the press until the motorcycle has Even slight misalignment can result in a high cleared the hazard side crash. The farther out of alignment the ● Press fi rmly on the opposite grip to rear wheel becomes, the greater the risk of a straighten the motorcycle high side.

7 8 PRC SKILLS PRACTICE GUIDE

Here are some suggestions for practicing the 90 DEGREE TURNS FROM A STOP acceptable to take a couple of steps as you skills you learned in the PRC in order to keep 1. Place your motorcycle perpendicular to the gain enough speed for balance) those skills sharp. When ‘the moment of truth’ center of the parking stall line (place your 7. You should complete the 90-degree turn presents itself, there typically is not time to front tire on the line) without crossing the next parking stall line think “Now, how do I do that again…?” Your 2. Turn your handlebars in the direction you skills need to be sharp and at the ready – and want to go and place your inside foot (your you need to get it right the FIRST time (you right foot if you are turning right) on the RIGHT LEFT

probably won’t get a ‘do over’). ground

3. Lean the motorcycle slightly in the direction These practice drills can be done in a parking you want to go. Turn your head and look in lot using the parking lot lines. NOTE: The deci- the direction you want to go sion to allow you to practice on that parking lot 4. Roll on the throttle and ease out the clutch is up to the property owner/manager. to move forward 5. Keep the bars turned, keep the bike slightly These suggestions are based on 10-foot wide leaned, and keep your head and eyes look- parking spaces. Measure the spaces you plan ing through the turn as you make the turn to use, and if they are wider or narrower, adjust 6. When the bike has enough speed for accordingly. balance, pick up your foot. (NOTE: It is

9 10 U-TURNS IN 20 FEET OR LESS MAXIMUM BRAKING News ‘Test Bike Index’ is a good place to 1. Enter the parking stall just to the right of 1. Ride perpendicular to the parking lines (so start.) You’ll probably discover that your one of the lines you are crossing a line every 10 feet) bike has a rated performance somewhere 2. Turn right to make a U-turn 2. Accelerate to the desired speed between 110 and 150 feet. Remember RIGHT LEFT 3. Turn your head and look all the way to the 3. Begin braking at one of the lines (this is that this performance was achieved by a end of the U-turn (back where you entered your ‘zero’ mark) professional rider, so don’t expect to get from) 4. Use both brakes (gradually increasing there right away 4. Use the clutch and throttle together to con- pressure on the front brake) to stop and trol speed and balance keep your head and eyes up Begin braking

5. You should complete the U-turn within the 5. Once you are stopped, use the lines to 10 feet 20 feet 30 feet 40 feet second parking stall line (take two 10’ estimate your distance (each line you

parking spaces) crossed is 10 feet). Measure your distance Set and maintain a 6. Repeat – making a left U-turn using the leading edge of your front tire steady approach speed 7. You can use this same technique to prac- 6. To give yourself a good benchmark, do tice ‘Figure 8s’ and circles some research and fi nd out the braking performance for your motorcycle. The typi- cal performance given is a 60mph – zero stopping distance. (Motorcycle Consumer

11 12 MAINTAIN VEHICLE CONTROL AT LOW 6. Ride to the right of the fi rst marker, left of SPEEDS the second, and so on

1. For this practice you’ll need some kind of 8. Use the clutch and throttle together to 15 feet marker – we recommend tennis balls cut in control speed and balance – remember, half, or small cones a little bit of speed gives the bike stability 2. Use the intersection of the parking lines and allows it to lean (riding very slowly will

and starting at one intersection, put a make this more diffi cult) marker at the fi rst, fourth, seventh, and 9. Keep your head and eyes up, looking tenth intersections where you want to go next – not down at 3 feet

3. This should give you a line of 4 markers the cones that are 30 feet apart 10. Once you have mastered the “15 foot by 4. Now go back and put markers in the middle 3 foot” weave, you can challenge yourself of each of those 4 – now you have a line of with the “17 foot by 5 foot weave” (this is 7 markers that are 15 feet apart the one you did in the PRC)

5. Finally, take the three markers you just put 30 feet down and move them each 3 feet to the left – now you have a 7 marker series to create an off-set weave

13 14 NOTES ______Visit our website for more rider resources: ______www.idahostar.org ______May 2011 ______

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