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POST 194 RIDING GUIDE President: Doug Tinsley Vice President: Steve Weick Sgt at Arms: Sam Demao Edited By: Steve Weick

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Page 1: President: Doug Tinsley Vice President: Steve Weick Sgt at Arms: … · 2018. 4. 9. · Riding in an unsafe manner just about guarantees much lower turnouts for future ... Dress and

POST 194 RIDING GUIDE

President: Doug Tinsley Vice President: Steve Weick

Sgt at Arms: Sam Demao Edited By: Steve Weick

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Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1

II. SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................ 2

III. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ......................................................................... 3

A. ROAD CAPTAIN ........................................................................................................ 3

B. SWEEP ..................................................................................................................... 4

C. CO-ROAD CAPTAIN ................................................................................................. 5

D. THE FORMATION ..................................................................................................... 5

IV. PARTICIPATING IN THE RIDE .............................................................................. 6

V. GROUP RIDING PRINCIPLES .............................................................................. 9

A. BASICS ..................................................................................................................... 9

SPACING – SEE APPENDIX B ........................................................................................ 10

B. GROUP PASSING - TWO LANE ROADS ................................................................ 10

C. GROUP PASSING -MULTI-LANE ROADS .............................................................. 11

D. WHEN BEING PASSED .......................................................................................... 12

E. KEEPING TOGETHER IN TOWN ............................................................................ 12

F. HAND SIGNALS-SEE APPENDIX C ........................................................................ 12

VI. CLOSING ............................................................................................................. 13

VII. APPENDIX A ........................................................................................................ 14

A. PRE RIDE INSPECTION - T-CLOCS ............................................................................. 14 T – TIRES & WHEELS ............................................................................................................ 14 C – CONTROLS ...................................................................................................................... 14 L – LIGHTS .............................................................................................................................. 14 0 – OIL/Other Fluids ................................................................................................................ 15 C – CHASSIS .......................................................................................................................... 15 S – STANDS ............................................................................................................................ 15

VIII. APPENDIX B ........................................................................................................ 16

A. SPACING ................................................................................................................... 16

IX. APPENDIX C ........................................................................................................ 16

A. HAND SIGNALS .......................................................................................................... 16

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Page 1

I. INTRODUCTION

Group riding is the opportunity to share the open road and wonderful scenery with

other like-minded people. To ride safely, however, all riders in the group must

cooperate. It must be a team effort. When participating in a group ride, your thinking

must be adjusted to that of working together using certain guidelines rather than a

group of "solo thinking" riders riding together. The group's needs outweigh the

individual rider's needs.

This guide is intended to be an introduction to group riding for our new members and a

refresher in group riding basics for our long time members. Its purpose is to get

everyone on the "same page" when it comes to anticipating the role of each

rider/passenger on the ride. Knowing what to expect relieves most apprehension and

heightens the enjoyment of all participants.

Participating in a group ride is an activity that a lot of riders thoroughly enjoy. However,

many riders are somewhat intimidated and reluctant to participate because they are

not really sure how it's actually done. There is a good chance they have participated in

a group ride and have become aware that there is a lot more going on than readily

meets the eye. There is also the chance that they have been on some group rides that

were conducted by riders who were long on enthusiasm but short on planning and

leading know-how. This may have resulted in an unfavorable experience and left the

rider with very little desire to join another such event. That won't happen here.

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II. SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

1. Safety is ALWAYS the first and foremost consideration! Minimum safety clothing for all

riders and passengers should include eye protection (windscreen, goggles, or face

shield), and hand and foot protection (preferably that cover the wrist and ankle).

Leather chaps are strongly recommended. Remember, you dress for the "fall", not for

the ride. Road rash, or worse, really takes the enjoyment out of any ride.

2. Riding in an unsafe manner just about guarantees much lower turnouts for future

events. Most riders are very quick to recognize when they're in an unsafe situation and

will normally avoid them in the future. Most of the "rules" that are discussed later are

really aimed at keeping everyone as safe as possible. ·

3. Planning and predictability are the keys to a safe ride. The "plan" makes the

"predictability", and those are the guiding principles for your Road Captains and their

crews. When selecting a route and the stops to make along the way, consider the

experience of the riders, the stamina of the group, and the limits of the motorcycles in

the group. Some riders have smaller bladders than other.

4. It is much better to get temporarily separated from the group than it is to end up as a

Buick hood ornament. Methods that will allow temporarily separated riders to rejoin the

group will be discussed. However, being separated and even lost is much better than

body casts, stainless steel bone pins, and skin grafts. All riders should be briefed of

the path of travel; it will make reuniting with the group easier. Do not feel obligated to

catch up to the group quickly; the group's next stop such as a gas station or restaurant

will give a separated rider enough time to safely catch up.

5. Should a Road Captain become aware that an unsafe or hazardous riding situation

has developed during a ride, it is his/her duty to correct it as soon as possible. Safety

is paramount, so if a Road Captain asks to have a word with you concerning your

riding habits, please do not "shoot the messenger''. Understand that it is for the overall

safety of the group. If the situation cannot be resolved, he/she has the authority to

remove the problem rider from the ride.

6. One last safety pointer: Less experienced and novice riders should ride toward the

back of the group, ahead of the Sweep, so they don't "feel pressured" by more

experienced riders behind them.

Remember, though, it is always better to drop out and go your own way if you feel

uncomfortable or unsafe for any reason. You need to "ride your own ride''. You, and

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you alone, should be the only authority on whether you feel safe, and you should act

accordingly. Always ride within your personal limits.

7. Always ensure your motorcycle is safe for the road. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation

has an acronym for a pre-ride inspection of the motorcycle known as T-CLOCS. (See

Appendix A)

8. Hold a riders' meeting. Discuss things like the route, rest and fuel stops, and hand

signals (See Appendix C). Assign a lead and sweep (tail) rider. Both should be Road

Captains, if available, or experienced riders who are well-versed in group riding

procedures. The leader should assess everyone's riding skills and the group's riding

style.

9. Keep the group to a manageable size, eight to ten riders maximum. If necessary,

break the group into smaller sub-groups, each with a lead and sweep rider.

10. Ride prepared. At least one rider in each group should pack a cell phone, first-aid kit,

and full tool kit, so the group is prepared for any problem that they might encounter

11. Today, it is important for motorcyclists to be more vigilant and perceptive than ever.

Devices that distract other drivers are on the increase, from cell phones that can be

used for talking or texting to video devices and navigation systems that create

inattention to the driving task. Most people recognize when they are visually or

mechanically distracted and seek to disengage from these activities as quickly as

possible. However, people typically do not realize when they are cognitively distracted,

such as taking part in a phone conversation

III. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. ROAD CAPTAIN

The Road Captain is the leader of the ride He/she will be following the ride plan while

simultaneously providing clear direction to the group, constantly monitoring the group

for signals being passed forward, trouble, or any situation which could result in an

unsafe condition.

1. The Road Captain always rides at the left front position so that he/she has the best

view of the route of travel.

2. The Road Captain will set the pace according to the ride plan that will indicate an

appropriate and comfortable speed.

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3. DO NOT set the pace of the ride from a position following the Road Captain. If

the pace seems to fast, drop out of the formation and go to the rear.

4. No one should pass the Ride Captain without prior agreement, and only then for a

specific reason. Safety considerations make this an absolute must.

5. The Road Captain will determine both the direction and lane of travel on a multiple

lane road or highway.

6. Everyone needs to understand that the Road Captain will continue on to a safe

turn-around location should he/she miss, or purposely go past, a turn in the interest

of safety. Riders should avoid second guessing the Road Captain and making

independent decisions that can put both themselves and other riders in danger.

7. The Road Captain and Sweep (discussed later) will individually, or divided between

them, carry some basic "emergency" type equipment such as a first aid kit, fire

extinguisher, flash light, road flares, canteen (water), portable phone, maps of the

general area, basic tools, and whatever else is appropriate for the particular ride.

8. If need be, the Road Captain may deviate from the ride plan as covered at the pre-

ride briefing if safety considerations so dictate.

B. SWEEP

The Sweep is the Sgt. at Arms or a Road Captain who brings up the rear of the ride

Group.

1. The Sweep always rides at the left rear position, regardless of the position of the

motorcycle ahead, so that he/she has the best view of the Group and route of

travel

2. No one is allowed to fall behind the Sweep. Any rider who is not experiencing

difficulties and still cannot maintain the established pace should drop out of the

Group and proceed on his/her own.

3. The Sweep is responsible for determining when the group is ready to leave the

start location. He/she signals to the Road Captain to proceed, and watches out for

traffic until the entire group is underway.

4. The Sweep is responsible for, and provides assistance to, any rider who encounter

problems and has to either slow down or drop out of the ride. No more than one

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other rider should stop to help the Sweep provide assistance, as it is generally not

safe for a larger group to park along the side of the road.

5. Should the Pack get divided, the Sgt at Arms becomes the Road Captain for the

following group until the groups are rejoined, either on the road or at the next

scheduled stop point.

6. The Sweep should always have a cell phone with him/her to call for assistance

C. CO-ROAD CAPTAIN

A very large group may make it advisable to divide the riders into logical groups and

name one or more Road Captains to lead them. To contend with very crowded streets

and multi-lane highways, ALR will break the ride down into groups of no more than ten

motorcycles each (as a guide) for ease of traffic management and safety. Should this

be necessary, just follow the Road Captains' guidance as the groups are separated.

1. The setup is the same for succeeding groups. That is, there will be a Road Captain

and a Sweep for each group with the roles and responsibilities as covered in Ill A

and B. above.

2. You can expect the succeeding Group Road Captains to maintain a spacing of not

closer than five minutes or no further back than ten minutes behind the last

motorcycle of the group immediately ahead. The idea here is to break a single

large riding group into more manageable smaller ones, not to create several

individual rides.

D. THE FORMATION

The formation will be arranged as follows: (This is modified due to The Pres. and

Sec/Tres. riding Trikes and Side Cars)

Road Captain - Front Left

President - Front Right

Vice President - Second Left

Then staggered Members-staggered

Guests-Staggered

Sergeant at Arms-Sweeper-Rear Left

Chase Vehicle if used

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IV. PARTICIPATING IN THE RIDE

1. Dress and pack according to the weather you may encounter during the ride.

"Layering" of clothes is the key. Being too hot, too cold; or uncomfortable from a

sun or wind burn will make you a less safe rider and can lead to an unfortunate

situation not only for you but others on the ride. A heated or cooling vest may

be warranted. However, your protective outer garments are always the guiding

factor, keeping in mind that it's more desirable to sweat than to bleed. Carrying

water bottle is always a good idea.

2. Riders should ensure that their motorcycles are in a safe operating condition

and are generally ready to go (e.g. tire pressure and oil checked, properly

leaded, etc.). It is no fun to crash because of a bad tire on your motorcycle or

someone else's. It is also very embarrassing to be asked to leave the ride

because you are riding a rolling disaster and constitute a danger to everyone

else.

NOTE: It is always bad form to arrive for a ride without having first topped off

your gas tank.

3. Riders should be punctual with regard to arrival for the pre ride meeting and

departure time.

4. All riders are responsible for knowing as much as possible about the route,

times, stops, etc. You should arrive at the departure point ten to fifteen minutes

before start time to hear everything discussed at the pre-ride briefing and to

familiarize yourself with any maps or written instructions that may be provided.

This contributes to a safer ride and adds to the enjoyment. It is less fun just

following people around not knowing where you are going, not knowing when

you will be able to take care of the last cup of coffee, or where (or when) the

next gas stop is. Speaking of gas stops, the Ride Captains will expect you to fill

your tank at each gas stop regardless of how much fuel you have remaining.

NOTE: If maps and ride instructions were included in the ride announcement email,

please print them out and bring them with you.

5. All Riders are responsible for their own safety at all times and will be required to

ride in a safe manner, or leave the ride.

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6. Remember you are representing ALR and everyone on two wheels during an

ALR Group ride. Be a courteous rider; give cars, trucks and your fellow riders

every consideration.

7. The normal riding formation is the staggered formation. Keep at least a 2

second cushion from the bike directly in front of you and at least a 1 second

cushion from the bike immediately to your right or left. Do not ride side by side.

This formation provides the best safety margin of reaction time and space as

each rider only uses one third (either right or left side depending on the stagger

position) of the lane. Heavy, very slow traffic or at intersection may require that

a side-by-side column of twos for a very short distance to keep the group tight.

This will only be performed a very low speeds. The staggered formation,

complete with the proper safe interval, should be resumed as soon as

conditions allow. (See Appendix B)

8. Trikes, motorcycles with sidecars, and motorcycles pulling trailers will normally

be positioned at the back of the Group and use the center of the lane.

9. All riders and passengers are responsible for knowing what the hand signals

mean and for immediately passing back all signals to the following riders. (See

Appendix C)

10. Riders should not speed up suddenly should a gap develop between them and

the motorcycle ahead. Rather, they should accelerate slowly until they catch up

and are back in position. This will help prevent the riders in back from over

reacting and possibly running into the Group when they suddenly catch up. If

someone drops out of the Group of the motorcycle ahead of you changes

position, adjust your lane position to maintain the staggered formation.

11. Riders should not set the pace from a following position. If a Rider feel

uncomfortable, He/she should feel free to adjust his/her position to the rear of

the group. Slower leading riders may be passed to maintain the integrity of the

formation when done in a safe manner. The formation should adjust the stagger

accordingly.

12. Unless you are one of the leaders setting the pace, it is not good idea . to use

cruise control or a throttle lock while on a group ride as it is one of the main

causes of the yo-yo or rubber band effect.

13. Riders should signal the Road Captain when they have to pullover for an

emergency by flashing their lights. All other riders are responsible for passing

this signal forward until the Ride Captain acknowledges that he/she has seen it.

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14. Remember that it is normally the Sweep's responsibility to stop and render

assistance and that no more than one other rider should stop to help the

Sweep. The Road Captain will signal the Group when it is safe to pull off the

road should he/she feel it is necessary.

15. Riders should clearly signal the Sweep if they decide to leave the ride for

any reason. Do not make him/her wonder if you are having trouble and follow

you to see if you need help. A "Thumbs Down" or a "Thumbs Up" hand signal

will indicate to the Sweep that you do, or do not, need assistance. Expect the

Sweep to follow you should you need assistance. If it is a problem not requiring

assistance (e.g. tightening a storage bag or shedding some clothes) give a

"Thumbs Up" to Groups that pass you so they know you're OK. Rejoining the

Group normally should be done at the next scheduled Group stop. This avoids

confusion and maximizes safety.

16. Turning at an intersection, each rider should stay in his/her respective lane

position throughout the arc of the turn unless a single file formation is required

and signaled for by the leader. A single file formation should be called for when

there is a decreasing radius turn, a blind turn, or road conditions are less than

optimal.

17. When entering a parking area, get the group off the roadway as quickly as

possible. All bikes should park together if possible. Take note of what the Road

Captain does (e.g. parallel park, back-in, etc.) and do the same. The Road

Captain will attempt to park so the group stays together and can pull through to

arrive and depart. Departures should be single file. Avoid parking downhill or

nose in for obvious reasons.

18. If you are in back of the group, ride with your headlight(s) on low beam, and

turn off your highway lights to facilitate the counting of motorcycles by the Road

Captains ahead as they keep track of everyone.

I have found that it is easier for me to keep track of the group if there is a big

bike (like an Electra Glide or Goldwing) with the highway lights on 4 bikes from

the last position. That way I can easily spot that bike and then look for the 4

remaining bikes in my mirror.

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V. GROUP RIDING PRINCIPLES

A. BASICS

1. One objective of practicing motorcycle Group riding basics is to safely facilitate the

use by others of the shared highway.

2. Each rider should be aware of the road conditions in front of his/her motorcycle and

anticipate possible moves by others. It's especially important on poor roads, when

passing, or in traffic congestion. This is the essence of good situational awareness:

the art of staying abreast of what is going on around you so that you are ready to

react quickly if you need to. Keep up with your "scan and plan" and always be

ready to take evasive action, if required.

3. Staggered Riding - The staggering begins with the Road Captain who will be in the

left 1/3'd of the lane (left tire track); the second motorcycle should be in the right

1/3'd of the lane. From there on the stagger continues to the back of the group.

Remember, the Sweep will always ride in the left 1/3'd of the lane even though

he/she may not be staggered with the rider ahead.

4. Stay in line with the motorcycle in front of you and do not switch between the left

and right tire tracks unless there is a road hazard in your path or you are adjusting

position due to a rider having left the group. The objective is to keep as tight a

group as possible and yet have enough separation to allow for required safe lateral

maneuvering room.

5. Each rider should be very familiar with his/her motorcycle's handling characteristics

in various situations (e.g. bikes loaded for traveling don't handle the same as when

empty; or heavy braking on dry pavement is quite different from wet). In addition,

familiarity with the motorcycle itself is always a plus (e.g. some bikes don't have

self­canceling turn signals, requiring human intervention).

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SPACING – SEE APPENDIX B

1. The Road Captain rides in the left tire track of the lane with the second motorcycle

riding to the right and behind in a staggered formation. The third rider will strive to

maintain a two-second interval between his/her motorcycle and the motorcycle

immediately ahead in the same tire track. This two-second timing will provide a

safe distance between motorcycles regardless of speed (the faster you go the

more distance the two-second spacing provides because you are covering more

ground) as well as providing a margin of lateral safety should it be needed.

2. The second motorcycle (right tire track) should "key off'' the motorcycle in the left

tire track and strive to maintain a one-second interval behind. The one-second

spacing between motorcycles, regardless of speed, provides a safe distance with

lateral spacing as well. Again, the faster you are traveling the more distance the

one-second spacing provides.

3. Each rider will still need that one-second spacing on the motorcycle in the adjacent

tire track (to provide lateral maneuvering safety room) even if that rider is lagging a

bit behind the motorcycle ahead.

4. There will be times when the Road Captain signals for single file riding (e.g. rough

road, twisty, wet or icy roads, sightseeing, etc.). This is an automatic change to a

single file with a two-second interval between motorcycles.

Note: Timing spacing is easily accomplished by choosing something the motorcycle

ahead (the one you taking spacing on) passes (such as a pavement break, a shadow,

a light pole, etc.) then counting your one or two seconds. If you pass the same place

before you get to your count, you're too close. If it takes longer than your count to get

there then you're too far back. Adjust your spacing accordingly then count again. The

timing exercise should be done, as a minimum, as the Group's speed changes, but

should also be accomplished periodically to maintain the proper safe spacing.

B. GROUP PASSING - TWO LANE ROADS

1. Before passing, move to the tire track of the side you want to pass (usually the left.)

If you can see the driver's face in his rearview mirror, he can see you and your

headlight. This should alert him that you intend to pass. When you have

determined it is safe to pass the vehicle or vehicles ahead, you should signal your

intentions (turn signal and had), check your mirror for other vehicles, turn your

head to clear your blind spot then pull out into the passing lane and accelerate as

required by the situation.

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2. When passing, spend the shortest amount of time possible in the passing lane.

Once well past the vehicle (don't "dive bomb" it by pulling back in too soon) you

repeat your earlier actions of signal, mirror check, head check, and then pull back

into the travel lane.

Note: A good "Rule of Thumb" for spacing before you pull back in is when you can see

both headlights of the passed vehicle in your mirror without moving your head.

3. Continue the overtake speed for a few moments to allow the other riders passing to

pull in behind you. Make sure you do not leave those riders passing behind you to

"hang out to dry" by not allowing them sufficient room to re-enter the travel lane.

Resume the normal travel speed when appropriate.

NOTE: The above holds true, too if the need arises to pass another rider in the Group.

C. GROUP PASSING -MULTI-LANE ROADS

1. When the group needs to pass a slower vehicle it should be done as a series of

individual rider passes using the same techniques discussed in C above. This

allows the safest possible way to advance with the greatest safety margin between

vehicles. It is also the most expeditious method regardless of the number of lanes

on the road.

2. Sometimes it may be prudent and safer to slightly delay a pass. The "rule" here is

that if there is not enough room to safely pass, then there is not enough room. Do

not attempt it.

3. When viewed from above, group passing would resemble a snake slithering around

the vehicle then returning to its original lane.

4. A rider at the rear of the group or the Sweep can/should pull out into the passing

lane and "block" the passing lane to traffic approaching from the rear.

5. If a vehicle wants to break through the group on a multi-lane road, give them space

to safely do so. Close formation once the vehicle exits the lane. If the vehicle does

not move, cautiously and carefully pass the vehicle and reform with the group.

Remember Bikers do not own the road, we share the road.

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D. WHEN BEING PASSED

1. Allow the vehicle to pass you safely. The gap created by the two second spacing

(accompanied by a little adjustment on your part) should allow the passing vehicle

room to pull in ahead of you and, if necessary, to pass in segments rather than by

trying to make it all at one jump.

2. Passing or getting passed anytime can be hazardous so use common sense and a

safe approach. Keep your mirrors in your scan and watch for vehicles that try to

crowd you during their pass.

E. KEEPING TOGETHER IN TOWN

1. The two-second rule for spacing normally takes care of itself as you slowdown in

town. The slower you go the closer the two-second puts you to the rider ahead in

your tire track.

2. Don't worry too much if you get stopped at a stoplight or a stop sign, separating

you from your group. Pulling to one side and waiting or continuing at a reduced

speed are viable options for your Road Captain, so you can expect that. Knowing

the route really helps here. If you do become separated at a traffic light and the

Sweep is with you, the Sweep should assume the lead bike position in the Group

until the group reforms. The Sweep would then fall back to the rear of the group.

F. HAND SIGNALS-SEE APPENDIX C

1. It is very important to be well aware of the common hand signals and what they

mean.

2. As soon as you see a signal given, you and/or your passenger should

immediately repeat the same signal so the rider(s) behind you can see it and

have the maximum amount of time to react.

3. Also, note that for safety reasons all signals are given with the left hand or

either foot if there is an object in the roadway, so as to allow the right hand to

have full control of the throttle and front brake.

4. Hazards on the road surface are indicated by pointing with the appropriate foot

that there is a road surface hazard.

5. The follow riders should then be aware that a hazard exists and pass the signal

back.

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6. Also, pointing to an off road surface hazard such as bicyclists, Parked or broken

down cars, or road construction barriers on your right side with your left hand

pointed to the right over your head is advisable.

7. Tapping your head with your left hand repeatedly and rapidly announces the

presence of Law Enforcement.

8. The "single finger salute" should be used sparingly and judiciously and should

definitely not be directed towards any Law Enforcement Officers. (joke)

VI. CLOSING

These are generally accepted guidelines used by most MC Clubs or Organized

Groups to make rides safe, fun, and predictable for all participants. I hope has been

informative and helps you to understand what you can expect while participating in an

ALR Group ride, and just as important, what is expected of you. This is not designed

nor is it intended to meet every on the road situation or crisis you may confront when

riding your Scooter. Common sense must still apply. If followed even minimally, it will

make the ride easier and more enjoyable.

Ride Safe, Ride Hard.

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VII. Appendix A

A. Pre Ride Inspection - T-CLOCS

T – TIRES & WHEELS

Tires Tread depth, wear, weathering, evenly seated, bulges,

embedded objects.

Check Air Pressure when cold, adjust to load

Wheels Check for bent, broken, missing or loose spokes Wheel rims

cracks or dents.

Out of round/true = 5mm. Spin wheel, index against stationary.

pointer.

Check bearings by grabbing top and bottom of tire and flex: No

freeplay (click) between hub and axle, no growl when spinning.

Brakes Each brake alone should keep bike from rolling.

C – CONTROLS

Levers and Pedal Broken, bent, cracked, mounts tight, ball ends on handlebar

levers, proper adjustment and lubricated.

Cables Check for fraying, kinks, lubrication: ends and interior.

No interference or pulling at steering head, suspension, no

sharp angles, and wire supports in place.

Hoses Check for cuts, cracks, leaks, bulges, chafing, or deterioration.

No interference or pulling at steering head, suspension, no

sharp angles, hose supports in place.

Throttle Moves freely, snaps closed, no revving when handlebars are

turned.

L – LIGHTS

Battery Terminals; clean and tight, electrolyte level, held down

securely. Not kinked, routed properly, not plugged.

Headlamp Check for cracks, reflector, mounting and adjustment system.

Height and right/left.

Hi beam/low beam operation.

Tail lamp/brake lamp Check for cracks, clean and tight.

Activates upon front brake/rear brake application.

Turn signals Flashes correctly.

Mirrors Check for cracks, clean, tight mounts and swivel joints. Adjust

when seated on bike.

Lenses & Reflectors Check for cracked; broken, securely mounted, excessive

condensation.

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Wiring Check for fraying and chafing of insulation.

Pinched, no interference or pulling at steering head or

suspension, wire looms and ties in place, connectors tight,

clean.

0 – OIL/Other Fluids

Levels Check warm on center stand and level ground, dipstick, sight

glass. Transmission, rear drive, shaft.

Brakes, clutch, reservoir or sight glass.

Reservoir and/or coolant recovery tank -check only when cool.

Tank or gauge.

Leaks Gaskets, housings, seals.

Gaskets, seals, breathers. Hoses, master cylinders, calipers.

Radiator, hoses, tanks, fittings, pipes.

Lines, fuel valve, carbs.

C – CHASSIS

Frame Cracks at gussets, accessory mounts, look for paint lifting.

No detent or tight spots through full travel, raise front wheel,

check for play by pulling/pushing forks.

Raise rear wheel, check for play by pushing/pulling swingarm.

Suspension Smooth travel, equal air pressure/damping, anti-dive settings.

Smooth travel, equal pre-load/air pressure/damping settings,

linkage moves freely and is lubricated.

Chain or Belt Check at tightest point.

Side plates when hot. Note: do not lubricate belts.

Teeth not hooked, securely mounted

Fasteners Tight, missing bolts, nuts.

Broken, missing.

S – STANDS

Side stand Check for rust, bent (safety cut-out switch or pad equipped).

Springs in place, tension to hold position.

Center stand Check for rust or bent.

(if equipped) Springs in place, tension to hold position.

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VIII. A

PP

E

N

DI

X

B

A. Spacing

IX. APPENDIX C

A. Hand Signals

Stop - arm extended straight down, palm facing back

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Single File - arm and index finger extended straight u p

Turn Signal On - open and dose hand with fingers and thumb extended

Slow Down - arm extended straight out, pa lm facing down

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Double File - arm with index and Middle finger extended straight up

Fuel - arm out to side pointing to tank with finger ex tended

Speed Up - arm extended straight out, palm facing up

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Hazard Roadway - on the right, point with right foot; on the left, point with left hand

Refreshment Stop - fingers closed, thumb to mouth

You Lead/Come - arm extended upward 45 degrees, palm forward pointing with index

finger, swing in arc from back to front

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Highbeam - t ap on top of helmet with open palm down

Comfort Stop - forearm extended, fist clenched with short up and down motion

Follow Me - arm extended straight up from shoulder, palm forward

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Pull Off – arm positioned as for right turn, forearm swung toward shoulder