HOG Safety

Putting a Stop To It

Real-world Stopping Strategies Keep You Going Strong to

Learning to ride a motorcycle opens up a whole new world

Of freedom and adventure and learning to stop one properly - in both routine and

emergency situations - is an absolutely essential part of that freedom. Here we'll

take a broader view of stopping strategies and techniques, including a few special

situations. “SEE" strategy:

Search: Actively scan the area ahead of you (up to 12 seconds ahead) for

potential hazards and developing situations.

Evaluate: Gather information and anticipate problems. Predict what may go

wrong and prepare yourself to react.

Execute: When a situation requires you to react, adjust your speed, adjust

your position, and communicate your intentions (when possible).

Owner's Manual reminds you, you Staying on top of this strategy at all times can

help you turn a potential "emergency" stopping situation into a routine one. (As

your should be doing a pre-ride inspection before each ride. As part of your pre-

ride bike inspection, check that your brake light comes on when you apply either

the front or rear brake.

Braking Systems:

To stop most effectively in any situation, It's important to understand your

motorcycle's braking system. While some motorcycles feature linked or integrated

braking systems - in which both the front and rear brakes are controlled, to varying

degrees, by either the rear brake pedal or the front brake lever - Harley-Davidson®

motorcycles feature either a standard system or Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).

Standard means the front brake is controlled by a lever on the right hand grip, while

the rear is controlled by a foot pedal near the right foot peg or floorboard. With ABS,

available on some Harley-Davidson models as a factory-installed option, this is still

true, but these brakes a sophisticated electronics to keep the wheels from locking

up on hard braking. This is not a substitute for proper braking technique but instead

gives you a larger margin of error in an emergency.

Hard Braking and Skids:

To achieve maximum braking in most situations, simultaneously squeeze the front

brake lever and apply the rear brake pedal as you keep your body centered. Keep

your eyes up, looking ahead not do this will help you keep the motorcycle in a

straight line. Don't be afraid to use the front brake. Remember: About two-thirds of

your stopping power comes from the front. Just be sure to apply it smoothly and

steadily to avoid locking up the front wheel. In fact, rear-wheel skids are more

common during hard braking situations than front wheel skids. If your rear wheel

locks up, the first thing is don’t panic Still, you'll need to think quickly. The

proper reaction depends on whether your front and rear wheels remain in close

alignment. If you feel the rear wheel start to "fishtail," the best course of action is

usually to ride it out. If you release the brake with the rear wheel sliding sideways,

the tire can regain traction suddenly, causing the motorcycle to straighten suddenly

and cause a dangerous "high side" crash.

Instead keep pressures on the brake pedal while doing your best to keep the

motorcycle moving in a straight line. Relax your body the best you can - avoid taking

a vice grip on the handlebar - while keeping your head up and your eyes forward.

When the motorcycle comes to a complete stop, breathe a well-deserved sigh of

relief - and don't forget to put your foot down!

In the event of a front wheel skid, immediately release the front brake - then

immediately reapply it with firm, steady, progressive pressure until the motorcycle

comes to a complete stop.

Stopping in a Curve:

The safest way to stop is with the motorcycle traveling in a straight line. But if

you find yourself in a situation where you must stop in a curve, there are two ways

to approach it. If your speed, and road and traffic conditions permit, straighten the

motorcycle and square the handlebar {center the steering) before applying the

brakes and stopping the motorcycle in a straight line. If conditions don't allow you to

straighten the motorcycle as such (e.g., there's a risk of running off the road in a

left-hand curve or oncoming traffic to deal with in a right-hand curve), a different

technique is called for. As you continue to steer through the curve, apply the

brakes smoothly and gradually. Apply greater brake pressure as the motorcycle

slows and the lean angle is reduced. To the best of your ability, as conditions allow,

straighten the motorcycle just before coming to a complete stop. Somewhat related

to these situations is "swerving": two quick, consecutive turns (countersteers) to

avoid an obstacle. It can be tempting in an emergency situation.

To stop most effectively in any

situation, it's important to

understand your motorcycle's

brkaing; system.

Want to swerve and brake simultaneously -DON'T! Swerving

uses up a lot of traction, and applying the brakes while

swerving can easily cause a skid or a crash.

Special Situations Passengers:

Remember that the weight of a passenger, even a light one, will affect your

stopping distance and also the weight distribution - which, in turn, can affect how

the front and rear brakes perform. In the event of an unexpected or emergency

stop, let your passenger know what's happening so he or she can brace for the

forward momentum.

Slick road surfaces:

Use the SEE strategy to scout potentially hazardous road surfaces that may affect

your braking ability. Worn pavement, loose surfaces or debris, crack sealant, tar

strips (tar "snakes"), and, of course, ice, snow, mud, moss, and leaves can seriously

compromise your ability to brake effectively. Adjust your speed if necessary and be

prepared to take longer than normal to stop.

Footing:

At an intersection, be aware that there may be oil on the road surface where cars

stop frequently. Especially if it's raining, this can cause a dangerous situation when

you put your foot down. Keep your motorcycle as vertical as possible, and don't

assume the sole of your boot or shoe will have its normal amount of traction.

Use your mirrors:

Your motorcycle most likely can stop much faster than the car or truck behind you.

Stay aware of who's following you and how closely. In the event of a sudden stop,

check your mirrors and don't stop more quickly than you need to rf someone is

close behind. If there's a collision, they will likely get the ticket, but you will suffer

the bulk of the consequences.

Stopping:

It's not as fun as going. But when you find yourself in a high-risk situation, the

ability to do it quickly and safely save may just your life.