California Motorcycle Handbook - Antevia

DISCLAIMER .....................................iiWHERE TO WRITE ............................iiINTRODUCTION ............................... 2TWO-WHEEL VEHICLE OPERATION 2Motorcycles ........................................... 2Motor-Driven Cycles ............................ 3Motorized Bicycles............................... 3Motorized Scooter ............................... 3LICENSE REQUIREMENTS ............... 4Earning Your License .......................... 4Application Requirements—All Drivers ......................................... 4Permit Requirements ......................... 4Minors ....................................................... 5Adults ....................................................... 5Licensing Requirements.................... 5Minors ....................................................... 5Adults ....................................................... 5On-Cycle Skill Test ............................... 5PREPARING TO RIDE ....................... 6Wearing The Right Gear ...................... 6Helmet use ................................................ 6Helmet selection ....................................... 6Eye and face protection ........................... 7Clothing ..................................................... 7Know Your Motorcycle ........................ 8The right motorcycle ................................. 8Borrowing and lending ............................. 8Get familiar with the motorcycle controls 9Check your motorcycle ............................ 9Know Your Responsibilities............. 10RIDE WITHIN YOUR ABILITIES ...... 10Basic Vehicle Control ........................ 10Body position .......................................... 10Shifting gears ......................................... 11Braking .................................................... 11Turning .................................................... 12Keeping Your Distance ...................... 12Lane positions ........................................ 12Following another vehicle ...................... 13Being followed ....................................... 14Passing and being passed ..................... 14Lane sharing ........................................... 15Merging cars ........................................... 15Cars alongside ....................................... 16Search, Evaluate, and Execute ......... 16Search .................................................... 16Evaluate .................................................. 16Execute ................................................... 17TABLE OF CONTENTSIntersections ....................................... 17Blind intersections ..................................18Passing parked cars .............................. 18Parking at roadside ................................. 19Increasing Visibility ........................... 19Clothing ................................................... 19Headlight .................................................20Turn signals ............................................ 20Brake light ............................................... 21Using your mirrors ..................................21Head checks ...........................................22Horn ........................................................ 22Riding at night ......................................... 22Crash Avoidance ................................ 23Quick stops ............................................. 23Swerving or turning quickly ...................24Cornering ................................................ 25Handling Dangerous Surfaces. ........ 26Uneven surfaces and obstacles ........... 26Slippery surfaces ................................... 26Railroad or trolley tracks and pavementseams ................................................ 27Grooves and gratings ............................28Mechanical Problems ........................ 28Tire failure ............................................... 28Stuck throttle ...........................................28Wobble ....................................................29Chain problems ....................................... 29Engine seizure ........................................29Animals .................................................30Flying Objects ...................................... 30Getting Off The Road .......................... 30Carrying Passengers and Cargo ....31Equipment ............................................... 31Instructing passengers .......................... 31Riding with passengers .........................31Carrying loads ........................................32Group Riding ........................................32Keep the group small .............................. 32Keep the group together ........................ 32Keep your distance ................................ 33BEING IN SHAPE TO RIDE .............. 34Blood Alcohol Concentration ........... 34Alcohol And The Law ........................ 35Minimize The Risks ........................... 35Fatigue .................................................. 35MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE FACTS.35EVADING A PEACE OFFICER .......... 36TREAD LIGHTLY ............................. 36i