Motorcycle Safety Foundation Answers YOUR Top Riding Questions
How can I improve my safety on the road as a biker? Is it too late for me to take up motorcycling? How should I position my bike on the road when riding in a city?
New and experienced bikers alike have plenty of questions about the world of motorcycling and how to improve the riding experience to stay safe and have fun. Cycle Trader recently asked our social media followers what key questions they had about motorcycles and biking. Now, our friends at the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) have provided answers and insights to your questions so that you’re ready to ride – safely!
1. What is the best lane position for riding in the city?
MSF: The best position within your lane is the one that optimizes your space cushion, your view of traffic, and the chance of you being seen by other drivers. Many motorcyclists consider the left third of the lane—roughly the left tire track of automobiles—to be their default lane position. It keeps you away from steel maintenance covers and debris or oil that collects in the center of the lane (though that’s usually only a factor at stoplights), and it gives you more cushion from typical hazards on your right (doors opening from parked cars if you’re in the right-most lane, for example).
But, be flexible and vary your lane position as conditions warrant. For example, on curvy two-lane backroads, moving to the center or right portion of your lane gives you a larger space cushion from oncoming traffic in right-hand curves and a better view of the road in left-hand curves.
2. On a two lane road, is it legal for two bikes to run side by side?
MSF: At least two states (Virginia and Vermont) prohibit side-by-side riding; there may be others, so riders should check with appropriate authorities.
Even if side-by-side riding is not prohibited in your state, MSF recommends against that practice. Instead, riders should choose a staggered formation on straight roads, and single-file on curvy roads. Side-by-side riding reduces the space cushion; if you suddenly needed to swerve to avoid a hazard, you would not have room to do so. You don’t want the bikes’ handlebars to get entangled!
Check out our Group Riding tips here: https://msf-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/AI4-pdf.pdf
3. Should motorcycles split lanes in a traffic jam and go between two cars waiting at a red light?
MSF: Lane-splitting/sharing/filtering refers to riding a motorcycle between two adjacent lanes of traffic heading in the same direction, allowing the option to pass slow-moving or stopped traffic, whether on a highway or city street. Only four states (Arizona, California, Montana, and Utah) allow some form of lane-splitting.
Other benefits include reduced fatigue from constant shifting and braking in traffic, reduced exposure to stifling heat in the summer and car exhaust year-round, and reduced risk of engine overheating.
Studies have found that lane-splitting is relatively safe if done in traffic moving at 50 mph or less, and if motorcyclists do not exceed the speed of other vehicles by more than 15 mph. Motorcyclists are less likely to be rear-ended in stop-and-go traffic while splitting compared to a normal lane position. Only experienced riders should split lanes, and they need to manage their risks by being extra cautious and alert.
4. At what speed do you wear safety glasses?
MSF: Regardless of speed, proper eye protection should be worn. Glasses, sunglasses, and safety glasses may not seal out wind and dust, which can impair vision and hasten fatigue. A motorcycle windscreen may not prevent sand or pebbles kicked up by the tires on the car in front of you from hitting your eyeballs. There is no substitute for an impact-resistant face shield or goggles to protect your precious eyes.
5. How can a motorcyclist ride without a seatbelt? They fine people in cars for not wearing them.
MSF: There are several reasons motorcycles aren’t equipped with seat belts. First, saddle seats don’t have integral seatbacks with headrests, so a seatbelt/shoulder belt wouldn’t have anything to position you against. Second, the rider needs to be able to “step out of the way” if dropping the motorcycle while stationary or after a crash. Being tied to the bike could be hazardous in those circumstances. Third, there are some riding maneuvers that require the rider to move about the seat, such as in low-speed counterweighting for U-turns and a leaning-in position for performance-type cornering.
6. Should I place both feet on the ground when coming to a stop?
MSF: When you come to a stop, the decision of whether to put down one (and which one) or both feet depends on the situation and your experience level. The typical scenario would be to put the left foot down first so the rear brake pedal can still be used.
Consider a typical intersection, on level ground, controlled by a traffic signal. Our default recommendation is to leave a bike in first gear at a stop, ready for a quick move-out, with the left foot on the ground. However, if you know that the light had just changed to red before you approached, you can minimize fatigue by shifting to Neutral, releasing the clutch lever, and placing both feet on the ground. In this position, apply the front brake to keep from rolling and to illuminate the brake lamp. However, this may increase the risk of a rear-end collision, because it will take time to shift into first gear to move if a hazard approaching from behind is observed.
Stopping at a stop sign presents a different situation because you are likely to stop for only a brief time. It’s usually best to leave the transmission in first gear and put only your left foot down, keeping your right foot on the footrest, and applying the rear brake. However, if you are in a long line of vehicles, you may want to keep both feet down and power-walk the bike as the vehicles in front of you slowly advance.
7. How effective and useful are anti-lock brakes on motorcycles?
MSF: An anti-lock braking system uses electronic sensors to automatically release brake pressure prior to the wheel locking up and the tire skidding, helping the rider to retain directional control and shorten stopping distances in some straight-line emergency braking situations. ABS is most useful on wet or slippery surfaces where tire grip is reduced, since without ABS there is a higher risk of wheel lock-up and skidding during braking.
When you brake hard, or brake on a slippery surface, the ABS can sense an impending wheel lock-up and you may feel a pulsation through the lever/pedal as the pressure relief valves cycle on and off to help the tire maintain optimum traction. Don’t release and reapply the lever/pedal to “help” it because that will prevent the system from doing its job.
Most importantly, having ABS doesn’t mean you can ride recklessly and expect the system to save you, or violate the laws of physics. ABS and other technological advancements are fine aids, but should not be considered a replacement for good riding skills, sound knowledge, and judgment when it comes to stopping safely.
Dual-purpose and adventure bikes may have ABS equipped with special settings for off-road use. It’s always best to check the owner’s manual to fully understand a motorcycle’s features.
8. When is it ok to use the front brake? We usually use the back brake.
MSF: In most everyday riding situations, you can SIGNIFICANTLY reduce your stopping distance by using the front and rear brakes together and properly. The front brake can provide over 70% of the available stopping power, because as the front tire slows and the weight of bike and rider shift forward—you will notice this weight shift since it causes compression of the front forks—the front tire is pushed harder against the pavement and is even more effective at slowing the bike.
There are only a few situations in which you may want to avoid using the front brake and rely only on the back brake, such as when the front tire goes flat, or when you need to slow down in a corner, on slippery pavement, while leaned over.
9. I’m 61 and have never ridden a street bike. Is it too late to start?
MSF: If you’re in generally good health, with a good sense of balance and a good score on your vision test, you can consider taking up street riding. Motorcycling is certainly more demanding on the body and mind than driving a car: motorcycling requires more physical activity and interaction than driving, and you must be on constant alert for traffic and road hazards that tend to affect motorcycles and motorcyclists more than cars and drivers. How is your balance? Coordination? Reaction time? Can you ride a bicycle well? Drive a stick-shift car? You can take a formal rider education course such as MSF’s Basic RiderCourse to determine if this is a path you want to follow.
10. What’s the best color for a bike day and night?
MSF: Motorcycle color is not a key factor in maximizing the chance a car driver will see you. Since most bike vs. car crashes involve the front of the motorcycle hitting or being hit by a car, the color of the rider’s apparel and helmet are a bigger safety factor since they are more “present” in an oncoming driver’s line of sight—very little of a motorcycle’s color is displayed at the front of the bike.
In a 2004 New Zealand study, researchers evaluated hundreds of motorcycle crashes and compared those riders to a control group of riders randomly selected from roadside surveys in the same region and time period.
Riders wearing reflective or fluorescent clothing had a 37% lower risk of a crash than those not wearing such materials. And compared with wearing a black helmet, wearing a white, red, yellow, or orange helmet was associated with a 19~24% lower risk of injury. Just using the headlight during the day reduced the risk of crash-related injury by 27%.
11. Do you publish diagrams for download for slow speed drill courses with measurements and specifications for cones to mark the paths?
MSF: Yes, MSF offers a free download of our “You and Your Motorcycle Riding Tips” booklet here: https://msf-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Street_Motorcycle_Tips.pdf
The second half of the booklet is our Motorcycle Skill Test Practice Guide, which shows you how to set up your own informal parking lot exercises in which you can practice braking, cornering, and swerving at low speeds. Find an empty lot, bring a friend and six unopened water bottles (or similar markers), inspect your bike, don your safety gear, and spend some quality time enhancing your skills!
Riding motorcycles means taking safety precautions and familiarizing yourself with your bike before you get out on the road. When it comes to guidance for riding, get the answers you need for riding your bike from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. And if you’re ready to find your next bike, be sure to see all the new and used makes and models on the nation’s leading marketplace at CycleTrader.com.
Motorcycle Safety Foundation
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) is a national, not-for-profit organization promoting the safety of motorcyclists with programs in rider training, operator licensing and public information. Visit msf-usa.org.
Ryan Miller
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