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ABATE of Florida Inc SOUTHWEST CHAPTER
Freeway riding invites some obvious survival rules that for some reason or other seem to be
ignored by most. For example,
Assuming you are in the slow or second slowest lane and you approach an on-ramp, do a head check to
the right. Equally as important, if you are approaching an off-ramp, do a head check to the LEFT (and
catch that guy who is about to cut in front of you to make his exit).
If you have a choice of lanes to ride in, the second fastest lane is a compelling choice. This allows a way
for the hot dogs to pass you (more or less legally), and is, not incidentally, where the least lane changing
takes place (unless it is a three-lane road, of course.)
There is nothing magic or sacred about avoiding the center track of your lane. Debris usually ends up not
in the center track, but on the lines on a freeway. Since there is so little stopping on a freeway, the center
track is usually not significantly more greasy than to either side of it. So, in high wind situations, favor the
center track. Passing between a pair of 18-wheelers, use the center track. Riding in the fast lane with a
guard rail or retaining wall near by, use the center track.
What they should NOT be teaching (because it is WRONG):
You must not cover your front brake while moving
(This is ONLY true while you are in their class, new to motorcycling, and riding at slow speeds
and likely to dump the bike if you apply the brake while in a turn)
Your front brake provides 70% of your stopping power
(In fact, if your bike can do a Stoppie it can provide 100% of the stopping power, and in almost all
cases more than 90% of it.)
Braking in a curve will widen that turn
(Usually, but certainly not always. By using just the rear brake you eliminate virtually all forces
that widen the turn.)
Having the students lock their rear brake at 20 MPH
(This is insane! The lesson being taught is that using both brakes is far more effective than using
just the rear, and certainly more effective than using just the front, but that lesson could be taught
having the students use only the FRONT brake then both for comparison. IT IS NEVER, EVER -
NOT ONCE IN YOUR LIFETIME - APPROPRIATE TO AGGRESSIVELY USE YOUR REAR
BRAKE. If asked to do this in an MSF class you are well advised to refuse - it is NOT mandatory.
Implying to a new rider that he can control a rear brake skid and that it is not particularly
dangerous is virtually criminal to my mind.)
The heavier the bike, the greater the stopping distance and time to stop that bike
(Nonsense! This is pure myth. It takes more energy to stop than a lighter bike, but it gives you the
added traction to use that energy - i.e., just apply more braking effort and the time and distance
will be the same.)
Downshift while braking
(Their logic is that this insures that you are always in first gear when you come to a stop so that
you could, if necessary, quickly start moving again without having to first 'find' first gear. This is a
distraction that takes your attention away from a potentially life saving effort (an emergency stop)
when ALL of your attention should be spent on controlling your motorcycle in that situation.
Further, studies have shown that in order to achieve the shortest distance, fastest, stop while
braking you need to totally disengage your clutch when you start that braking effort. Downshift
AFTER you have come to a complete stop - ALWAYS.)
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