1. Bike Setup.
Being on the bottom of the pecking order you must take every opportunity to reduce the risk of accidents. The first step is to ensure your bike is set up for YOU and you are comfortable with it. The following checks should be done whenever you set out, or if not, at least weekly:
- Tyre Pressure. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Most tyres will state the recommended pressure on them. It varies between the front and back and often gives a range so if carrying a pillion err on the high side.
- Tyre Tread. As a rule of thumb once a tyre tread reduces below the diameter of a match head (1.5mm), replace them. The roads in and around Ha Noi are often covered with a fine layer of dirt or oil, even more so after prolonged dry spells. As it is the contact between bike and road that helps you stop, do it right.
- Brake tension. It’s important to ensure both front and back brakes have the correct amount of play in the cables. Braking ability is severely reduced if there is too much slack. Also have your levers/pedals adjusted to suit both your riding position and size.
- Mirrors. DON’T RIDE WITHOUT THEM. Make sure your mirrors offer the best rear vision possible and they are correctly positioned so you can easily see without the need to move your head.
- Lights. In many developed countries motorcycle headlights are ‘hot wired” i.e. there is no on/off switch but they are on all the time. There is a very good reason for this and it applies more so in Vietnam as visual awareness often has more effect than the constant use of horns. Check all your lights are operational before you set out. Head lights, tail light and indicators.
- Horns. They are often ignored here but once again every little bit helps.
- Riding position. Be comfortable in your seating position. Try to sit as far forward as is comfortable. This also applies to your pillion. The aim is to have as much weight forward as possible to allow you to both steer and stop. It’s not a good idea to have your pillion wrap their arms around you (although nice). It’s better to hang onto the hand grips supplied or relaxed on your thighs.
The five key points to remember are;
- Sit well forward
- Keep your head up and point your chin in the direction of travel
- Relax your arms and keep minimal weight on your wrists
- Keep your back relaxed and support your weight with your stomach muscles
- Grip the bike firmly with your legs and knees. (sometimes a little difficult with motor scooters but try to keep your legs together)
2. Getting Underway.
- Mounting/Dismounting. Always get on and off your bike away from the traffic. In Vietnam they drive on the right so get onto your bike from the right hand side.
- Head Check. Stand out from the crowd and look before you leap.
- Stabiliser. As you have learnt, the rear brake on a bike is poorly named. As far as stopping goes it accounts for about 10% of your ability to do so. Think of it more as a stabilizer than a brake. By dragging your rear brake when taking off you will be able to maintain a straight line and avoid those embarrassing bumps into surrounding bikes when taking off from the lights.
- Speed. The faster a motorcycle travels the harder it is to turn. Reducing speed before turning is essential. During very low speed turns, such as doing a U turn, the gentle use of the throttle combined with the use of the rear brake (dragging) will allow you to complete the manoeuvre with confidence.
- Steering. A motorcycle can be steered in a number of ways. Handle bar pressure, body weight and changes in speed all have an effect on a motorcycle’s direction of travel. Experienced riders will use a combination of all three to achieve a smooth turn.
- Head Position. Always keep your head up. Focus on the road ahead and not on your front end. Remember your head acts as a spirit level and if it stays up, the odds are you will to.
3. Road Positioning.
The correct road position to maintain, especially in Ha Noi, is not always the easiest thing to do yet is one of the best ways of protecting yourself from dangers. Keep well clear of hot spots such as oncoming traffic or parked vehicles and always have an exit strategy up your sleeve.
The tactics you employ outside the hustle and bustle of the city are very different yet the underlying principle is to always give yourself somewhere to go should the unexpected happen.
There are three things you need to consider when choosing your position on the road. These are: space, surface and sight.
Space. As a motorcyclist you have very little to protect you in a crash apart from your protective riding gear. The more space you leave between other vehicles and pedestrians, the better. Creating space from hazards is known as buffering. Keeping well clear of hazards also increases others ability to see you.
Surface. Paint, oil, water, sand, gravel, pot holes and debris are all examples of different road surfaces a rider needs to manage. Although it’s best to avoid riding on such surfaces sometimes it is impossible. A good example in Vietnam is when you try buffering from oncoming vehicles even though the road surface is terrible. It’s best to slow down and keep your buffer space.
Sight. A good road position can allow you to see further and gather more information about what is happening up ahead. Try to choose a road position that gives you good vision without compromising your buffer from hazards.
By actively managing space, surface and sight a rider can significantly reduce the chances of crashing.
Stopping
Friction between the bike and the road surface is what allows us to stop. In order to get the best possible amount of friction you must prepare, or set up for it. By correctly setting up the bike for braking you can almost double the friction footprint available.
Braking is a two stage operation NOT one.
By taking up the slack in the brakes, braking;
- Moves the weight forward
- Compresses the suspension
- Places the brake pads against the disc and
- Flattens the tyres (increases the friction)
Put light pressure on the brake levers and pause (set up the brakes) then progressively apply the necessary braking pressure (squeeze). This two stage braking (set up and squeeze) vastly improves braking effectiveness, reduces the likelihood of skidding and provides better control.
Applying the front brake in a curve can make the bike run wide, or skid.
The majority of motorcycle accidents are caused by over-reacting to a dangerous situation. It is human nature to react to danger but with practice your braking technique will reduce this percentage. In effect, it works as your own ABS (Anti-lock Braking System).
- 5. Balance. Head position is extremely important, more so on the smaller motorbikes most of you ride. Looking through a corner will help your coordination and balance when cornering. Use your peripheral vision to scan the road surface while keeping your head pointed in the direction you want to go.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT YOU WILL HIT IT.
Developing safe habits is the best strategy for staying out of trouble on the roads. If you practice the skills above over a period of time and develop them well, we hope your chances of staying safe on the roads will be greatly increased.
Regards,
Thu, Danny and Chris
