MSF Basic RiderCourse Study Questions and Answers

MSF Basic RiderCourse Study Questions and Answers Serious because there is risk involved; fun because riding a motorcycle is fun. Why is motorcycling considered serious fun? Fitness, strength, coordination Learning to ride and ride well requires what physical traits? Guide students, answer questions, observe progress What do RiderCoaches do? 1. Complete all course assignments 2. Attend all sessions 3. Pass a knowledge test 4. Pass an on-cycle test What are the four requirements for successful course completion? If a rider has a lot of difficulty or becomes a danger to themselves or others. When does a RiderCoach not permit further riding in the course? street, dual-purpose, off-highway What are the three basic motorcycle types? street - likely a standard or a cruiser (probably start on a standard and move to a cruiser) Pick the motorcycle type you will likely ride and explain why. handlebars, throttle, clutch lever, gearshift lever, front brake lever, rear brake pedal List the six primary controls. Rotate to control engine speed; to increase engine speed, twist it toward you (roll on); to decrease engine speed, twist it away from you (roll off) How do you operate the motorcycle's throttle? Connects power from the engine to rear wheel What does the clutch level do? Lift up firmly and release to go to a higher gear; press down firmly and release to go to a lower gear How is the gearshift level operated? How many gears are available below and above neutral What is a shift pattern? Front brake level is squeezed in to operate; the amount of squeeze must be adjusted for effective braking. Rear brake pedal is pressed down to operate it. How are the two brake controls operated? On, Reserve, and Prime or Off What are possible positions on the fuel valve? On, Off, and Lock, and possibly Park What are possible positions on the ignition switch? Provide an enriched fuel mixture to help start the engine; raises idle to permit the engine to warm quickly. What is the choke control used for? You can shut off the engine without removing your hand from the handgrip. Why does a motorcycle have an engine cut-off switch? Speedometer, odometer, tachometer, indicator lights What are some common indicators that display information? They provide a wider view but make objects look farther away. They also reduce the size of blind spot areas but do not eliminate them. What is important to know about a convex mirror? Center stand keeps the motorcycle more upright. What is the difference between a side stand and center stand? fuel, ignition, neutral, engine cut-off switch, and choke/clutch (FINE-C) List the five steps of the engine pre-start routine. move engine cut-off switch to Off, turn ignition switch off, and turn fuel supply valve Off if it has that position (thumb, key, valve) What are the three steps to follow when shutting off the engine? A small area in the travel of the clutch lever that controls the connection between the engine and the rear wheel. Which is the friction zone? Fully squeezing in the clutch level removes power from the rear wheel. What does squeezing the clutch lever do? Squeeze the clutch lever in fully and use the brakes are needed. What must you do if you start to lose control of the motorcycle? Flat What is the position of the right wrist for good riding posture? Back straight, head & eyes up, feet on footrests near the controls, knees & elbows in, arms relaxed and bent, fingers around the throttle, cover the clutch lever. What are the other elements of proper riding posture? Countersteer - press left, lean left; press right, lean right How do you initiate motorcycle lean at speeds higher than walking speed? 1 - slow, 2-look, 3-press, and 4-roll What are the four action steps for making a basic turn? 1 - Search means to look for key information while approaching and going through a curve 2 - Setup is to adjust speed and lane position as necessary before entering 3 - Smooth means to operate the controls so there are no jerky moverments What is three-step strategy for curves and what does each step mean? Slow, tight turns like a U-turn in a parking lot. In what type of turn does counterweighting help? First, so you can easily start out again. What gear should you be in when coming to a stop and why? The motorcycle is easier to hold up. What is the benefit of squaring the handlebars when coming to a stop? Forward weight shift pushes the front tire down into the road surface. Why does the front brake have more stopping power than the rear brake? Forward How does the motorcycle's weight shift during braking? Gradually apply both brakes as you straighten up the motorcycle. The motorcycle should be straight up and the handlebars should be square before you come to a complete stop. Be sure to downshift and keep the clutch level squeezed in. How do you stop in a curve? To match engine speed to road speed. Why do you change gears? 1 - roll off the throttle as you squeeze in the clutch level 2 - lift the gearshift level and release it 3 - ease out the clutch level and roll on the throttle List the three-step process to shift to a higher gear.