Gravel roads
Traction on gravel roads is not as good as on pavement. Some
areas are better than others. Stay in the tire tracks away from the
loose gravel at the edge of the road and avoid any sudden
movements.
Grooves and gratings
When you ride over a badly rutted surface or a metal bridge
grating, the motorcycle will tend to wander back and forth. While
this may give you an uneasy feeling, it is not generally dangerous.
Therefore, the best thing to do is stay on course, grip the
controls firmly and ride straight across.
Ice or wet wooden surfaces
It is almost impossible to maintain balance on ice or wet wooden
surfaces. Avoid these surfaces if at all possible. If you can’t avoid
one of these areas, slow down as much as possible before you
get to it.
Uneven surfaces
Watch for uneven road surfaces such as bumps, broken pave-
ment, potholes, railway tracks and construction areas. If the
condition is bad enough, it could affect your control of the
motorcycle. This is how to handle uneven surfaces:
1) Slow down to reduce the impact.
2) Keep your motorcycle as upright as possible and avoid turning.
3) Rise slightly on the footrests so that you can absorb the shock
with your knees and elbows.
Railway tracks
Remember to check for trains before crossing any railway tracks.
Slow down and cross at an angle between 45 - 90 degrees to
prevent the wheels from getting caught in the tracks.
It is necessary to turn when you want to cross something that is
running parallel to your course, such as railway or streetcar
tracks, ruts in the middle of the road or a pavement seam. To
cross something running parallel to you, move away far enough
to be able to cross it at an angle. Then make a quick sharp turn.
Do not try to edge across it. It could catch your tires and upset
your balance.
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