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10. If your motorcycle starts to wobble:
A. Accelerate out of the wobble.
B. Use the brakes gradually.
C. Grip the handlegrips firmly and close the throttle gradually.
D. Downshift.
Check for poorly adjusted steering, worn steering parts, a front wheel that is
bent, misaligned, or out of balance, loose wheel bearings or spokes, and
swingarm bearings. If none of these are determined to be the cause, have the
motorcycle checked out thoroughly by a qualified professional.
Trying to “accelerate out of a wobble” will only make the cycle more unstable.
Instead:
• Grip the handlegrips firmly, but don’t fight the wobble.
• Close the throttle gradually to slow the motorcycle. Do not apply the
brakes; braking could make the wobble worse.
• Move your weight as far forward and down as possible.
• Pull off the road as soon as you can to fix the problem.
Drive Train Problems
The drive train for a motorcycle uses either a chain, belt, or drive shaft to
transfer power from the engine to the rear wheel. Routine inspection,
adjustment and maintenance make failure a rare occurance. A chain or belt that
slips or breaks while you’re riding could lock the rear wheel and cause the
motorcycle to skid. If the chain or belt breaks, you’ll notice an instant loss of
power to the rear wheel. Close the throttle and brake to a stop in a safe area.
On models with a drive shaft, loss of oil in the rear differential can cause the
rear wheel to lock, and you may not be able to prevent a skid.
Engine Seizure
When the engine “locks” or “freezes,” it is usually low on oil. The engine’s
moving parts can’t move smoothly against each other, and the engine overheats.
The first sign may be a loss of engine power or a change in the engine’s sound.
Squeeze the clutch lever to disengage the engine from the rear wheel. Pull off
the road and stop. Check the oil. If needed, oil should be added as soon as
possible or the engine will seize. When this happens, the effect is the same as a
locked rear wheel. Let the engine cool before restarting.
There Is No Substitute For Frequent Motorcycle Maintenance.
