VENGEANCE 2007 Hotrod Bones, Руководство пользователя

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© 2007
American Hotrod Manufacturing, LLC • 2220 Eastridge Avenue Riverside, CA 92507
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GROUP RIDING & PASSENGERS
As we said earlier, motorcycling is a sociable sport, so chances are very good you’ll soon be riding with friends on
their motorcycles, and have others who want to be passengers.
As with any sport, it’s nice if the participants all have a general idea of what to do.
Riding in a Group
It is useful if, before taking off on a group ride, you get two or three hand signals organized amongst the participants:
“let’s stop; need gas; I’m hungry.”
A few rules for the group:
•
Riding in a group of more than four motorcycles can become confusing both for the group and other traffic
around you. If there are too many people, break it up into smaller groups.
•
Ride in a staggered formation, with first bike on the left side of the lane, second on the right side, etc., but not
side by side.
•
Always keep at least a two-second following distance from the motorcycle directly in front of you.
•
At a stoplight or stop sign, wait in pairs.
•
Pass other vehicles individually, when safe – not in pairs or groups.
Carrying a Passenger
Company is always nice. Some company weighs 100 pounds, other company weighs 200 pounds. Before riding with
a passenger make sure your rear fender is designed to carry a passenger. Rigid frames and swing-arm mounted
fenders are not designed for passenger use.
Putting extra weight on the motorcycle will affect its handling. Adjust your suspension and tire pressures to
compensate for the amount of company you’ve brought along. (Check your owner’s manual.)
Also realize that your braking capabilities have changed; take that into account. The more weight you have on the
motorcycle, the longer it takes to stop.
Passengers should be instructed to always mount from the same side, and to warn you before they climb on. This
goes a long way to preventing a muddled heap lying on the ground.
Passengers need the same protection that you do – proper clothes and helmet. Ten-foot scarves flapping in the wind
may look dashing, but not on a motorcycle. You don’t want shoe laces or loose pants legs catching on rear wheel or
chain parts.
Never carry anyone sidesaddle. Passengers should always straddle the bike with their feet securely planted on the
footrests. Tell passengers not to put a foot down when you come to a stop.
Show them where the hot things are – like header pipes and mufflers. Caution passengers against coming in contact
with the hot parts to prevent any injuries. Also, rubber soles can melt and leave a mess.
Instruct passengers to hold onto you at your waist or hips. Ask them to lean forward slightly when you leave from a
stop or accelerate along the highway.
Also, when you brake, passengers should be firmly braced against your waist and should lean back slightly. You don’t
want their weight to shift forward.
Advise passengers not to lean unless you do. You do not want the person behind hanging off the bike at 30 degrees;
that will do funny things to the steering. However, when you lean going around a corner, passengers should definitely
lean as well. So have them look over your shoulder in the direction of the turn when you go through a corner; that will
put the weight where you want it.