2 Wheel Safety Training | Motorcycle License Preparation | San Jose, Fremont, Hayward, Hollister, Morgan Hill, Monterey, Newark, Santa Clara

COVID-19 Update

TWST will continue to operate under special instructions regarding COVID-19 as it relates to the current CDC Regulations and per the CHP/CMSP. It is imperative that you become familiar with the instructions and follow them. Failure to strictly adhere to the instructions can result in dismissal from the remainder of the class.

FaceBook_32x32 Twitter_32x32 gplus32x32 Yelp_32x32

Motorcycle Safety Training in the SF Bay Area

CMSP logo

By

Loading the Motorcycle

Whether it is a carton of milk from the convenience store, or camping gear for a three-week trip, you will end up carrying more than people on your motorcycle.

All loads should be tied to the machine. Do not balance a bag of groceries between your legs for a short ride home. Strap it to the back seat with bungee cords or an elasticized cargo net.

A great carrying device is the tank bag. It puts the weight where it should be – near the bike’s center of gravity. Make sure it is properly secured and remember never to carry anything on the gas tank or inside the fairing that might interfere with the steering of the bike. Just imagine what happens if the bars won’t turn far enough – big trouble.

There are appropriate places to carry loads on a motorcycle, but they do not include your front forks or fenders. If your machine comes with saddlebags a travel trunk, you’re set. If you have none of this, you can always buy a luggage rack or throw-over bags; they are very useful items.

When you load saddlebags, keep equal weight on both sides. This is even more important when you are using soft throw-over bags, as an imbalance can cause one side to drop down and rest on the muffler. A blazing saddlebag is no joke.

Keep the weight relatively light in your travel trunk or on your luggage rack. Being aft of the rear axle, this is the worst place on the motorcycle to carry much weight. It can turn a well

handling motorcycle into a poor-handling terror. Sleeping bags go great back there; a 50-pound sack of dog food does not.

Check the security of the load frequently, and make sure nothing is dangling. It is one thing to lose part of your luggage, quite another to get it tangled up in a wheel.

Above all, DO NOT EXCEED THE GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of your motorcycle!

You might find that figure on the plate attached to the steering head; sometimes it is found on the frame; but the best place to look is in the owner’s manual. It is written in pounds, and it includes the weight of the motorcycle, all gasoline, oil and coolant, the rider(s), and the luggage.

Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation eNews