MSF BRC RIDER HANDBOOK STUDY QUESTION
ANSWERS
Why is motorcycling considered serious fun?
Serious because there is risk involved; fun because riding a motorcycling is fun (iv)
Learning to ride and ride well requires what physical traits?
Fitness, strength, coordination (iv)
What do RiderCoaches do?
Guide students, answer questions, observe progress (iv)
What are the four requirements for successful course completion?
1-complete all course assignments;
2-attend all sessions;
3-pass a knowledge test;
4-pass an on-cycle test (1)
When does a RiderCoach not permit further riding in the course?
If a rider has a lot of difficulty or becomes a danger to themselves or others (1)
What are the three basic motorcycle types?
1-street,
2-dual-purpose,
3-off-highway
List the six primary controls.
1-handlebars,
2-throttle,
3-clutch lever,
4-gearshift lever,
5-front brake lever,
6-rear brake pedal
How do you operate the motorcycle's throttle?
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)
What does the clutch lever do?
Connects power from the engine to the rear wheel
How is the gearshift lever operated?
Lift up firmly and release to go to a higher gear; press down firmly and release to go to a lower gear
What is a shift pattern?
How many gears are available below and above neutral
,How are the two brake controls operated?
Front brake lever is squeezed in to operate; the amount of squeeze must be adjusted for effective
braking.
Rear brake pedal is pressed down to operate it
What are possible positions on the fuel valve?
On, Reserve, and Prime or Off
What are possible positions on the ignition switch?
On, Off, and Lock, and possibly Park
What is the choke control used for?
Provide an enriched fuel mixture to help start the engine; raises idle to permit the engine to warm
quickly
Why does a motorcycle have an engine cut-off switch?
You can shut off the engine without removing your hand from the handgrip
What are some common indicators that display information?
Speedometer, odometer, tachometer, indicator lights
What is important to know about a convex mirror?
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 the difference between a side stand and center stand?
Center stand keeps the motorcycle more upright
List the five steps of the engine pre-start routine
1-fuel,
2-ignition,
3-neutral,
4-engine cut-off switch, and
5-choke/clutch
(FINE-C)
What are the three steps to follow when shutting off the engine?
1-move engine cut-off switch to Off,
2-turn ignition switch off,
3-turn fuel supply valve Off if it has that
position
(thumb, key, valve)
, What is the friction zone?
A small area in the travel of the clutch lever that controls the connection between the engine and the
rear wheel
What does squeezing the clutch lever do?
Fully squeezing in the clutch lever removes power from the rear wheel
What must you do if you start to lose control of the motorcycle?
Squeeze the clutch lever in fully and use the brakes as needed
What is the position of the right wrist for good riding posture?
Flat
What are the other elements of proper 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
How do you initiate motorcycle lean at speeds higher than walking speed?
Countersteer - press left, lean left; press right, lean right
What are the four action steps for making a basic turn?
1-slow,
2-look,
3-press,
4-roll
What is the three-step strategy for curves and what does each step mean?
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 movement
3 S's: (Search, Setup, Smooth)
In what type of turn does counterweighting help?
Slow, tight turns like a U-turn in a parking lot
What gear should you be in when coming to a stop and why?
First, so you can easily start out again
What is the benefit of squaring the handlebars when coming to a stop?
The motorcycle is easier to hold up
Why does the front brake have more stopping power than the rear brake?
Forward weight shift pushes the front tire down into the road surface
ANSWERS
Why is motorcycling considered serious fun?
Serious because there is risk involved; fun because riding a motorcycling is fun (iv)
Learning to ride and ride well requires what physical traits?
Fitness, strength, coordination (iv)
What do RiderCoaches do?
Guide students, answer questions, observe progress (iv)
What are the four requirements for successful course completion?
1-complete all course assignments;
2-attend all sessions;
3-pass a knowledge test;
4-pass an on-cycle test (1)
When does a RiderCoach not permit further riding in the course?
If a rider has a lot of difficulty or becomes a danger to themselves or others (1)
What are the three basic motorcycle types?
1-street,
2-dual-purpose,
3-off-highway
List the six primary controls.
1-handlebars,
2-throttle,
3-clutch lever,
4-gearshift lever,
5-front brake lever,
6-rear brake pedal
How do you operate the motorcycle's throttle?
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)
What does the clutch lever do?
Connects power from the engine to the rear wheel
How is the gearshift lever operated?
Lift up firmly and release to go to a higher gear; press down firmly and release to go to a lower gear
What is a shift pattern?
How many gears are available below and above neutral
,How are the two brake controls operated?
Front brake lever is squeezed in to operate; the amount of squeeze must be adjusted for effective
braking.
Rear brake pedal is pressed down to operate it
What are possible positions on the fuel valve?
On, Reserve, and Prime or Off
What are possible positions on the ignition switch?
On, Off, and Lock, and possibly Park
What is the choke control used for?
Provide an enriched fuel mixture to help start the engine; raises idle to permit the engine to warm
quickly
Why does a motorcycle have an engine cut-off switch?
You can shut off the engine without removing your hand from the handgrip
What are some common indicators that display information?
Speedometer, odometer, tachometer, indicator lights
What is important to know about a convex mirror?
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 the difference between a side stand and center stand?
Center stand keeps the motorcycle more upright
List the five steps of the engine pre-start routine
1-fuel,
2-ignition,
3-neutral,
4-engine cut-off switch, and
5-choke/clutch
(FINE-C)
What are the three steps to follow when shutting off the engine?
1-move engine cut-off switch to Off,
2-turn ignition switch off,
3-turn fuel supply valve Off if it has that
position
(thumb, key, valve)
, What is the friction zone?
A small area in the travel of the clutch lever that controls the connection between the engine and the
rear wheel
What does squeezing the clutch lever do?
Fully squeezing in the clutch lever removes power from the rear wheel
What must you do if you start to lose control of the motorcycle?
Squeeze the clutch lever in fully and use the brakes as needed
What is the position of the right wrist for good riding posture?
Flat
What are the other elements of proper 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
How do you initiate motorcycle lean at speeds higher than walking speed?
Countersteer - press left, lean left; press right, lean right
What are the four action steps for making a basic turn?
1-slow,
2-look,
3-press,
4-roll
What is the three-step strategy for curves and what does each step mean?
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 movement
3 S's: (Search, Setup, Smooth)
In what type of turn does counterweighting help?
Slow, tight turns like a U-turn in a parking lot
What gear should you be in when coming to a stop and why?
First, so you can easily start out again
What is the benefit of squaring the handlebars when coming to a stop?
The motorcycle is easier to hold up
Why does the front brake have more stopping power than the rear brake?
Forward weight shift pushes the front tire down into the road surface
