MSF Basic eCourse Basics for Emergencies Exam Questions and Answers

MSF Basic eCourse Basics for Emergencies Exam Questions and Answers Braking Systems While most motorcycles have a front brake lever to apply the front brake and a rear brake pedal to apply the rear brake, braking systems can differ between models. Check your owner's manual for variations, which may be one of the common setups shown here. With Combined or Linked brakes, braking force is applied to both wheels when either control is used. The degree of braking force provided by each brake varies by design. With Integrated brakes, pressing the rear brake pedal also applies some braking force to the front brake. Anti-lock brakes, also called ABS, keep the wheels from locking or skidding when too much brake pressure is applied for surface conditions. Emergency Stop in a Straight Line Making an emergency stop is an important skill. Practice often in a safe area. Use lower speeds and less than maximum brake pressure when developing your skill. Start your practice with straight-line stops. The best way to achieve the shortest braking distance is to apply maximum brake pressure to front and rear brakes simultaneously without skidding either wheel. Squeeze the clutch lever and use the brake controls at the same time. Keep your body centered and look ahead. Squeeze your legs against the gas tank to help keep from sliding forward. Adjust your braking pressure as the weight of the motorcycle transfers forward by using less pressure on the rear brake pedal and more pressure on the front brake lever. The ability to use the brakes fully without producing a skid is called threshold braking. This kind of braking takes a special feel for the controls. It is important to squeeze, not grab, the front brake lever and press, not jab, the rear brake pedal. Practice often in a safe area. Remember that surface conditions may affect how much pressure you can use, and you want to be ready to adjust the pressure for best results. Emergency Stop in a Curve Making an emergency stop in a curve requires effective use of available traction for both leaning and braking. This means you should generally use less brake pressure in a curve than when braking in a straight line. Basically, you have two choices: One is to straighten up first and make a quick stop in a straight line. The other is to apply some brake pressure while leaned and increase brake pressure as you straighten up. To straighten up first, you must have enough space to complete the stop. If road and traffic conditions permit, straighten the motorcycle first and then square the handlebars (center the steering) before the brakes are applied. To apply brake pressure while leaned, apply and adjust the brakes progressively. As your lean angle is reduced, apply more brake pressure. It is best to have the motorcycle straight up with the handlebars squared at the end of a stop. Front Tire Skid Using too much front brake pressure can produce a skid. To keep from skidding, use the front brake lever with a smooth squeeze. If the front brake lever is grabbed before weight transfers forward and down, the wheel can stop turning and the front tire will skid. The result is a sudden loss of control. If a front-tire skid occurs, you must release the front brake lever to get the front wheel rolling again. Then apply the brake again as needed. Improper use of the front brake could cause a fall. Rear Tire Skid When slowing quickly, weight increases on the front tire and lightens on the rear tire. You have to adjust rear brake pressure so the rear tire does not skid. A rear tire skid may cause the back of the motorcycle to skid sideways. One option is to keep on the rear brake pedal so the wheel continues to skid and maintain balance to stay upright. Your path of travel will remain in the direction you were going when the skid began. Keep your head and eyes up. If the rear wheel is nearly in line with the front wheel, you can release the rear brake pedal and then reapply it as needed. Do not release the rear brake pedal when the rear wheel is not in line with the front wheel. If the rear wheel stops skidding and starts to roll, the motorcycle will quickly straighten and you can be thrown off in front of the motorcycle. This is called a high-side fall. Swerving Swerving refers to an emergency procedure where you move quickly to the right or left, whether you are going straight or in a curve. There must be good traction and a clear path. Swerving skillfully requires practice. Do not brake while making an aggressive swerve. Any braking while making the maneuver, even engine braking, may cause the tires to lose traction. If you can slow before swerving, do so and then release the brakes before initiating the swerve. Swerving - On a Straight Road When swerving on a straight road, your initial press should be firm enough to cause the motorcycle to lean quickly. Keep your torso upright, your knees against the tank, your feet on the footrests, and look toward your clear path. Do not fixate at what you are trying to miss. Be sure to have a clear path for the swerve back. Swerving - In a Curve Swerving in a curve requires similar steering inputs, but additional traction is needed. If the initial swerve is in the same direction as your lean, you need more lean angle. If the swerve is opposite the direction of your lean, a much greater lean angle will be needed to recover after the initial swerve. Brake or Swerve The decision whether to brake first or swerve first in an emergency is critical. Give yourself a large time-and-space safety margin so you have time to respond by either braking or swerving. This takes excellent Search skills so you can Evaluate and use your escape options. Keep in mind an escape option can change quickly if the hazard is moving. For example, a car pulling out in front of you could continue in its path, or stop. If you brake without enough distance to stop, you crash at a reduced speed. If you swerve without slowing and do not have enough space to avoid the hazard, you crash at your original speed. While riding on the highway, cargo from a truck ahead of you begins to fall into your lane. Do you brake first, or swerve first to avoid the debris? Like most brake or swerve decisions, there is no absolute "right" answer, and your decision will depend on circumstances and include your judgment and riding skills. Since the debris could be moving in different directions as it falls from the truck, braking first may give you more time to choose your best escape path, and illuminating your brake light will warn vehicles behind you of the debris. On the other hand, swerving first could more quickly remove you from the path of the debris, and could prevent you from being rear-ended by a vehicle behind you. A linked or combined brake system: A. Increases stopping distance B. Prevents wheel lock up C. Applies some braking force to the front brake when the rear brake is used, but does not apply rear brake pressure when the front brake is used D. Causes both brakes to be applied if either brake control is used D. Causes both brakes to be applied if either brake control is used The best way to achieve the shortest braking distance is to: A. Favor the front brake at higher speeds and the rear brake at lower speeds B. Lean slightly while applying braking pressure to both wheels C. Apply maximum braking pressure to both brakes without locking either wheel D. Apply steadily increasing pressure to both brakes until both wheels lock C. Apply maximum braking pressure to both brakes without locking either wheel What makes stopping quickly in a curve more difficult? A. The road surface is more slippery B. Only the rear brake can be used C. Wheels are more likely to lock D. Some traction is needed for cornering D. Some traction is needed for cornering If the front tire skids because of too much brake pressure: A. Immediately release, then reapply as necessary B. Keep it locked until stopped C. Lock the rear brake too D. Straighten the steering A. Immediately release, then reapply as necessary In a rear tire skid when the rear wheel is not in line with the front wheel, you want to release the rear brake to quickly straighten the motorcycle. A. True B. False B. False Upper body position during a swerve on a straight road is best described as: A. Rising off the seat B. Upright C. Leaning forward D. Leaning backward B. Upright Compared to swerving in a straight line, swerving in a curve requires more: A. Traction B. Time C. Distance D. Braking A. Traction In emergency situations, it is always best to swerve first before braking to avoid an obstacle. A. True B. False B. False