Riding Tips: Dealing with obstacles

Unexpected obstacles can be a pain to navigate, but knowing how to approach them can be half the battle. Here are some tips

Anticipation

Is it springtime? Be ready for potholes. Following a pickup truck? Watch for things that might fall off. In a construction zone? Keep a special eye out for debris. The less surprised you are when something gets in your way, the more time you’ll have to react. Even an instant can make a difference. Everything starts with “S.E.E.” – Search, Evaluate, Execute.

Animals

The most important factor in avoiding wildlife and domestic animals is to know what kind of animals may be present (pay attention to road signs) and some of their basic behaviors. Knowing when they’re most active and how they behave is part of an effective defense.

Deer: Deer are most active at dusk and dawn, when they’re out looking for food. You can sometimes spot them at night by looking for the reflections in their eyes or by the dark spots among the shadows along the road. Remember that they often travel in groups. If one deer crosses the road, be ready for more that may be following.

Dogs: The classic defense against a dog chasing your motorcycle is to outsmart it. If you see a dog running toward the street, slow down slightly, then accelerate. This will cause the dog to change its angle of approach – and buy you a few extra seconds to speed away.

Squirrels: The best way to deal with a small animal in your path is often to do nothing. It can be much more dangerous to try to avoid a squirrel than to just run over it. If you swerve, they may dart in front of you anyway, if you hit it while you’re applying turning or braking inputs you’re much more likely to go down than if you just hit it straight on with no brakes.

Going Over

If swerving isn’t practical, you may be forced to go over the obstacle in your path. First, safely slow as much as you can as you approach the object. If you’re able to adjust your direction, approach the object (let’s imagine a two-by-four) at as close to a 90-degree angle as possible. Lift yourself up off the seat slightly and keep your knees bent to absorb some of the impact. Hold the handlebars securely, but not too tightly. Shift your weight to the rear and roll on the throttle slightly as you hit the object. This will help take weight off the front wheel as it goes over the object. Roll off the throttle on impact and keep looking forward as the bike rolls forward over the obstacle.

Going Around

When something’s in your way, your first choice should be to evade the obstacle – if you can do so safely. This is one reason you should always be thinking about an “escape route” when you ride.

The basic escape maneuver is known as a “swerve,” essentially two quick countersteers in opposite directions. Turn quickly in one direction to avoid the obstacle; turn quickly in the other to return to your intended path. A refresh on countersteering: Push on the left handlebar to move left; push right to move right. If you panic and try to steer in the direction you want to move, you’re asking for trouble.

Also, remember to stay off the brakes. Braking during a swerve can cause you to lose control. Slow down before you swerve, if possible, but release the brakes to perform the maneuver.

Stopping Short

If you cannot go over or around, you may have to execute an emergency stop to avoid the obstacle. Key principles include:

1. Apply both brakes firmly and smoothly to avoid locking the wheels (ABS brakes make this easier).

2. Keep the motorcycle pointed straight ahead; don’t apply any steering inputs.

3. Pull in the clutch and downshift if possible.

4. Make sure nobody is about to hit you from behind – don’t stop more suddenly than you have to!

5. Once you’re stopped, quickly evaluate the situation and get out of the way of traffic if you can safely do so.

First published in Vol. 104 Issue 01 of The Enthusiast^®.

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