GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Toogoofy317 on January 24, 2009, 06:00:26 PM

Title: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: Toogoofy317 on January 24, 2009, 06:00:26 PM
I took this test just to see my knowledge

here is a question I missed and am curious as to why.

If you do have to travel on a slippery roadway, you should:

a) Slow down and coast with you feet on the roadway when necessary.
b) Keep the bike as upright as possible.
c) Grab the brakes hard to get some traction.
d) Both A and B are correct

the answer is D. But why do you coast with your feet on the roadway?

Here is the link to the florida quiz!
http://www.dmv.org/dmv-practice-test.php

Mary
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: Bluesmudge on January 24, 2009, 06:35:23 PM
Super weird. Its hard to balance a motorcycle until you get your feet onto the pegs.
I guess that would work if you were in some snow/ice going 1-4mph


Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: 5thAve on January 24, 2009, 06:38:06 PM
Hell. I can only see that working out if I have to cross a patch of glare ice at a low speed.


:cookoo:
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: Toogoofy317 on January 24, 2009, 06:46:14 PM
what get's me is this is the Florida test. Now honestly when are we going to ride in ICE? Maybe Tallahasse or something oh well gotta love Fl!

Mary
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: joshr08 on January 24, 2009, 06:51:31 PM
i answered d before i seen your answer...im from michigan.......lol
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: neverendingninja on January 24, 2009, 08:39:07 PM
Did they say anything about it applying to just ice? I'm pretty sure plenty of other things can make the road slick.

I once almost lost it while driving a pathfinder around a corner because someones spilled a bunch of oil in the intersection.
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: Toogoofy317 on January 24, 2009, 08:55:40 PM
Well, we have Black Ice here. Which occurs when there is a light mist of rain hitting the hot oil slicks. Which can be worse than actually hitting ice. I just don't see how dragging my feet on the ground is going to help me?

If someone can tell me the dynamics. I tried it a little this afternoon on dry ground and my luck there was an uncovered hole. Foot almost went in don't even want to think what would have happened. I mean what if you hit debris on the road.

Mary
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: ineedanap on January 24, 2009, 09:34:20 PM
When I get off the freeway on my way to work, there's about 100 ft of oil covered road.  There is a truck stop at this exit as well as a major trucking terminal.  The road always has a very light coating of oil.  You only really notice it when it rains, but it's like ice.  even your feet slide when you're stopped at a light.  Any throttle input will spin up the back tire.  The only thing holding me up is gyroscopic effects of the engine and wheels.  It's bad on my gs.  It's really bad on my hayabusa!  Eventually you will come upon a condition bad enough sliding both feet along the roadway while coasting will be the right thing to do.  You'll know when!!!!!!!

I ride 10 months of the year and catch the occational ice/snow/slush storm  and would rather ride in snow than oily wet roads. 

Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: ineedanap on January 24, 2009, 09:38:44 PM
oh and should of added
if you're going about 15 MPH or faster you'll find just the gyroscopic effects of the wheels and engine hold you up and you won't need or want to put your legs out.  This only is needed when you're coasting and going really slow.  Like outriggers or training wheels!
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: Weston on January 24, 2009, 11:54:00 PM
the gyroscopic effect only "resists" change in angle. It wont always completely hold you up.
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: ineedanap on January 25, 2009, 07:09:07 AM
yes, but I wouldn't want to put my feet down above 15mph.  I like my feet attached to my legs!
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: joshr08 on January 25, 2009, 07:25:12 AM
ill drag my toes from time to time streaching out my legs and it doesnt bother me at all and thats at 55-70.  you just have to watch the road your driving on.
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: ineedanap on January 25, 2009, 08:30:59 AM
putting your toes down only "resists" change in angle.  It won't always completely hold you up.    :icon_razz:


no offense weston I'm just having fun



Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: ohgood on January 25, 2009, 11:21:14 AM
i hate tests. there is a right answer, and nothing else. tests should have an area to write a response. neither the teacher nor the student learns from multiple guess tests. :(

besides it takes effort to read an answer, not just feed it into a scan tron. ;)
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: makenzie71 on January 25, 2009, 01:27:12 PM
Spend some time riding on gravel and you'll fully understand.
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: ohgood on January 25, 2009, 03:12:14 PM
Quote from: makenzie71 on January 25, 2009, 01:27:12 PM
Spend some time riding on gravel and you'll fully understand.

yep. did that just a few minutes ago. my favorite twisty road here means traveling on a freshly paved section with intermittant chewed up portions. you know, they chew up the old asphault, melt it down, use it again...

it's not slippery exactly, but it does make the rear end interesting to keep in line.
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: Weston on January 25, 2009, 03:38:38 PM
I agree with ohgood motorcycle tests can be dumb. The textbook answer isnt always the best solution when your riding. Experience and just getting to know your bike is going to help more than anything. IMHO
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: nightrider on January 25, 2009, 04:41:39 PM
This is true when the road's covered in dirt, gravel, water, etc. Especially on a curve. Usually just a patch that has to be navigated. Because, like on a bicycle, you don't want to be applying torque to tires when it can skid out at any second. Its basically intuitive. By coasting, friction is minimal. Your legs are down to prevent an instant lowside.
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: makenzie71 on January 25, 2009, 06:01:29 PM
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=40140.0
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: bbq on January 26, 2009, 11:16:26 AM
Quote from: Toogoofy317 on January 24, 2009, 06:00:26 PM
Here is the link to the florida quiz!
http://www.dmv.org/dmv-practice-test.php

I will suggest you don't pay too much attention to the test on that site. Keep in mind that this is NOT a test written by the florida DMV. It is a for-profit website that has no connection to any government agency.

Personally I think using your legs to hold up a moving bike is a very bad idea. If you are going slow enough that you can actually use your legs to prevent a fall, you may as well just get off the bike and push it.
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: TheGoodGuy on January 26, 2009, 12:20:32 PM
websites wrong.. you never put your foot down while moving. Easiest way to break your freaking ankle.
I know dirt bikers in motocross do but if you notice they are wearing armour plated boots even so they arent exactly riding the ground..

I'd rather dump than put my foot down and break my ankle. (been there done that.. learned my lesson not to put my foot down in a turn to support traction)
Title: Re: Motorcycle safety quiz
Post by: makenzie71 on January 26, 2009, 04:42:25 PM
No, the website, test, and instructors are ALL correct.  If you're on an unstable surface you use your feet to gain stability.  You don't ride at 75mph with your feet down.  You don't hammer through turns with your feet down.  You don't try and evade objects with your feet down.  If you're on something akin to ice or gravel you creep along at idle, if that fast, and use your feet to hold the bike up because at that speed it sure isn't going to do it all on it's own.