Vehicle Safety, Controls and Basic Maintenance
Know your machine
Before every ride, carry out a quick check: tyres (pressure, tread, cuts, embedded objects), brakes (both work, lever and pedal feel firm), controls (throttle returns freely, clutch and brake levers correct), lights and horn, oil and fluid levels, chain or belt tension and lubrication, and mirrors. Loose or worn items become failures at speed.
Understand what each control does and how it behaves: the front brake provides most stopping power but must be applied progressively, especially in the wet or mid-corner; the rear brake stabilises at low speed and in slow manoeuvres. The throttle should snap back when released. Steering geometry means counter-steering initiates a turn at speed - push the bar on the side you want to go. Tyre pressure affects grip, wear and fuel economy, and should be checked cold against the manufacturer's figures, adjusted for a passenger and luggage.
Traps in the questions
Distractors suggest using only the rear brake in an emergency, checking tyre pressure when hot, or that a chain needs no maintenance if it looks clean. Another trap is treating the front brake as dangerous and avoiding it entirely - progressive front braking is essential.
Rule of thumb: the pre-ride check takes two minutes and follows a fixed order - tyres, brakes, controls, lights, fluids, chain, mirrors - so nothing is skipped.
Worked example: a rider notices the throttle does not return smoothly. The machine must not be ridden until this is fixed; a sticking throttle removes the ability to reduce power when needed.