Vehicle knowledge, handling and safety equipment
An A1 machine is a light motorcycle of at most 125 cm³, at most 11 kW, and no more than 0.1 kW per kilogram; the minimum age is 16. Questions here cover pre-ride checks, controls, braking and cornering technique, carrying a passenger or load, and protective equipment.
Before you ride
Daily or weekly checks: tyre pressures set cold to the manual figure, tread at least 1.6 mm with no cracking or aged rubber; chain slack within the manual range (typically 25–35 mm), lubricated, no tight spot, sprocket teeth not hooked; both brakes operating with a firm lever and healthy pads; lights, indicators, horn and mirrors; steering head bearing; engine oil, coolant and brake fluid; no leaks underneath; throttle returning freely; side-stand spring intact.
Braking and handling
Weight transfers forward under braking, so the front brake supplies most of the stopping power. Use both brakes together with a progressive squeeze. On gravel, wet paint or ice, keep the machine upright and use more rear brake. Brake before the bend, not in it; at walking pace use the rear brake with the clutch in its friction zone; at speed, countersteering initiates the turn. Look at the exit, not at the kerb.
Equipment and load
An ECE 22.05 or 22.06 helmet, correctly fastened and undamaged - replace one that has been dropped onto a hard surface. Gloves, an armoured jacket, boots and eye protection. A passenger needs a helmet, a seat and footrests, and the machine must be registered for two; adjust preload and tyre pressure for the extra weight and secure any load low and centrally.
Worked example
At 60 km/h you cover 16.7 m every second. One second of reaction time costs about 17 m; hard braking on dry asphalt adds roughly 18 m. Total stopping distance is therefore around 35 m, so a car pulling out 40 m ahead leaves almost no reserve. At 80 km/h the same sum exceeds 50 m. The lesson: reduce speed before the hazard, cover the brakes and keep an escape route in mind.
Traps
Using the rear brake only. Setting tyre pressures after the tyres are warm. Adjusting a chain too tight, which loads the output bearing. Assuming every 125 has ABS - many have none or only combined braking. Ignoring preload and pressure when carrying a passenger.