CBR Motorcycle Theory A cheat sheet

Belgian priority signs: the inverted triangle with red border means give way; the red octagon with white 'STOP' means full stop at the stop line, then yield to all traffic on the crossed road.

In built-up areas (bebouwde kom / agglomération), the general speed limit is 50 km/h unless signs state otherwise; outside built-up areas it is 70 km/h on ordinary roads in Flanders and 90 km/h in Wallonia unless posted otherwise.

Motorways (autosnelweg / autoroute) are marked by a blue rectangular sign with a white motorway symbol; minimum speed is 70 km/h and only vehicles capable of more than 60 km/h may use them.

A yellow diamond with white border marks a priority road; when it appears with a black diagonal bar it signals the end of priority.

Traffic lights: flashing amber means proceed with caution and apply normal priority rules; a green arrow pointing right allows turning right while yielding to pedestrians and cyclists crossing.

Blue circular signs give mandatory instructions (e.g. mandatory cycle path, compulsory direction); red-bordered circles give prohibitions (no entry, no overtaking, speed limit).

A white triangle with red border is a warning sign (danger ahead); a blue square or rectangle is an information or indication sign.

Zones: the 'zone 30' sign applies to the whole zone until an end-of-zone sign; the same applies to 'zone 50', parking zones and residential 'woonerf' areas where pedestrians have priority.

Level crossings: a St Andrew's cross without barriers means yield to trains; flashing red lights or a lowered barrier requires an absolute stop.

Default priority at an intersection without signs or lights: yield to traffic coming from the right (rechts voorrang / priorité à droite).

Turning left across oncoming traffic: you must yield to oncoming vehicles going straight or turning right, and to pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road you enter.

Entering a roundabout in Belgium: yield to traffic already circulating unless signs state otherwise; use the right lane for the first exit and the left lane for later exits, and change lanes only after the exit.

Overtaking is forbidden at pedestrian crossings, on level crossings, at intersections without priority signs, and wherever a solid white line separates the lanes.

A tram has priority over other traffic unless a sign or light says otherwise; never overtake a tram stopped at a stop where passengers are boarding or alighting.

Emergency vehicles with flashing blue lights and siren have priority; other road users must give way and may not follow directly behind them.

Pedestrians on a zebra crossing have absolute priority once they show intent to cross; approaching vehicles must stop, not merely slow down.

Cyclists in a cycle street (fietsstraat) or on a cycle path have priority; motor vehicles may not overtake them in a fietsstraat.

Signals: indicate direction at least 30 metres before a manoeuvre in built-up areas and earlier at higher speeds; arm signals are permitted when indicators fail.

Countersteering: to initiate a turn above roughly 20 km/h, push the handlebar on the side you want to turn toward; the motorcycle leans into the turn.

Look where you want to go, not at the hazard; the head and eyes lead the turn, and the bike follows the gaze.

Cornering sequence: brake before the bend, set entry speed, look through the corner, maintain a steady throttle through the apex and accelerate gently on exit.

Mirror checks: use the 'lifesaver' shoulder check before every lane change, overtake or junction entry; mirrors leave blind spots.

Emergency braking: apply both brakes progressively, keep the bike upright and the front wheel straight, and avoid locking the front; on ABS-equipped bikes, brake firmly and let the system modulate.

Low-speed control uses the clutch friction zone, rear brake drag and counterweighting; keep the head up and the throttle steady in slow manoeuvres.

Riding position: sit upright with relaxed arms, grip the tank with the knees, keep the wrists neutral, and keep the feet on the pegs while moving.

Observation distance: scan 12-15 seconds ahead in open road and 4-6 seconds in built-up areas to identify hazards before they become urgent.

Group riding: keep a staggered formation on straights and single file in bends; never ride side by side through a corner.

Wet roads: painted markings, tram rails, manhole covers and fallen leaves lose grip when wet; cross them upright and avoid braking on them.

Gravel and sand reduce cornering grip; reduce speed before the hazard and avoid sudden steering or braking inputs.

Visibility: use low beam in rain, fog or at dusk; a dipped headlight is required in Belgium when visibility drops below 200 metres.

Following a large vehicle: stay back far enough to see its mirrors and the road ahead; if you cannot see the driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.

Intersections are the highest-risk zone; reduce speed, position for visibility, and be prepared for a vehicle turning across your path.

Dooring: ride at least 1 metre from parked cars and watch for occupants, brake lights and front wheels turning.

Deer and animals: ride slower in rural areas at dawn and dusk; if an animal appears, brake firmly in a straight line rather than swerving.

Fatigue: after two hours of riding, take a break; micro-sleeps cause loss of control and are a leading cause of single-vehicle motorcycle crashes.

Blind spots: never ride alongside a truck's cab or in the area behind its trailer; overtake decisively and move out of the blind spot.

Speed limits: 30 km/h in residential zones, 50 km/h in built-up areas, 70 km/h outside built-up areas in Flanders, 90 km/h in Wallonia, and 120 km/h on motorways unless signs state otherwise.

Two-second rule: pick a fixed point and count two seconds after the vehicle ahead passes it; increase to four seconds in rain and to six or more in ice or fog.

Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance; thinking distance at 50 km/h is about 14 metres with a one-second reaction time.

Braking distance grows with the square of speed: doubling speed quadruples braking distance (e.g. 50 km/h → ~13 m, 100 km/h → ~52 m on dry asphalt).

Wet asphalt roughly doubles braking distance; ice can increase it by a factor of five or more.

Safe following distance in metres equals speed in km/h divided by two, as a rough minimum (e.g. 50 km/h → 25 m).

Adjust speed before a bend so that you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear; never enter a blind bend faster than your stopping distance allows.

Speed fines in Belgium: exceeding the limit by more than 10 km/h in built-up areas or more than 20 km/h outside can lead to licence withdrawal; repeat offences escalate penalties.

Stopping on a motorway is forbidden except in an emergency; use the hard shoulder, put on the hazard lights and place the warning triangle at least 100 metres behind the vehicle.

Helmet: a CE-approved helmet (EN 22.05 or ECE 22.06) is mandatory for rider and passenger in Belgium; the chin strap must be fastened while riding.

Gloves, boots and abrasion-resistant clothing are not legally required but strongly recommended; leather or textile with CE armour reduces injury severity.

Visor and goggles must be clean and undamaged; tinted visors are not permitted at night or in poor visibility.

Lighting: a motorcycle must have a white headlight, red tail light, brake light, rear reflector and amber indicators; daytime running lights or low beam are required in Belgium.

Tyres: check tread depth (minimum 1 mm for motorcycles over 50 cc) and pressure weekly; under-inflation causes poor handling and rapid overheating.

Brakes: check fluid level and lever feel before each ride; brake fluid absorbs moisture and should be replaced every two years.

Chain: check slack against the manufacturer's specification (typically 20-30 mm) and lubricate every 500-600 km, more often in rain.

Hearing protection and high-visibility clothing improve safety but are not mandatory; earplugs reduce wind noise and fatigue on long rides.

Passengers: a pillion must have a proper seat, footrests and a helmet; the motorcycle must be approved for two people.

Pre-ride check (POWDER): Petrol, Oil, Water, Damage, Electrics, Rubber; spend two minutes on this before every ride.

Tyre pressure: check cold, using the manufacturer's figures; a 10% drop in pressure can noticeably worsen handling and increase wear.

Chain maintenance: clean, lubricate and adjust; a worn chain with tight spots or hooked sprocket teeth must be replaced as a set with the sprockets.

Brake pads: replace when friction material is below about 1-2 mm; check discs for scoring, warping and minimum thickness.

Battery: keep terminals clean and tight; a battery that struggles to crank the engine signals low charge or a failing regulator.

Suspension: check fork seals for leaks and set preload and damping to the manufacturer's recommended settings for the load carried.

Coolant and oil: check levels when the engine is cold; low oil pressure warning light means stop the engine immediately.

Lights and horn: test all lights, indicators and the horn before every ride; a failed brake light is a common cause of rear-end collisions.

MOT/technical inspection: motorcycles in Belgium must pass the periodic technical inspection (keuring / contrôle technique) at the intervals set by law, typically every two years for private bikes.

Protect the scene first: switch on hazard lights, put on a high-visibility vest, place the warning triangle at least 30 metres behind the accident on ordinary roads and 100 metres on motorways.

Call the emergency number 112 in Belgium (Europe-wide); give location, number of casualties, hazards and your name, and stay on the line.

Do not remove an injured motorcyclist's helmet unless the airway is blocked and you cannot clear it otherwise; removing it can worsen spinal injury.

Check airway, breathing and circulation (ABC); if the casualty is not breathing normally, start CPR at 100-120 chest compressions per minute.

Control severe bleeding with direct pressure on the wound; use a clean cloth or dressing and do not remove an object embedded in the wound.

Keep the casualty warm and still, reassure them, and monitor breathing until emergency services arrive; do not give food or drink.

If the casualty is conscious, ask about pain, medication and allergies; record the time of the accident and the casualty's condition.

Exchange details with other parties involved, note witnesses and take photographs of the scene and vehicle positions.

Complete an accident report (Europees schadeformulier / constat amiable) with the other driver, sign it and send it to your insurer within the time limit set by your policy.