Owner's Manual — page 19 of 201

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Look Over Your Shoulder

Before changing lanes, look over
your shoulder to make sure the way
is clear. Do not rely solely on the rear
view mirror; you may misjudge a vehi-
cle’s distance and speed, or you may
not see it at all.

Accelerate and Brake Smoothly
In general your actions should be
smooth as sudden acceleration, brak-
ing or turning may cause loss of control,
especially when riding in wet conditions
or on loose road surfaces, when the
ability to maneuver will be reduced.

Select Correct Gear Speeds

When going up steep slopes, shift to
a lower gear so that there is power to
spare rather than overloading the en-
gine.

SAFETY INFORMATION 17

Use Both Front and Rear Brakes

When applying the brakes, use both
the front and rear brakes. Applying
only one brake for sudden braking may
cause the motorcycle to skid and lose
control.

Use Engine Brake

When going down long slopes, help
control vehicle speed by closing the
throttle so that the engine can act as an
auxiliary brake. Use the front and rear
brakes for primary braking.

Riding in Wet Conditions

Rely more on the throttle to control
vehicle speed and less on the front and
rear brakes. The throttle should also be
used judiciously to avoid skidding the
rear wheel from too rapid acceleration
or deceleration.

Braking performance is also reduced
in wet conditions. Carefully ride at a