11.2 Mechanical Problems and Obstacles

Mechanical problems rarely give you warning. The riders who survive them are the ones who have rehearsed the first response so it happens without thinking. Learn to Ride Smart stresses a simple pattern for almost every mechanical emergency: hold on firmly, ease off the throttle, and steer to a controlled stop.

Tire Failure

A flat tire on a motorcycle is far more dangerous than on a car because you have only two tires and no spare.

Two Kinds of Failure

• Gradual puncture — the tire loses air over several seconds. You may feel the bike start to wobble or wallow, and steering becomes heavy. You usually have time to ease to the side of the road.
• Sudden blowout — the tire deflates almost instantly. The bike may lurch or fishtail. You have very little time to react.

What to Do

1. Hold the handgrips firmly. A failed tire makes the bike unstable; a loose grip lets it wander.
2. Ease off the throttle. Do not brake hard — braking shifts weight onto the failed tire and can tear it off the rim.
3. Brake gradually on the good tire. If the front tire failed, brake gently with the rear. If the rear failed, brake gently with the front. Use the good tire for most of the stopping force.
4. Do not downshift abruptly. Engine braking is a form of braking, and sudden engine braking can lock or skid the failed tire.
5. Keep the bike as upright as possible and steer smoothly to the shoulder.

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Stuck Throttle

A throttle that sticks open — from a frozen cable, ice, or a malfunction — is terrifying, but it is survivable.

Step by Step

1. Squeeze the clutch lever. This instantly disconnects the engine from the rear wheel, so the bike stops accelerating no matter how high the engine revs.
2. Brake and steer to the side of the road. You still have brakes and steering; you simply have no engine control.
3. Turn off the ignition once you are safely stopped. Use the kill switch or the key. This stops the over-revving engine.
4. Do not ride again until the cause is found and fixed. A stuck throttle will recur.

The clutch is your safety valve. Practise squeezing the clutch without thinking — it is the single most important reflex for a stuck throttle.

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Wobbles

A wobble is a rapid side-to-side oscillation of the handlebars, usually at higher speeds. It can be caused by an unbalanced wheel, a damaged tire, worn steering bearings, a bent fork, or a loose component. Weaves (a slower, full-bike fishtail) have a similar root cause and a similar response.

What to Do

ICBC's sequence, in order:

• Grip the handlebars firmly to dampen the wobble. Go with it while gradually slowing it down — do not try to fight it.
• Adjust your speed to try to come out of the wobble.
• Do not apply the brakes — braking loads the front end and can make the wobble worse.
• Rise slightly off the seat so your weight moves down onto the footpegs, and keep your weight as far forward as possible. This makes the motorcycle more stable.
• Whether the wobble continues or stops, steer to the side of the road and stop.
• Then examine the motorcycle — wheels, load, and tire pressure first, then wheel bearings, steering-head bearings, and fork alignment. Adjust as necessary, and if the cause is not obvious have a technician inspect it before you ride again.

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Headlight Failure

If your headlight fails at night, you lose far more than illumination — you lose the ability to see the road and to be seen.

• Slow down immediately to a speed where you can stop within the distance you can see.
• Use the taillights of vehicles ahead as a guide if available.
• Pull over safely and stop. Do not continue at night without a headlight.
• Check the switch and bulb first. A jiggled switch or a loose connection may be fixable at roadside.

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Engine Failure

If the engine stalls or quits:

• Squeeze the clutch so the rear wheel does not drag the engine.
• Steer to the side of the road, using momentum to coast.
• Try to restart once stopped. Check fuel, kill switch, and side stand cut-off first.
• If it will not restart, move off the road and call for help.

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Animals in the Road

Animals are unpredictable — they may freeze, bolt, or reverse direction. Your response depends on the situation.

ICBC's numbers put the risk in scale: about 6 per cent of motorcycle crashes involve collisions with wildlife, and over 4,700 wild animals — deer, moose, elk, bears, coyotes — are reported killed by vehicle collisions in B.C. each year.

Preventing the encounter

• Scan the sides of the roadway ahead, and watch for animal-crossing signs in farming and wooded areas.
• Be extra cautious around dawn and dusk, when animals move to feed and you can see least well.
• Wild animals move in herds — if you see one, expect more.
• Take extra care in spring (fresh ditch growth draws animals to the roadside) and autumn (mating season puts many species on the move).
• Do not sound your horn at an animal on or near the road; it may startle it into your path.

When the animal is already in your path

• Check your mirror to see whether there is a vehicle behind you and whether you can stop suddenly.
• Assess and decide: can you stop safely? Can you steer around it? Would hitting the animal be better than risking a crash?
• Slow down but resist the urge to slam on the brakes — that can send the motorcycle out of control.
• Leave a wide margin if you ride around an animal; a frightened animal can run in any direction.
• If the animal is large and you cannot stop in time, brake firmly and steer to strike it at an angle, and let up on the brakes just before impact so the front suspension is not fully compressed.

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Stationary Obstacles

Stationary hazards — potholes, debris, railway crossings, dropped cargo — give you a moment to decide.

• If you have time, swerve around the obstacle.
• If you do not have time to swerve, brake hard to reduce the impact.
• Do not combine heavy braking with a swerve at the last moment. Pick one. The combined demand on traction usually exceeds what is available.

If you must ride over it, ICBC gives a specific technique:

1. Slow down if you can.
2. Approach upright and strike the object head-on, at 90 degrees — never at a shallow angle.
3. Grip the handlebars firmly.
4. Lighten the front end just before impact by releasing the brakes and accelerating slightly.
5. Rise slightly on the footpegs so your knees and elbows absorb the shock.
6. Pull off the road when you can and check your tires, rims, and spokes for damage.

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Problem → First Action Quick Reference

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Key Takeaways

• Tire failure: hold on, ease off, brake on the good tire, never downshift abruptly.
• Stuck throttle: squeeze the clutch first — it disconnects the engine from the wheel.
• Wobble: firm grip, ease off throttle, no brakes; inspect the bike before riding again.
• Animals: brake first; if you cannot avoid impact, strike at an angle to glance off.
• Obstacles: choose brake or swerve early; do not combine them at the last second.