4.1 Motorcycle Controls and Instruments

Before you ride, you need to be able to find every control by feel — at speed you cannot afford to hunt for the horn or the turn-signal switch. ICBC's Learn to Ride Smart (Chapter 3) groups motorcycle controls by where they sit on the bike: the left handlebar, the right handlebar, the foot controls, and the instrument panel. This section walks through each group.

Left Handlebar Controls

The left handlebar carries the controls you use to manage engine power and signalling:

• Clutch lever — The large lever in front of the left grip. Squeezing it disengages the engine from the transmission so you can shift gears smoothly and come to a stop without stalling. Release it progressively (the "friction zone") to move away from a stop.
• High/low beam switch — Toggles the headlight between high and low beam. Use low beam in town and when meeting oncoming traffic; high beam is for dark open roads when no traffic is approaching.
• Horn button — Usually a small button pressed with the left thumb. Use the horn to alert other road users who may not see you — a short tap, not a sustained blast.
• Turn-signal switch — Slides left or right to activate the corresponding turn-signal lights. Motorcycle signals do not always cancel automatically, so re-apply the signal if it cancels early and always cancel it manually after the manoeuvre.
• Choke or enrichener — On carbureted motorcycles, a lever or knob that enriches the fuel mixture for cold starting. Push it back in once the engine warms up; leaving it on wastes fuel and fouls plugs.
• Headlight switch — On many motorcycles the headlight runs whenever the engine is on, but some models have an explicit ON/OFF switch on the left bar.

Right Handlebar Controls

The right handlebar carries the controls for speed and stopping:

• Front brake lever — The large lever in front of the right grip. It operates the front brake, which provides most of your stopping power. Squeeze it smoothly — never grab it.
• Throttle — The right grip itself. Roll it back (toward you) to increase engine speed; roll it forward (away from you) to decrease speed. The throttle is spring-loaded and returns to idle when you let go.
• Engine cut-off switch (kill switch) — A red rocker or toggle above the throttle. Learn to Ride Smart lists it as a standard right-handlebar control, not an optional one. It stops the engine without reaching for the key — learn where it is so you can shut the engine down in an emergency.
• Electric start button — Presses to engage the starter motor. Most modern bikes require the clutch lever to be pulled in and the side stand up before the starter will engage as a safety interlock.

Foot Controls

• Gearshift lever — On the left side of the engine, operated by your left foot. A standard motorcycle gearbox uses a one-down, rest-up pattern: first gear is down, neutral is a half-step up from first, and higher gears are successive full lifts.
• Rear brake pedal — On the right side, operated by your right foot. The rear brake is less powerful than the front but helps with stability and low-speed control.

Ignition, Fuel Valve, and Stands

• Ignition switch — Usually on the steering column or right handlebar, it powers the electrical system and locks the steering when removed.
• Fuel valve (petcock) — Found on motorcycles with a non-electronic fuel system. Positions are typically ON, OFF, and RESERVE. If the main supply runs low, switching to RESERVE uses the remaining fuel. Fuel-injected motorcycles usually have no manual petcock.
• Kickstand / side stand — The left-side stand used for parking. The engine cut-off interlock prevents riding with the stand down on most bikes.
• Centre stand — Some bikes have a centre stand for parking and maintenance; not all do.

Mirrors and Instrument Panel

• Mirrors — Adjust them before you ride, trying to keep your own elbows and shoulders out of the rear view. ICBC tells you to look in your mirrors every few seconds, before you slow down or stop, and whenever you plan to change road position or direction — and to complete the whole observation cycle (12 seconds ahead, side to side, mirrors) every five to eight seconds.
• Speedometer — Shows road speed, often in both km/h and mph; in B.C. focus on km/h.
• Tachometer — Shows engine speed (RPM). Stay below the redline and shift to keep the engine in its usable range.
• Indicator and warning lights — Include the neutral light, turn-signal indicator, high-beam indicator, oil-pressure warning, and on some bikes a temperature or check-engine light. Know what each one means before riding.

Controls Grouped by Location

The single most important habit is muscle memory. Practise finding each control with the engine off, then again with the bike moving slowly in a safe area, until you never have to look down.