Co-Rider Seminar
Assembled by all GWRRA Region and National Educators
April 26^th 1999

Introductions Introduce yourself to the crowd.

Objectives
To make the Co-Rider familiar with the things they should know and do to increase their level of enjoyment, lower their risk while participating in the riding team and understand their actions while riding on the motorcycle

Preparations

· Loading: Know the limits, read the manual, check for stickers on the bike that outlines the limits of the bike.

· Proper Gear: What and why, cover any part of your body you may want to use later in life! Proper helmet, gloves, long sleeves, long pants, over the ankle footwear, protective eyewear.

· Mentally and Physically ready: Rested, not angry, not medicated or intoxicated. On long drives, occasionally flex and relax your ankle and lower leg muscles to prevent fluid build up or swelling. Adjust your foot rests for comfort.

· Packing and planning for your needs: Balance, anticipating your needs for your trip. Rain gear, cold weather gear, water.

· T-Clock, it’s your life too: Safety inspect the motorcycle before you leave. If you get on an unsafe bike, it’s your life too. Tires, lights, brakes, etc.

Working together, partners in Safety

· Scanning for hazards: Staying alert, assist in the scanning process, communicate effectively, clearly and precisely.

· Stay alert: Reading and sleeping will increase your risks, be a part of the team and enjoy the ride.

· Limits: Yours and your riders, plan for stops, rest when your tired, do not exceed your limits and encourage the rider not to exceed theirs.

· Intercom use: Clear, exact, specific, calm. Keep the mike just far enough from your mouth to be able to slide your hand between it and you.

· CB use: The key transmits from both mikes, controls, location

Motorcycle Controls

· Engine Cut off: Explain the function

· Clutch: Disengages the engine from the drive wheel

· Brakes: Integration, explain the front and rear brake

· Cruise or throttle lock: How can you cancel cruise? Throttle locks

Moving motorcycle, your actions

· Cornering: Explain weight shift and the effect it has on a motorcycle. Co-rider simply looks over the shoulder of the rider in the direction of a turn to negate her added weight during a turn.

· Braking: Lean back, don’t flop your weight forward, hold handgrips and slide your feet forward on the boards so you can use your legs to push back.

· Swerving: How to allow the motorcycle to move independently of your body lean. Lean forward and stay parallel to the rider.

Emergency actions NEVER PRACTICE ON A MOVING MOTORCYCLE

· Rider in Crisis: Check for responsiveness, if the rider is in crisis, push the rider forward into the dashboard and down. Stand up on the pegs and reach to the handgrips.

· Controls in an emergency: Engine cut off switch, guide the motorcycle off into a grassy or safe area. Only brake if you must.

· Getting stopped: Allow the motorcycle to slow to a lug, pull your body in tight and allow the motorcycle to fall over. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CATCH THE BIKE. Give care to the rider.

· Getting help: CB, Universal helmet signal (place helmet next to the road facing road open end down.) Cell phone, safety when flagging down assistance.