An integrated braking system is a variant of a linked braking system. Partial front braking is applied whenever the rear brake is activated. Check your owner's manual for a detailed explanation of the braking system on your motorcycle.

If you must swerve to avoid a hazard, apply a small amount of pressure to the appropriate handle grip. To swerve to the left, press the left handle grip, then press the right to recover. To swerve to the right, press the right handle grip, then the left.

An expanded cushion of space is needed if your motorcycle will take longer than normal to stop. If the pavement is slippery, if you cannot see through the vehicle ahead of you, or if traffic is heavy and another driver may try to squeeze in front of you, open up to a minimum four-second following distance.

Because you need adequate traction to swerve safely, you should not brake and swerve at the same time. Instead, if you approach a hazard that requires you to brake and swerve, you should perform one action and then the other.

Most drugs taken to ease headaches, colds, hay fever, allergies, or nerves can make the consumer drowsy and may impair their ability to ride safely. When taking a medication, it is important for a rider to know how the drug affects their body before riding.

Usually, the best way to handle a tailgater is to get them in front of you. If you can do so safely, change lanes and let them pass. Speeding up may only increase the danger by encouraging them to follow you at a faster speed.

If your motorcycle has a sidecar, it is best for your passenger to ride in the sidecar. They should keep their hands inside the sidecar at all times.

Never let someone ride if they have had too much to drink. Do whatever you can to prevent them from riding, including taking their keys, if necessary. Arrange an alternative way for them to get home.

Always take extra care when riding a new or unfamiliar motorcycle. Most crashes involve riders who have had less than six months of experience with the motorcycle that they are using.

On a two-lane highway, a group of riders should pass another vehicle one at a time. The second rider should not begin to pass until the first rider has safely re-entered the original lane. Riders should continue in this pattern until they have all safely passed the vehicle.

Using your high beam headlight during the day increases the likelihood that other drivers will see you. Use your high beam headlight any time you are not riding behind or approaching other vehicles.

Loads carried in a sidecar should be secured so that they do not shift and affect the motorcycle's handling. Loads should be distributed toward the rear of the sidecar to reduce tipping of the nose of the sidecar in the event of a sudden left turn.

Always simultaneously use both brakes to stop. The brakes are most effective when used at the same time.

When riding at night, you should reduce your speed and increase your following distance. Use your high beam headlight whenever you are riding where there is no other traffic. Always be prepared to adjust your lane position to react to changing conditions.

On average, a person's body can eliminate the alcohol content of about one drink per hour. However, it is still possible for alcohol to accumulate in a person's system even if they consume only one drink per hour. This accumulation can still affect their ability to ride safely.

Use both brakes if you must make a quick stop on a slippery surface. The front brake is safe to use on a slippery surface if applied gradually to prevent locking.

Oily drippings from cars and trucks collect in a strip in the center portion of a lane. This strip usually still provides enough traction for motorcyclists to operate safely, except when the road is wet. The strip is usually narrow enough that you can ride to its side and still be in the center portion of the lane.

A motorcycle may weave while riding over rain grooves or bridge gratings, but this is generally not dangerous. If your motorcycle begins to weave, simply relax and proceed straight ahead at a steady speed. Trying to ride in a zigzag pattern to compensate for the weave will only increase the hazard.

Passengers should get on a motorcycle only after the engine has been started and the transmission is put in neutral. They should sit as far forward as possible without hindering the operator's control of the motorcycle and should hold onto the operator's waist, hips, or belt.

A motorcycle's single brake light is not as noticeable as the two larger brake lights of a car or truck. It can be a good idea to flash your brake light to help others notice it, especially when you need to slow down more quickly than surrounding drivers may expect.

When preparing to pass another vehicle on its left, ride in the left portion of your lane to increase your line of sight and to make yourself more visible to any drivers in the passing lane. Use your mirrors and turn your head to check for traffic before changing lanes.

Never let someone ride if they have had too much to drink. Do whatever you can to prevent them from riding. It can be helpful to recruit a group of friends to intervene and apply peer pressure to the person.

Adjust your mirrors so you can see the lane behind you and as much as possible of the lane next to you. When properly adjusted, a mirror may show the edge of your arm or shoulder, but it’s the road behind you and to the side of you that is most important.

You should never count on eye contact to guarantee that a driver will yield to you. It is not uncommon for drivers to look directly at a motorcyclist but fail to consciously notice them.

In potential high-risk areas, such as near intersections, shopping areas, school zones, and construction zones, cover the clutch and both brakes to reduce the time you will need to react to potential hazards.