The System of Motorcycle Control
When riding a bike it is beneficial to have a system that can be used to approach a given situation, be it just riding down the road, making a direction change or responding to an unexpected situation.
By applying a system to your day to day riding you will provide yourself with a framework that can be used in any given situation, allowing for more time to asses and react.
The generally recognised system is a 5 part system, known as IPSGA.
This is not a set of rules that must be adhered to in a strict order. If the situation changes it may be necessary to go back to the beginning of the system and start again.
Below is a break down of the component parts and how they should be applied, in this instance to a right turn into a side road.
Information
This is relevant though out the entire process, and can be broken into 3 sub-parts:
Taking:
You should use all 5 senses to take in all the information around you.
This would not only include what you can see, but also what you can smell (diesel), what you can hear (emergency services), the feel of the bike, though I am not sure where taste would come in to it.
All bikers have a particularly honed 6th sense, so make use of that too.
Make sure you remember to keep your head up and look to the distance as well as what is close by.
Using:
Make sure that you sift through every bit of information that you have gathered and apply it to your plan to execute your manoeuvre, or deal with the hazards that you have identified.
Giving:
Once you have decided on your course of action, make sure that you let other people know by giving information back. The most common methods would be by use of your indicators, lights or horn.
There is no need to give information for the sake of it, for example if there is no one to see it.
In our example, you may want to start indicating right.
Position
Now is the time to start the manoeuvre. You should check your mirrors and consider a “Life Saver” before moving towards the centre of the road.
Pay attention to the road markings and any obstructions.
Speed
You should now start adjusting your speed appropriate to undertake the manoeuvre taking into account the conditions.
Use the brakes and engine braking, or you may need to accelerate.
Consider checking the mirrors again.
Gears
Once you have reached an appropriate speed select a gear to complete the manoeuvre, and clear the hazard safely.
Consider a “Life Saver”.
Start the right turn.
Accelerate
Once the hazard has been cleared, or in this example the turn has been completed, and the bike is straight and stable, accelerate away to an appropriate speed for the road conditions.