54
Taking care of the Unexpected
IF YOU CRASH
Personal safety is your rst priority aer a crash. If you or anyone else has
been injured, take time to assess the severity of the injuries and whether it
is safe to continue riding. If you cannot ride safely, send someone for help.
Do not ride if you will risk further injury.
If you decide that you are capable of riding safely, rst evaluate the condi-
tion of your motorcycle. If the engine is still running, turn it o and look it
over carefully; inspect it for uid leaks, check the tightness of critical nuts
and bolts, and secure such parts as the handlebar, control levers, brakes,
and wheels.
If there is minor damage, or you are unsure about possible damage but
decide to try riding the motorcycle back to your base, ride slowly Personal
safety is your rst priority aer a and cautiously.
Sometimes, crash damage is hidden or not immediately apparent. When
you get home, thoroughly check your motorcycle and correct any problems
you nd. Also, be sure to have your Certied Motorcycle Mechanic check
the frame and suspension aer any serious crash.
IF A COMPONENT FAILS
e drive chain, master link, brake lever or pedal, control cables, and
other components can be damaged as you ride in dense brush or over
rocky terrain. Making a trailside repair depends on how serious the
damage is and what tools and supplies you have with you.
• If the drive chain comes o because the master link clip gets knocked
o, you may be able to put the chain back on with a new master link.
However, if the chain brakes or does other damage when it comes o,
you may not be able to make a trailside repair.
• If any component of the front brake system is damaged, you may be
able to ride carefully back to your base using the rear brake for slowing
or stopping.
• If you damage a throttle cable or other critical component, your motor-
cycle may be unsafe to ride. Carefully assess the damage and make any
repairs that you can. But if there is any doubt, it’s best to be conserva-
tive and safe.
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