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Tips,Tweaks, Fixes and Facts: The two-wheeled ownership experience, explained
STREET
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The Scan
A Springtime review of proper scan technique — a vital part of every rider’s skill repertoire BY MITCH BOEHM
or anyone who rides their motorcycle in the presence of our four-wheel — or 18-wheel — friends, you know it can be ugly out there. It’s ugly inherently, as riding on the street on a relatively unprotected vehicle like a motorcycle surrounded by 4,000-pound (or more) cars and trucks has obvious downsides. But these days, with cell phones and touch screens forming such a significant (and unfortunate) part of the experience, it’s extra ugly. Street riders have a lot to watch for: cars and trucks going every which way (including turning left in front of us, a scenario that remains a top killer of motorcyclists); pedestrians crossing the street where
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they aren’t supposed to; and all manner of side streets, alleys and sidewalks from where danger (kids, cages, dogs, Bigfoot) can suddenly spring. There’s also moisture, gravel, oil and other slippery concoctions, and don’t forget those pesky potholes, speed bumps, railroad tracks and Armco barriers. Of course, you’ve also got to monitor your bike’s mirrors and instruments, which means you’ve got stuff ahead, behind and below you. And that’s precisely why proper scan technique can pay huge dividends. The key to keeping all this motorized craziness at bay? Do not dwell too long on any one zone! Ideally, your eyes and attention will move systematically from what’s ahead to what’s behind
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST • MARCH 2022
you, and then to your instruments. Obviously, you want to spend the majority of your time analyzing what’s directly ahead, with a smaller portion checking behind you. If one complete scan cycle takes, say, 6 or 8 seconds (how you divvy this up will depend on what seems best for
again — with a glance at your instruments every third or fourth front-to-back scan checking for speed, fuel level, brights on/off, and maybe even a forgotten turn-signal flasher. In traffic, you’ll want to speed up your scan, while on a lonely road it might be 20 (or more) seconds before you look behind you.
Do not dwell too long on any one zone! Ideally, your eyes and attention will move systematically from what’s ahead to what’s behind you, and then to your instruments. your particular road/traffic situation), you might spend 3 to 4 seconds looking ahead, and a couple/three seconds behind before checking what’s ahead
Learn to do this effectively and you will have gone a long way toward making your street miles far safer than ever before.
