Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Owners Manual: If a collision is imminent, do something

Many riders fear locking up their brakes or haven't learned to swerve to avoid an accident.

Many inexperienced riders (and too many seasoned riders) use only their rear brake in an emergency, resulting in unnecessary impacts in some cases and unnecessarily high impact speeds in other cases. Your rear brake can only provide about 30% of your motorcycle's potential stopping power. The front and rear brakes can and should be used together to maximize braking effectiveness.

Experienced motorcyclists learn to "cover" the front brake lever by lightly resting a couple of fingers over the lever when riding in traffic and near intersections to give their reaction time a head start.

Emergency stopping and swerving are techniques that you should practice and master before you find yourself in an emergency situation. The best place to practice such techniques is in a controlled environment such as the motorcycle safety foundation's (msf) rider training courses. The msf's motorcycle rider courses (fundamental techniques) and experienced rider courses (advanced strategies) present hands-on instruction of the bas1c principles of motorcycling and a variety of accident-avoidance maneuvers. Even a seasoned motorcyclist can improved his or her riding skills, and pick up a few new skills, through these courses.

Some insurance companies even offer discounts to course graduates.