Ch. 8 · Motorcycles

When riding an automatic transmission motorcycle at low speed, releasing the throttle completely may cause the engine power to stop transmitting to the wheels and result in loss of stability, so caution is required.

[True / False · Medium]

Answer: ✓ True

Explanation

The Rules of the Road state that when an automatic transmission motorcycle uses a continuously variable transmission, the engine power is transmitted less effectively to the wheels at low engine speeds, and releasing the throttle completely during low-speed riding may stop the transmission of engine power to the wheels, resulting in loss of stability.

Driving school curriculumStage 1 – Topic 14: Driving an automatic-transmission vehicle

Momoka
Momoka
Wait, letting off the throttle makes you lose balance? That sounds weird!
Hikari
Hikari
It's actually true — with automatic transmission bikes, if you release the throttle completely at low speed, power stops reaching the wheels and you can wobble.
Momoka
Momoka
Oh! So the engine kind of disconnects?
Hikari
Hikari
Exactly. Keep a little throttle on at slow speeds to stay smooth and stable.

Source: Ch. 8 Motorcycles · Section (第５節 オートマチック二輪車の運転 ３ 低速で走行するとき) · Rules of the Road, Ch.8 §5 (Riding automatic motorcycles) — Automatic motorcycles have no clutch; engine braking is weaker than on geared bikes, so allow extra braking distance. At low speeds, balance is harder — keep speed up enough to remain stable.

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Source content excerpted from the NPA “Rules of the Road” instructional manual, in the public domain under Japanese Copyright Act Article 13(2). Explanations are AI-assisted and copyrighted by the MenkyoQuest editorial team.