If we apply too much power to the rear wheel, the available traction may be exceeded causing the rear tire to break free and spin. This is most often experienced when the road surface is gravel or the pavement is wet.

Although the accelerating force is only applied to the rear wheel, its affect is also felt on the front wheel. When we twist the throttle increasing the engine speed, we feel ourselves being drawn back. We often say we can feel the power of the bike when we roll the throttle and we tighten our grip on the handlebars.

Applying power to the rear wheel affects the balance of traction between the tires. As the traction on the rear tire moves our motorcycle forward, inertia causes weight to be transferred towards the rear increasing the available traction on the back tire. This action also reduces the weight on the front wheel reducing the amount of traction available for steering our bike.

Accelerating force is a pretty simple, but important, component of traction. The smooth application of the throttle will help us manage our traction and maintain smooth control of our bike, especially in curves or less than perfect road conditions.