To determine the differences between the control strategies of skilled and less-skilled riders as they control the lateral and longitudinal motion of a motorcycle, a study of motorcycle handling skills and their assessment was carried out. For the experiments, an instrumented motorcycle was developed which allowed the recording of the various rider/cycle control and response variables while skill tests were being conducted. Riders with a range of riding skills performed a standard skill test and an alternative skill test on the instrumented motorcycle. The experimental data were extensively examined and differences in the control behaviour over the range of riding skills were identified and quantified. A theoretical model was developed describing how less-skilled riders may control the lateral motion of their motorcycle.