Ten tips to make your motorcycle journey safer

[SilvrT]

Found this on MSN Canada ... thought it worthwhile to post this.

 

Ten tips to make your motorcycle journey safer

 

 

How to keep your bike and yourself out of harm's way during the riding season

1. Ride with attitude

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As the old saying goes, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you - they most assuredly are. They being uncaring, unaware metal cocooned motorists. But you don't have to succumb to the persecution complex worn by motorcycling's pedal-powered two-wheel brethren. Just ensure you acquire the necessary skills and ride with a positive attitude that includes accepting that self-preservation must be the topmost priority throughout your motorcycle ride. Never, ever, let your guard down. This doesn't mean you can't enjoy chuntering along on your cruiser, or carving up back-road curves on your sports bike. Just ensure you maintain constant 360-degree situational awareness and be prepared to deal with anything the road or its other users throw at you.

2. Wear hearing protection

Wind-generated noise, at anything over 50 km/h, can harm your hearing in minutes and your ears can be blasted by more than 110 decibels of noise at 100 km/h. Contrary to what you might think, a helmet isn't much help. And remember ear damage is permanent. This is why the plugged-in motorcyclist plugs in a pair of ear protectors, even on short rides. These can reduce noise levels by 20 to 35 decibels. There are several types available, from cheap, but comfortable and effective foam plugs, to reusable ones with high-tech filters. If you've got a little more to spend, we highly recommend investing in a set of custom-made units that are moulded to the shape of your ear canal for the best fit.

3. Be wary after dark

Unsurprisingly, riding after dark is more dangerous than during daylight, although it can be a magical experience on a warm starry night. To be safe reduce speeds and increase the distance between yourself and other vehicles. Make sure your lights are functioning and lenses are clean. Keep your face mask clean too. Avoid oncoming headlight glare and don't fixate on off-road lights. Use your high beams whenever possible and pay attention to the shoulders where animals may be lurking. Moving your vision from side to side will help pick out objects in poor light. Pay attention - objects in your path won't reveal themselves until they're closer than during the day reducing your time to react.

4. Pillion

Sharing the experience of riding with a friend or significant other is a wonderful experience, but not something to be undertaken casually. Your passenger needs to be as well-equipped as you in terms of protective gear and you may need to adjust the rear suspension to deal with the added weight. You'll have to adjust your riding style too. A passenger adds weight, often quite high up, affecting handling. And you need to accelerate and brake more smoothly to avoid throwing them off, or having them rattle their helmet off yours. Basically the passenger has to "ride" too and not just sit there. As a rider, you must explain this concept to a novice. They need to know what to hold onto (rails or you), not to make unexpected moves, how to lean with the bike not fight it, and pay attention to anticipate turns, braking and acceleration.

5. Be seen

The biker's lament about car drivers - "he didn't even see me" - is all too commonly heard during coffee breaks, but it's something riders can do something about. Research shows wearing reflective or fluorescent gear can reduce the chance of being in an accident by 37 per cent. Even the colour of your helmet makes a big difference - a swap from black to white cuts incidences by 24 per cent. Light or brightly coloured riding gear and helmets help, but maximize their efficacy with a vest. High-visibility fluorescent yellow with reflective panels is virtually impossible to miss. These vests are easy to put on and take off and don't take much room to store either. Sew-on reflective tape can be added to riding jackets. Failing to cancel turn signals is a common but dangerous oversight.

6. Don't be afraid to use your horn

We Canadians are polite bunch - perhaps to the point where it can endanger us. Proper use of the horn should be part of how you ride and in urban traffic your thumb should always be poised to hit the button. Beep to warn the driver of a parked car you're about to drive by, and to warn a driver you're overtaking. Pedestrians who look like they might just be considering stepping into your path can be warned off with a polite beep too. In an emergency keep your thumb hard on the button. Some bike horns are a bit anaemic, so consider upgrading to an air horn. Don't forget that flashing your headlamp can also provide a heads up of your presence in the vicinity.

7. Foil thieves

There are few feelings worse than returning to where you parked and finding your bike gone. Always engage the steering lock. Secure the bike to a sturdy object with a no-kidding-around cable or chain and lock. Don't cheap out on these. Using two different types of locks can often foil unprepared thieves. And by making it more difficult they may decide to move on to easier pickings. If you have to leave it outside at night, while touring perhaps, park in as secure and brightly lit area as possible. Outside a ground floor motel room or near its front lobby door are good spots. Even in your garage engage the steering lock and chain the bike to something, maybe a lawn tractor if you've got one. That way you'll get to keep both. Keep the bike covered when in the garage so it won't be identified from the street.

8. Riding in the rain

Riding in the rain isn't just uncomfortable, it can be downright scary. The need to reduce speed is obvious, as corning and braking capabilities are reduced and tires can aquaplane on just few millimeters of water leaving you with no grip at all. You also have to increase distance to vehicles ahead to reduce spray and maintain visibility (anti-fog compounds help on visors). Take extra care changing lanes as painted lines can be very slippery. In the city wet tram tracks or manhole covers can drop you instantly. Puddles can conceal potholes. And spilled oil and water definitely don't mix with motorcycles. Brakes may take an extra moment to begin working and care is required in their application to avoid lock-up. Be very smooth with downshifts to avoid locking the rear wheel.

9. Parking

Parking is all about peace of mind - in other words not returning and finding your bike on its side. Park on hard and even surfaces if possible, but don't trust them. Carry a metal plate you can put under your side stand to stop it sinking into hot asphalt or soft ground. When parking street-side back the bike in until rear wheel is at the curb, angled at about 45 degrees so it can be seen by would-be parkers and (maybe) the car driver ahead. Using the side stand provides more stability (three points of contact) than the centre stand. Leave it in gear (never leave it running and unattended), with steering locked and not under a no-parking sign. In parking lots pull through so you can drive out, and ride through them slowly and carefully.

10. Know how to pick up your dropped bike properly

It's embarrassing, but it happens. A bit of gravel rolling under your foot when you bring your bike to a stop can cause you to lose your balance and have 350 kilos of bike fall on its side. Step one is switch off the ignition (and fuel taps if your bike has them). Step two is get help. But if it's not available the following is the almost universally acknowledged best way to get it back on its wheels. Make sure it's in gear and back your butt up to the seat, reaching down with your right hand to the left grip (or vice versa if it's on its other side). Find something solid to grip with your other hand and snuggle your backside against the seat at what feels like the best point of leverage. Now push with your feet (make sure you've got traction), taking half-steps while also lifting with your arms, until the bike is upright. If the side stand is on the other side, gently ease your bike over onto it. If it's on your side carefully balance the bike while you deploy it. Do not try this if you have any doubts about your physical ability to accomplish it. Check the bike for damage before riding away.

[utadventure]

Always a good reminder to help stay safe!

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Dave

[rumboogy]

Can I repost this to my Arkansasbiker.net website (with credit of course). Excellent post!!

 

Wally

[SilvrT]

Can I repost this to my Arkansasbiker.net website (with credit of course). Excellent post!!

 

Wally

 

It's a copy/paste from MSN so I don't see why not as they don't disable that capability.