Motorcycling is right up there with sex, bar-b-cue and music – all things that erase the world and its madness, at least temporarily, and make life more sweet. But motorcycling, as everyone knows, also carries hazards that could mean your death or dismemberment, tough guy. Though it’s impossible to completely eliminate every risk this pastime carries, there are ways you can help reduce the hazards if you’re a new rider.
Here are 5 essential tips if you’ve just bought a bike or are planning to.
Wear full gear See those bikers on the freeway in their t-shirts, shorts and sneakers? That’s like NFL quarterback Josh Freeman taking the field wearing a speedo. In the event of even a minor spill, a biker and his or her bike will slide, and a few feet of skidding on pavement will take the flesh right off your body. Ideally you should wear heavy-duty gear even if it’s warm, but at the very least, long jeans, denim and gloves are musts. And don’t forget the helmet. It’s the law in some states and not in others – but my sister-in-law, a neurologist who has seen every kind of brain with every kind of damage, has a popular nickname for guys who don’t wear helmets. She calls them “organ donors.”
Don’t drink or use drugs, prescription or otherwise, and drive
Good motorcycling requires lightning-fast reactions – and it only takes a split second to go from a thrill to a spill. Make sure your brain and body aren’t slowed down – by anything. Also, experts recommend, avoid riding when you’re severely fatigued, in an extreme hurry or have just been canned from your job.
Don’t tailgate It’s tempting to close every available inch of space between you and the guy in front of you, as car drivers will do. But a motorcycle operates on a different set of stopping rules than an automobile, the biggest one being that car drivers don’t have to keep their cars upright, like you. Maintain your distance.
Watch for cars making left turns This is one of the most common causes of car-motorcycle clashes. If you’re approaching an intersection and see a car with its left directional on, pay very close attention and be prepared to stop or take evasive action as cars often misjudge both the distance and speed of motorcycles when turning in front of them, if they notice bikers at all.
Take A Safety Course. This is the best way to learn, and you may get a break on your insurance if you pass the course. Ty van Hooydonk, a spokesman for the Motorcycle Industry Council, says motorcycle safety courses don’t have to be a bore. “The training stuff isn’t just all about strictly safety,” he told me in a phone interview. “It’s also about fun.” If your loved one is buying a bike, buy them the best gift you’ll ever buy them—tuition in a safety course where they’ll learn to stop, corner, swerve, take immediate evasive action, and other essential skills it’s best to learn beforehand instead of while they are happening.
To inquire about a safety course near you, call (800) 446-9227 or visit www.msf-usa.org
Ride safe, guys & gals.
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