Quick Tips

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QUICK TIPS: General Guidelines For Riding A Motorcycle Safely

Be visible:

• Remember that motorists often have trouble seeing motorcycles and reacting in time.

• Make sure your headlight works and is on day and night.

• Use reflective strips or decals on your clothing and on your motorcycle.

• Be aware of the blind spots cars and trucks have.

• Flash your brake light when you are slowing down and before stopping.

• If a motorist doesn’t see you, don’t be afraid to use your horn.

Dress for safety:

• Wear a quality helmet and eye protection.

• Wear bright clothing and a light-colored helmet.

• Wear leather or other thick, protective clothing.

• Choose long sleeves and pants, over-the-ankle boots, and gloves.

• Remember – the only thing between you and the road is your protective gear.

Apply effective mental strategies:

• Constantly search the road for changing conditions. Use MSF’s Search, Evaluate, Execute strategy (SEE) to increase time and space safety margins.

• Give yourself space and time to respond to other motorists’ actions.

• Give other motorists time and space to respond to you.

• Use lane positioning to be seen; ride in the part of a lane where you are most visible.

• Watch for turning vehicles.

• Signal your next move in advance.

• Avoid weaving between lanes.

• Pretend you’re invisible, and ride extra defensively.

• Don't ride when you are tired or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

• Know and follow the rules of the road, and stick to the speed limit.

Know your bike and how to use it:

• Get formal training and take refresher courses.

• Call 800.446.9227 or visit www.msf-usa.org to locate the Motorcycle Safety Foundation hands-on RiderCourseSM nearest you.

• Practice. Develop your riding techniques before going into heavy traffic. Know how to handle your bike in conditions such as wet or sandy roads, high winds, and uneven surfaces.

Remember: Give yourself space. People driving cars often just don’t see motorcycles. Even when drivers do see you, chances are they’ve never been on a motorcycle and can’t properly judge your speed.

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QUICK TIPS: Ten Things All Car & Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles

1. There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don't "recognize" a motorcycle; they ignore it (usually unintentionally). Look for motorcycles, especially when checking traffic at an intersection.

2. Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.

3. Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to thoroughly check traffic, whether you're changing lanes or turning at intersections.

4. Because of its small size a motorcycle may seem to be moving faster than it really is. Don't assume all motorcyclists are speed demons.

5. Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.

6. Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders, (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle's signal is for real.

7. Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.

8. Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle's better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don't expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.

9. Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can't always stop "on a dime."

10. When a motorcycle is in motion, don't think of it as motorcycle; think of it as a person.

[Chief Gunner 2]

Good Stuff Brother!

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QUICK TIPS: Guidelines For Carrying A Passenger On Your Motorcycle

Legal Considerations

1. All state laws and requirements for carrying a passenger must be followed.

2. Some states have specific equipment requirements. Examples: the motorcycle must have passenger footrests, passengers must be able to reach the footrests, and a motorcycle must have a separate seating area for a passenger.

3. The decision to carry a child, assuming all safety and legal factors have been considered, is left to the parent or guardian. Ensure that the child is mature enough to handle the responsibilities, tall enough to reach the footrests, wears a properly fitted helmet and other protective gear, and holds onto you or the passenger hand-holds. Check your state’s laws; a few states have set minimum ages for motorcycle passengers.

Operator Preparation

1. Passengers should be considered as a second “active” rider so they can help ensure that safety and procedural operations are correctly followed.

2. A passenger will affect the handling characteristics of a motorcycle due to the extra weight and independent motion.

3. A passenger tends to move forward in quick stops and may “bump” your helmet with theirs.

4. Starting from a stop may require more throttle and clutch finesse.

5. Braking procedures may be affected. Braking sooner and/or with greater pressure may be required.

6. More weight over the rear tire may increase the usefulness and stopping power of the rear brake, especially in quick stop situations.

7. Riding on a downgrade will cause braking distance to increase.

8. Extra caution is called for in a corner because of the extra weight.

9. Cornering clearances may be affected.

10. More time and space will be needed for passing.

11. The effects of wind, especially side wind, may be more pronounced.

Motorcycle Preparation

1. The motorcycle must be designed to accommodate a passenger.

2. The motorcycle owner’s manual should be reviewed for manufacturer’s tips about motorcycle setup as well as any related operational recommendations.

3. The motorcycle’s suspension and tire pressure may need adjustment.

4. Care should be taken to not exceed the weight limitations specified in the owner’s manual.

Passenger Preparation

1. Passengers should be tall enough to reach the footrests and mature enough to handle the responsibilities.

2. Passengers should wear proper protective gear.

3. Passengers should receive a safety briefing (see #7 below).

4. Passengers should consider themselves a second operator and share responsibility for safety.

General Safety Considerations

1. You need to be experienced in the motorcycle’s operation and have a safety-oriented attitude before taking on the added responsibility of carrying a passenger.

2. Practice low-speed clutch/throttle control as well as normal and emergency braking in a low-risk area like an open parking lot, with a passenger.

3. Use caution in cornering and develop cornering skills over time to ensure passenger comfort and safety.

4. Use caution in corners as clearance may be affected.

5. Use a Search, Evaluate, Execute (S.E.E.) strategy to increase time and space safety margins.

6. Allow time for a passenger to adjust to the sense of speed and the sensation of leaning; speeds should conservatively safe and reasonable until a passenger acclimates to the proper riding techniques.

7. Ensure passengers follow safety procedures:

a. Complete personal protective gear is properly in use.

b. Hold operator’s waist or hips, or motorcycle’s passenger hand-holds provided.

c. Keep feet on footrests at all times, including while stopped.

d. Keep hands and feet away from hot or moving parts.

e. When in a corner, look over the operator’s shoulder in the direction of the corner.

f. Avoid turning around or making sudden moves that might affect operation.

g. If crossing an obstacle, stand on the pegs with the knees slightly bent and allow the legs to absorb the shock upon impact.

8. Allow more time for passing.

9. Be ready to counter the effects of wind.

10. Avoid extreme speeds and dramatic lean angles.

11. Be ready for a passenger “bump” with their helmet when stopping quickly.

12. Start the motorcycle before the passenger mounts.

13. Have the passenger mount after the motorcycle’s stand is raised and the motorcycle is securely braced.

14. Annually complete an ERC Skills Plus RiderCourseSM with a passenger.

15. Have frequent passengers complete a Basic RiderCourse so they can better understand the operator’s task.

[sandiegoland 0]

3. A passenger tends to move forward in quick stops and may “bump” your helmet with theirs.

or if they get sleepy...

[Ride-Orange 2]

Great stuff from our own resident MSF Rider Coach! Now, if you can recite all of those tips from memory I'll be impressed enough to buy you a beer or six

Thanks for the post carguy!

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There is more,

Since Schwinn mentioned it.

QUICK TIPS: The Importance of Riding Unimpaired by Alcohol or Other Drugs

Theory: Alcohol And Motorcycles Are Incompatible

• At a BAC* of 0.01 to 0.04%, judgment begins to lessen, the drinker is less critical of their own actions, reaction time is slowed, and indications of mental relaxation may appear.

• At a BAC of 0.05 to 0.07%, judgment is not sound, thinking and reasoning powers are not clear, and the ability to perform complex skills is lessened.

• At a BAC of 0.08% or above, judgment and reasoning powers are severely hampered, and the individual cannot complete common simple tasks without error.

Proof: Statistics From Recent Studies (by NHTSA, Florida, Kentucky, and Australia)

• Having any alcohol in one’s body increases the chance of crashing by five times.

• Having a BAC greater than 0.05% increases the risk of crashing about forty-fold.

• 46 percent of all motorcyclists killed in crashes were using alcohol.

• One fourth of all fatal alcohol-related motorcycle crashes involve motorcyclists running off the road, overturning, or falling from the motorcycle rather than striking another object.

Explanation: Alcohol Affects Your Ability To “SEE”

SEEsm is the acronym for MSF’s strategy to help motorcycle riders maintain a safety margin as well as remain ready and able to respond properly to traffic situations. SEE stands for:

• Search for hazards that might lead to trouble.

• Evaluate how the hazards might interact to create risk; prioritize multiple hazards to deal with one at a time.

• Execute an action to maintain a margin of safety.

Alcohol affects these three human elements of safe motorcycle operation by impairing your vision (Search), judgment/decision-making ability (Evaluate), and coordination/reaction time (Execute).

Recommendation: Plan Ahead

• Riders should never mix alcohol with riding. Even low, legal limits of BAC increase your risk while riding a motorcycle.

• Riders who are away from home and decide to drink should either (1) wait until their BAC has returned to zero before riding, even if it means staying overnight, or (2) leave the motorcycle in a secure location and find alternate transportation home.

[ADV Bum 205]

Sounds like everyone is promoting cooler search's before rides!