HOW TO AVOID ENDING UP LIKE SOME OF THE PICTURES BELOW:
50,000 people die each year in the USA in Motor Vehicle-related deaths. That's the same number of
US soldiers killed during the Vietnam War.
The percentage of people involved in a deadly accident is much higher for a Motorcyclist than for
someone who drives a car or truck. Dying in a car wreck is like getting struck by lightening. Dying on a
bike is actually quite common. Ask any biker who has been riding for more than 10 years to name at
least 1 person who he met who has died, and he will likely name you two. I can name 4...
But, it doesn't have to be that way. You CAN ride and be safe at the same time. It's all about
AWARENESS. Unfortunately, there seems to be an epidemic of "ADD" going around. Some people
are seemingly not able to FOCUS, with deadly consequences.
1. CAREFUL THROUGH THE GREEN: When I ride, I don't go through a green light without looking
both ways. That's right, I'm careful even on the GREEN. And if I'm stopped and the light turns green, I
don't jump out. Doing so might cause you to get side-swiped by a big pickup truck. The truck will win,
every time.
2. CAREFUL AT THE RED LIGHT: When I'm at a red light, I make sure that I've got enough distance
between me and the car in front so that if someone can't stop behind me I can get away. And of
course I leave the bike in gear, and look in my mirrors until I know for sure that the guy coming up
behind me in his SUV sees the red light and is going to stop. Just 6 months ago a 40-year-old guy I
saw posting on a motorcycle forum wrote in to say that he had been struck from behind at a red light
and that both his arms were broken. That didn't have to happen!
3. CHECK THE BIKE: Before each ride, you have to check tire pressure, chain tightness, brakes, tire
quality, and throttle play. If something is wrong you have to fix it. You can't just "jump on the bike and
take off" like you do with a car. I mean, you could.....but....
4. YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE ROAD: Everyone makes the mistake of watching "Valentino Rossi" on
TV and then going out to your local backroad and trying to do the same. What most don't realize is that
not even Rossi could do the same on your bike and on your street. First of all, Rossi knows that track
like the back of his hand. It only has a few turns after all, and after a week of practice he has it
memorized. Next, Rossi has special tires that feel as soft as bubble gum and are only good for 1 race.
You, on the other hand, have hard tires that are designed to last at least 3000 miles. Your tires don't
stick as good as his. So you can't do what he does. If you are on a road that you are not familiar with,
you must go slow. But even if you know the road, you don't know what might have changed in the last
few days or even hours. There could be a recent oil spill or other debris in the road. Or, maybe some
soccer-mom on the cell phone in her SUV has turned around to yell at her brats in the backseat and
consequently she has drifted over the yellow line into your lane. Not going to happen you say? I read
about stuff like this nearly every month on various motorcycle forums. Just last year a guy was going
down a residential street at 25mph, a lady in a minivan was coming towards him, he was sure that she
saw him. At the last second she turned right in front of him and nearly killed him. There was no blinker
on her part. She was simply turning into her driveway and never saw the biker. So you see, even if you
think you "know" the road, you don't really know it. The only safe way to go and try to be like Rossi is
to wear full gear and go to a certified closed race track. They are surprisingly affordable and available.
There is probably one within 50 miles of you. The one near me charges only about $100 for a 1/2 day.
5. WEAR A GOOD HELMET: Here's where the "Harley" dudes just don't get it- they wear these little
"half-shell" pieces of garbage. What's that half-shell going to do for you when you go sliding down the
highway on your face? And what's with all the short sleeves? Pavement is like a cheese-grater, it will
rub your meat down to the bone. And as you'll see below, some of these folks look like a deer that's
been hit by a tractor-trailer. Don't let that be you. Wear decent gear. When you sit on a bike your
head is typically at least 5 feet off the ground. That means that even if you fall STANDING STILL you
can still get seriously injured. Bekah and I saw a dead Harley guy last year. The bike had nearly no
damage. I estimate the speeds to have been less than 45 mph. He could have survived that crash for
sure, but no helmet so now he's gone. I bet he didn't want his friends to think that he looked like a dork
with a helmet on....
O.k., I'll stop preaching now....maybe the pictures can do better than I can....
50,000 people die each year in the USA in Motor Vehicle-related deaths. That's the same number of
US soldiers killed during the Vietnam War.
The percentage of people involved in a deadly accident is much higher for a Motorcyclist than for
someone who drives a car or truck. Dying in a car wreck is like getting struck by lightening. Dying on a
bike is actually quite common. Ask any biker who has been riding for more than 10 years to name at
least 1 person who he met who has died, and he will likely name you two. I can name 4...
But, it doesn't have to be that way. You CAN ride and be safe at the same time. It's all about
AWARENESS. Unfortunately, there seems to be an epidemic of "ADD" going around. Some people
are seemingly not able to FOCUS, with deadly consequences.
1. CAREFUL THROUGH THE GREEN: When I ride, I don't go through a green light without looking
both ways. That's right, I'm careful even on the GREEN. And if I'm stopped and the light turns green, I
don't jump out. Doing so might cause you to get side-swiped by a big pickup truck. The truck will win,
every time.
2. CAREFUL AT THE RED LIGHT: When I'm at a red light, I make sure that I've got enough distance
between me and the car in front so that if someone can't stop behind me I can get away. And of
course I leave the bike in gear, and look in my mirrors until I know for sure that the guy coming up
behind me in his SUV sees the red light and is going to stop. Just 6 months ago a 40-year-old guy I
saw posting on a motorcycle forum wrote in to say that he had been struck from behind at a red light
and that both his arms were broken. That didn't have to happen!
3. CHECK THE BIKE: Before each ride, you have to check tire pressure, chain tightness, brakes, tire
quality, and throttle play. If something is wrong you have to fix it. You can't just "jump on the bike and
take off" like you do with a car. I mean, you could.....but....
4. YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE ROAD: Everyone makes the mistake of watching "Valentino Rossi" on
TV and then going out to your local backroad and trying to do the same. What most don't realize is that
not even Rossi could do the same on your bike and on your street. First of all, Rossi knows that track
like the back of his hand. It only has a few turns after all, and after a week of practice he has it
memorized. Next, Rossi has special tires that feel as soft as bubble gum and are only good for 1 race.
You, on the other hand, have hard tires that are designed to last at least 3000 miles. Your tires don't
stick as good as his. So you can't do what he does. If you are on a road that you are not familiar with,
you must go slow. But even if you know the road, you don't know what might have changed in the last
few days or even hours. There could be a recent oil spill or other debris in the road. Or, maybe some
soccer-mom on the cell phone in her SUV has turned around to yell at her brats in the backseat and
consequently she has drifted over the yellow line into your lane. Not going to happen you say? I read
about stuff like this nearly every month on various motorcycle forums. Just last year a guy was going
down a residential street at 25mph, a lady in a minivan was coming towards him, he was sure that she
saw him. At the last second she turned right in front of him and nearly killed him. There was no blinker
on her part. She was simply turning into her driveway and never saw the biker. So you see, even if you
think you "know" the road, you don't really know it. The only safe way to go and try to be like Rossi is
to wear full gear and go to a certified closed race track. They are surprisingly affordable and available.
There is probably one within 50 miles of you. The one near me charges only about $100 for a 1/2 day.
5. WEAR A GOOD HELMET: Here's where the "Harley" dudes just don't get it- they wear these little
"half-shell" pieces of garbage. What's that half-shell going to do for you when you go sliding down the
highway on your face? And what's with all the short sleeves? Pavement is like a cheese-grater, it will
rub your meat down to the bone. And as you'll see below, some of these folks look like a deer that's
been hit by a tractor-trailer. Don't let that be you. Wear decent gear. When you sit on a bike your
head is typically at least 5 feet off the ground. That means that even if you fall STANDING STILL you
can still get seriously injured. Bekah and I saw a dead Harley guy last year. The bike had nearly no
damage. I estimate the speeds to have been less than 45 mph. He could have survived that crash for
sure, but no helmet so now he's gone. I bet he didn't want his friends to think that he looked like a dork
with a helmet on....
O.k., I'll stop preaching now....maybe the pictures can do better than I can....
Nice arm dude, next time wear a jacket
and gloves. $140 for the jacket, $40
for the gloves. I wear a Joe Rocket
Phoenix that has Kevlar armor. But
there is mesh to let the wind come
through so I don't get hot. Joe Rocket
also makes gloves that let the air in.
So no excuses like "it was too hot."
and gloves. $140 for the jacket, $40
for the gloves. I wear a Joe Rocket
Phoenix that has Kevlar armor. But
there is mesh to let the wind come
through so I don't get hot. Joe Rocket
also makes gloves that let the air in.
So no excuses like "it was too hot."
Ummmm, something tells me there will
be a closed casket at this funeral...
be a closed casket at this funeral...
Can you name these parts? I was
pre-med a long time ago, but I'm
struggling here...
This brings new meaning to the phrase
"gross anatomy"...
pre-med a long time ago, but I'm
struggling here...
This brings new meaning to the phrase
"gross anatomy"...
See, even I fell. This is what happens
when you try to make a U-turn in
gravel. Speeds were about 15mph,
and I had my girlfriend on the back.
But no one got hurt (except my wallet)
because both of us had full gear on.
We simply got up, picked up the bike,
brushed the pebbles off of our jeans,
and took off. Luckily nothing was
damaged except the plastics, which I
replaced.
when you try to make a U-turn in
gravel. Speeds were about 15mph,
and I had my girlfriend on the back.
But no one got hurt (except my wallet)
because both of us had full gear on.
We simply got up, picked up the bike,
brushed the pebbles off of our jeans,
and took off. Luckily nothing was
damaged except the plastics, which I
replaced.