Ride Safe or DIE!
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This article was created to remind everyone of the dangers that are involved with riding a motorcycle and how easy they can be avoided. I promote riding 100% but I don’t promote being an idiot while doing so!
Sometimes the only way to get across to some people is by showing them the horrific reality.
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So you want to start riding?
Well great! Go out to the closest dealer, buy the fastest bike and all the coolest gear and ride home like there is no tomorrow!
YEAH RIGHT!!! If you can’t tell I’m being sarcastic. Doing this you will end up like the guy below simply because you have no idea how to ride a motorcycle. Just because you have all the gear, it doesn’t mean you are invincible…
Here is the “other” vehicle involved in the accident.
Head on with a large truck, or is it head off in this case? … Notice the helmet embedded into the bumper!
And here is what the other vehicle looks like, or lack there of….
The one missing the helmet that’s lodged in the truck bumper can be seen in the second picture.
Now, what steps can we take to avoid the inexperienced rider mistakes?
Simple, take a riders training course! Almost every city provides motorcycle training courses which not only train you to be prepared for the road but also can help with insurance rates when going to insure that new bike of yours.
Don’t be embarrassed to take the course either. It usually is only a few days long and you will have more skills than most of your “cool” friends do. You will be the one laughing when they look like an idiot on the road. You will also be the one alive when they have a fatal crash…
Another HUGE mistake new riders make is picking the wrong beginner bike. Everyone wants the baddest, sexiest, fastest bike they can afford. Actually most the time you can’t even afford it but there is no changing your mind because once again you are trying to look cool for your friends. Well here is what happens when you pick a bike that you are not ready for….
Something like this can happen when you are going too fast for your own skill. Learning to stop properly is just as important as learning to ride.
What makes a good beginner motorcycle?
Well that can depend a lot on the rider. If you are 6′6 and 250 pounds, you are not going to want to ride a 100 pound moped that doesn’t have the power to propel you out of harms way.
Couple things to think of when looking for your first bike:
1. BUY USED!!! … You are probably going to drop your motorcycle a couple times while learning, having a shiny new one will make you more concerned with the paint job than with what is ahead of you on the road. Even experience riders drop their bikes, they are on 2 wheels… It happens!
2. Get a bike that fits you. You don’t want to be too cramped or too stretched out, you need a motorcycle you can comfortably handle. Go sit on a few before you decide, don’t decide by pictures online or in magazines as you can never really tell how big they are in person. This is called the “sit test”.
3. Keep the horsepower down! Yes I mentioned above that you need a bike that fits you, but you also don’t want to pick a bike with more power than you are ready for. Now I could go by CC’s as an example but it doesn’t really help with everyones motorcycle taste. For example if I said purchase a motorcycle under 600cc’s that might be fine for a cruiser but a 600cc sportbike is too much power for a novice rider… Period!
Do your research online, there is plenty of people in the same shoes as you are or were in the same shoes and are now selling their starter bikes for much less (remember to buy used). Some people, and countries stick to a 250cc or under guideline for your first motorcycle, I agree there. A smaller bike will only build confidence, plus you should be nowhere near the highways yet so you don’t need a highway bike!
Another common mistake, although I have no idea how. Is riding without proper gear, some idiots without a helmet!
Yeah it might feel nice to have your hair blowing in the wind without a helmet, catching some beautiful views at the same time thinking how cool you look while riding with no helmet… Badass!
Well this time I won’t even say anything, lets just show you how cool you can look…..
This can happen when wearing a novelty helmet too, as well as the picture below of the cracked skull.
Wear a damn helmet it’s a no brainer…. Literally!
Some proper riding apparel you want to consider at the very minimum is:
1. A good “approved” helmet. DOT approved is the most common.
2. Leather jacket, armored is better. Denim “can” work but a leather jacket is better. You could also look into the textile motorcycle jackets, there is thousands to choose from.
3. Pair of riding gloves. You need your hands to do anything, wear some gloves!
4. Pair of boots that cover your ankle. Landing directly on your ankle while going 100 doesn’t feel good.
5. Eye protection. From dirt/rocks and the sun. You might as well ride with your eyes closed if you don’t have proper eye protection, it’s impossible to see when the sun is shining directly in your eyes!
6. For god sakes put a pair of pants on! I hate seeing people riding around in shorts. Jeans will do just fine, leather of course is better or motorcycle specific pants (textile, armored).
A tip is to look over yourself to see if there is any exposed skin, if so cover it up!
Following these few tips can help you stay alive on the street. Skill comes with practice, there is no rush!
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I Would like to say RIP to all the fallen riders, and my prayers go out to all the families.
Please pass this message on. More and more people are getting into riding motorcycles everday, and more and more are doing it in an unsafe way. Don’t let someone you love be the next fallen rider…
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