Safety Tips
7 Rules for safe riding
Of course there are no guarantees, but if you live by these rules
you’ll set yourself up for a lifetime of successful motorcycling.
Rule #1: Assume You’re Invisible
Compared to cars, trucks, SUVs, big rigs, billboards and mobile phones, you and your motorcycle don’t even exist in other drivers’ awareness. So ride like it. Assume you’re invisible to every other driver on the road, and position yourself so they can’t touch you.
Rule #2: Look Where You Want to Go
At 30 mph, your motorcycle is carrying you along at 44 feet per second. In 5 seconds, you’ll be 220 feet up the road. Make sure your BRAIN gets there before you BODY does. Looking way ahead (10-20 seconds) allows you to spot trouble in advance and prepare for it.
Rule #3: All the Gear, Every Time
You’re not a kid anymore, you’re a grownup. You’re not on a bicycle anymore, you’re on a motorcycle. So take the machine seriously, and take your passion seriously: Wear all the gear, every time. No matter what. If it’s too hot to wear the gear, it’s too hot to ride.
Rule #4: Slow In, Throttle Out
In curves, be slow in, fast out. A nicely carved corner makes motorcycling a joy. A botched corner is embarrassing and sometimes painful. To ensure safe and enjoyable corners, take them “slow in, throttle out.” Enter the curve slower than you need to, so you can get on the gas earlier and accelerate out when you see the exit. Braking in a corner is a bummer. Throttling out is a thrill.
Rule #5: Put Everything Else Aside and Ride
When you throw a leg over that bike, commit to tuning out everything except the ride. You need to be fully, 100% in the moment. NO distractions. No work, no school, no home, no plans for after the ride should cloud your thoughts. Just focus on now: Riding the bike, riding it well, and arriving at your destination safely … with a smile.
Rule #6: Warm Up
Take some time to warm up. It takes your brain and body several minutes to get into the motorcycle groove, even if you’ve only been off the bike an hour. If it’s been overnight, or a week, a month, it takes even longer. If you’ve been off the bike all winter, it may take DAYS. Early motorcycle research found 90% of crashes happened in the first hour of riding. 50% happened in the FIRST 6 MINUTES. Take it easy and take it slow until you’re warmed up.
Rule #7: When in Doubt, Park It
When your judgment is impaired — by fatigue, distraction, stress — your ability to ride safely is impaired. So park it. Take time to clear your mind and refocus on the ride. If you can’t, or if you find yourself impaired by drugs or alcohol, leave the bike parked. Riding safely requires you at 100%. Anything less, even 99%, leaves you open to surprises. And surprises on the road are almost always bad for your health.
Remember: It’s Not You, It’s Me
If you think other drivers are your biggest threat, you’re wrong. It’s us. We’re our own biggest threat. Half of crashes are single-vehicle — no other driver involved. In crashes involving another vehicle, both drivers share responsibility. Therefore, 75% (more like 99%) of motorcycle crashes are avoidable IF the rider makes the right choices and IF the rider has the skills to back them up. Living by these 7 rules will get you to 75%. For the rest, there’s training. Come see us and we’ll show you what we mean. Training Options for Endorsed Riders
Print the Poster
You can print this page as an 8.5×11 poster. Print pdf
Post these rules somewhere you will see them every day, or at least every time you ride.
