Rider Ed & Motorist Awareness
Defensive Riding Tips
Most of us enjoy riding and often ride for no reason other than to go to the local Dairy Queen for a strawberry sundae. I know each rider Tip Clock's their Gold Wing making sure that tires are inflated, fluids are checked and everything is in operational order. We put on our safety equipment such as riding jackets, pants, boots, gloves and helmet.
For those that are lucky enough to have a Co Rider "Most" usually check to make sure they are behind them from time to time. You pull out of your driveway and head to the Dairy Queen when suddenly a car backs out of their driveway impacting your motorcycle causing you to drop your bike hopefully with minimal injuries. These accidents happen more often that you may think.
Motorcycle riders need to be ready for anything. birds, deer, dogs, Skunk, Cars, Trucks, Bicycles, Shredded tires, Water, Potholes, All of these and countless others on the safety of your Co rider, your machine and yourself. Drive defensively and watch the other drivers. Here are a few tips that may help you.
Tip 1. Cover your Brakes: Sometimes you must react very quickly, which means not fumbling for the brake lever or pedal. To minimize reach time, always keep your fingers on the brake lever and your right toe close to the rear brake pedal.
Tip 2. Practice the Scan: Constantly scan your entire environment while riding, from instruments to mirrors to the road ahead to the blind spots on your left and right rear. Scanning keeps you aware and in touch with your situation, and therefore better able to react. Dwelling on one area too long, watching only behind or in front of you, for instance is just begging for trouble.
Tip 3. Study the Surface: Add asphalt conditions to your scan. Be on the lookout for spilled oil, antifreeze or fuel, it will usually show up as a shiny pavement. Also keep an eye out for gravel and /or sand, which is usually more difficult to see. Use your sense of smell, often you can smell fuel spills before your tires discover how slippery the stuff is. Scan a few seconds ahead at all times. Look for hazards such as deer on the side of the road, truck tires in the road, pot holes etc.
Tip 4. Left Turn Treachery: When approaching an on coming car that is stopped and about to turn left, be ready. Your headlights should be on so the driver can see you but do not rely on this to save you. Watch the car's wheels or the drivers hands on the streeing wheel, if you see movement, be ready to brake, swerve or accelerate, which ever seems best for the situation. Remember, cars do not seem to see motorcycles.
Tip 5. Ride in Open Zones: Use your bike's power and maneuverability to ride in open zones in traffic. In any grouping of vehicles there are always some gaps. find these and ride in them to seperate you from the four wheelers. It will also give you additional room to maneuver and allow you to keep away from danerouse blind spots.
Mike Cox
M2 Ride Educator