safe riding ideas
- Always assume the other driver is an idiot and will do something stupid--it 's surprising how often this true
- —Guest peter
rules
- Before I even get my bike out of the garage, check the weather (bad weather won’t necessarily keep me off the bike, but I want to know what conditions to prepare for) Always ride with helmet, long pants, jacket and cell phone with blue tooth and if visibility is an issue a reflective vest I’m almost ocd about keeping the visor clean but I work at night and ride a lot during dark conditions Check overall condition of bike. Ride like everyone else is an idiot (I know most drivers try to be safe, but we don’t know which ones are safe and which ones aren’t.
- —Guest Freebyrd
Dress for the Crash not the ride!
- Helmet, gloves, riding jacket and pants and boots. No matter how hot or cold. I let the cars win even if they are being stupid, which is most of the time. I let them thru, pass or give them more room. I always assume they don't see me and do all I can to let them know I am on the road. Lights, bright colors, stay out of there blind spot. I stay very clear of all those folks talking on a cell phones when there driving. That's how I had my 1st accident, a chatty cathy soccer mom. Know your skill level and always be a focused rider. AND, keep your bike in top shape!
- —Ronasrides
Riding Rules
- My riding rules: 1. Always wear a helmet, jacket, reflective vest, boots, long pants, gloves and long sleeves--always. 2. No alcohol within one hour of riding. 3. Always say prayer--"Be careful"--while putting helmet on. 4.Always carry fully charged cell phone while on ride. 5. Always check tires before the ride. 6. Ride like you are invisible.
- —Darrellend
Ride Like You're Invisible
- I always ride like no one sees me on the rode. Don't ever assume anything. Don't trust anyone driving an automobile, and ride defensibly, never in an aggressive manner. Let the cars win. They're bigger and heavier and they always win in any colissions.
- —Guest burts
Few thoughts
- 1. Always turn and look before switching lanes! 2. Always use the indicators. 3. Painstakingly follow all traffic rules thus not getting sloppy (minus speed limit when conditions allow ;-). 4. Never panic. Think things through and try to visualize ahead of time. 5. Always wear all the gear of course. 6. Stay calm and not get very angry at the cage drivers. 7. Use earplugs, sunglasses and have a 10 mm wrench on board.
- —Guest Skerpir
safe riding rules"
- 1) remember ; STUPID HURTS!!! ALWAYS wear your saftey gear. 2) NEVER ride outside your confort zone; thats when accidents happen' 3) Never ride faster than your Guardian Angel can fly
- —Guest c41addict
A few rules from a survivor
- There are some good rules here already. I would add the following: 1. Maintain space around your bike that will allow you time to react. If some fool fills up your space with their car then make more. Keep looking in you blind spots. If a rider's head isn't constantly moving then they aren't guarding their space. 2. learn good corner technique. Stay wide until you can see the exit before you commit. More riders have died from running wide out of a corner than from the plague. 3. Be smooth in everything you do. Bikes generally like to run straight. Harsh braking, acceleration, gear change and so on don't make you faster and do upset the bike when conditions are poor. 4. Always, always, always wear protective gear no matter how bloody hot it gets. If it is too hot then get a mesh suit. You are only a T shirt tough guy until you fall off. Then you are just hamburger. Keep the rubber side down, Mike H
- —mikehannan
Helmet and a prayer
- I wear my helmet, jacket, gloves, and long pants before I straddle the bike. I usually say a brief prayer, and tell or text my wife that I am going out for a ride. If the kiddo is home I would give him a kiss too. I never want to become reckless on the bike and these things keep me grounded and extra vilgilant on the road.
- —Guest Zans Zen
Exit Stratagy
- Always have an exit strategy in mind. Somewhere you can move to if something changes ahead. A road shoulder, a different lane, or the otherside of the lane you're in. Perhaps it's speed up or slow down to put yourself in a different place to avoid whatever. Ride in the outside lane if convenient. The shoulder is often the best excape.
- —Guest Jay Mack
Rules of the Road
- Being an instructor, I give my students some words of wisdom after class is over. They are simple and to the point. My rules I have followed are, "Never ride any faster than you can stop. That is at any speed, and remember you just found out what it felt like to stop at 18 mph, not 80". People on the road are stuck on stupid, they write on their To Do List every morning to hit a motorcyclist, so don't ride with the same attitude you do when you drive a car, you cannot afford to go on auto pilot. Never think it won't happen to you, because just when you think it won't, it will, and you will probably not come out alive. Make sure you know yourself, your bike and your skill level. Anything that is lacking will cause an accident and people on the road don't care you are less than prepared to ride on the street. Grabbing brakes or stalling, will result in someone driving over you and I know they will go home and say that "Stupid Motorclist", why do they ride those things? Harsh, but true.
- —Guest R1Babe77
Ride Like a Paperboy
- Remember the classic video game “Paperboy” from the 1980’s? http://www.1980-games.com/us/old-games/nintendo/p/Paperboy/big-game.php You rode you bicycle along a busy street attempting to deliver your papers while cars back out of driveways, dogs charged you from yards, kids ran out into your path, runaway tires rolled out of garage and drunks staggered out in front of you. Everything on the block tried to take you out. That my main rule for riding…Ride Like You Are That Kid on the Bike in Paperboy. Some people say I am paranoid, but remember it’s no paranoia if they are really out to get you.
- —bardstine
Live in harmony with your environment
- Helmet at all time (It gets pretty hot here during summer so I might lay off the jackets at times). Never but never look/feel/take out cell phone while riding, I just make stops at regular intervals to check up on the ol' lady. Always take the time to perform mechanical procedures on time by a mechanic I trust. Know basic mechanics, and keep learning. Be kind to those who share the road - most importantly, since I live in the country: wildlife, farm animals, pets and pedestrians. Have a lovely and safe ride :)
- —Guest Kenderkin
Know thy self
- ALWAYS: helmet. On the head not the rack. Boots, gloves, jacket and usually over pants. No alcohol within an hour of riding. And I have allergies. So I pay attention to the days that I am foggy and not alert. Those are car days not motorcycle days. Bright lights on in daytime. ALWAYS be paranoid. Every driver of every vehicle is out there just to hit me!
- —Guest ryde4ever
My rules
- Make sure the bike is in excellent working order, stay vigilent and always assume the other guy is going to do something stupid, ride to MY abilities not someone elses. Boots, gloves and helmet always. If it's too hot it's jeans and t-shirts. Once it cools off I'll go to chaps & leather jacket.
- —DaveM123
Control
- Riding well is all about staying in control, so I've got a rules I've set for myself when I'm riding a motorcycle: * Slow in, fast out during turns; that way, I'm ready for the unexpected and have more options if traffic veers towards me or I encounter unexpected debris, etc. * Always maintain focus; it's easy to get distracted on a bike during long rides, but keeping my eyes where they belong ensures I'll be ready for anything. If I'm not paying attention, it's time for a break. * Always leave a little extra space around me, and assume cars can't see me. * I've got a zero tolerance policy for alcohol when I ride; why lose a millisecond of reaction time? If I'm going to have a drink, I'm better off driving (and staying within the legal limit, of course.) * (Almost) all the gear, all the time. Though I'll admit to occasionally wearing Kevlar jeans-- not the best lower body protection-- I choose to wear helmet, gloves, jacket, and boots 100% of the time
- —Basem_Wasef
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