How to Ride a Motorcycle Safely

Motorcycles are more popular than ever in the United States. There is a model suited to every height and weight with prices ranging from dirt-cheap to monstrously expensive. Motorcycles are thrilling to ride and put you in much closer touch with the road as well as the other vehicles around you. Additionally, they are usually more fuel efficient than cars and trucks because of their more advantageous power to weight ratio. At the same time, motorcycle fatalities now account for 11 percent of all vehicle-related fatalities in the United States. To be sure, the interaction between motorcycles and other vehicles is a dangerous one. However, deaths in single-vehicle accidents—a motorcyclist alone—account for 45 percent of that figure. Motorcyclists must possess sufficient skills, equipment and awareness to survive the thrill they gain from riding. Here’s what you can do to push the odds of that happening in your favor.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Safe motorcycle
• Complete personal safety equipment
• Basic rider’s course taught by a Motorcycle Safety Foundation-certified instructor

1. Get a helmet. Consider only appropriately certified models from reputable manufacturers. There are at least four agencies that certify the effectiveness of helmets, two among them being the US Department of Transportation and the Snell Foundation. At present in the industry, there is quite a bit of noise about which standard is best. But the bottom line, according to the US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, is that 35 percent of helmeted riders involved in fatal motorcycle crashes suffered head injuries; among unhelmeted riders, the proportion zoomed to 51 percent. The choice of helmet is yours to make. But understand that if you choose not to wear a “lid” a “brain bucket” or a “hat,” you’ve just tipped the scale for survival in someone else’s direction.

2. Get more safety apparel. Besides the helmet, smart motorcyclists always begin any ride by putting on their gear; specifically, a heavy jacket designed for motorcycle use, motorcycle gloves, heavy trousers made of thick denim or leather and a stout pair of boots. Jackets and trousers can include safety plates designed to protect you from the effects of lengthy, unwanted skids down Mainstreet, USA. There is also a jacket being marketed that operates on the same principle as automotive air bags. All this innovation points to one thing above all: safety. If you get on a motorcycle without wearing your safety gear, it’s just as crazy as heading to a combat zone without your helmet, body armor and weapon.

3. Go to school. There is no universal requirement to avail yourself of the education provided by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. On the other hand, failing to obtain the practical knowledge that will help you operate your specialized vehicle is like jumping behind the wheel of a semi-trailer—without the benefit of having earned your commercial driver’s license—and heading across country. Aside from learning about the specific handling characteristics of motorcycles, you’ll be taught commonsense strategies for survival in the concrete jungle. For example, maintaining situational awareness while riding a motorcycle is one of the best guarantors of your survival. One acronym in particular, SIPDE—sip-dee—is an oft-proved approach to living through any ride, long or short.
   S: Scan. Assess everything around you: animal, vegetable or mineral
   I: Identify. Based on what you see, identify the most likely threats.
   P: Predict. Once you’ve identified the threats, predict what their actions will be relative to the yellow light that’s just about to turn red, that piece of debris in the road or the pedestrian who’s trying to cross the street against the traffic.
   D: Decide. Based on everything you’ve seen and the elements around you, decide what action you’ll take should any of those potential crises actually occur.
   E: Execute. As the situation develops, you’re prepared to face it having already completed the analysis. Now, put your plan into action.

4. Maintain your edge. Just because you’ve gotten your state motorcycle license and begun riding, that doesn’t mean your education process is complete. In fact, it’s only beginning. Observe situational awareness every time you ride. Keep your evasive control skills sharp by practicing emergency stops, riding progressively tighter figure-8s and controlling your machine at slow speeds.

5. …and your bike’s. If your motorcycle is in poor mechanical condition, you’ve significantly increased the chances that it will fail at a very inopportune time. Tires are of paramount importance and you should inspect them regularly. In short, if the grooves are wearing thin, so is your traction. Your lights should all be operational, especially your daytime running light. Just like your car, pay attention to periodic oil and filter changes, drivetrain adjustment—chain, belt or shaft—and heed all warnings announced by your bike’s computer. Some of this maintenance can be done at home but don’t be a stranger to your dealer’s service department. After all, the techs there understand your bike at least as well as you do.

6. Ride safe. Any good hour spent riding a motorcycle is worth a hundred in a car. By paying attention to the capabilities and limitations of your two-wheeled steed, you’ll be in a much better position to enjoy it for a long time to come.

Tips & Warnings

• Helmets save lives.
• Safety equipment is only useless when it isn’t used.
• Motorcycles and wet roads don’t mix.
• Never drink and ride.
• Don’t overestimate your capabilities. When weather or physical factors intervene, pull off the road and live to ride another day.

Resources

• The Motorcycle Safety Foundation