Perfect example of why everyone should wear gloves when riding because if you crash you could end up like this. WARNING! Awesome special effects! Note: I have NOT made this video myself; it has been taken from bikerpunks.com.
Please excuse the fact that this video is not a high quality production. As a rider with over 600000 kms experience, I have come to the realisation that this topic is very important. So, I have made this clip to share what I know about probably the least understood and most important safety subject that every rider must master if they want to survive to be an old rider. This is information which the TAC (in Victoria Australia) don’t want you to know. I pitched an idea to them several years ago about putting together a series of videos like this one. They didn’t like the idea. So, now that I have a GoPro camera – I have gone out and made the first in a series. I would appreciate feedback.
Safety advice for motorcycle riders to avoid accidents
Motorcycles account for a worryingly high percentage of the traffic accidents that happen every year on Britain’s roads.
More people own and ride motorbikes now than ever before and with so many riders on the road, safety has never been more important; not just for the riders but for other drivers encountering them on the roads.
Accident statistics where motorbikes were involved have decreased in the past few years, particularly those resulting in fatalities, but it is still vitally important to make sure you’re being as a safe and responsible on the roads as you can be.
So let’s go through some of the most important points of motorcycle safety.
Firstly, the most important thing to remember is to use common sense.
Remember the earliest lesson you learned; keep your eyes and concentration on the road. Make sure you’re always aware of the other drivers on the road, keep your eyes on where they are and how far away they are from you and just generally stay sharp when you’re in traffic.
So many accidents involving motorcycles are caused by other drivers not paying attention and not noticing you and your bike. Of course it is their responsibility to keep their eyes open too but if they don’t pay attention and they miss you, then it becomes your problem.
Another big issue is increasing your visibility, especially when riding at night. Wear reflective clothing such as high visibility strips and keep your lights on at all times. Make it as easy as possible for other drivers to see and avoid you.
Keep control of your bike. Don’t drive at excessive speeds especially when taking corners and driving in the dark. Keep a stable and sturdy position on your bike to avoid slipping or being thrown off.
If you drive safely and concentrate on what you’re doing you are unlikely to have any bad experiences.
If, unfortunately, you do have an accident though, there are some things you can do to minimise the results.
Make certain you are wearing the most appropriate helmet. It must fit securely and be fastened properly. If you are injured try to avoid removing your helmet until the paramedics arrive or you receive other medical advice as sometimes you could do damage to your neck and spine.
Wear the right clothes. Motorcycle clothing is specially designed to minimise any injury if you have an accident. If you skid across a gravel road at high speed, you will want good quality clothing protecting your skin.
Call for medical attention immediately if you are able. Never just leave it to chance. Make sure you are checked over properly and given the all clear.
It might also be a good idea to invest in some extra advanced lessons specifically detailing the best ways to cope in an accident situation. You can learn skid control and how best to handle your bike if you fall.
While extra lessons are not mandatory for passing your test, they could teach you the difference between life and death, so they are worth the extra effort.
If you do experience an accident and it wasn’t your fault, don’t be afraid to get the police involved, especially if it was down to serious negligence on the part of another driver.
You could also be entitled to compensation which might be much needed in paying medical bills or keeping you going if you are unable to work.
The most basic rule in motorcycle safety though is, again, common sense. If we all just look out for ourselves and the other drivers on the road we can all help prevent accidents.
If you have had an accident and you think you might be entitled to compensation you can contact <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.accidentconsult.com/index.php”>Accident Consult</a> and they can discuss your claim and all your options with you and help you get the best result.
Whether a motorcyclist is an amateur or a pro, they can pick up some vital safety training by enrolling in a course that’s suggestd by the motorcycle Safety Foundation. These classes are offered at both the basic and complicated level, teaching students of any skill level how to operate a motorcycle while avoiding perilous scenarios on the road.
While there are frequently many reports of fatal motorbike accidents across the year, most if not all of these could have been evaded if motorcycle safety courses were taken beforehand. With both coaching in the lecture room, studying about the safety apparatus and rules of the road for motorcyclists, as well as coaching while riding to cover areas like avoiding dangerous situations and getting out of those that cannot be evaded, the training courses are the ideal way to become closer to getting a Class M license. Although the license is not awarded after collaboration in the class, a certificate is granted that will surrender the riding obligation for the Texas motorbike endorsement.
There are many preventive measures that will be taught in a safety class that may will allow a motorcyclist to feel much safer on the road with other traffic. Whether it is just understanding the acceptable gear that a rider should wear to knowing how to steer away from an accident while remaining in control, it is far better to grasp what to do in difficult scenarios. The instructors that teach the motorcycle safety courses are often very experienced in riding so they may be able to answer specific questions and offer the appropriate steering that even the beginner rider will have to feel safe.
Although some may think it is simple to pick up the techniques needed to ride a motorbike safely, it is located that only those who have finished these motorcycle safety courses are the best riders on the road. Because they are taught how to successfully ride a motorcycle, they’re often never concerned in any sort of accident and they know the way to be safe on the road. This is especially important because there are such a lot of drivers on the road today and in the heavy traffic areas, it’s best to be as prepared as possible before ending up in a troublesome situation. Find a quality motorcycle training course provider in your area today!
Mr. Hess is a content syndication consultant for Page 1 Consultants. For more information on motorcycle classes in Texas, please visit TexasBestRider.com.
I have a friend who works at a harley dealership and yesterday he wanted to show me what kind of crap they have to deal with everyday because I always accuse of having an easy job. So were looking over the dealers recent sales and in the last month they a total of 4 people payed cash for their bike out of 79 total sales and to top it off 53 of those people financned over 1000$ worth the clothes with their bikes and an additional 14 financed a few hundred worth the harley clothes. And most of the loans were for the full 6 years. So what does this say about the typical harley rider? And what does the average of a 19% interest rate say about their credit?
Those aren’t credit card loans. Oh no, those are good old harley financial loans with a 19 % interest. Thats what they do to poor saps who just MUST HAVE that fake lifestyle but can’t afford it. And as far as my debt goes I don’t have much. My house and car are both paid for and so is my Honda 599 motorcycle. And I have never been in such poor finacial shape that I acctually had to finance my clothes. All I have is a credit card that use to buy gas because I get a 10% discount when I pay it off every month. Sorry if I struck a nerve with anyone but these are cold hard statistics from a dealership and they don’t lie. So don’t blame me for your problems harley fans.
By clothes I mean shirts, pants, and underwear etc etc etc with harley logos on them. They even have dog bones with harley logos on them and yes they have been financed before.
In Virginia the weather has taken a beautiful, sudden turn from a lot of rain to a lot of heat and sunshine as April comes to a close and we welcome in May. Already seeing a couple of days reach higher than 90 degrees on the thermometer, it has warmed up quickly — perhaps some indication that a very hot summer lies ahead. And other than plummeting into a nearby pool, lake or ocean, what better way to beat the heat than to hit the open road with nothing between you and the pavement except the metal steed of your choice? Or, if you can’t have your choice, how about a steed that is safe, affordable, better for the environment, and efficient in these tough economic times? Because it seems the only things rising faster than the temperature these days are motorcycle sales and enrollment in motorcycle safety classes, the latter of which I would highly recommend prior to enjoying life on two wheels — or three, not to exclude the trike riders!
While some statistics may show that overall motorcycles sales took a hit last year –down 7.2% from 2007 according to The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC)) — compare that drop to the drop in the automobile industry, where the top Japanese automakers averaged a 12.3% drop and the top U.S. automakers averaged an alarming and job-cutting 24.7% drop in sales. But without delving any further into statistics than necessary — since it’s not really part of the point I am trying to make – my point is that a lot more people are parking, if not selling, their gas-guzzling [and therefore money-guzzling] SUVs, and once again buying and mounting the original “green” machines.
A recent boom, as I would describe the motorcycle population on the road in the last year, began as a way for people of all driving ages to fight increasing gas prices. The most obvious indication here was the ridiculous 41% increase in scooter sales. Now, if you’re like me, the word “scooter” conjures up images of Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) and Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) doubling on their moped in Dumb and Dumber. But that which was formerly considered an embarrassing – and in the aforementioned blockbuster, laughable — means of transportation now begs the question, “Who is laughing now?” Though many scooter riders don a full-faced helmet and dark visor — for safety reasons, of course –- you will find no inferiority complex from those now proudly conserving their environment and saving money at the pump. And while maintaining incredible fuel efficiency since their invention, scooters have come a long way in style, too, especially since 1994 when Lloyd Christmas was in the market.
In addition to the scooter scenario, I have a couple of theories I believe are boosting motorcycle sales. We all know downsizing from four wheels to two is actually greener and helps defend against roller coaster fuel prices. But come on, not everyone is in a pinch. And what better excuse to scratch what has been itching a lot of people for a long time? While I’m aware that plenty of folks are scared to death of motorcycles, I would argue that many more have been waiting for the right “reason” to buy one. Riding motorcycles isn’t just for gangs, roamers and vagabonds anymore. As a matter of fact, the population of “rubies” (rich urban bikers) is one of the fastest growing groups of bikers out there. And more and more women are giving up the back seat for a throttle of their own. When I took the motorcycle safety class, there were ten students in my class. Eight of them were women! There are now bikes of all shapes and sizes to fit people and egos of all shapes and sizes.
All of this leads to my second theory. With new waves and circles of riders come new waves and circles of peer pressure. Come on, man, get one. Everybody’s doing it. You know you want one. Are you scared? Okay, so maybe the peer pressure I’m talking about isn’t exactly the same as the after-school special scenario, but we do live in society where many feel the pressure to keep up with the Joneses or are easily pushed over by the influence of others.
In a round about way, I am trying to shed light on a current situation. Motorcycles, especially used motorcycles, are on the move. With a lot of new riders graduating on a weekly basis, people are looking right now for a suitable motorcycle. While many are able to continue buying new, which is also great for our economy, a lot of people are cutting back. I submit to you that now is an excellent time for those who can upgrade to do so and put your “old” bike on the market. Because what began as a response to rising gas prices has evolved into motorcycle fever. Bikes, trikes, hogs, scooters… you name it, there’s someone out there looking for it. There’s someone out there looking to beat the heat and “join the gang” in a motorcycle revival that’s sweeping the nation. So take advantage of the market and sell your bike. It’s time for an upgrade.
To all the new riders out there… your steed awaits you. Ride safely.
Just A. Little expert advice.
Adam Little writes for Auto Marketing Systems – 866-326-0949
Expert Advice, Great Exposure, Guaranteed Results
http://www.amsvehiclesales.com.
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When I mentioned that I had over $2,000 worth of Harley Davidson clothing, everyone got all upset at me. But I don’t know one Harley rider that doesn’t own at least a few Harley logo items. It’s like a requirement – if you own a Harley, you need to advertise it. And even though all of the clothing is made overseas, it still advertises my love of the best motorcycle ever made! I’m sure that even my chaps and jacket, which don’t have a label saying where they were made, came from China. The quality isn’t that great, like most Harley leather, and the chaps offer practically no protection, but what Harley rider is going to be caught riding around in an Aerostitch suit? So be honest – t-shirt, boots, leathers – how many pieces of Harley clothing do you have?
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