May is Motorcycle Safety Month

If you are a motorcyclist now or plan to be, there are many things you should know and should be doing each and every time you get on your motorcycle. If you are careless when you use a motorcycle, it could mean disaster for you or someone you love. Riding a motorcycle should never be done absent mindly. The consequences of a lax attitude or careless behavior could be deadly.

If you are an experienced rider, you may need to refresh your memory concerning the care of your motorcycle and proper safety issues it could have. If you are a newbie to riding, it is important for you to educate yourself through asking questions, research on the Internet and learning to do safety checks of your ride. Old or new, here are the things you should check regularly on your bike.

1. Tires: Are your tires properly inflated? Are there worn at all? Tires make the difference in the handling of your motorcycle. They allow you to make turns and stop safely. You should check your owners manual to determine the proper inflation for your brand of bike. Always check the tire pressure before you go for your ride.

2. Brakes: Do the brakes make strange noises? Check to see how much pad you have on a regular basis. Brakes on motorcycles wear more than you would think. If you don't know how to determine this, take it to someone who does. There are many honest, reputable motorcycle shops that will give you added information, if you ask a few questions. Most are glad to school you on stuff.

3. Chain: Check your chain to make sure it is lubricated properly. The chain not turning properly, hanging up or breaking is also a source of problems on the highway.

4. Cables and Lights: These should be checked before each ride as well. Non working cables or lights can cause accidents on the road.

After you have checked your bike thoroughly, it is important to be suited up with the proper gear to provide the maximum amount of safety.

1. Helmet
2. Riding Jacket/Pants
3. Glasses
4. Proper shoes/boots

In the era of Biker Gangs, Motorcycle Mamas and other endearing terms and behaviors, it is very important to have on the proper attire vs the TV model. We see women riding with thongs on and men going shirtless. This looks cool going down Main St. but on the regular street and on the highway, wearing stuff like this could prove painful and be the cause of many days in the hospital have skin grafts done. You should always wear comfortable but safe riding clothes and safety equipment. Helmets are required in some states, glasses are required in all states.

Now that you have checked your bike and have on good riding gear, it is time to ride. But safety is just beginning when you straddle the seat of that hog. Riding safely on the road can be tricky, even when you are doing everything you should do.

The causes of most motorcycle crashes can be attributed to:

1. Lack of basic riding skills and knowledge. People think if they have ridden a bicycle, they can ride a motorcycle. No you can't. You should check out the classes offered for motorcycle driver training. You are not born with the ability to know how to ride a motorcycle. Even if you think you were.

2. Failure to understand the operating characteristics of a motorcycle. Riding a motorcycle is fun. Understanding how to ride it and how it works is a learned action. You should check out all the research you can to understand how it operates and runs.

3. Not understanding the limitations of the motorcycle. They don't perform stunts unless you are a professional stunt driver. An average motorcycle can't do Evil Knievel tricks.

4. Not using special precautions while driving. Like not watching for cars coming behind you or jumping in between traffic because you are on a motorcycle. Not taking precautions to be seen. Most accidents occur because the driver of a vehicle did not see the motorcycle.

5. Failure to use defensive driving methods. Assuming that you have the right of way or that people are watching for you while riding a motorcycle is crazy. You need to pay close attention to ALL traffic around you.

6. Braking and cornering skills not perfected. If you think you can jump on a motorcycle and automatically know how to corner and how to brake, you are misinformed. You can end up on the road, under the car coming from behind if you don't know how to do this. New bike, New Rider? Get lessons!

7. Failure to follow speed limit. This is a classic problem. People think because they are on a motorcycle they can race around traffic and speed. No matter they speed limit is posted, motorcycle riders still abuse this law, because they think they are exempt from it. No you are not. Motorcycles follow the same laws as regular traffic.

8. Alcohol: A motorcycle requires more skill and coordination to operate than a car. Riding a motorcycle while under the influence of any amount of alcohol significantly decreases an operator's ability to operate the motorcycle safely. If you have ridden in a Poker Run or other Rider activities, you know that at every stop, people are getting hammered. They are climbing back on hundreds of pounds of iron and speeding down the highway. It is a bullet on wheels and almost always ends in disaster.

About 33 percent of motorcyclists, killed in crashes, are not licensed or are improperly licensed to operate a motorcycle. When you don't get a motorcycle operator license, riders are bypassing the only method they and state licensing agencies have to make sure they have the knowledge and skill needed to safely drive a motorcycle.

You should be well informed and well trained before you climb on a motorcycle to go for a ride. It can be the most fun you have ever had, if you are being safe and have come prepared. A motorcycle is not a toy. It is a machine, a vehicle. It cannot do tricks by itself. It is only as good as the person driving it. If you don't prepare yourself, it becomes a liability.

Make May a truly safe motorcycle month and all of the months to follow. Get out and enjoy the open road SAFELY!