Freedom, Excitement, Exhilaration
THE OPEN ROAD
Riding a motorcycle can be fun and exciting, but it has risks. Fortunately, most of them can be avoided by following simple safety tips each and every time you ride. Here are a few suggestions that will keep you protected while you're out enjoying the open road.
Always assume the other drivers can't see you.
Lane Choice: Position yourself to be able to see
well down the road.
Always
keep a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you.
Know
your limitations.
Alcohol
and Motorcycles DO NOT MIX!!
Rain Caution
We've all been caught by
unpredicted rain. The first thing we do, if we are prepared, is pull off the
road and get into our rain gear. If it's a heavy rain, we often wait under a
bridge or other shelter until is abates. Sometimes it is just a short shower so
we opt to continue.
Here's something you want to consider as you get back on the road. There are now
two road conditions: wet and oily. Want to stay upright? Keep to the right or
left of the center of your lane. It takes quite a downpour to wash the oily
slick from the center, particularly if it hasn't rained for a few weeks. The oil
and rainwater combine to create a surface that can be as slick as ice. You'll
have substantially less traction in the center of the lane than at either side.
It's always a good idea to test your brakes when riding in the rain. First make
sure there's no one close to your rear fender. Then gently apply pressure to the
rear brake first to see if there is any traction, then to the front to test
traction and dry the brake pads. Remember that unlike a car, you have a very
small contact patch with the road's surface. The amount of rubber touching the
road is less than one tenth of that of a car.
Finally, slow down and concentrate.