New Riders
27/08/08 20:21 Filed in: Industry News | What I Think
Well after a few months of high gas prices, it is finally occurring. More people are buying motorcycles. While I applaud their decision, I have a few concerns. Now don't get me wrong here, I would always recommend that people ride motorcycles. There is no greater feeling of freedom than riding down the highway.
My concern is that they need some intensive training. Riding a motorcycle is NOT like riding a car, or a bicycle, or even a dirt bike. Riding a motorcycle on the roads today can be considerably dangerous. All riders can tell you horror stories about their "close encounters" of the 4th kind. That is the kind that disregards you on the road and cuts you off, merges into your lane without looking, is reading while they are driving, on the phone and not paying attention to what they are doing. All this with a 3000 pound killing machine aka an automobile.
Here is my advice to you new riders.
1. Take your time. Get comfortable with your bike. Ride it around the neighborhood. Go find an empty parking lot. Stay off the freeways for the first few months.
2. Take a class. There are riding classes put on in most states. In California, this was a great class and a short-cut to getting a MC class license.
3. Find a group to ride with. We are safer in numbers. Cagers (that is the correct term for someone riding in a car!) may miss seeing one bike, but rarely do they miss 3 or more. There are all sorts of groups depending on your interest and/or the type of bike you ride. There are purely riding clubs, Christian riding and ministry clubs, clubs just for RoadStar owners, clubs for GoldWing owners, and the HOG club for Harley owners.
4. Ride within your comfort zone and experience. I cannot stress this enough. Do not ride side-by-side unless you are capable of doing it and KNOW the person you are riding with. Otherwise, always stagger in a group and keep a safe distance. I love riding side-by-side if I know the person I am riding with. If not, I prefer to be behind them.
5. Learn to ride defensively. Yeah, the person in the car daydreaming means well, but they could still run you off the road.
6. If you are a new rider and ride in a state that does not have a helmet law, wear one anyways. You are more apt to have an accident than someone who has been riding for 40,000 miles or more. Don't take it personal. Besides guys, girls love helmet hair!
My concern is that they need some intensive training. Riding a motorcycle is NOT like riding a car, or a bicycle, or even a dirt bike. Riding a motorcycle on the roads today can be considerably dangerous. All riders can tell you horror stories about their "close encounters" of the 4th kind. That is the kind that disregards you on the road and cuts you off, merges into your lane without looking, is reading while they are driving, on the phone and not paying attention to what they are doing. All this with a 3000 pound killing machine aka an automobile.
Here is my advice to you new riders.
1. Take your time. Get comfortable with your bike. Ride it around the neighborhood. Go find an empty parking lot. Stay off the freeways for the first few months.
2. Take a class. There are riding classes put on in most states. In California, this was a great class and a short-cut to getting a MC class license.
3. Find a group to ride with. We are safer in numbers. Cagers (that is the correct term for someone riding in a car!) may miss seeing one bike, but rarely do they miss 3 or more. There are all sorts of groups depending on your interest and/or the type of bike you ride. There are purely riding clubs, Christian riding and ministry clubs, clubs just for RoadStar owners, clubs for GoldWing owners, and the HOG club for Harley owners.
4. Ride within your comfort zone and experience. I cannot stress this enough. Do not ride side-by-side unless you are capable of doing it and KNOW the person you are riding with. Otherwise, always stagger in a group and keep a safe distance. I love riding side-by-side if I know the person I am riding with. If not, I prefer to be behind them.
5. Learn to ride defensively. Yeah, the person in the car daydreaming means well, but they could still run you off the road.
6. If you are a new rider and ride in a state that does not have a helmet law, wear one anyways. You are more apt to have an accident than someone who has been riding for 40,000 miles or more. Don't take it personal. Besides guys, girls love helmet hair!