2Wheeltips

I was reading an article from the October 2009 issue of GQ magazine titled "Easy Riding - A GQ Motorcycle Primer".

There is a very interesting quote by one of the MSF coaches who contributed to the article. I've included part of it below:

"Once you pass (the BRC), you can ride on any road in America. "But practically speaking, you are qualified to ride in an enclosed lot with two instructors watching."

One of our members said that his BRC instructor told him:

"Congratulations, you are now qualified to ride a 125cc motorcycle around cones in a closed parking lot"
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As bad as they sound, the above quotes reflect reality.  Passing the BRC does not make you an instant skilled motorcyclist. You are now a person who has spent a few hours practicing the most basic motorcycle skills on a bike you cannot even purchase at a dealer.

I am not putting down or critizing the BRC or other basic training classes because they are important. Most motorcycle accidents involve people with no training. But once you get your license, you need lots of practice to become a skilled and safe motorcyclist. The BRC is the foundation on which you build your good skills.

It matters what and where you practice. Riding around in parking lots will help your slow maneuver skills and as a new rider you should go to parking lots and practice as often as you can. But you also need to practice road skills such as merging into traffic, switching lanes, target fixation, going around curves, wet weather riding, braking and acceleration. To become a skilled rider you should practice all of these things.

Think of the BRC as an excellent beginning rather than the finish line. You spend a few years, many hours and quite a few miles on your bike before you become a skilled rider.

One word of advice if you are considering getting a used motorcycle helmet:  DON'T!   When it comes to helmets, you need to follow this simple rule:  one and it's done... one impact to that helmet, either from an accident or fall, or simply from being dropped several feet onto the floor, and that helmet's ability to protect your head is reduced...and the damage on a helmet is not always visible.  As the operator or passenger on a bike, always buy a new DOT or SNELL certified helmet from a reputable dealer.  And keep in mind that if that used bike you are buying comes with a helmet from the previous owner, keep the bike....but don't use the helmet!

So you are thinking about getting your motorcycle license...and here you are, at 2wheeltips.com.  Well, you need to understand a few things first.

First of all, 2wheeltips.com is not a substitute for an approved motorcycle training class. Formal classes build the foundation for good riding through classroom study and instructor-led practice. No website, DVD or book can ever provide this.

There are other benefits to taking a class:

1) Depending upon the laws in your state, you may get a waiver from taking a DMV road test. You simply give them your class certificate and you get your motorcycle license. You avoid all the bureaucracy and long lines.

2) Depending upon your insurance company, you may qualify for a discount on your motorcycle insurance and, in some cases, even your automobile insurance

3) You will meet other riders through the class, people you might be able to link up with after the class is over, to practice your skills.

4) But the number one reason to take a class is that the vast majority of motorcycle accidents involve riders with informal training. These are riders who are self-taught using books, DVDs and websites or who learned from friends. These riders are in accidents that could have been avoided or the injury minimized if they had proper instruction and subsequently reinforced the skills learned in class.


If you are serious about riding, sign up for a rider class in your area, develop a foundation and come back to 2wheeltips.com often to reinforce what you have learned.

Once you have established good basic riding skills, you'll see how the information we provide here expands on what you have already learned...if you like 2wheeltips now, just wait until you take a class and you'll see how much more you will appreciate all that we have to offer.

Unlike a car, the turn signal on a motorcycle does not automatically turn off. Some newer bikes have automatic switches but on most bikes, you must get in the habit of switching it off after changing lanes or making turns.

For obvious reasons it is not good to ride with the turn signal on. Cars behind you may be tempted to pass you if you slow down or swerve to avoid road hazards. At intersections, oncoming drivers may cut you off thinking you are about to turn.

To get into the habit, you should glance down at the controls after you make a turn or switch lanes. Also, you should periodically push in the switch to turn off the signal even when it is not on. After a while, it will be come instinct.

Turning off the signal is an easy habit to learn but it can greatly reduce the risk of you getting in an accident.

Every rider should know about crampbusters and throttle rockers. They are plastic "paddles" you wrap around your throttle. You rest the heel of your hand on the paddle and it keeps the gas open. Sorta like a poor man's cruise control. 
 

You can get the permanent metal ones that are more stylish,  but the originals work great and are very affordable.

So, if you don't have a few hundred dollars to give your dealer for electronic cruise control, throttle rockers and crampbusters are the ticket.

You never know when you will need to park your bike on a soft surface, be it grass, sand or loose gravel. For that reason you will need a kickstand puck.

A puck is a small plastic disk you slip under your kickstand that gives a wider area to support you bike. If you plan on going on tours, you will definitely need one because you never know where you will need to park.

Many cheap hotels use soft asphalt to pave their parking lots. Your kickstand will sink into that stuff in no time flat. I experienced this while at Americade in '07. Luckily, I went out to check on my bike....and found that the kickstand had sunk about 3 inches and the bike was about to tip over.

Most motorcycle rallies will give you a puck for free so there is no need to pay $5 - $7 at the dealer. If you are in a pinch, just use a crushed soda can.

Perfect, dry roads exist only in a perfect world, and this is not a perfect world. Being prepared for the unexpected will make you a safer rider and will enable you to ride on many roads during most seasons of the year. Always  use the “S.E.E.” (search, evaluate, execute) riding strategy as taught in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses. Here are some road conditions that you should be prepared to encounter:

So there you are, driving down the road, stuck in traffic on a hot summer day.  Temperatures soar into the high 90s as your air conditioner works overtime.  As you sit there pondering what the hold up is, trying to maintain some sort of sanity, you see a motorcycle in your rearview mirror.  Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing you don't see everyday, but today something clicks in your mind as you feel the cool air from the A/C vent blow across your face.  You think to yourself, "That could be me.  Free from this metal cage that surrounds me in this maze of traffic.  Breathing fresh air.  Wind in my face.  Freedom."  And you know what?  You are 100% right...that could be you.  With a little determination and the right training that could very easily be you.

One of the first steps to making that dream a reality should be getting some sort of formalized training.  The most common form of training is a Basic Rider Course.  The course is exactly what it says it is, basic.  This course is not designed to make you an expert racer, but rather to give you a start and the tools necessary to continue your education and training and put you safely into the world of two wheels.  It will set you on your way to being a safe and responsible motorcyclist.  All 50 states have some sort of formalized basic rider training and currently I believe that most states, minus a couple, use the MSF Basic Rider Course as the guideline.

Whether you have bought your first bike or are waiting to see how the training goes to determine what your first bike is going to be you need to prepare yourself for the training you will receive.  At this point you might be asking yourself, "what is going to happen when I get there?  What do I need to do to prepare myself?"  Well, lucky for you I have some answers to those questions, but let's start before you get there.  I know this sounds funny, but it would really help you and the rider coach if you can ride a bicycle.  The ability to ride a bicycle shows that you have some basic balance and will probably grasp the concept of motorcycle riding quicker than some.  While this is not a guarantee, it is a good starting point.  Now please do not misconstrue this as if you cannot ride a bicycle, you cannot ride a motorcycle, because nothing could be farther from the truth and I don't want to discourage anyone from trying to learn to ride.

As far a preparing for the course itself, the biggest piece of advice I could give you is to relax.  Riding is supposed to be a fun experience, so the more relaxed you are the more fun you will probably have.   Get a good nights sleep prior to the course.  A well rested body is going to learn more and be more able to adapt to some of the new things you will do while riding a motorcycle the first day on the range.  Bring appropriate attire with you to class.  Depending on the time of year, it could be very warm or very cold.  I have coached courses when it was snowing at the beginning and by the end it was 60 degrees.  Dress in layers and be prepared to add or subtract as needed.  Have the proper over the ankle footwear, gloves, long sleeve shirt, long pants, and DOT approved helmet with you for the time spent on the motorcycle range.  When you first arrive, an instructor should greet you and make you feel welcome and at ease.  Since learning a new skill can be relatively stressful most coaches will attempt to lower the stress level during classes as much as possible.  Again, the lower your stress level, the more you will be able to learn.

 
The first part of the first day will be spent in the classroom learning about the basic controls of the motorcycle, learning about some of the risks associated with motorcycling and also how to minimize those risks.  You should take part and participate in class.  The more you put into the class yourself the more you will get out of it.  Share your experiences, fears, and expectations with others in your class.  You will probably find that you are not alone in your thoughts.  The rider coaches are there to facilitate your learning.  They will give you the tools you need during class and range time, but it is going to be up to you to apply these tools.  Pay attention, ask questions and share.  After the first few hours in the classroom you will probably get a break for lunch and then it will be time to apply some of what you learned on a real live motorcycle.

There are 9 exercises for the first day of training.  What the exercises are is not as important for you as what you should be getting out of them.  Each exercise builds on the previous and the whole course will be progressive in nature.  That is you will learn about the friction zone (clutch control)  before you learn how to start and stop.  You will learn basic starting and stopping before learning how to shift.  I think you get the point.  After each exercise you will be able to see your progression and will probably be surprised by some of the new skills you have learned.

After the first day you will probably have some homework to do.  There are a lot of questions in the back of the Basic Rider Course guide that will be answered in the classroom.  The first day you will be given time in class to find the answers before answering them as a group.  After you answer the rest of the questions at home the classroom portion for day 2 should be quicker as you go through the questions in class which will get you back out onto the range and riding that much sooner.  The classroom portion of day 2 will cover some strategies to apply while riding out on the street, and will take what you learned yesterday a step farther.  At the end of the classroom session for day 2 there should be a written evaluation to see how much you have learned over the 2 days of classroom.  To prepare for this exam beforehand read the BRC study guide, answer the questions in the back and visit the Basic Rider Course review at www.msf-usa.org.  If you do all of the above and participate in classroom discussions you should have very few problems.

Day 2 on the range is a continuation of the first day.  Again, remember that the course is progressive.  There will be a little more expected of you on day two than there was on day 1.  Day 2 will be another 8 exercises followed by a skills evaluation.  After you pass the written evaluation and the skills evaluation you will be given your completion card.  Depending on your state laws this card will be good for waiving the riding test at the local DMV.  It will also be good for lowering your insurance on your motorcycle, depending on your insurance company.  Check with your local authorities, DMV and insurance company to get more details.  Your rider coach will also be a great source of information for local rules and regulations.

Some things to keep in mind...Your rider coach will not let you progress to the next exercise if you do not meet the objectives for the current one.  Your safety is the coaches primary concern and you will not progress faster than you are capable.  The coaches are trained and have lots of practice identifying areas that need work, or areas where you are doing very well.  Remember that we are usually our own worst critics.  While you may not think you are doing well, the rider coach may see something completely different, and they will let you know.  make sure you get a good nights sleep for both nights of the course.  Eat well, drink lots of water and take care of your body.  You will get tired by the end of the day.  Most importantly relax, smile and have fun learning.  After all, isn't that what motorcycling is all about?

How often have you heard the slogan “loud pipes save lives”?  It is a common explanation by riders who either purchase bikes with loud exhaust pipes or replace the original exhaust pipes on their bike with loud ones.  Before you put loud pipes on your bike, consider the following:

    •    In some towns, you may be fined for riding with loud pipes.
    •    Motorists may still not hear you until you are right on top of them.
    •    Loud pipes can irritate drivers and pedestrians.

Accident avoidance is your goal, and you should practice the following tips:

    •    Wear bright clothing during the day.
    •    Wear retro-reflective clothing at night.
    •    During the day, ride with your high beams on.

Headlights on later model bikes come on whenever the bike is on but riding with the high beams during the day will make your bike more visible and it does not blind drivers as it can during the night.

   •    Use your turn signals!  Using hand signals will not help you be seen; lighted turn signals can.
    •    You can tap your brake to show drivers that you are slowing down before you actually start to brake completely.
    •    Use your horn!

  If you see a potentitally dangerous situation coming up, use your horn to get someone's attention.  Remember that your horn is not a substitute for maneuvering around a dangerous situation.  But, in some cases, it is all you need to get the attention of a driver or pedestrian who may be about to cut in front of you.  Don't hesitate to use your horn in the two most dangerouss situations:  oncoming vehicles making a left turn, and cars pulling out from side streets (never assume that others see you).

A common response from people who collide with motorcyclists is “I never saw him....he  came out of nowhere...”  By understanding that many motorists and pedestrians simply do not notice motorcyclists, and making yourself more visible to them with what you wear and what you do when approaching them, you can help prevent many accidents.

Rather than paying a lot of money to upgrade the pipes on your bike, consider upgrading the horn on your bike.  It will cost significantly less and you can bet that people will hear it!

So, you have done your motorcycle practice skills and now you want to ride with others. You need to be prepared for one more thing:  your ability to ride may not match the abilities of the others you are riding with. One of the most important things you can do as a novice motorcyclist, is to admit your limitations.  Your skills will progress with time but, until they do, you need to ride within your own comfort zone.  

When preparing to ride with others:

    •    Inform the other riders in the group of your status as a novice biker; this is nothing to be ashamed of, since every experienced biker was once a novice!

    •    Know the route you will be traveling and carry a map or GPS unit.

    •    Consider the variation of riding skills of the people you will be riding with.  If others are riding at speeds that are beyond your capabilities, do not speed up to keep up with them.  Stay at speeds that are comfortable for you.  This is especially important when taking curves.

Prior to heading out on a ride with others, make it known that, if you get separated from the group for any reason, you will meet up at an agreed-to location (this can be a refueling point, for example).