Night Riding Tips
March 28, 2014
As we all know, riding season is upon us. However, the sun still goes down a little early and many bikers are forced to continue their commute down dark roads. If this is a new experience, or if you could use a quick refresher, then follow these tips to stay safe on your night rides:
Don’t outride your lights. This is possibly the most important tip, and the easiest to remember. There’s plenty of hazards on the street, so don’t go faster than you can see.
Follow the tracks. Other vehicles leave behind tracks on the road, which are likely a safe path to take since previous tires would have swept away most of the debris.
Boost Illumination. Many companies make lighting accessories that can increase headlight power, allowing you to spot wildlife, gravel, road debris and potholes sooner.
Watch out for drunks. Night is the most common time for DUI/DWI.
Slow Down Motorcycle Rally
March 26, 2014
Florida is a popular riding and rally destination, so it only seems fitting that the state would host the “Slow Down” motorcycle rally in Fort Myers this Saturday. See the full story and get all the details here:
Airbags for Motorcyclists
March 25, 2014
Airbag jackets have been around for a few years now. Impact Jackets can inflate within 30 milliseconds, and have been known to save lives. Dainese took the airbag idea to whole new level, producing the D-Air suit, which uses 7 sensors to constantly analyze the rider’s movements and reduce triggering time to just 15 milliseconds. And now, Dainese has teamed up with Ducati to produce a whole new airbag system that uses wireless technology that can communicate between the bike and the suit.
According to Ducati, the new product will be available in Europe in May of 2014. Intelligent passive safety sensors are already included in existing Multistrada electronics, allowing the vehicle to detect a crash and wirelessly send the data to the motorcycle jacket, deploying within 45 milliseconds. Both the rider and passenger suits can be connected.
Save the Date
March 24, 2014
The 2014 Motorcycle Safety Forum will be held May 8, 2014 in Bryan, Texas. Motorcyclists and safety advocates can find more information here:
http://www.looklearnlive.org/2014/02/21/save-the-date-for-the-2014-motorcycle-safety-forum/
Weller Vs Orwell
March 24, 2014
The founder of Skully helmets, Marcus Weller, has an idea that some may find Orwellian: a not-so-distant future where people share their location data in the interest of safety.
While riding down a crowded Barcelona Street, Weller turned his head for a split second to read a street sign. The next thing he knew, he had crashed into the back of a smart car, resulting in a few battered bones and a brilliant helmet idea. The Skully AR-1 was born: a masterpiece of technology with displays fed by rearview cameras and GPS navigation, among other modern conveniences. Never again would he have to turn his head away from the road to read a street sign.
However, Weller wants to go further than that. He asks riders to “imagine a world in which we can create a digital force field around the rider. … Wouldn’t that be crazy? Well guess what? It’s possible.”
In fact, this isn’t an entirely new idea. Google’s driverless cars already have the technology to sense other vehicles around them. With the platform already in place, cars and motorcycles (or motorcycle helmets) could digitally communicate with each other to avoid accidents.
Surviving the Maiden Voyage
March 23, 2014
A must-read for beginners purchasing their first motorcycle, this article by Motorcycle Safety Group’s James R. Davis tells you everything you need to know about transporting your new motorcycle home safely.
Tailgaters
March 22, 2014
The Cycle Gear blog has a fool-proof solution for those pesky tailgaters:
http://cyclegear.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/tailgaters-what-to-do-not-to-do/
Warm Weather Warning
March 22, 2014
Warning: The weather is warmer! People are getting excited about riding again, and forgetting many of the basic safety tips. So, for your convenience, here’s a quick review:
1. Make eye contact. Drivers haven’t seen motorcycles on the road a long time, so they’re not looking out for you when changing lanes or turning.
2. Don’t make assumptions. Even if you believe the driver, cyclist or pedestrian can see you, they may misjudge your speed and proceed anyhow.
3. Keep a safe distance. Cars and trucks are erratic. They change lanes quickly, stomp on their brakes and swerve around hazards at the last minute. If you’re too close, then these actions could be fatal.
4. Look for hazardous road conditions. Winter has taken its toll on the roads, leaving behind fresh cracks and potholes. And of course, there’s the ever-present dangers of wet roads, fluid spills, sand and gravel that can affect tire traction.
5. Beware left-turning vehicles at intersections. This is actually one of the most common motorcycle accidents.
6. Be cautious when entering or exiting a freeway. Cars often don’t see you, or don’t want to slow down for you.
7. Take it easy on curves. Motorcyclists tend to forget this one often, especially after a long winter.
A Lesson in Safety from Docs Harley Davidson
March 20, 2014
Ready for riding season? Before you hit the road, have a look at this video from the good folks at Docs Harley Davidson:
http://fox2now.com/2014/03/13/motorcycle-safety-tips-from-docs-harley-davidson/
Learn. Ride. Repeat.
March 19, 2014
Whether you’re a beginner on a moped or an old school harley rider, the art of motorcycle riding is something that takes both skills and knowledge. To be a safe rider, it never hurts to continue the learning process. Thanks to the MSF, four new and completely free courses will be available on Apple’s iTunes U, including “An Adventure in Motorcycle Physics”, “Dr. Ray’s Street Strategies”, “Dr. Ray’ Guide to Group Riding”, and “Dr. Ray’s Seasoned Rider”. See the full story here: