Tag Archives: riding tips

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The Importance of Hydration on Your Motorcycle

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Stayed properly hydrated while riding your motorcycle is vitally important. Ideally you’ll avoid dehydration, but if it occurs re-hydrating isn’t as simple as pounding a bunch of water.

The first step to addressing a problem is to first acknowledge that you have a problem. With that, I openly admit to all of you that I have a serious non-drinking problem. Despite years as a professional motorcycling safety expert, I habitually fail to hydrate before, during and after a ride. In excess, I don’t drink.

If you are one of the many riders like me who forgets to drink enough water, here are some indicators of dehydration and a handful of steps you can take to break your non-drinking habit.

Recognize the warning signs

If you ride for long periods without urgency to stop at a rest area to relieve yourself, you may be dehydrated. When you do go, if your pee is dark yellow, that’s a warning sign as well. If you drink a lot of coffee instead of water, you may have to go more frequently but are actually flushing out vital water reserves since coffee acts as a mild diuretic.

If your skin, mouth, lips and eyes are dry, you may be low on H2O. Similarly, if you find yourself becoming fatigued or achy, or are beginning to experience headaches, don’t wait; you’re overdue to rehydrate.

In extreme dehydration, you may become dizzy, experience elevated heartbeat and rapid breathing, or even become confused and disoriented. At that point, consider it an emergency; it’s time to get help as soon as possible.

Avoiding dehydration

Begin to drink water in the hours before you hit the road. Don’t think you can just down a large bottle of water minutes before hopping on the bike. It doesn’t work that way. Drink smaller amounts more often so your body can absorb instead of pass the vital fluid.

Pack bottles of water and make a point to refill yourself each time you refill your gas tank or stop to stretch your legs. One of the easiest ways to stay hydrated en route is to take a water bladder with you (such as those made by Camelbak). They are typically wearable and include a hose that you can sip from as you ride. Add ice to keep that water cool and refreshing.

Keep the drinking habit going after the sidestand is down for the day to continue to replenish your body and prepare for the next day’s journey.

By being more conscious of the issue and following these guidelines, I’ve begun to control my own non-drinking problem. As I do, I can ride for hours and still feel fresh at the end of the day. Hopefully these steps will help you as well. Now drink up! 

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Motorcycle News, News

Stayin’ Safe: Countersteering

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countersteering
This exaggerated static demonstration illustrates the countersteering effect. The rider presses forward on the right end of the handlebar to make the bike lean right and go right. He presses left to make the bike lean and turn to the left.

Conversations about steering a motorcycle inevitably come around to “countersteering.” You may have even taken a rider course where they taught, “press left, go left” and “press right, go right.” Even so, you may be among the population of riders who still don’t quite get the left and right of it all. Countersteering remains, well, counterintuitive.

Without getting into a physics lesson, the thing to know is when a motorcycle travels at any speed above a walking pace, if the handlebar is turned, the chassis will react with a counter response. In other words, the handlebars, fork and front wheel will be pointed slightly “counter” to the direction the bike is leaning and turning.

I find that riders get a better understanding of how countersteering works when they try a throttle-hand-only exercise. In an open parking lot, establish a straight line and steady speed of about 15 mph. Remove your left hand from the handlebar while keeping your right hand on the throttle. With throttle steady, press forward and pull back slightly a few times. Notice how the bike responds. Press forward and the bike immediately leans and turns to the right. Pull back on that throttle side (equivalent to pressing forward on the left end of the handlebar with your other hand) and the bike leans and turns left. Experiment with different amounts of pressure. Got it?

Now repeat the same straight-line exercise with both hands lightly on the handlebars. Take turns pressing forward on each end of the bar independently with the palm or heel of your hand. The bike will always lean and turn toward the side that you pressed. The more firmly you press, the more pronounced the turn will be.

Continue to practice until the behavior becomes comfortable and you can execute it with confidence, knowing exactly how the bike will respond. You’ll soon join the riders who’ve come to view countersteering as something they count on during every ride.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Motorcycle News, News

Stayin’ Safe: Fueling Risk

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gas station
With multiple entrances and vehicles constantly flowing in and out, a busy gas station is one of the most foreboding intersections a rider will encounter.

Intersections are the most common sites of motorcycle crashes involving other vehicles. You probably knew that. Oncoming vehicles turning left across the path of the unsuspecting motorcyclist and drivers pulling into the rider’s lane from a side street are serious risks to the street rider. The astute motorcyclist approaches intersections with anticipation and minimizes risk by adjusting position and speed to create precious space and time.

But what does an intersection look like? Not all traffic junctions are traditional four-way crossroads. In developed areas, the local gas station may be the busiest and most frenetic intersection in town–especially those biggie-sized gas/convenience stores popping up everywhere.

Unlike the traditional intersection where vehicle drivers have limited turning options, the gas station has multiple entrances and exits as well as undefined paths of travel within the fueling compound. This creates a free-for-all and challenges the rider to determine where any given threat may come from.

Avoidance begins before you get there. Look for gas stations in the distance. Actively scan for vehicles on the highway that may turn across your lane, while also scanning for vehicles moving within the fuel stop that could present a moving threat.

Be aware there are multiple things demanding a driver’s attention near gas stations. Other vehicles entering and exiting, the flow of highway traffic and even intangibles like concerns of being late for work. All of these make a rider even less noticeable to motorists.

Consider the busiest times of day for gas station traffic. Early morning can be particularly hectic as folks fill up on fuel and coffee on their way to work. As vehicles move in and out of traffic, be aware that the sun can be blinding when it’s low in the sky, potentially hiding your bike in the glare.

Just passing by? Anticipate ingress and egress movement and have an escape plan. Slow your approach and, when safe, accelerate out of the danger zone. When turning into a station, assess the scene and plan your clearest path in and around the pumps, parked cars, fuel puddles and plodding vehicles before you get into the middle of it all.

By pumping a few gallons of high-octane strategy into your ride and topping up your awareness level, you’ll be able to safely manage one of the busiest intersections found on any ride. Isn’t that a gas?

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Motorcycle News, News

Three ways to relax on a motorcycle

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Many riders talk about how riding their motorcycle makes them relax and “blows out the cobwebs”, yet I see so many tense riders.

You can tell a tense rider immediately from their hunched shoulders and straight arms with locked elbows. It’s like they are shrugging or trying to strangle their bike.

It’s a dead giveaway that they are not confident nor relaxed with their riding.

Maybe they are going too fast for their skill level, or the road is wet or challenging and unknown to them.

In these situations you become tense and the first thing to tense up is your shoulders.

This straightens your arms which makes it more difficult to counter steer as your arms are now pushing down on the handlebars rather than forward.

Also the forces coming up through your front forks go up your arms which can be tiring and affect your riding ability.

How to relax

But there are ways to relax while riding that will improve your riding and increase your enjoyment. It may even make you faster, if that’s your goal.

We don’t suggest doing yoga on a moving motorcycle, although there are Guinness Book of Records mentions for the most consecutive yoga positions on a motorcycle.

In case you’re interested, the record is held by Hav Jabalpur who in 2013 did 50 yoga positions, including 10 demanding reverse positions, while riding 5km on a Royal Enfield.

Hav Ramesh Most consecutive yoga positions on a motorcycle relax
Hav practises moto-yoga

Instead, you can practise a type of meditation where you focus your mind on the activity of riding.

You need to clear your mind of other distractions which is pretty easy in the closed-off atmosphere of a helmet.

The second step is to lift your gaze.

Hunched shoulders also tend to make you drop your head and shorten your focus.

The shorter your focus, the less time you have to react to road conditions, sudden corners and other hazards.

So lift your head and make a conscious effort to look further down the road and around the corner.

The third step is to physically relax your arms.

2018 Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster relax
Drop those shoulders

I recall a professional rally driver once showing me his technique for un-hunching his shoulders: He basically flapped his arms for a few seconds like he was doing a short chicken dance while he was driving.

You can do it on a motorcycle as well.

As your arms relax and your shoulders drop, your arms will naturally bend so you have more control and can more easily counter steer.

Try these steps the next time you feel your shoulders hunching up and your vision becoming fixated on where you might crash!

Click here to find out how to make target fixation work for you, not against you.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Tips for Staying Safe While Riding at Night

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(Sponsored post)

Going on a night ride can be a calming and exhilarating experience for any motorcycle enthusiast. The absence of traffic and more quiet surroundings are just some of the reasons why riding at night is worthwhile.

But apart from quiet and open streets, bikers still face considerable risks as the streets go darker and darker. Accidents are more likely to happen during the night, so you will have to be extra careful when they begin their journey at sundown.

For that, let’s take a look at a few practical tips to keep yourself safe and secured.

  1. Check your lights

Perhaps the most important bit of maintenance you should be routinely performing is checking and testing your lights. For this, focus on the headlight and turn signals. Electrical issues can cause these lights to malfunction, so you should be able to check for wiring problems. Most commonly, you will just need to replace the bulbs for when they burn out. The last thing you want as a biker on the roads at night is for people driving a car or truck to be unable to see you.

  1. Keep yourself visible

You could thank street lamps for illuminating your path, but when you’re in certain areas where you’re almost invisible, you might want to make sure that you and your bike are highly visible to other motorists. One option is to install LED lights. You can also wear reflective jackets and pants and add reflective tape to certain parts of your motorcycle. Not only will these approaches help you avoid oncoming traffic, but they will also protect you from the dangers lurking behind every corner.

  1. Drive sober

If driving under the influence during the day is considered dangerous, then a night ride after a few drinks is a deathwish. Many motorcycle accidents are caused by irresponsible riders. Going on a late night drinking spree won’t be all that worthwhile if you’d end up spending the rest of the night in the hospital, or worse. Never give in to the temptation if you really want to get home in one piece. But often, there will be a traffic collision in which you’re not the one who’s intoxicated. Especially if you’re left with major fractures and made to go on an extensive hospital stay, you will need to work with a drunk driving lawyer who can help you get properly compensated after an accident.

  1. Stay alert

Drunk drivers are the only risks you should worry about during a night ride. You also need to be cautious of places where animals cross as well as other obstacles on the road such as open manholes, road bumps, and traffic cones. As a good rule of thumb, you should be able to regulate your speed. Doing so gives you enough time to react on the last minute after spotting an obstruction.

You can’t really avoid going on a night ride where there are too many risks to your safety. But with these tips in mind, you can avoid being another casualty in the dark.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

High heeled boot causes fatal rider crash

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A high heeled diamanté fashion boot that stuck on the footpeg caused a 29-year-old Polish woman to fatally crash her Yamaha, a British coroner has found.

A Dorset Coroner’s Court heard that Monika Kunda looked down as she struggled with her left foot and lost control of her Yamaha and crashed in Bournemouth in August 2018.

Coroner Brendan Allen said Monika appeared to have been fatally distracted by her boots.

“It is with the utmost importance that bikers wear appropriate clothing, no matter how short the journey and no matter how familiar the person is with it,” he says.

High heeled boots

There are many high-heeled and high-soled motorcycle boots on the market.

Many short riders wear these boots to give them extra length to touch the ground.

There is a wide range of these boots available, some with just a high heel and others with a high sole along the length of the sole.

The boots in this case had a “two-to-three inch chunky heel”, which would make them easy to get caught on the footpegs.

High-heeled boots are more of a fashion accessory. Boots with high soles may not be as easy to get caught in a footpeg.

Certainly, never wear stilettos when riding as these women are.

Short tips

If you are short, you might also consider modifying the suspension, getting a lower seat fitted or swapping to a motorcycle with a lower seat.

Check out our guide to motorcycle seat heights here.

There are also techniques for short riders to cope better.

Click here for our top 10 tips.

Our short riding mate, Brian, not only struggles with a height, but also a dicky knee which he has trouble bending.

But where there’s a will, there’s always a way as this video shows.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Stayin’ Safe: Riding Like Heinz

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Improving slow-speed stability can be fun. No, really.

This “slow race” broke out after lunch with fellow riders and was just for fun. But it’s actually a great way to build skills.
This “slow race” broke out after lunch with fellow riders and was just for fun. But it’s actually a great way to build skills.

More than any other skill, riders tell me they wish they had better low-speed control. And no wonder; a bike is unstable and heavy at low speeds. It’s a skill riders want to improve, yet most avoid practice. Why? Probably because we tend to avoid things we hate. Unfortunately, we can’t avoid slow-speed riding altogether.

For me, the trick to developing skills has always been to make practice fun. So, let’s play a game or two. But first, let’s consider the basic techniques of slow-speed riding. Sit straight up with eyes looking to a distant target. Place the bike in first gear, raise the engine rpm slightly over idle and ease the clutch into the friction zone. Once rolling, place your feet on the pegs and apply a little rear brake. Modulate your speed by applying more or less rear brake (no front brake!). Those are the basics of slow riding. Now, let’s have some fun.

When riding with friends, try an impromptu “slow race” at one of your breaks. Line everyone up side-by-side at one end of an open parking lot, all facing the same direction and with sufficient space between bikes. This will be your start line. Pick a finish line a few yards away or so (not too far). On the “go” signal, each rider starts toward the finish, riding as slowly, but as stably, as possible. The last one to get to the finish line wins. The first one there buys lunch.

Once comfortable with straight line slow-speed control, try introducing a game with turns. A favorite of mine is to pick another willing rider and begin riding in a circle together at slow speed. Let the bike lean beneath you as you stay upright. Keep eyes up and looking at your buddy across the circle. As you get more comfortable, the two of you can tighten the circle to challenge each other. End the game by steering out of the circle, away from your buddy.

Then there’s the two-wheeled version of follow-the-leader. With riders in single file, one rider leads the group around the lot, making random combinations of right and left turns and even large circles, while keeping speeds slow enough to require the clutch to remain in the friction zone.

With such games, you’ll spend more time enjoying yourself than being intimidated by the bike’s slow-speed behavior. And before you know it, you’ll be riding like Heinz ketchup: smooth and slow.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Motorcycle News, News

Enjoy the rhythm of your riding

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The most satisfying and enjoyable ride is not always the fastest or quickest, but the one where you develop a pleasant, flowing and almost musical rhythm.

Rhythm generally means a “movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions”.

It’s all about finding a suitable rhythm in the twisting sections, relaxing on the straights and not startling the grannies or alerting the police with unnecessary and pointless redline sprints.

On the racetrack you need to give 100% all the time in acceleration, braking and lean angles.

On the road, you need to give 100% in concentration which can lead to an ebb and flow of speeds.

These can provide a satisfying rhythm with “strong and weak” moments.

Strong rhythmDownhill corners most dangerous rhythm

The strong moments can be flicking through a succession of corners or taking a double-apex bend in one swooping motion rather than jerky corrections with harsh late braking and sudden throttle after the apex.

On the racetrack, riders straight-line a succession of bends for the best lap times.

On the road you can make these twisting sections more fun by simply staying in your lane as it makes the corners tighter. And aren’t corners what riders enjoy the most?

Weak rhythm

The weak moments on a ride are those places where you take a breather, stretch your legs, relax cramped muscles and shake out tingling hands.

Anyone can go fast in a straight line, but the straights are where you can relax and take in the sights, sounds, smells and scenery of your ride.

You can also try riding a series of bends at a slower speed without using the brakes to practise your engine braking techniques, matching gears with engine speed.

It’s all about the journey

Why do some riders claim it’s all about the journey, not the destination, then ride as fast as they can to reach the destination?

There’s no point in getting there quick.rhythm Royal Enfield Interceptor corners

To enjoy the rhythm of your ride you need to learn the difference between fast and quick.

Fast is acceleration and speed. Quick is doing something in the least amount of time.

Surely we want to stretch out our enjoyment of our ride fr as long as we can.

You can still enjoy the rhythm with strong moments of fast acceleration and good speeds by adding in some weak moments on the straights.

Do you ride to a rhythm? Leave your comments below.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Motorcycles vulnerable to turning crashes

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Most accidents involving motorcycles and other vehicles occur when the other vehicle is turning across their path.

The result can be lethal as the rider hits the car in a t-bone fashion, rather than a glancing blow.

There are a number of scenarios of turning-vehicle crashes where the rider is completely blameless and others where they are at partial or complete fault.

But in the end, it doesn’t matter whose fault it is if the rider is dead.

Most common turning crashes

These are the four most common crash situations where the other motorist is turning, often without looking for motorcycles:

  1. Oncoming driver turns across the rider’s path to enter a property or side street;
  2. Vehicle pulls out of a side street into the path of the motorcycle;
  3. Motorist pulls over to perform a u-turn without looking; and
  4. A vehicle in front suddenly turns without indicating just as a rider is overtaking them.

Look for these signs

We all know drivers don’t look for motorcyclists for a variety of reasons.

So riders need to assume the worst and look out for these signs in the above impending SMIDSY (Sorry Mate, I didn’t See You) situations:

  1. If an approaching vehicle has its indicators on, assume they may turn without giving way to you and look for movement of the wheels and the driver’s head turning;
  2. Be suspicious of all vehicles coming out of side streets (left or right) and again check their wheels and the driver’s head to see if they have seen you;
  3. Treat any vehicle that pulls over as a possible u-turn or at least that they will suddenly open their door and step out in front of you; and
  4. If the vehicle in front suddenly slows, don’t take the opportunity to pass them. Be cautious that they could be about to make a turn, even if they haven’t indicated.

How to avoid SMIDSY crashesTurning crash

In all the above four situations, slow down and be prepared to take some sort of evasive action, looking for a possible escape route.

If the driver is on a side street or oncoming, try to make eye contact with them.

Make yourself seen by moving in your lane.

You can also alert drivers to your presence by blowing your horn or flashing your lights, although these may be illegal in some jurisdictions and could give the false message that you are letting them cross your path.

Don’t trust loud pipes to save you. Most drivers have their windows up, air-conditioning on and the radio turned up loud, so they may not hear you, anyway.

Besides, in all these situations, your pipes are facing away from the driver.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

How to pass in a motorcycle pack

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Riding in a group can be fun, but it also has its hazards, not the least being how to pass other vehicles on the road and whether you should pass other riders in your group.

These issues involve tactics, patience, safety and courtesy.

One of the great joys and advantages of riding a motorcycle is being able to quickly, efficiently and safely overtake slower vehicles.

Click here for our guide on safe overtaking manoeuvres, mainly as an individual rider.How to overtake traffic lane filtering passing pass

Pass one at a time

We only briefly touched on passing as a group.

Our main point is to pass one at a time.

Following riders do not have sufficient visibility to overtake at the same time as the first rider and it is not advisable to simply trust the lead rider’s judgement.

We also don’t believe you should trust the first rider who waves to indicate the coast is clear for others to pass. 

That may be courteous, but you should never put your safety in the hands of someone else.

Even if you know and trust the rider, their judgement on speed and distance could be impaired.

Circumstances may also change as they pass. For example, a roo could stray on to the road or the vehicle that has been passed may indicate a turn.

Each passing rider should make their own judgement, based on what they can actually see.

But they should also allow a little more time to overtake as returning to the traffic queue after passing could take longer because the bike in front can cause a bit of an obstruction.

After passing

That is why it is important that each bike that overtakes should assume another rider may follow.

Don’t look for them in the mirrors when passing. Keep your eyes ahead on the job and wait until you have rejoined the queue of traffic to check your mirrors.

Allow plenty of room for following riders to join the queue in front of the vehicle they just passed, even if that means keeping up the passing pace for a few more seconds.

Overtaking overtake

Graphic supplied by the Motorcycle Legal Foundation

There is differing advice on where the overtaking rider should position themselves when they rejoin the traffic queue.

Some say they should move to the left passenger wheel track to give the following rider room.

However, we believe a lead rider should always stay closest to the centre line and “own” the lane to prevent other vehicles squeezing alongside.

Whatever you believe, make sure everyone in your group is on board with the strategy.

Passing within a groupGroup riding

As for passing other riders in a group, this is something that should be worked out and agreed to before heading off.

If it’s a group that has been formed by a social media invitation, there will likely be riders in the pack who you don’t know nor trust.

In that case, we suggest no passing.

However, egos usually get in the way and riders will try to fight their way up to the front.

Some say it’s safer up the front where you get away from the less experienced riders.

But you may also end up among riders who are too fast for you and tease you out of your comfort zone.

Group riding pass

Be aware of your surrounding riders and treat them all with an equal dose of courtesy and suspicion.

If you are in a group of friends, make some rules about passing that overtone can agree to.

We recommend that you use your mirrors to observe approaching riders and give them a wave past with your hand or boot.

Passing riders should signal their intention to pass with a courteous double-toot on the horn.

Courtesy, patience and a few agreed tactics can go a long way to ensuring your group rides safely.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com