Most motorcyclists are not too concerned about fuel economy, but there may be times when you need to ride more economically just to make it to the next service station.
A few years ago, we miscalculated fuel economy on a Harley-Davidson ride to the Iron Run rally in Queenstown, New Zealand.
The low-fuel lights flashed on the bike Heavy Duty editor Neale Brumby was riding as well as mine while we were in the remote forest section on the west coast of the South Island.
We had no idea how far it was to the next service station, so we went into fuel conservation mode.
It was actually fun, if dangerous, as we switched off the bikes for downhill runs, kept corner speeds high and took turns at closely draughting each other.
In fact, we strongly advise you to never switch off your engine while moving!
Some bikes have servo-assisted brakes that require power to operate. It could also cause a rear-wheel lock-up when you switch back on and re-engage the drive.
You will also lose the use of crucial safety features such as brake lights and indicators.
Fuel economy tips
There are much safer ways of conserving fuel if you are ever in the same situation, something more likely in remote areas of Australia’s outback.
Momentum and aerodynamics are the most effective ways of reducing fuel consumption.
Acceleration chews fuel, so you need to keep the momentum going and avoid heavy braking.
That means smooth and light acceleration before you reach the bottom of a hill so that you don’t loose too much speed and need to accelerate hard to get up the next hill.
Keep that momentum going and your speed fairly stable.
Aero hurdle
One of the biggest hurdles to motorcycle fuel economy is the aerodynamics of the machine and rider.
So it is important that the rider crouches down over the tank to decrease their wind resistance.
Check the official fuel economy figures for your motorcycle. Some companies actually list them for various speeds. That’s because they can vary substantially with speed.
Most motorcycles will have optimum fuel consumption figures around 80km/h, thanks to the aerodynamics of a motorcycle, so stay around that speed.
Otherwise, if you are riding in remote areas of Australia, it is a good idea to carry a 5-litre jerry can of fuel.
Even if you know there is a service station 300km down the road, it may not be open, it may be out of fuel, or, as I once found, the electricity is out and they can’t pump the fuel!
Some people consider riding a motorcycle, not just a pure hobby, but a lifestyle. Sense of adventure, excitement, and passion are some of the significant reasons why motorcycle enthusiasts ride. However, it can also be dangerous. Several factors can contribute to motorcycle accidents. And, both new and trained riders should know the common causes of this kind of accident and how they are going to avoid them. If you are among the motorcycle enthusiasts, the following information could help you on your next ride.
1.Hitting A Patch of Gravel or Sand
There are times that a rider may come across the rough patch across the road where it can cause panic as well as the loss of control over the vehicle. Tip: Give yourself a perfect time to register and then, respond to the obstacles. Make sure to have an open field of vision so that you can see your surroundings.
A Car Turning Left in Front of You
Motorists may collide with your motorcycle while they are turning left around the corner and this kind of accident can be either due to the inattention of the drivers or you are in their blind spot. Tip: You can prevent this kind of collision by slowing down and gauging the other vehicle that is going to turn left.
A Car Hitting You from Behind
In a case where you are halting at an intersection or crosswalk to avoid something in front of you when a driver behind does not see you, it can result in them plowing into your bike. This kind of accident is known as “rear-ender.” Tip: make sure to slow down gradually before halting. You can also pull over to the roadside at intersections and then flash your brake lights to alert the other vehicles of your presence.
Front Brake Was Locked
A cop, a deer, or a group of people suddenly appear in front of you, and you grab a fistful of your front brake. This kind of action can make your motorcycle cartwheel down the road. Tip: You need to learn how to use your front brake. Although it may be counter-intuitive, it can help you slow down much quicker than with engine braking.
A Car Door Opened
A terrible motorcycle accident may occur if drivers fail to check the way is a clear before they pull out of a car park or open their door. Tip: To avoid a motorcycle accident caused by this circumstance, try to avoid riding closely to parked vehicles on a busy street. On the other hand, if it is impossible to avoid, you can ride at a regulated speed and be alert to signs of activities in parked vehicles.
A motorcycle ride can cause you incomparable excitement and happiness, but at the same time, road accidents. If you encounter these accidents, you can consult a motorcycle accident attorney to help you settle things and safely continue your lifestyle.
Riders are warned they could have their licence suspended in one hit under double demerit points which apply this weekend in NSW for the Queen’s Birthday (June 8-10, 2019).
It follows a hefty 14 demerit points and $1200 fine handed out to a Harley-Davidson rider over the Western Australia Day long weekend (June 1-3, 2019).
Traffic Enforcement Group officers tweeted the above photo of the fine after nabbing the rider at more than 120km/h in an 80km/h zone in Ravenswood.
Police noted on the fine that the rider told them: “She (his bike) was flooding and gurgling; just gave it a blat”.
His licence will be suspended for three months.
Double points danger
Double demerits apply in certain holidays in NSW, the ACT and WA.
Riders from Victoria, Tasmania, Northern Territory and South Australia passing through NSW, ACT or WA during a declared holiday period do not cop the double demerits.
However, Queensland riders should note that in certain circumstances they do apply.
The law in Queensland is that double points do apply to speeding offences of 21km/h or greater over the speed limit and seatbelt offences if they occur more than once within a 12 month period.
“For example if you commit two speeding offences of driving 21km/h over the speed limit in a 12 month period, you will be allocated four demerit points for the first offence and four demerit points for the second offence plus an additional four demerit points,” he says.
“This means that you will have accumulated 12 demerit points within a 12 month period and you risk having your licence suspended.”
How demerit points are recorded
Double points apply in NSW and ACT over the Australia Day weekend, Easter, Anzac Day, Queen’s Birthday, Labour Day and Christmas/New Year (from December 21 2018).
In WA, the double points apply on Australia Day (unless it falls on a week day), Labour Day, Easter, Anzac Day (unless it falls on a week day), Western Australia Day, Queen’s Birthday, and Christmas/New Year.
If a rider in another state commits a traffic offence in a state during a double-demerit period, the offence is recorded as a double demerit offence on their traffic history in the state where the offence happened.
The state licensing authority will then report the offence to the transport department in your state who will record the offence on your traffic history.
However, the double points will only apply in Queensland under the circumstances described above.
Choice of penalty
Stephen says that if you have committed a traffic offence recently and you receive a Queensland Transport notice that you have accumulated your allowed demerits, you will have a choice of a good driving behaviour period or a licence suspension for a period.
“When considering whether to agree to a good behaviour driving behaviour period and a licence suspension, it is important that a licence holder understands that accepting a suspension of their licence may preclude them from making an Application for a Special Hardship Order or an Application for a Restricted (Work) Licence for the next five years,” he warns.
If you are unsure about how many demerit points you have, you can search your record online at your state’s transport department website or call them and request a copy of your traffic history.
Using a premium fuel with a higher octane than specified by the motorcycle manufacturer will not improve engine power or economy, RACQ technical officer Steve Spalding advises.
He says the energy content of fuel is the same no matter what octane rating it has.
“We see a lot of claims made about using premium fuels over standard and often motorists/riders believe they get a benefit from their use,” he says.
“The reality is by using a fuel with a higher octane than specified, there is only an economic or performance benefit if the engine management system can utilise the higher octane. Some will and others won’t.”
The anecdotal evidence of riders saying they get more power and higher range from a higher octane than their bike needs may simply be justifying to themselves the extra expense of PULP, Steve suggests.
Steve Spalding
Premium advantages
However, there are other advantages to using a PULP fuel over ULP.
“Some premium fuels such as Caltex and BP advertise they have additional cleaning additive packages that can offset the need to periodically buy fuel cleaners,” Steve says.
However, riders would have to work out if it is cheaper to pay the extra price for PULP over ULP rather than buying the occasional cleaner additive.
It may have been an economically wise decision about a decade ago, but the price differential between ULP and PUP has crept up and is now about 12-14c a litre.
“Fuel makers have worked out that people will buy it, not often on an evidence-based reason,” Steve says.
Steve says fuel companies and retailers make the most profit from the sale price of PULP.
Steve also points out that while ULP also has cleaning additives, it just doesn’t have the additional cleaners in some of the higher octane fuels.
However, it is certainly more convenient to have the cleaner additives in the fuel than having to periodically buy and add the fluid separately.
Steve also says PULP has lower levels of sulphur.
“While these are beneficial in reducing the build-up of engine internal deposits, they won’t make the bike travel further for each litre of fuel purchased,” he says.
“The best advice is to use the fuel specified for the bike.”
Low octane risks
Most modern motorcycles recommend a minimum of 95 or 98 RON.
If you fill up with a lower octane rating you run the risk of harmful engine detonation and pinging, Steve warns.
Also the higher sulphur content in RULP can damage catalytic converters and prevent them from working properly.
Some motorcycles have knock sensors that sense detonation or pinging and alter the ignition timing to effetely down-tune the engine.
Knock sensors are a preservation measure in case you are stuck at a remote service station that doesn’t have premium fuel.
Lastly, with E10 being common in services stations, ensure your bike is compatible with it before using, older carburettor models shouldn’t use an ethanol-based fuel.
Buying a sweet ride and needing a Motorcycle Shipping Guide For Beginners to get it home to the US (Sponsored post)
Everyone has a dream. And everyone has interests. Some people love shoes, some love buying houses, others enjoy fine art or French cuisine. And then, there are those who love smooth sailing or liberating rides. Sometimes it’s in a nice chevy, and sometimes in a beautiful Harley. There’s nothing like cruising the roads on your loved motorcycle to clear your mind, make your heart beat faster, and put a grin on your face. Owning or buying motorcycles sometimes requires shipping them cross country. Riding your two-wheeler may be nice, but riding cross country can be a bit tiring and difficult for your body. If you have to ship your beauty, we have a motorcycle shipping guide for beginners, so we got you as covered as you’d want your bike to be while in transport.
Having a bike to ship is essential for reading a motorcycle shipping guide
To transport a bike, you need to have one. You can be amotorcycle aficionado or just a guy who likes to buy vintage rides and fixing them up on your own. But you’ll need a way to ship it to your doorstep. Classic motorcycles can come at steep prices, so many people cruise online and search for auctions to find their sweet ride. But, buying bikes from outside of the US can eventually be cheaper. Or, you might be traveling abroad and stumble upon a beautiful 1953 Vincent Black Shadow and you have to have it. You convince the owner you’ll take good care of it, and after long negotiations, you agree upon a price. Now, the remaining question is – How to import a motorcycle from the country of purchase to your own? Don’t worry, it is a common procedure and there are specific rules, so just do the research, get all the documents you might need, and prepare to pay up big time. Which brings us to another point – you should calculate is it, in the end, cheaper to buy locally or internationally.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Moving house
If you are relocating an entire household, the process may be quite exhausting as it is. Moving to a different city or a country and transferring your family and everything you own is very complex. You shouldn’t try to be a hero and do it all on your own but get some help. Get all the help that is offered or you can find. If you are moving in or out of Burlington, there are great Burlington-based moving experts at your disposal, so don’t hesitate to call them. They will help you with the move and you will have the time and the energy to take care of all other parts of the move – finding schools, changing address and utilities, and all that needs to be done. Should you have a motorcycle in your garage, chances are you won’t be able to ride it into the sunset in this particular moment, so you really need to check out all the shipping companies around you. You need someone to take care of your precious baby as well as you would.
What are quotas?
Motorcycle shipping can be quite expensive. Especially for international and overseas shipping. So, at the very beginning, you should research all the shipping companies you can find. The price will vary depending on many different factors – whether you’re shipping in a container or air freight, the size and weight of your bike, the distance of shipping, and some other things. As we said, sometimes it’s less expensive to buy locally for a higher price, than internationally for less. We know you would rather spend your money on some rare and exotic motorbikes that up for auction, but getting your already owned bike safely home is as important.
Didn’t we just mention quotas in this motorcycle shipping guide?
So, many companies will provide you with a quota online – an estimate of the price, so you can have an idea of the cost prior to making arrangements. Different companies will have different prices, so computer generated quotas can be a faster way to assess and make a selection of a few companies. But, don’t let the price be the only deciding factor. What kind of a motorcycle shipping guide would this be if we wouldn’t advise you to take a better look on how the company works, how much experience they have, how will they secure your bike? Make sure to check user reviews as well, and ask around with people who have done it before. They will tell you what to take care of.
You don’t need a motorcycle shipping guide to know you have to take good care of this baby
Insurance
With everything you do, you need to ensure you are covered. Especially with things that are out of your hands. So, before you embark on the journey of bike shipping, make sure to get insurance. Check the policy and know what to expect. If the shipping company damages your bike, doesn’t follow loading rules, or it doesn’t use soft straps in strategic places and your bike gets scratched, tips over or worse, they need to reimburse you for the damage. Ask the carrier about its liability coverage. This step in a motorcycle shipping guide is not to be jumped over! If you need some help, ask for it. As we mentioned, when you’re moving you choose a reliable moving company, such as number1movers.ca. So, there is no reason not to do the same with shipping companies.
Preparing the motorcycle for the shipping
There are some things you should do prior to loading your motorcycle on the truck:
Check for the state of your bike – take notes and photos of all the damages, scratches, or mechanical issues. Or lack thereof. In case something goes wrong, you will have the proof of the prior state of the vehicle.
Wash your bike – this can highlight the damages and save you from a cleaning fee at the other end
No fluids – drain all the fluids from the motorcycle – fuel and oil. Leave just enough you can move it at the end.
No accessories – remove any items you may have on the bike. Don’t forget the GPS or any type of holders, and check the trunk as well.
Unplug the battery and release some air out of your tires.
Is there a better view?
The means of shipping – the core of the motorcycle shipping guide
There are different ways to transport your motorcycle. The decision is yours, and it depends on your preferences, type of motorcycle, and the destination. When you have a classic ride, you will want to tuck it in and smoothly ship it back home, so you probably don’t want to share a crate with other bikes. If you are shipping overseas, you can choose to airfreight it or ship it in a container across the ocean. Know that air freight is faster but more expensive. If it’s inbound shipping your motorbike can be individually crated or crated with other bikes. Individual crates provide more security and cost a little more. Make sure your bike is stabilized. It is better to stabilize it vertically, than a side stand. Once your motorcycle is crated, it needs to be tied down, so make sure the ties are soft and placed in strategic locations, fastened and stable.
Make sure to use a specialist motorcycle transporter. Only with their help will you be certain everything will be okay. You have certainly planned to go through all the scenic motorcycle rides in Europe as a Harley lover, so your prized bike needs to arrive safely.
What have we learned from this motorcycle shipping guide?
What you need to pick up from this motorcycle shipping guide for beginners is that motorcycle shipping is a process that can be quite lengthy, costly and tedious. But if you make sure to choose the right shipping company, get insurance and follow through, you will be fine. You have found your ride, now put your helmet on and go enjoy a ride to the sunset, you’ve earned it!
We recently received a Green Light Trigger unit which is basically two powerful magnets that attach to the underside of your motorcycle and promise to trigger a green light.
Read on and find out if the Green Light Trigger actually works!
We contacted several state transport departments for their technical advice.
They say these lights are controlled by an inductor loop cut into the pavement.
It creates an electro-magnetic field and detects ferromagnetic metals such as iron, cobalt, nickel, steel and manganese.
Some people erroneously believe these rectangles are actually scales that detract the weight of vehicles and therefore don’t pick up light motorcycles!
For the best possible detection of the metal in your motorcycle, you should position your bike longitudinally right above one of the cut lines.
Stop over that centre longitudinal cut line
If there are two rectangles cut into the pavement, line up over the centre line for the best effect.
Be aware that lining up over a side cut line next to a running lane exposes you to the danger of being rear-ended by an errant driver straying out of their lane.
It has also been suggested that if you deploy your side stand directly over a cut line it will help trigger the lights.
We tried it and it doesn’t seem to work, but it may depend on the metal composition of your sidestand. Some modern motorcycles have non-ferromagnetic alloy sidestands to save weight.
Sensitive issue
The transport departments tell us the the sensitivity of the loops is set to detect all vehicles.
However, sensitivity is a delicate balancing act: too low and it won’t pick up a motorcycle or bicycle; too high and it will pick up false readings for cars in adjacent lanes.
If you believe the sensitivity is set too low at a set of lights, you can contact the relevant department in your state or local council area and ask for it to be increased.
Green Light Trigger
But what about this $US30 Green Light Trigger which is basically two powerful neodymium or rare-earth magnets?
The science suggests they could work because the inductor loop creates a magnetic effect which should detect other magnets: either attracting or repelling.
I tried it out on my Triumph Street Scrambler and a Kawasaki Versys 1000 test bike which do not trigger a set of lights near my home in western Brisbane.
The Green Light Trigger made no difference.
Believing the sensitivity is just too low, I tried another set of lights where my bike does trigger green.
Green Light Trigger can be attached by the magnet or a cable tie
Instead of using my motorcycle which I know is detected, I placed two of the Green Light Trigger magnets directly on the cut lines. They failed to trigger the lights.
I gave the device to a friend who has complained about lights near his house which don’t detect his bike and he says it worked.
However, RACQ technical officer Steve Spalding is sceptical, believing that the lights may simply have changed as part of the scheduled traffic pattern.
Traffic phases
RACQ Principal Traffic and Safety Engineer Gregory Miszkowycz says if your motorcycle is detected, it won’t necessarily speed up the light change process.
“It just registers a demand for that movement in the traffic controller,” he says.
“If all movements at the intersection have a vehicle waiting, the traffic controller will move through its usual pattern or phases of traffic movements at the intersection.
“There may be three to four movement phases at a typical intersection as all the different movements receive their turn before it returns to the first phase again, which is one complete cycle, usually 60-100 seconds in total.
“Some intersections at certain times of the day will ‘skip’ certain phases where there are no waiting vehicles. This improves the efficiency of the intersection and reduces delays for motorists by not wasting green time.
“In essence, this speeds up the light change, but only because the traffic controller has skipped other unnecessary phases.
“There are other intricacies of vehicle detection, like terminating a right turn movement as soon as the queue has gone. It is all to squeeze the most out of the intersections and minimise lost time.”
We all get tired of tackling the same old city routes on our motorcycles. City streets are boring and they don’t challenge the capabilities of the machines we ride. Unleashing their potential requires challenging routes that will trigger our primal instincts and get our adrenaline pumping.
If you are an adrenaline junkie or a travel addict, then you may want to challenge yourself with the world’s most dangerous routes. Narrow passes, sand and hairpin turns will test your physical and mental abilities to the limit. All these routes are only for seasoned riders. However, once you have conquered them, you can consider yourself a truly experienced traveller and upload your photos to all social media, your travel landing page template or frame them and put them on the wall. It is really something to be proud of.
Brace yourself, here are the most dangerous routes for motorcycles in the world.
1.Bolivia – North Yunguas Road
If you are up for a roller-coaster ride without much in the way of safety, then North Yunguas Road is for you.Also known as Bolivia’s death road, this place is extremely dangerous due to high cliffs that drop hundreds of metres at every turn. Nearly 300 motorists and cyclist were killed almost every year on this road until 1994. You should be extra cautious if you are afraid of heights.
2.China – Guoliang Tunnel Road
How about riding through a mountain? Sounds fun, but it’s also hazardous. The Guoliang Tunnel Road was opened to traffic in 1977. It’s only 1.2km long and 4m wide. The road was built through the Taihang Mountains heading towards the village of Guoliang and it’s now a big tourist attraction with lots of traffic to negotiate.
However, don’t be fooled by all the fuss, the road is still a dangerous place to ride. You need to be 100% focused on the road and you need to be experienced.
3.Australia – Canning Stock Route
The Canning Stock Route in Western Australia is regarded as the most remote road in the world. The road is 1850km long with sand and bulldust to challenge riders. There are no fuel or water stops along the way so you have to carry your own which makes it particularly difficult for motorcyclists.
4.Sichuan – Tibet Highway
This road is an excellent chance to explore Tibet with your motorcycle. It’s also considered one of be the world’s most risky roads because of its rugged nature, extreme weather and altitude. The 2142km road runs from Chengdu in Sichuan to Lhasa in Tibet.
You would need approximately 14 to 15 days to complete this road. However, the ride is an incredible adventure as you will be passing 14 mountains with heights ranging between 4000m and 5000m.
5.Pakistan and China – Karakoram Highway
This road has an amazing history as it was once a part of the famous Silk Road network of trading routes.It’s 1200km long, has altitudes over 4000m and is a great way to explore the amazing mountains of both countries.
Whether you’re a casual collector or a real motorcycle aficionado, you probably turn your head whenever you catch a glimpse of a vintage or classic motorbike. One day, you might even own one yourself. Anything that has gone past the 20-year mark is already considered a bit of an artefact. As such, any vintage bike deserves the utmost care.
It doesn’t matter if you plan on taking the historic bike on a joyride or just have it displayed, proper maintenance is not just an afterthought. Give a vintage bike the treatment it deserves using this essential guide.
1. Do your homework
Before anything else, you will need to learn a lot about the specific make and model you own. Manufacturers set their own standards when it comes to designing and manufacturing their motorcycles, so make sure you do ample research about yours and the features that they were able to roll out. This should give you a good idea on how best to maintain these features and keep your motorbike in tip-top shape.
2. Search for manuals
The most useful resource you can have for fixing or maintaining an old bike is their original manual, if you can find them. If your vintage bike is really vintage, you might have some difficulty tracking one down. However, it’s worth the effort to get one. This should give you all the more reason to search online for manuals that can help you avoid making any costly errors on a vintage beauty.
3. Consider a thorough check-up
You just can’t rely on your gut to know if you’re going the right way in terms of maintaining a vintage bike. When in doubt, you might want to consider bringing the vehicle to someone who has experience working on vintage models. A thorough check up is in order if you’re planning to detect any aesthetic or performance issues worth correcting. Through the right professional, you should be able to save a ton of money and keep your motorbike from further deterioration.
4. Go for a full refurbish
Restorations can be expensive, especially if you’re looking at motorbikes that have been around during the 1950s such as the Ariel Leader or the Moto Guzzi Cardelino. The secret here is effective motorcycle detailing. Consider giving the bike a brand new finish by applying a new coat of wax. You might also want to keep the rims shiny and replace worn out leather with more durable material – all this without sacrificing the overall vintage look and feel of the bike.
5. Know where to get your parts
Much of the challenge to maintaining a vintage bike is knowing where to get parts. Luckily, a quick Google search will yield numerous online stores selling replica parts, if not original ones. Either way, it makes for an easier way to keep the bike in good condition just in case the crankshaft fails or if the brakes have become worn out.
Vintage motorbikes are a beauty to behold, but they are also a mess when it comes down to maintaining them. With these tips in mind, you can rest easy knowing that it’s possible to pamper an oldie but goodie.
It’s not groundbreaking news to say that motorcycles get stolen from time to time, and part of the problem is the lack of care that owners take in preventing it from happening to them. Even if by some miracle your stolen motorcycle is recovered, I think it’s safe to say that you would rather not go through the ordeal to begin with.
That’s why that old adage about prevention being better than a cure exists. If you take the extra measures necessary to secure your motorcycle, you can do a lot to discourage would-be thiefs and prevent it from ever happening.
So, what exactly are those extra measures?
Use or Install:
Motorcycle Starter Kill Switch
Most modern motorcycles come with a kill switch already installed, but if yours doesn’t you might want to get one. Kill switches are one of the most effective ways of preventing theft. Here’s how they work:
When a key is turned in the ignition, electricity begins to flow from the battery to the engine. This starts a circuit that will eventually cause the motor to engage, thus allowing fuel and air to ignite.
A starter kill switch interrupts this process by preventing electricity from reaching the spark plugs.
Installing a hidden kill switch on your bike ensures that your bike doesn’t start unless the kill switch is disabled. Make sure to shut your bike off with the kill switch because this engages the kill switch.
Disc Brake Lock
Brake locks preventing the wheels from turning will stop thieves rolling with your bike. And while it’s an effective deterrent, it takes up significant storage space and it can be quite inconvenient to install and remove, making it not as popular as an anti-theft device. People who do use them generally only do so when they’re going to be away for a long time.
Anti-Theft Alarm
While this measure is nothing new, it’s one that has proven to be effective at keeping thieves away and alerting people to the thieves that aren’t discouraged by it. Just make sure to have the alarm sensitivity tuned properly.
Do:
Park Within FOV of Security Cameras
It’s standard procedure for thieves to scout an area for security cameras before they attempt to steal anything. Parking within the field of view of security cameras helps you identify thieves if they aren’t outright discouraged.
Park Near Other Motorcycles
There are two main benefits of parking near other motorcycles. The first is that your bike is less likely to be singled out. And even if that fails, more bikes means that there’s going to be more people around the area. Riders usually look out for each other and this is often more than enough to prevent theft.
If All Else Fails: GPS Locator
While having a GPS locator installed in your motorcycle might not be much of a deterrent, you’d be happy to have it when you need it. It helps the authorities find your bike much quicker. At which point, you can recover your motorbike either by heading to where it is, of having it transported to you through motorcycle shipping if you’re overseas.
Riders should add grass clippings to their list of road hazards and stay alert, take avoidance action and consider reporting the hazard to authorities.
Grass clippings can not only be a slip hazard for motorcyclists, especially if they get wet, but also the dry grass can blow up into a rider’s eyes, blinding them.
As the United States celebrates May as Motorcycle Awarensss Month, American rider groups are alerting other riders and authorities to the dangers of clippings on the road.
In fact, some states such as North Carolina and Pennsylvania are now considering making it illegal to blow lawn clippings on to a road.
Grass clippings illegal
However, it’s already illegal in Australia to dump any substance on a road that could cause injury or damage. Fines range up to more than $4000 and/or six months in jail.
Yet we continue to see clippings left on the road by lazy and negligent slashing contractors and farmers, or deliberately blown on to the road by ignorant homeowners.
Contractors and council workers cutting grass on roadsides and median strips are obliged to put out appropriate warning signs.
Riders should slow down and be alert if they see these signs, mowing or slashing equipment on the roadside, or other hints that grass has recently been cut.
They should also do their best to alert other riders either by waving to slow down or maybe posting a photo on social media.
Report hazards
Riders should also report road hazards such as grass clippings to road authorities.
Grass clippings are considered as much a road hazard by authorities as gravel, sand, oil or other substances.
You can report hazards on local roads to the relevant local council.
If the hazard is on a state road, report it to the state authorities:
