Stay Safe Out There My Friends!

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We all know the importance of motorcycle safety riding tips. Whenever you get in any type of transportation, there’s always a risk for an accident, however when you’re on a motorcycle, you are more open to injuries, because you don’t have the protection of metal and plastic surrounding you, so do everything you can to stay as safe as possible when on your bike.

A helmet might be one of the most important motorcycle safety accessories you can choose. It protects your head from injuries, and has often saved people’s lives from hard hits. In fact government studies show that riders without a helmet are 40% more likely to suffer a fatal head injury in a crash and three times as likely to suffer brain injuries than those with helmets

There are many types of helmets you can wear. There are half helmets, 3/4 helmets, helmets with sun shields, and some without. All are made with your safety in mind. You can find styles for both men and women, too.

Adventure Harley-Davidson offers a great variety of motorcycle helmets and other gear. Check them out for all your motorcycle safety needs.

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Along with a helmet, other protective gear might include leather boots, a leather jacket, jeans or leather chaps, gloves, and so on. You should especially gear up on long trips and when traveling on the highways.

There are things on your bike that can help with safety, too. A bug windshield offers protection from bugs, as well as smaller birds that could fly out in front of you. You might not think a small bird could do some damage, but if one hits you while you are going at a high speed, you’ll get some bangs and bruises from it for sure.

Make sure you also have side mirrors that allow you to see behind you and to the side of you.

Keep an eye on both sides of the roads for deer and other animals that could come running out in front of you, too. If you see one, slow down, or stop, if necessary to avoid a painful collision.

If your motorcycle helmet doesn’t have a sun shield, or if you don’t wear a helmet, consider wearing sunglasses to keep out the glare of the sun, and to protect your eyes from the sun, and from things that could bounce off the road or off of other vehicles, and hit you in the face.

Other things to keep in mind when out enjoying a ride is your speed. Don’t go so fast that you’re being unsafe to yourself, your riders, or other drivers around you. And even if you are a safe driver, remember to pay attention to other vehicles, because not everybody drives safely, or keeps an eye out for bikes. You also never know when someone is going to have a medical emergency that causes them to have an accident or drive sporadically. Stay a safe distance behind other drivers, and do your best to watch all of those around you.

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You also don’t want to buy more of a bike than you can handle. You might want the biggest and baddest bike in town, but if you can’t handle it on the road, or when stopped, then it’s a recipe for disaster. This can cause road accidents, or broken bones if it falls on you or someone else.

Some simple things to remember are don’t talk on your phone, or try to text while driving. If you need to do either, or you need to smoke, eat or drink, then pull over and do those things.

It’s also a good idea to avoid bad weather on your bike. if it’s raining hard, snowing, etc, then wait it out.

Anti-lock brakes are also great for quick, unexpected stops, and help avoid skids and crashes. When brakes lock, you lose steering control, too. If possible, get anti-lock brakes on your bike.

So to summarize Motorcycle Safety Riding Tips: Wear the right gear, Equip your bike with safety essentials, watch out for other drivers and animals, drive at safe speeds, avoid bad weather, and have fun!

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Riding up and down the east coast became one of my regular Harley Davidson road trips for me in the 70’s. I had family in Massachusetts and South Carolina. I was only about 20 years old with a job where, time off was never a problem.

The first trip i was only 17 years old, living in mass. and while visiting SC i bought my first harley, it was a (used) 1970 sportster, and of course, the only way to get it home was, to ride it! That was a two day trip and i carefully chose a motel where i was able to sneak the bike into the room that nite. A thousand mile journey accomplished in two days i thought was pretty good time.

A year or two later i sold that bike and returned to SC in search of another, there seemed to be better deals on old Harley’s in the south. My next find would be a 1968 flh shovelhead, located in Gastonia NC at a  Harley Davidson dealer. The bike was a rat, a stripped down dresser. The motor had been spray painted red ! lol. I was lookin at a ‘diamond in tha ruff’ ! I was able to contact the owner and asked him if he thought the bike would be able to make a thousand mile road trip,,, his response was. OH Hell Yea, That Son a bitch  will do 120 mph !… I laughed and told him i didnt need to get there That day, but i’d take it for the ride… Which i did.

This time i stayed at a campground somewhere in northern Virginia or Maryland, i cant remember. and the following winter i had the motor rebuilt,, stretched and lowered the frame,,, and discovered a passion to build the perfect low rider. A custom built Harley, a comfortable ride. I kept this bike for 3 or 4 years and made the east coast Harley Davidson road trip ride at least once each year.

On a couple of these trips I’d spend several days exploring the country-side, especially the mountains. The people I met were generally always very hospitable. Although i do recall one occasion while in Virginia when I stopped into a little bar-room for a cold drink that wasn’t so pleasant.

I had heard of ‘the Pagen Gang’ before but, this would be my first encounter. It started off good until later in the evening when one of them noticed i had a Massachusetts plate on the bike,,,, at first there were only two of them, now there was 6 or 8 of them, and me…. from outta town. After explaining that i was originally from South Carolina (and NOT a yankee) I slipped out the side door and made my departure,,, With my bike. And my Life!

I ran into them again a year or two later. This was one of my many memorable Harley Davidson road trips. On this particular trip i had decided to make the road trip in short order, a straight shot. I had no camping supply’s and little money to spend on motel rooms. I chose I95 to be the quickest route. After a late start in the morning, and riding all day by eleven o’clock that evening i was just past DC when i pulled into a rest area thinking I’d find a dark spot to get some rest, and warm up, as i was freezing.

Well there in the same rest area were 3 or 4 ‘Pagens’ in a car. When they heard the distinct sound of a Harley Davidson pulling in,,, they immediately came over to investigate. I explained to them my plight, I was in a hurry, no money, and cold. They also explained to me theirs.  They had just picked one of their brothers up from prison,, he had done his time, and they were on there way home. As they went back to their car, i was somewhat relieved to be left alone. Sitting on a picnic table. Freezing. After just a few minutes one of them returned, , , he handed me a small tent and a sleeping bag! Wished me a safe ride,, as I did him too. I got warm, and slept good.

Finished that Harley Davidson road trip the next day, , with a better feeling about ‘the Pagen gang’.

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I bought my first motorcycle in 1967. It was shortly after my sister’s boyfriend showed up at our house on a brand new Triumph Bonneville. My bike was not quite as spectacular. The used Allstate 59 scooter had a 3 speed shift on the left side of the handlebar and that classic 2 stroke whine. That bike set the hook though, and since then it has been followed by 31 more bikes. I have ridden through most of the eastern states and provinces. I have continued on in rain, snow, heat and cold. I tend to fall often in the woods and have memories and scars from some of the better ones. Why do we do it?
More than 95% of my riding has been alone. I like to go where I want to and stop when I want to. I feel I do some of my best thinking while riding. I am relaxed and focused on riding conditions. I tend to let my mind go where it wants to rather than force it in any particular direction.

How Do I Learn How to Ride a Motorcycle?

The freedom of riding a motorcycle is often touted as being the Spirit of America. On a bike you can feel the wind in your face, the quickness of a powerful machine under your control, the freedom to go where, when and how you want and a touch of “in your face” to those not inclined to enjoy the adventure.

Why Do You Want to Learn How to Ride a Motorcycle?

When you first think about, wonder about, and finally decide you want to Learn How to Ride a Motorcycle it is probable the seed of this idea came from a friend or family member. Very few people wake up one day and decide they want to ride. More than likely, you have a social contact with a person that triggered this thought. Cheap Motorcycle Helmets

For many individuals, motorcycles are an exciting form of travel and recreation. However, if proper safety measures are not observed, riding a motorcycle can be a dangerous enterprise. Motorcycle fatalities have increased by 127% over the last ten years. Most states have some type of laws governing helmet use when operating a motorcycle. The necessity of these laws is supported by the facts. Studies show that 65% of motorcyclists killed were not wearing a helmet. Since a helmet is an essential part of road safety, and its usage mandated in a growing number of states, it is important for riders to know what to look for when purchasing high-quality, cheap motorcycle helmets.

Traffic Safety for Motorcycles

There is nothing more fun than a motorcycle ride on a nice warm day. Whether your ride takes you out in the open country or through a large metropolitan area, you have an unhindered three hundred sixty degree view. Riding on a motorcycle can become dangerous if you do not observe some basic safety rules. This is the opposite of what happens most of the time. We are conditioned to think about our challenges and possible solutions. The mind actually works better if you give it a problem to solve and go on to something else. When I take off on Saturday morning, I have already spent the week thinking about the various challenges in my life. It is amazing how often some type of solution pops into my head when I am two hours from home and thinking about lunch.

How many times have you sat on the curb in the parking lot of a distant gas station having a cool drink and watching the world go by? In the normal course of your life, would you do that? Maybe we put up with the discomfort and inconvenience of riding long distances because it allows us to slow down and ponder. If that is all there is to it then it is enough for me.
I think there is more. Let me know what you think.