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Wednesday, January 4, 2012

An Introduction to Motorcycle Safety

By Lucia Baker


Myths have been a part of almost any culture in history. If you Google popular myths you will be bombarded with celebrity gossip, urban legends, and even a list of common misconceptions on Wikipedia. These myths often start out as minor misconceptions and in some cases are harmless. Sometimes, however, a common myth can cause serious harm. Knowing fact from fiction could mean the difference between life and death for motorcycle riders.

At the shop, I fitted the chain around the neck of the frame and hung her high. As the screams (which I imagined) died down, so did the bike. Now it was time to cut her up. After parting my first 50 bikes, I had learned a thing or two. One thing I learned was that I didn't like leaning over all day. I used a hydraulic lift made for pulling engines out of cars, to get the CBR I was butchering up to a comfortable working height. As the parts came off with my air driven ratchet, I would have to stop and rebalance the carcass. As the parts came off, I would use a paint pen like a wrecking yard, so I didn't lose the identity. Next, I would clean each part, and lay it out on one of many big tables, ready to photograph.

Although there have been many improvements since the introduction of the motorcycle in 1867, there are still a number of safety concerns for motorcycle riders. Motorcycle riders suffer from catastrophic injuries and even death with colliding with a car or truck. Unlike other vehicles a motorcycle does not protect the rider from the road in a crash. There are no airbags, no seat-belts and no barrios between you and the asphalt.

Motorcycle Safety There are a number of dangers that could harm you when operating a motorcycle. A mechanical malfunction while riding at freeway speeds, right of way accidents at an intersection and other vehicles colliding with a motorcycles due to blind spots are all common reasons why you could become injured in a motorcycle accident.

It Is Better to Stay in Your Lane than To Split Lanes This is another busted myth. In most parts of the world lane splitting is perfectly normal. In the United States it is only legal in California. According to a study conducted by the NHTSA, lane splitting slightly reduces crash frequency when traveling with stopped or slow-moving cars.

The Seven Motorcycle Safety Tips 1. Always Wear A Helmet. A good helmet is priceless. Choose a helmet that displays the DOT label, which indicates that it meets the federal safety standards. 2. Use Both Brakes. When braking apply both breaks at the same time. Using only your front or back breaks individually could throw you off balance. 3. Watch Your Seed. As a motorcyclist, it is easy to pick up speed. With more speed also comes less time to react and a longer breaking distance. Follow posted speed limits at all times. 4. Know Your Limits. Your motorcycle has limits and so do you. 5. Keep Your Distance. No one likes a tailgater. Keep a safe distance between your bike and other vehicles. 6. Signal. Use your turn signals to allow other vehicles time to react and anticipate your maneuvers. 7. Be Seen by Other Vehicles. Avoid blind spots and always use your headlights day or night.

Safety Tips For Motorcycle Riders If you use a motorcycle as a regular means of transportation there are a number of safety tips that you should follow. If you would like to learn how to stay safe while riding a motorcycle please visit our motorcycle safety page.




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