50 tips to stay alive
(a shameless ripoff from another site but I think safety should be shared!)
1. Assume you’re invisible.
2. Be considerate.
3. Dress for the crash, not the pool or the prom.
4. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
5. Leave your ego at home-The only people who really care if you were faster on the freeway will be the officer and the judge.
6. Pay Attention.
7. Mirrors only show you part of the picture.
8. Be patient
9. Watch your closing speed-Passing cars at twice their speed or changing lanes to shoot past a row of stopped cars is just asking for trouble.
10. Beware the verge and the merge.
11. Left-turning cars remain the leading killer of motorcyclists.
12. Beware of cars running traffic lights.
13. Check your mirrors
14. Mind the gap-One second’s worth of distance per 10 mph is the old rule of thumb. Better still; scan the next 12 seconds ahead for potential trouble.
15. Beware of tuner cars-They’re quick and their drivers tend to be aggressive.
16. Excessive entrance speed hurts.
17. Don’t trust that deer whistle.
18. Learn to use both brakes.
19. Keep the front brake covered-always.-Save a single second of reaction time at 60 mph and you can stop 88 feet shorter. Think about that.
20. Look where you want to go.
21. Keep your eyes moving.
22. Think before you act.-Careful whipping around that Camry going 7 mph in a 25 mph zone or you could end up with your head in the driver's side door when he turns into the driveway right in front of you.
23. Raise your gaze-It’s too late to do anything about the 20 feet immediately in front of your fender, so scan the road far enough ahead to see trouble and change trajectory.
24. Get your mind right in the driveway-Most accidents happen during the first 15 minutes of a ride, below 40mph, near an intersection or driveway.
25. Come to a full stop at that next stop sign.
26. Never dive into a gap in stalled traffic.
27. Don’t saddle up more than you can handle-If you weigh 95 pounds, avoid that 795-pound cruiser. If you’re 5-foot-5, forget those towering adventure-tourers.
28. Watch for car doors opening in traffic.
29. Don’t get in an intersection rut-Watch for a two-way stop after a string of four-way intersections.
30. Stay in your comfort zone when you’re with a group-Riding over your head is a good way to end up in the ditch.
31. Give your eyes some time to adjust-A minute or two of low light heading from a well-lighted garage onto dark streets is a good thing.
32. Master the slow U-turn-practice.
33. Who put a stop sign at the top of this hill?-Don’t panic. Use the rear brake to keep from rolling back down. Use Mr. Throttle and Mr. Clutch normally-and smoothly-to pull away.
34. If it looks slippery, assume it is.
35. Bang! A blowout! Now what?-No sudden moves. The motorcycle isn’t happy, so be prepared to apply a little calming muscle to maintain course. Ease back the throttle, brake gingerly with the good wheel and pull over very smoothly to the shoulder. Big sigh.
36. Drops on the faceshield?-Lightly misted pavement can be slipperier than when it’s been rinsed by a downpour. Apply maximum level concentration, caution and smoothness.
37. Emotions in check?-Take inventory every time you saddle up.
38. Wear good gear.
39. Leave the IPOD at home.
40. Learn to swerve.-Be able to do two tight turns in quick succession. Practice till it becomes a reflex.
41. Be smooth at low speeds.
42. Flashing is good for you-Easy taps on the pedal or lever before stopping makes your brake light more eye-catching to trailing traffic.
43. Intersections are scary, so hedge your bets.-Put another vehicle between your bike and the possibility of someone running the stop sign/light and you cut your chances of getting nailed in half.
44. Tune your peripheral vision.
45. All alone at a light that wont turn green?-Put as much of the bike directly above the sensor wire or try putting the kick stand down directly on the wire.
46. Everything is harder to see after dark.
47. Don’t troll next to-or right behind-Mr. Peterbilt.
48. Take the panic out of panic stops. Develop an intimate relationship with your front brake. Seek out some safe open pavement. Starting slowly, find that fine line between maximum braking and a locked wheel, and then do it again, and again.
49. Make your tires right-Check them for spot on pressure and any wear and tear.
50. Take a deep breath-Count to 10. Forgetting some clown’s 80-mph indiscretion beats running the risk of ruining your live, or ending it.
