http://www.rlmotorcycles.com/cgi-bin/eShop/index.cgi?page=Riding_Tips.htm&cart_id=1286449051.43130STREET RIDING TIPS
34 safety and street riding tips to help reduce injuries and reduce your risk!
1 - Leave your ego at home.
Really, no body cares how good (fast) you can ride. Only you.
2 - Be considerate in traffic.
Do you really have to pass aggressively and dart in and out of traffic? Do you like to cut right in front of cars after passing and not use a signal? This type riding behavior infuriates other drivers and can incite road rage. Don't think they won't try to knock you down on purpose!
3 - Be patient.
Look before you leap! Being impatient makes you do stupid things with your motorcycle.
4 - Assume you are invisible in traffic and motorists will try to kill you!
Ride defensively and use tips #11, #21 and #22.
5 - Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Old saying that rings true for all motorcyclists. Think in survival mode.
6 - Wear protective riding gear
Yes, we have all heard the arguments about comfort, rights, etc. This is about YOU so consider this:
No one wants to crash but if you do, do you want to go pavement diving in sneakers, shorts and a T-shirt? Crash without a helmet on your grape? You kidding, right?
7 - Don't trust those mirrors 100%.
Never change lanes or direction without using your mirrors AND a head check for hidden danger.
8 - Pay attention to your riding!
At 60mph you are covering 80+ feet a second. Day dreaming or looking elsewhere beside the roadway can get you in big trouble very quickly.
9 - Watch your closing speed.
Give yourself time to react or you better be REAL good at braking and evasion!
10 - Always use the 2 second rule!
Stay 2 seconds behind the traffic ahead. Make that 4 seconds in the rain. This is an easy safety check you can make anytime.....just count the time and adjust your distance. The faster you go the more the distance. This simple riding rule will allow you to see more of the road and have more time to react to sudden dangers ahead.
11 - Think before you act.
Goes with #3!
12 - Look where you want to go.
It's the same for riding horses, bicycles, or motorcycles. You go where you look. Use target fixation to your advantage. It's a body english thing!
13 - Keep your eyes scanning ahead for potential trouble.
Ok, this is a big one. Learn this skill and your chances of avoiding a crash go way up.
The opposite of target fixation! Keep your eyes moving and scan ahead a reasonable distance. That 40 feet in front of your bike is already history....
14 - Watch for the wildlife.
Practice #13 to avoid most deer, moose, ground hogs, beavers, or whatever critter frequents your roads. You MIGHT get a chance to avoid them if you buy yourself some time.
15 - Excessive speed for your riding conditions.
Don't ride over your head. Slow down to a comfortable 80% of your ability. If your buddy gets ahead, he'll wait on you (well, if he is a good riding buddy he will).
16 - Danger from behind!
Always keep an eye on your mirrors. Make this part of your visual scan. Do this especially when you stop or slow down. This may warn you of fast approaching danger from the rear so you can get out of the way.
17 - Keep a good position and always have an escape route.
Stay away from commercial trucks, trailers, RVs, etc that can easily kill you if you tangle with one. Always anticipate problems and watch for a way out if things go bad.
18 - Stay off parts of the roadway where debris gathers. Both sides!
Now, you would think this would be common sense and not in this list but riders do get hurt running over tires, nails, boards, ladders, etc. that are on the sides of the road and off ramps.
19 - Left turning cars, trucks, ANYTHING!
This one is THE #1 killer of motorcyclists! Sometimes you never get a chance to react but you can minimize the danger by practicing your scan, eye contact, and other skills mentioned here. Oh, have good front lighting on your bike and use it to your advantage (high beams in the day, MotoLight).
20 - Drivers running red lights.
Do you start into an intersection the moment your light turns green? Yes? You are begging to get run over! Wait a second or two, look both ways and then proceed. You will be amazed how many idiots you see come through red lights.
21 - Always cover your front brake.
MSF says no but this can add a full second to your reaction time for braking.
Is that not a good thing?
22 - Learn to use BOTH brakes together for maximum braking.
Very important for threshold braking and escape maneuver. Practice it!
23 - Come to a full stop at stop signs.
Yeah, you know you have been rolling them! Stop this bad habit before you get nailed!
24 - Stop signs and traffic lights on hills.
Use your rear brake to hold you tight and smoothly engage the clutch when you need to ride off. See, that was easy!
25 - Riding in the rain.
Hey, it rains. No big deal, your bike can handle it. Rain does not = impending doom. Slow down and and ride smoothly. Relax and concentrate. Remember the most slippery pavement will be at the start of a shower. Heavy downpours can wash away the road film and improve traction for you.
26 - Master slow speed riding.
You can fall off and get hurt badly at 5 mph. Learn to steer in tight low speed conditions and use the rear brake to help with smooth weight transfer. Sound like BS? Go to your local gas station where motorcycles gather and sit back to watch the show!
27 - Master the U turn.
You should be able to turn your bike inside a single lane of traffic (12 feet wide) with your feet on the pegs. It isn't hard, use the clutch, use that outside peg, and steer smoothly. Learn this maneuver for clean 180's so you don't end up stopped and struggling in the road or worse, fall off. Goes with #26. School parking lots are a good place to practice this and other slow speed riding.
28 - Keep your bike serviced and keep good tires on it.
Well, that covers that!
29 - Show your intentions to everybody!
Use your turn signals at least 5 seconds before a turn. Use your brake light to warn of impending stops. Again, sudden and abrupt changes in your speed or direction can cause you to get knocked down by a car or truck in traffic. Especially if you don't signal!
30 - At traffic lights or other stops: Don't stop in the middle of the road.
Do you want to be a motorcycle sandwich? Stop on one side or the other so you can escape easily if a vehicle is bearing down on you from behind. Watch those mirrors (again).
31 - Leave your bike in 1st gear while stopped in traffic.
How can you escape if you are sitting there out of gear?
32 - Avoid slippery fluids like transmission fluid, motor oil, anti freeze, Diesel fuel, etc.
These hazards mostly collect in the middle of the road so they pile up at intersections. See #30
33 - Tire blow outs, other sudden flats, and drive train failures: What to do now?!
Ok, if this is going to be a disaster it usually happens within the first couple of seconds. So if you have time to realize what is happening and you are not already sliding down the highway, you can probably save it. Don't panic! Be smooth with getting off the throttle and begin braking with the good wheel (except you linked ABS folks) as quickly as the situation will allow. This will probably be ugly but get stopped the best you can.
34 - Always look back when leaving parking.
Have you ever lost anything while riding? This happens most often right at the motorcycle when loading or unloading. When you mount up and pull off, get in the habit of looking back where you were parked for anything you may have dropped on the ground. You may surprised how many times this can save you some grief!