Motorcycle Safety Ain’t For All Riders
WHERE ARE YOU ON THE SPECTRUM OF MOTORCYCLE SAFETY? If you are reading this, it could be presumed that you have some level of interest in motorcycle safety. But in my experience, what that means in terms of “how much” or “how little” you routinely demonstrate the “best practices” of rider safety may [...]
What Are Common Motorcycle Rider Characteristics?
HOW SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT ARE YOU, COMPARED TO OTHER RIDERS? Over the years, non-motorcycle riders have asked me to express common traits among motorbike riders that I’ve observed. But I’ve been hard pressed to identify truly universal common rider attributes – other than a love of motorcycles and riding. Perhaps you know [...]
Motorcycle Touring Tips and Suggestions
WHAT ARE YOUR MOTORCYCLE TOURING SUGGESTIONS?
A friend of mine just bought a new motorcycle (he’s been riding off and on for many years) and will be taking a trip with his wife and asked my advice regarding motorcycle security on the road; best gear for touring through mountains with variable temperatures and unpredictable rain; tips [...]
Motorcycle Riding on the Razor Edge of Life and Death
MOTORCYCLE RIDERS HAVE ALL HAD CLOSE CALLS
Every motorcycle rider has had close calls. Which of yours were so close that you were in disbelief that a tragedy simply failed to materialize when it should have? (Write your experience below).
The events that have really been on the edge of life and death for me, [...]
Should You Use That Front Brake Lever?
SPEAKING WITH NEWBIES ABOUT STOPPING MOTORCYCLES
I was at one of the local motorcycle dealers this week. As I was walking around the large showroom, I happened to pass by a sales person while he was pointing out the motorcycle controls to a potential customer, “…and this is the front brake lever…”
But before he could [...]
We Don’t Need More Motorcycle Riders
“HOW COME YOU RIDE A MOTORCYCLE?”
How many times have you been asked that question?
Or, the more direct one that will be asked is, “Aren’t motorcycles dangerous?”
I will often reply, “Of course motorcycles are dangerous. And that’s why they are not for everyone.”
If the person is actually interested in taking the discussion further, I warn [...]
“Rookie Mistakes” for Touring Riders
CONFESSIONS OF A VETERAN ROOKIE
Fred Rau is one of my favorite motorcycle writers and I enjoy reading whatever he has to say every month. Over the decades, his words have been all over the moto mags so you have likely read him, as well.
In the March 2009 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News, Fred wrote [...]
Motorcycle Rain Riding: What to Wear
THE BEST PART ABOUT RIDING IN THE RAIN….
Having ridden through every imaginable type of rain condition all over North America, I consider the best part about rain riding to be that period for about an hour after the rain stops, when everything is wet and clean. Sort of like Mother Nature getting out of [...]
The Invisible Motorcyclist to the Rescue!
There are times when I really do wish I were an invisible rider: particularly during those instants of startled realization that my speedometer is indicating the wrong enjoyment factor at the wrong time – at least relative to some long-gone road engineer or lawmaker who determined the speed limit.
However, regardless of how invisible we bikers [...]
Motorcycle Survival in 3 Seconds
There are lots of different motorcycles. And at the rate manufacturers keep developing bikes for more and more and narrower niches, it won’t be too long before you’ll need to hire a consultant just to figure out whether you are best suited on a cruiser, dual-purpose, sport bike, tourer, sport tourer, standard, dirt bike, [...]
Motorcycle Riding Gloves: How Many Are Too Many?
ARE YOU A MOTORCYCLE GLOVE JUNKIE?
Do you have more riding gloves than might make sense to a casual observer?
If you are a season rider, you’ve probably got a few pairs to select from, when you crank over your bike’s motor.
Some gloves are easy to justify: Motorcycle gloves for hot weather. Riding gloves for cool weather. [...]
Hot Weather Survival Tactics for Motorcyclists
Whether you describe “Hot Weather” as 80 degrees or 110 degrees, if you are riding for several hours in heated temperatures, the main thing to prevent is also the most obvious: DEHYDRATION. Dehydration is excessive loss of water from the body.
Motorcyclists should not think too lightly of this malady. Dehydration can lead to a range [...]
Motorcycle Riding In 117 Degrees
I love desert riding. Except, of course, in the summer.
What I learned over the past 4 days and 1200 miles (California Coast and Sonoran Desert loop) is that it will be a while before a motorbike and I do that in the summer again!
Does 117 degrees mean “Hot” to you, too?
Unless you live in southwestern [...]
Motorcycle Heads Across the Atlantic & Pacific
Are the heads of American motorcycle riders more, or less hardy, than those piloting English and Australian motorbikes?
Your guess is as good as mine! But here is what a British and Australian review found:
“Motorcyclists are at high risk in traffic crashes, particularly for head injury. A review of studies concluded that helmets reduce the risk [...]
Fred Rau: Loooong-Time Moto Journalist
Fred Rau was hanging out at the Friction Zone (magazine) booth at the IMS show last month in Long Beach, CA. I yapped with him for a short spell about his motorcycle writing.
I’ve been enjoying his articles for many years in Motorcycle Consumer News (MCN), where Fred served as the Editor, and later, Senior [...]
Twisted Grip Personality Test
