50 Item Pre-Ride Check List

1. Assume you're invisible
Because to a lot of drivers, you are. Never make a move based on the assumption that another driver sees you, even if you've just made eye contact. Bikes don't always register in the four-wheel mind.

2. Be considerate
The consequences of strafing the jerk-du-jour or cutting him off start out bad and get worse. Pretend it was your grandma and think again.

3. Dress for the crash, not the pool or the prom
Sure, Joaquin's Fish Tacos is a 5-minute trip, but nobody plans to eat pavement. Modern mesh gear means 100-degree heat is no excuse for a T-shirt and board shorts.

4. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
Assume that car across the intersection will turn across your bow when the light goes green, with or without a turn signal.

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
Yes, there is a half-naked girl on the billboard. That shock does feel squishy. Meanwhile you could be drifting toward Big Trouble. Focus.

7. Mirrors only show you part of the picture
Never change direction without turning your head to make sure the coast is really clear.

8. Be patient
Always take another second or three before you pull out to pass, ride away from a curb, or into freeway traffic from an on-ramp. It's what you don't see that gets you. That extra look could save your life.

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
A lot of nasty surprises end up on the sides of the road: empty McDonald's bags, nails, TV antennas, ladders, used condoms, you name it. Watch for potentially troublesome debris on both sides of the road.

11. Left-turning cars remain a leading killer of motorcyclists
Don't assume someone will wait for you to dart through the intersection. They're trying to beat the light, too.

12. Beware of cars running traffic lights
The first few seconds after a signal light changes are the most perilous. Look both ways before barging into an intersection.

13. Check your mirrors
Do it every time you change lanes, slow down or stop. Be ready to move if another vehicle is about to occupy the space you'd planned to use.

14. Mind the gap
Remember Driver's Ed? The 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. Don't assume you've beaten one away from a light or outpaced it in traffic and changing lanes without looking. You could end up as a Nissan hood ornament.

16. Excessive entrance speed hurts
It's the leading cause of single-bike accidents on twisty roads and racetracks. In Slow, Out Fast is the old adage, and it still works. Dialing up corner speed is safer than scrubbing it off.

17. Don't trust that deer whistle
Ungulates and other feral beasts prowl at dawn and dusk, so heed those big yellow signs. If you're riding in a target-rich environment, slow down and watch the shoulders.

18. Learn to use both brakes
The front does most of your stopping, but a little rear brake on corner entry can calm a nervous chassis.

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
Use the miracle of target fixation to your advantage. The motorcycle goes where you look, so focus on the solution instead of the problem.

21. Keep your eyes moving
Traffic is always shifting, so keep scanning for potential trouble. Don't lock your eyes on any one thing for too long unless you're actually dealing with trouble.

22. Think before you act
Careful whipping around that Civic going 7 mph in a 25 mph zone or you could end up with your head in the driver's side door when she turns into a 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 40 mph, near an intersection or driveway. Yes, that could be your driveway.

25. Come to a full stop at that next stop sign
Put a foot down. Look again. Anything less forces a snap decision with no time to spot potential trouble.

26. Never dive into a gap in stalled traffic
Cars may have stopped for a reason, and you may not be able to see why until it's too late to do anything about it.

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-3, 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. If you expect cross-traffic to stop, there could be a painful surprise when it doesn't.

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. Any bunch worth riding with will have a rendezvous point where you'll be able to link up again.

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. Otherwise, you're essentially flying blind for the first mile or so.

32. Master the slow U-turn
Practice. Park your butt on the outside edge of the seat and lean the bike into the turn, using your body as a counter weight as you pivot around the rear wheel.

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
A patch of suspicious pavement could be just about anything. Butter Flavour Crisco? Gravel? Mobil 1? Or maybe it's nothing. Better to slow down for nothing than go on your head.

35. Bang! A blow-out! 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 face shield?
It's raining. Lightly misted pavement can be slipperier than when it's been rinsed by a downpour, and you never know how much grip there is. Apply maximum-level concentration, caution and smoothness.

37. Emotions in check?
To paraphrase Mr. Ice Cube, chickity-check yourself before you wreck yourself. Emotions are as powerful as any drug, so take inventory every time you saddle up. If you're mad, sad, exhausted or anxious, stay put.

38. Wear good gear
Wear stuff that fits you and the weather. If you're too hot or too cold or fighting with a jacket that binds across the shoulders, you're dangerous. It's that simple.

39. Leave the iPod at home
You won't hear that cement truck in time with U2 cranked to 11, but they might like your headphones in intensive care.

40. Learn to swerve
Be able to do two tight turns in quick succession. Flick left around the bag of briquettes, the right back to your original trajectory. The bike will follow your eyes, so look at the way around, not the briquettes. Now practice till it's a reflex.

41. Be smooth at low speeds
Take some angst out, especially of slow-speed manoeuvres, with a bit of rear brake. It adds a welcome bit of stability by minimizing some unwelcome weight transfer and potentially bothersome driveline lash.

42. Flashing is good for you
Turn signals get your attention by flashing, right? So a few 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/red light on your right and you cut your chances of getting nailed in half.

44. Tune your peripheral vision
Pick a point near the center of that wall over there. Now scan as far as you can by moving your attention, not your gaze. The more you can see without turning your head, the sooner you can react to trouble.

45. All alone at a light that won't turn green?
Put as much motorcycle as possible directly above the sensor wire - usually buried in the pavement beneath you or located by a round or square pattern behind the limit line. If the light still won't change, try putting your kickstand down, right on the wire. You should be on your way in seconds.

46. Everything is harder to see after dark
Adjust your headlights, carry a clear face shield and have your game all the way on after dark, especially during commuter hours.

47. Don't troll next to - or right behind - Mr. Peterbilt
If one of those 18 retreads blows up - which they do with some regularity - it de-treads and that can be ugly. Unless you like dodging huge chunks of flying rubber, keep your distance.

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
None of this stuff matters unless your skins are right. Don't take 'em for granted. Make sure pressure is spot on every time you ride. Check for cuts, nails and other junk they might have picked up, as well as general wear.

50. Take a deep breath
Count to 10. Visualize whirled peas. Forgetting some clown's 80-mph indiscretion beats running the risk of ruining your life, or ending it.

Hey, can I borrow your bike sometime?

That was the first sentence out of the mouth of a co-worker this morning as I arrived at work.  I quickly informed him "you'll be ok when you wake up."  "No, seriously, man"  OK, this is getting good.  "I love riding but I can't afford a bike and I want to ride so bad.  Can't you just let me borrow it for a day?"

Given that this kid drives a variety of pieced together mid 90's pickup trucks (whichever one of them happens to be running that day), and none of them have all the same color doors and panels,  I'm not letting this kid anywhere near my bike.


He gave me the most puzzling look ever when I responded with, "Sure, you can borrow my bike anytime you want to."

"Really, I'll hook up with you when the weather gets better.  I really appreciate it man"

"Just remember to bring a cashier's check for $7,000, a plate and insurance.  I'll sign the title and hand you the keys"

"I don't want to buy it, I can't afford it.  I just want to ride it, you just said I could"

"I don't let people ride my bike.  You want to ride it, you buy it"

Helmet Laws Suck

I live in a helmet-law state so I don't have a choice.  I have to wear a helmet most of the time I'm on the bike.   Not that I'm in any way opposed to strapping on a helmet, but I just don't feel it's anyone's business but me and my family.

The theory that a rider not wearing a helmet is in some way a "public safety" issue holds less water than a pasta strainer.   I'm interested to know how my choice to not wear a helmet, where it's legal to make such a choice, impacts anyone other than me.

Theory: If I crash while not wearing a helmet, I'll become a burden on the tax paying public to pay my medical bills.
Fact:  I have health insurance which pays my medical bills. 

Theory:  I'm much more likely to die in a crash if I'm not wearing a helmet (or seat belt, for that matter) 
Fact: I'm willing to accept that responsibility.  Why does the government care? They don't.  They just want another reason to be able to steal my money in the form of tickets. 

Please feel free to comment if you disagree. Meanwhile, I'll be searching for good enough weather to hit up the Keystone State.

Spring Fever

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted. Over a year, in fact. Rest assured, that won't happen again.

I got my X out of storage yesterday and brought her home. I have to do a valve adjustment and oil change before she's ready for the road, but I'll knock those out this week so she's ready when it's time to get her out.

After looking her over when I got her home, I've determined I'll need a new rear tire before inspection. This one might pass, but 16,000 miles on a cheap-ass car tire is probably enough. I've ordered a cast rim off of an R model so I won't have to use a tube to mount my new car tire, a Michelin Hydroedge 205/70R15. Total was about $540. Not bad considering I put the current tire on in August of 2007, have 16,000 miles on it, and will probably get considerably more than that out of the HE.

I'll put up pics once I get it here and mounted.

Later,
Chris

Test

This is just a test.  Seeing if this post by email really works. 

Loud Pipes

Here I go. I really wanted to stay away from this subject, but I can't any longer. This is a polarizing issue and I would be remiss if I didn't at least offer my opinion.

Stock pipes suck. There's no question about it. Equally indisputable is the fact that there is nothing that sounds better than a v-twin with the right set of pipes. On my VTX 1300, I have Vance and Hines Big Shots. They offer stylish looks, and that indistinguishable v-twin lope we all dream about. They are plenty loud enough, but with an easy throttle hand, I can reign in the noise when I need to (i.e. when leaving for work at 4am or when passing through town on a crowded afternoon).

There are two styles of loud pipes that I can't stand; straight-piped, no-baffled, unmuffled v-twin cruisers, and high-revving- high-pitched cans on sport bikes. Both of these are completely and unnecessarily obnoxious. Riders who insist on riding with either of these styles of pipes are just quickening the legislation that will, one day, require all bikes to sport OEM exhausts.

Loud pipes save lives. That's the mantra from either of the two groups mentioned previous. No they don't. Not even a little bit. The little old lady that's going to pull in front of you will not hear your pipes (blatting behind you, nonetheless) until it's too late. The 16-year old girl is too busy gossiping with her friends and won't hear (or see you) before she pulls out in front of you. The 17-year old boy is more concerned with impressing his buddies and listening to his stereo entirely too loud and won't hear you. Shall I go on? LOUD PIPES DO NOT SAVE LIVES!!!!

Fall Riding Tips

Coming into the fall riding season, I feel compelled to offer a few tips after watching a number of my fellow riders struggling.

1. In cooler weather, those of us who prefer half-helmets or none at all, may wish to consider wearing a full-face lid. I wear my Bombardier II Modular snowmobile helmet, without the respirator. While the feel of fresh air flowing over my face and head may be a main reason I ride, the lack thereof during the cold-weather season, greatly helps to keep warm.

2. Watch out for leaves on the road. Leaves are just now starting to fall off of trees here in Central New York State. It's been an entire year since most of us have encountered this hazard on the road. Leaves can retain water under them, while the rest of the road is dry. Needless to say, this offers less-than-ideal traction. Hitting it with your front tire, while carving a curve, can have disastrous effects.

3. Chaps and full fingered, insulated gloves are considered, by many, to be essential safety products. They are. As well, they can keep your core body temperature within normal limits, thus prolonging your riding season. Combined with thermal underwear, chaps can extend your riding season almost until it's time to pull the snowmobile out of the shed.

4. You do not need to purchase a specific cold-weather riding jacket. I wear my normal leather jacket, with liner, and layer a thermal underwear-type long-sleeve shirt, a long-sleeve t-shirt, and a hooded sweatshirt under my jacket. The hooded sweatshirt helps to keep the back of your neck from being cold. Balaclavas also work well in keeping your neck warm.

5. Normal riding boots are not good at keeping feet warm. In cold-weather, I will wear motocross socks and my insulated work boots.

I hope these tips extend your riding season. There's nothing I hate to see more then the premature storing of a bike for the winter.