Got my Motorcycle!

[TripleR]

Just wait until you go over a steel grated bridge deck for the first time!

Yep, done that, like riding two unicycles at once.

 

[Tomtint]

Congrats on the bike. I have been riding for 40 years, started with a Z50. If this is your first ever bike, I would also advise finding a friend with a dirt bike. Take it into the woods and trails, find out what it feels like to have a bike slide around under you in the dirt. So when it happens on the road, you won't panic. Ride safe, assume every car out there does not see you and when in traffic, always look and plan multiple escape routes as you move along. For me, my bike is mental therapy, a nice road, no cars,and 80* temps.. Just can't be beat.

 

[Ken45101]

assume every car out there does not see you

Actually it's worse than that In our wreck, the senile 85 year old SAW us, and expected us to stop. Literally, she told that to the state trooper! We were on US52, she was pulling out of a parking lot.

 

[Danno1]

.



There are 275 safety tips here:

Motorcycle Safety Site


Read every one of them.



Also, I'm not affiliated w that site. It's just a good concentration of knowledge for a beginner. Actually, for any rider, beginner or not.


.

 

[hr3]

AntiFreeze - Page 4 - Honda Shadow Forums : Shadow Motorcycle Forum Try this link. good topic on what you are looking for,,, I too ride but only have 2 Harleys,,

 

[bikerdib]

Woops, sorry Wes, I somehow missed post #10. Good for you!

 

[allen6634]

don't forget the golden rule to riding bikes,( keep the rubber side down lol ), enjoy your bike rember that there is idiots every place , never think that a car driver sees you, be safe have fun.

 

[Toyboy]

Or have to cross railroad tracks that are on an angle to the road on a rainy day.

Tip: always cross railroad tracks straight like a +, never on an angle / wet or dry. Even if you have to use the whole lane to line your bike to do it.

 

[Ken45101]

Congratulations. Freedom of the Road is relaxing, but please watch out for other drivers. It is difficult to estimate a Motorcycle's speed. Best wishes.

I know there is a lot of emphasis on the other driver. However, I just read something shocking in the local paper: According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol "Of the 165 fatalities (in 2012), the motorcyclist was at fault in 71% of the time."

Also "From 2010-2012, 50 percent of the fatal motorcycle crashs involved an impaired motorcyclist."

Obviously, much of the risk can be avoided by sensible and intelligent riding. Quit looking to blame the other driver, look in the mirror to see who CAN do the most to increase safety.

 

[allen6634]

I know there is a lot of emphasis on the other driver. However, I just read something shocking in the local paper: According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol "Of the 165 fatalities (in 2012), the motorcyclist was at fault in 71% of the time."

Also "From 2010-2012, 50 percent of the fatal motorcycle crashs involved an impaired motorcyclist."

Obviously, much of the risk can be avoided by sensible and intelligent riding. Quit looking to blame the other driver, look in the mirror to see who CAN do the most to increase safety.

i agree you can't place the blame on everyone, but you should at least rember alcohol and bikes never mix , i have lost friends because of that combination. i have been riding for 20 + years i ave road with others,seen them do foolish things(stuff that puts car drivers in bad places), not every car driver is out to get you, but now with the cell phones and things defensive riding is imparative. i try not to ride in town any more ,if i can avoid it i only ride in the country, i like to putt around back roads .

 

[Ken45101]

Allen,

I agree, we ride mostly rural roads. However, our wreck was on a rural highway and it was the other driver's fault. I'm just pointing out, however, that according to OSHP statistics, motorcyclist CAN avoid most accidents because they are the party at fault. (Of course, every human makes mistakes, that's a part of life. Hopefully those mistakes are minor and we learn. However, drinking and driving is a totally avoidable mistake. It's been shown that even one beer affects one's reaction time, even if they "don't feel" the alcohol.)

 

[Jstpssng]

I know there is a lot of emphasis on the other driver. However, I just read something shocking in the local paper: According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol "Of the 165 fatalities (in 2012), the motorcyclist was at fault in 71% of the time."

Also "From 2010-2012, 50 percent of the fatal motorcycle crashs involved an impaired motorcyclist."

Obviously, much of the risk can be avoided by sensible and intelligent riding. Quit looking to blame the other driver, look in the mirror to see who CAN do the most to increase safety.

I can believe that, yet also attribute it in part to the digilence of riders to watch for hazards. Yet aside from impaired driving another issue is that too many bikers don't worry about their speed, and aren't above blasting through town at 40+ MPH...

Or have to cross railroad tracks that are on an angle to the road on a rainy day.

Tip: always cross railroad tracks straight like a +, never on an angle / wet or dry. Even if you have to use the whole lane to line your bike to do it.

At the same time watch out for the guy behind you. if you slow and pull toward the inside of the lane, he might (and probably will) pass you, just as you're cutting across the tracks.

The most important law to remember when riding is the law of physics... Two solid objects can never occupy the same place at the same time.

To the OP; enjoy your bike. :thumbsup:

 

[allen6634]

Allen,

I agree, we ride mostly rural roads. However, our wreck was on a rural highway and it was the other driver's fault. I'm just pointing out, however, that according to OSHP statistics, motorcyclist CAN avoid most accidents because they are the party at fault. (Of course, every human makes mistakes, that's a part of life. Hopefully those mistakes are minor and we learn. However, drinking and driving is a totally avoidable mistake. It's been shown that even one beer affects one's reaction time, even if they "don't feel" the alcohol.)

i fully agree ,fully, i hate to see a person drink wile riding. i don't mix alcohol at all. for one reason i did mix the two,witch cost me a wreck.( thankfully i lived )