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Safety First The LOBOC Motorcycle Club believes that motorcycles can only be enjoyed once the motorcyclist has undertaken proper safety procedures. Riding a motorcycle is not as easy as it looks. It actually requires a complex combination of mental and physical skills. You must co-ordinate all four limbs at once, while still keeping your eyes on the road and your mind focused on the task at hand. It takes practice to build up the skills necessary to handle bigger bikes and longer distances. It is imperative that you start with a smaller model, practicing on short distances first, taking it slowly and always follow all the safety precautions. Rider Safety Tips Always wear protective
clothing Speed and Alcohol Injury severity increases with speed, alcohol involvement and motorcycle size. Almost half of the fatal accidents, in a recent study, showed alcohol involvement. In the study, the most common types of accident are ones that involved collision with another vehicle, which was most usually a passenger automobile. Vehicle failure accounted for less than 3% of these motorcycle accidents, and most of those were single vehicle accidents where control was lost due to a puncture flat. Vehicle defects related to accident causation were rare and likely to be due to deficient or defective maintenance. Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin. This is why it is vital that when embarking on any trip, whether it is across the country or down to the local store, you must always make sure you are wearing all the proper gear. Motorcycle riders with previous recent traffic citations and accidents were over-represented in the accident data. Motorcycle riders in these accidents were significantly without motorcycle licenses, without any license, or with revoked licenses. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents were essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Those riders with training or proper experience are much less likely to be involved in an accident, and will suffer less injury in the event of an accident. Where possible, especially on busy streets, try to take evasive action. If you notice a nervous, or inexperienced-looking driver, do not wait for him to cause an accident with you. Separate yourself from that vehicle, either by changing lanes, by dropping back or any safe evasive action. It is not worth accelerating away from him even if he is in the wrong. Bike Maintenance Before getting on your bike, you must make sure it is mechanically sound, this is very important -even more important than when you are in a car. Motorcycles lack the shock absorbing bodies and stability of four-wheeled cars, and so a mechanical problem on a motorbike could be disastrous. If your bike loses stability for any reason, it might take a lot of effort to control the motorbike and bring yourself to safety. This is why your motorbike must be in top operating condition before you head for the highway. Before embarking on any journey, check your bike carefully throughout. If you suspect anything is mechanically wrong with it take it into be checked. Do not try to travel on a suspect bike, it is simply not worth it. When checking your motorcycle, there are many things to be aware of, the tires must be in good condition, with the right level of inflation, and no cracks or foreign objects embedded in the tread. Flat tires are a real concern for motorcyclists as it is difficult to carry a spare, so a flat can cause real trouble. The tires tread should be of sufficient depth (2mm). If the tires are over inflated; the tread will wear in the center. If the tires are under inflated, the sides of the tread will be worn. The wheel rims should have no cracks or dents and the spokes should be tight, but not too tight. An over-tightened spoke will throw the wheel out of balance and can eventually lead to a flat tire! Make sure the drive chain is adjusted correctly with the correct amount of slack, which you will find in the owners manual. It is very important to keep the drive chain tight, as this chain is the major drive mechanism that transfers power to the rear wheel from the engine and if it is too slack, it may slip. However, the chain must also not be too tight because it will cause the drive components to wear out faster. Although the O-ring chain's are supposed to be self-lubricating, it is a good idea to check the manufacturers recommendation regarding lubrication. Make sure you remember to inspect the bikes lube and chain every 300 to 600 miles, follow the manual to see how often is recommended. Before lubeing the chain, make sure you remove all the old grease, then take the bike for a ride. After the ride, lube the chain and let the bike sit. This process will warm up the chain, which will help the chain lube to work its way past the o-rings and into the rollers. You do not need to lubricate your belt drive, just inspect it and adjust if necessary. As an added bonus, a shaft drive is virtually maintenance free. Of course, a regular check for leaks (the components inside the housing are bathed in oil) and free play will not go astray. It is important to have your mechanic check your drive shaft if you discover any free play in it. Just as with a car a motorcycle needs a regular oil-change to inhibit wear and tear. To check your brake pads, squeeze the front brake and try to roll the motorcycle back and forth, if the brakes are good they should feel firm and not allow the motorcycle to move. Disc brakes must not be worn to their limit, and some braking systems have a wear indicator- i.e. a level under which the brakes should not wear down past. Depending on whether you carry a heavy load or travel light, your suspension should be adjusted accordingly. Softer suspension for light riders and stiffer for heavy loads or passengers. The suspension consists of front forks (a spring and oil, or gas, in a tube), shock absorbers, springs, and a swing arm. The spring and oil, or gas in the front forks, work together to absorb bumps in the road. You can soften or stiffen your suspension by adjusting the damping of the fork, which is normally found on the top of the forks, near the handlebars. For rear suspension, which is either located on either side of the bike or under the seat or in front of the rear tire, you can set the springs for more or less compression. Drum brakes are cable-activated, therefore check that the cable is not frayed or damaged, especially near the brake or clutch lever. Do the same with a cable-activated clutch. To see where the cable connects to the lever, stand in front of the motorcycle and squeeze the lever part way. This is a common location for the cable to fray. If you notice fraying, have it replaced before riding. Keep the cable lubricated so it will not rust and snap. One of Murphy's Laws states: cables will break at the most inopportune moments. If your bike has hydraulically-activated brakes, the fluid level must be correct to ensure that each brake is operating properly. If the clutch fluid is contaminated then it will make it difficult to get the motorbike in gear, so check the clutch fluid, oil and gas before riding. Hydraulically activated brakes/clutch use hydraulic fluid to activate the brakes/clutch. As the brake lever (located on the right handlebar) or pedal (located near the right foot for operation of the rear brake) is squeezed or pressed, the hydraulic fluid puts pressure on the brake pistons, forcing the brake pads to rub against the brake discs. The master cylinders are located on the handlebars, near the levers for the front brakes and for the rear brake, the master cylinder is located under the seat. Check that all the lights are working (headlight, taillight, and turn signals) and honk the horn just to be sure. Take a good look around the motorcycle and look for loose bolts, nuts and anything else that may impair the motorcycle's normal functions. A simple loose bolt can cause shift levers or a kickstand to fall off. Get used to checking every item before every ride. If you ride often, you will sense when it is time for new brakes and you will be in the habit of checking and adjusting the chain every 1000 miles. It is potentially life threatening to assume that everything is okay and you can handle any problems that may arise. If something does not feel or sound right, check it out before you go riding again. This means always taking into consideration that how well the motorcycle operates affects your own safety -- waiting to do needed repairs can be hazardous. You may even want to keep a log of brake pad and oil changes, etc. That way you will know how many miles you are getting between each maintenance session. What to Wear Safety Gear not only protects you from crashes, but also from the elements. It is important that you wear a sturdy, abrasion-resistant jacket with a close-fitting collar, reflective stripes or material, a belted or close-fitting waist and a zippered front with wind flaps. The use of a heavy jacket protects you from wind and rain as well as preventing or reducing injury. Visibility of the motorcyclist is a critical factor in preventing crashes with other vehicles. Studies show that accident involvement is significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and the wearing of brightly colored, fluorescent or reflective jackets. Other necessary protective clothing includes well-fitting gloves, abrasion-resistant pants and effective face and eye protection. A huge seventy-three percent of the motorcycle riders who were in an accident in a recent study used no eye protection, and it is likely that the wind on the unprotected eyes contributed to impairment of vision, which delayed hazard detection. Heavy, robust motorcycle boots that cover the ankle are indispensable as the feet and ankle area is particularly vulnerable. Half of the injuries to the body in the study of motorcycle accidents were to the ankle or foot, lower leg, knee, and thigh or upper leg. These statistics indicate the importance of strong, hardwearing leather pants at all times, even when you are just whizzing down to the store for a carton of milk. But the most important of all
protective gear is of course the helmet. You will require recently made,
specifically approved, full-face helmets. There is no question as to their
effectiveness in preventing injuries. Motorcycle helmets are a must. It
seems from these statistics that any injuries that were caused by accidents
and even the accidents themselves could have been prevented by simply
wearing the correct protective gear, which a vast majority of riders in
accidents had failed to do. |
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