My top ten rules of the road.

[Nazzdak]

Hello Everyone-

Another riding season is here. With motorcycle popularity at an all time high, many people, young and old are hitting the road for the very first time in 2009. For the very first time in my life, I am beginning to see a lot of women riding their own motorcycles. All of this is great news.

Unfortunately, every new season also brings with it, a slew of accidents. So I thought it would it be a great time to re-share the top ten things that I have learned over the last 5 years/53,000 accident free miles.

1. A whopping 77% of all motorcycle accidents are the result of rider error. Thus every time you hear about a rider going down, there is a 77% probability that...

a. No other vehicle was involved
b. The rider failed to negotiate a curve, was in an Intersection at the time of the accident, or was less than 5 miles from his home.
c. The rider had NOT read the book "Proficient Motorcycling" By David L Hough.

If a, b, or c applies to YOU, go out and buy this book yesterday and read it from cover to cover. If you should ever tire of reading this post, then by far, this is the very best advice I can ever give.

2. Get into the front brake habit.

The next time you have a chance, I want you to go out to your garage and practice squeezing, not grabbing the front brake, with all four fingers, while counting out loud, "one, one thousand." Do not "jerk" or "grab" the front brake, Squeeze it, while simultaneously counting out loud "one, one thousand." If you have squeezed the front lever to a complete close, before you have counted "one, one thousand" out loud, you are squeezing too much of the lever, too fast.

For a demonstration of this exercise, please feel free to visit this website....www.youtube.com/conedown

By far, this is the single most important motor exercise in the world. You absolutely MUST practice it at the beginnig of EACH riding season. Find an empty parking lot, get your wheel speed up to no more than 20mph, and start working on this exercise asap. In an emergency, you WILL stop, as you have practiced.

If you have not practiced this exercise, then, in an emergency, you will most likely brake as if you were driving a car, with your right foot, instead of your right hand. This, in turn, will lock up the rear wheel long before it brings to the motor to a stop. Faced with this kind of sensation, most people will PANIC, and release the rear brake. At this point, the rear tire of the bike will spin back to center so violently, that it will create what is known as a highside flip off the motor.

I am telling you from experience, sooner or later, you WILL find yourself in a situation that requires motor skill, not luck. In addition, dumb luck ALWAYS runs out.

Remember, Squeeze, with all four fingers, while counting out loud, "one, one thousand." This braking method has saved my life, more than once. I am not kidding.

3. Inflate your tires up to the MAXIMUM psi. On my 2007 stock FLHRC, that means 40 pounds in the front, and 40 pounds in the back. Check your tire pressure religiously. At LEAST once a week.

4. Always remember to look FAR ahead of the motorcycle. 10-12 seconds is the ideal time horizon. In addition, limit your wheel speed, to your site distance. Obviously, if you can see 10-12 seconds ahead, you can throttle pretty hard. Conversely, if it is, say , foggy, and you can only see 4 seconds ahead, cut your wheel speed down to no more than 40mph.

5. Countersteer, countersteer, countersteer.

I could go on and on about this for hours. If you don't know how to do this, start with the book. It goes into the basics of countersteering in great detail.

6. When you are making a turn through an intersection or curve, remember to also TURN your HEAD! Sounds silly, I know. Just try it. Believe me, it will make a HUGE difference.

7. When you approach an on ramp, or off ramp, think outside the curve, then inside the curve, then outside the curve. If you don't know what I am talking about, again, please BUY THE BOOK! It is no accident that a third of my top ten is dedicated to countersteering through turns or curves. For it has been my experience that this is the area where the most people show the least amount of motor skill. If you are new to motorcycling, then please know that it is HERE where you will find yourself to be the most vulnerable.

8. When you want to pass, first check your mirror. If something is in your mirror, don't even bother. If nothing is in it, turn on your turn signal. At this point, casually check your blind spot. If nothing is in your blind spot, only then should you begin to pass.

9. Never, ever, put the motor in neutral while you're out in the street. NEVER. You wouldn't put your car in park at a stop light. So why would you put your motorcycle in neutral? If this applies to YOU, please, please, please break this habit, and break it yesterday. By far,it is the worst that I have seen. Obviously, you will see the most people doing this at stop lights. The ironic thing, is that this is the precise moment when you should be the most paranoid, not the least. instead, keep the bike in first gear, one eye in your rearview mirror, your brake light ON, with ten feet of available space in front of you at ALL TIMES.

10. Above all, no matter the situation, don't ever stop riding the motorcycle. It is far better to ride the bike into the ground, than it is to ever stick a foot out to try to prevent it from falling over. It is also better to get as much speed out of the motor as humanly possible, before a potential impact, than it is to ever purposely try to "lay the bike down", or 'eject" yourself. For the motor offers far more protection than you can possibly imagine with your body attached to it, rather than from it.

Good luck, God Bless, and safe motorcycling everyone!

David

[AnakinsKid]

I just bought my first bike 2.5 weeks ago, and will be taking the MSF class in another 2. This is exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for. I'll be buying that book as soon as I can find one.

[KcCrossbones]

Excellent, Excellent advice. I hope everyone gets to read this and takes something away from it.
I appreciate it because there is at least one thing in here that I had forgotten about since I last took my class.

Thanks for putting the time in to put this out there.

[Mr Cujo]

Excellent advise.

Though I'd suggest to never be casual about checking a blind spot.. (#8)
I've had things from cars to Electraglides sneak in there and scare the crap out of me...

[rtb]

Nazzdak, thanks for sharing. Good stuff you mention. I can't agree more..."Proficient Motorcycling" is a must read. Be safe folks.

[hdwoman48]

Great post! I reread David Hough's book regularly and have gone to several of his talks. His tips are invaluable, especially for new riders.

[trooper113]

3. Inflate your tires up to the MAXIMUM psi. On my 2007 stock FLHRC, that means 40 pounds in the front, and 40 pounds in the back. Check your tire pressure religiously. At LEAST once a week.

While I can't claim to be a motorcycle "expert", I know of no manufacturer of tires (possible exception of Metzeler), bikes or cars that recommends max sidewall air pressure for normal riding/driving. There are a few circumstances where this practice is appropriate, but it's not the norm. In normal riding/driving, max pressure gives you excess center tread wear, a harsh ride and strange handling and traction. I do agree with checking your air pressure a minimum of once weekly.

[MadCity]

Originally posted by trooper113
3. Inflate your tires up to the MAXIMUM psi. On my 2007 stock FLHRC, that means 40 pounds in the front, and 40 pounds in the back. Check your tire pressure religiously. At LEAST once a week.

While I can't claim to be a motorcycle "expert", I know of no manufacturer of tires (possible exception of Metzeler), bikes or cars that recommends max sidewall air pressure for normal riding/driving. There are a few circumstances where this practice is appropriate, but it's not the norm. In normal riding/driving, max pressure gives you excess center tread wear, a harsh ride and strange handling and traction. I do agree with checking your air pressure a minimum of once weekly.

I'm leaning in trooper's direction on this one. I follow the manufacturer's recommendation — 30 psi in front, 35-40 in the rear (the latter if carrying a passenger).

[trooper113]

Originally Posted by MadCity

I'm leaning in trooper's direction on this one. I follow the manufacturer's recommendation — 30 psi in front, 35-40 in the rear (the latter if carrying a passenger).

The book recommendation obviously depends on the bike and loading. My '07 Ultra book says 36/36 with the rear increased depending on load. I normally run 36/38 due to my weight plus normal load.

[MadCity]

Originally posted by trooper113
The book recommendation obviously depends on the bike and loading. My '07 Ultra book says 36/36 with the rear increased depending on load. I normally run 36/38 due to my weight plus normal load.

Yes, of course. I was talking about my Sportster, with only me, or maybe one passenger, on it.

[trooper113]

Originally Posted by MadCity

Yes, of course. I was talking about my Sportster, with only me, or maybe one passenger, on it.

Yup...I well and fondly remember my Sporty. I wish I could afford two bikes....I's still have it. It was a 2003 1200S...a real screamer.

[Nazzdak]

Guys-

Once again, my opinions are based on my experience in the saddle, my instructor, who is probably in the top 1% of Harley Davidson riders in the country, and the recommendations of my mechanic, who is the very best at my dealership, and knows a hell of a lot more about motorcycles, than I do.

I just replaced the rear tire on my 07 FLHRC. It was a stock tire. Nothing special. I put the tire on at the 14,678 mile mark last June. I replaced the tire at the 25,630 mile mark, last Saturday. There was 1/32 of tread left. In between I rode my bike from Indianapolis In, to Wichita Ks, went through a three day Police motor school, on my own bike, and rode it back home. From there, my wife and I traveled to Gatlinburg TN last fall, and back, on the FLHRC. This spring, I rode my bike down to Orlando FL for bike week, and back. All on the same tire.

I probably practice once a week, for 90 minutes at a time, and on each long rode trip, I also install my tour pack. I also ride year round. So this tire saw road use in November, December, January and February, when the average temps were well below 40 degrees. The total gross vehicle weight with myself and my wife on the back, with the bike fully packed, total well over 1,000 pounds. At the 15k service, when the tire was installed, and the 20k service, when the tire was inspected, Chris, my mechanic inflated the tire up to 40psi, and told me to MAINTAIN this psi level at all times.

Harris, my motor instructor, who I respect more than anyone when it comes to Harley Davidson motorcycle knowledge, has been certified to train professional Police motor officers by the Harley Davidson motor company maintains the same psi level on his bike. Feel free to visit our group website

www.youtube.com/conedown

My training videos are pretty easy to recognize. All of these videos were filmed on this one, particular, tire. Thus, as you can see for yourself, this tire was put to the MAXIMUM use over its lifetime. I don't know how many times I have dropped my bike practicing and training over this time period, but I would say it is well north of 30. A couple of times, I've done a few 360 degree rear wheel spinouts practicing the Intersection. How many 18x36 foot figure eights have I done on this particular tire?? God only knows, but I would say HOURS upon HOURS. How many times have I run the brake and escape at 40+mph?? Dozens of times. Countless times. I won't even go into my hydroplaning, fishtailing, caught in the rain experience.

All of this, at 40psi.

Long post short, I RIDE my bike to the limit, 24/7/365. 11,000 miles later, I finally replaced this tire, with absolutely NO problems. No leaks, No nails. No punctures, No warping, No bumps, No failures, No nothing.

At the end of the day, it's your life, and it's your bike. Ultimately, you will do, what you want to do. If this post has not convinced your to inflate your tires up the maximum psi, then nothing will.

David

[trooper113]

I absolutely respect Harris and his instruction. I was a certified LE EVOC instructor for OHP in my previous life. In that training and on our patrol cars in daily service we ran maximum pressure. We weren't concerned with tire wear or comfort nearly as much as we were with sidewall flex and overheating which max pressure helps alleviate.

I still feel that for the average rider/driver doing NORMAL riding or driving, using specified air pressure to slightly over specified pressure gives the best overall results.

[bc_hombre]

it's funny how i can remember picking gravel out of my body 35 years ago when i grabbed my front brake on gravel. i was not wearing gear and had road rash from head to foot. for me, it is a natural response to hit the rear and a memory of my first accident that causes me to react this way. yesterday, i had to brake in an emergency situation and locked up the back wheel. stupid, stupid stupid! how to break this habit my lie in your post nazzdak. i need to hit the parking lot fully loaded and do dozens of break and turn maneuvers until i do it out of instinct. i am heading across the country next week and this is one area i need to work on. erc refresher i take in a couple of days. can i add one more rule of the road? when someone attempts to wave you thru an intersection, stop sign, parking lot, where ever, trying to be a traffic cop or just courteous, shake your head and refuse.

[jpilone]

This thread sounds like an advertisement for a book....