Always take an aggressively defensive posture
with all 4 wheelers.
All 4 wheelers are extremely dangerous.
Assume that they can't see you. Don't trust their turn signals. Watch the wheels of all parked 4 wheelers
for movement as they are prone to pull out without warning.
On the highway, try to not let them pass you. You should move a little faster then they do and pass them
instead.
Rule #2: Above all remember, drivers won't see you and they don't care.
Corollary: If an animal absolutely insists in playing "Chicken" with you. Don't swerve to
miss it. You might not be able to recover from the move and cause yourself harm.
Perhaps, I shouldn't write this but, The rule is: the animal must be sacrificed to your well being. Once you
determine that it's you or the animal, hunker down and hit the throttle. Look past the obstacle, shift your
weight forward and hold on to the handle bars with all your strength. At impact scream loudly and sharply
and hold on tight. The animal should bounce off and be deflected away from your path. Be prepared to
skid. If you come away with just a wobble, you done good!
Assume all 4 wheelers have low skill level drivers.
Never underestimate the risk factors that cars represent to riders.
Drivers have not studied safe driving strategies. They do not realize that a 3500 lb automobile is several
magnitudes more dangerous than a fully loaded and cocked Colt .357 Magnum handgun.
Drivers do not concentrate on driving when they are behind the wheel. They make phone calls and think
about work. They look at maps and even read books. They often take their eyes off the road for a wide
variety of reasons.
Rule #3: Expect the unexpected from all the 4 wheelers.
Believe it or not up to 80% of your power to stop resides in your
front brakes.
In fact, the rear brakes are often referred to as "trailing" brakes used only to keep the
bike in trim during normal braking. They should be "feathered" only.
You should squeeze the front brakes with authority and not worry about going over the
handlebars, you won't.
It is also suggested that you hold on to the bike with your knees whenever you are executing any
maneuver beyond casual cruising, like turns and heavy braking. It will help you "stay" with your bike in an
emergency. Hold on to your bike. Ride it as long as you can.
Rule #4: Your ability to stop is almost entirely in your right hand. Don't under use it.
Don't throw your weight around.
You can't control the direction of a large frame motorcycle correctly by throwing your
weight from side to side as you can with a small bike like a 250 cc or even a 400 cc machine.
In drastic situations such as severe avoidance or heavy braking a working knowledge of
counter steering can save your life. The good news is that you are already using this technique
unconsciously so it is easy to master it once it has been explained.
The term "counter steering" gets its name from the fact that moving the
handlebar of a two wheeler at speed seems to act backwards from what the untrained rider might expect.
If you push the right handlebar forward just a fraction of an inch the motorcycle will dive to the right not the
left. Push the left handlebar forward and the bike dips sharply to the left.
What is really happening with the change of the handlebar position is a change in the
attack angle of the front tire. As it moves up the side wall, the bike is forced to travel in the corresponding
direction.
Try practicing to get a feel of just how little correction is needed to change the direction of
travel. Just a touch will amaze you. It is a powerful steering technique.
Rule #5: Big bikes are controlled best by counter steering the
handlebars.
Focus on the moment.
Don't let your mind wander. Don't think about anything not related to exactly what is happening at each
moment of your ride. Be totally alert to your surroundings as if your life depends on it. It does.
Take heart, one of the reasons that people never tire of riding is because they must focus on it entirely
while they are doing it and the fact that their very life is on the line.
Rule #6: Be Here Now
Selecting your gear
Always make sure you are riding in a gear that will allow you to accelerate sharply at the
slightest provocation, because being able to accelerate faster than any 4 wheeler is one of your main
defensive advantages.
Getting caught at 30 miles an hour in 4th gear slowing down for a light makes you a
sitting duck if evasive maneuvers become necessary.
Rule #7:Down shift as you slow down so you can zoom away at all
times.
Corollary: All turns should be made in 2nd gear and your RPMs should never be
allowed to dip below 2000.
Controlling lane placement
Take a good look at a well travelled highway traffic lane and you will immediately notice a ribbon of
discolorization running down the middle. That's oil, dirt and grease deposited by the cars. Don't ride on
it! Ride where the car's tires ride; either to the left or right of the center. This is especially important
during the first half hour of rainfall as the water brings up the oily deposits to a very slippery state.
Rule #8: Be very choosy about where you ride.
On two lane country type roads choose the right side as far away from oncoming traffic as possible.
On three lane highways, choose the left side of the fast lane where possible and NEVER ride on the
entrance (right) lane any longer than necessary.
Corollary: When crossing steel mesh bridges choose the extreme left or right
side and cross the span diagonally at an angle to the mesh. This will limit vibration and wobbling and
remember to not fight the wobble, it is normal to wobble a little even using the diagonal strategy.
Dealing with a possible fall
They say there are two kinds of riders. The ones who have fallen and the ones who are
going to fall. If that's true then knowing what you can do if and when you do fall is valuable information.
Based on that please observe the following.
You won't feel yourself falling. It's instantaneous.If you can stay with your bike,
stay with it. If you find yourself skidding without your bike stay with it without trying to slow yourself down.
Keep your arms and legs elevated. Try to position yourself so that your legs are leading the skid and keep
your eyes open so that you can hopefully use your legs and knees to cushion anything you might bump
into before to come to a complete stop.
Please note that skidding is preferable to rolling
because rolling is conductive to broken bones. There is little you can do to protect yourself in a roll except
to use your arms to form a barrel shape and hold it rigidly until you lose enough energy to attempt to stop
and when you stop don't try to get up unless you are still in danger from other vehicles. You may be injured
more than you can know. Stay down and wait for help.
Rule #9: You may never fall, but don't count on it. Be prepared mentally and
physically.
Dress for the worst situation imaginable.
Dress for a fall. That means leather gloves. Leather jacket and pants or, at least, jeans. Real leather
boots, a SNELL rated helmet with chin protection and some form of eye protection like shatterproof
glasses or Lexan eye shield.
Rule #10: Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have
it.
Riding on the back of someone else's motorcycle
In two words, DO NOT!
After 30 years of riding I can't think of a worst place to be than on the back of someone else's bike. All of
the danger and none of the control. Shear folly and life threateningly stupid.
Rule #11: Don't ride on the back of anyone else's motorcycle, ever. You bear all the
risks with none of the controls. Even a sport bike handles like mush when there is someone up on the
back.
Post Script:
Getting lost:
Rule #12: It's more dangerous than you think!
Be advised, getting lost on a bike ups the danger quotient to all situations. Your mentality is burdened by
factors to be considered because you are lost. Be more careful than ever as these factors make your
mind work on more problems simultaneously.
