August 29th, 2008 by R.J.

The Kneeslider had an interesting article yesterday about the rise in motorcycle fatalities in California. According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), over the last few years motorcycle fatalities have risen dramatically where fatal accidents in all other vehicles types had fallen.

Many had attributed this to new riders abandoning their gas-guzzling cars for more economical bikes, but this past June, the MSF reported an all-time record for attendance in its Motorcycle Safety classes.

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January 9th, 2008 by R.J.

The California Motorcycle Safety Program (CMSP) has announced plans to offer a safety course for 3-wheeled vehicles.

Three wheelers (or Trikes, as they’re lovingly called) are registered as motorcycles in the state of California and up until now there haven’t been any classes specific to their unique handling characteristics.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) started developing curriculum for trikes in 2007 and hopes to have the class available in the first quarter of 2008. The twelve hour class is divided into two parts; a four hour classroom instruction and an 8 hour riding segment that teaches the basics such as low-speed handling, braking, and cornering.

The 3-wheeled Basic RiderCourse (or 3BRC) will be administered through the California Motorcycle Safety Program. For other states, be sure to check the MFS USA website for details on where you can find the class in your area.

January 7th, 2008 by R.J.

What better way to sharpen your skills for the upcoming riding season than to enroll in a Motorcycle Safety Course?

The California division of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) is actively taking enrollments for the new year. They expect to train 55,000 motorcyclists per year on how to operate their bike at over 80 training facilities located throughout the state.

If you haven’t taken a MSF RiderCourse class, you’re really missing out. I personally took one of their classes at the facility in Colton and it was top-notch. And they’re not just teaching basic stuff either. You get to ride the courses through slaloms, avoid obstacles, go over obstacles and plenty of other stuff you wouldn’t want to do on your own bike.

If you’re into racing, a lot of stuff they teach you about riding on the street will carry over. One of the most common accidents in racing is high-siding because of losing traction on your rear wheel and having it “catch” and throw you over. Did you know that the MSF course teaches how to prevent that with hands-on training?

You can get more information by going to the California Motorcycle Safety Program website here.

If you are looking for a training school in your area, here is a list of all their locations.

If you are outside of California, please visit the Motorcycle Safety Foundation USA website for locations of schools in your particular state.

July 9th, 2006 by R.J.

I saw this video today. It’s part of an ad campaign airing in South Africa instructing motorists to be aware of bikes on the road. It goes to show you just how fast you can be involved in an accident on a motorcycle. The only one that’s looking out for your safety out there is you.

I was also sent a link to this site which, though very graphic, gets the point across on how dangerous our hobby is.

I remember when I took my Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course a few years back the instructor kept mentioning that you are 16 times more likely to be involved in an injury-causing crash on a motorcycle. However, don’t be fooled,
he got this number is from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stats from 1994! According to the most recent numbers by the NHTSA, you are 32 times more likely to be injured or killed on a motorcycle per
mile driven.

What does “per mile driven” mean? Well, for one thing there are more bikes on the road in 2006 than in 1994. Per mile driven takes the number of bikes out of the equation. Simply put: For every mile you ride your bike you are 32 times more likely to crash and be injured or killed than if you were driving a car.

This should be especially worrying for those of you riding in the Coachella Valley. We’re having a population boom, which is making the roads a lot more crowded. As riders we have to deal with all of the old people who come here for the winter and don’t see us. Being so close to the border, we have to deal with immigrants who are unlicensed, uninsured, and don’t know how to drive in the US. And we have no shortage of idiots who think driving a car means they have to pick up their cell phone to chat.

I think knowing all of this makes me more cautious as a rider, even though I know nothing can absolutely prevent me from crashing. But it also makes me worried for all my brothers and sisters out there riding every day…

July 8th, 2006 by R.J.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the stretch of our freeway between Cabazon and Coachella has among the highest number of citations written for 100+mph speeding in California.

The Desert Sun wrote an article today about the steady increase in speeders over the last 3 years.

I read this story after I took my motorcycle for a brief ride today up Highway 74 (where I summarily smoked some guy riding a BMW K1200RS.) and both times I was on the I-10, I had cars and trucks following and passing me. My average speed was around 95mph and I saw only one CHP officer who was pulled off the side of the freeway.

If I crash my bike at 95mph in leathers, I may get injured or die, but I won’t likely hurt anyone else. There were only 3 cases in the entire country last year where an accident involving a motorcycle and a car injured the car driver. On the other hand, if you crash your overloaded, underinflated SUV at 95mph, you will very likely die and possibly kill anyone else in the path of your vehicle.

I’d like to point out that I-10 drivers aren’t just getting faster, they’re also getting stupider. As I was approaching the offramp on Palm drive, I was in the right-hand lane ready to get off the freeway only to have some idiot in a Hyundai, who was going at least 85, swerve over 3 lanes of traffic to catch his exit, right in front of my bike. Do I have to add he didn’t even use his signal?

Just a word of warning for you guys that ride your bikes on the I-10 a lot, be very aware of the vehicles around you and try to keep the rubber side down.

July 7th, 2006 by R.J.

If you have been riding your bike the past few days I’m sure you’ve noticed just how hot and muggy it’s been. With the temperatures being so high, and the humidity index above 30%, this kind of weather can be fatal to motorcyclists.

Compounding the heat and humidity are four cylinders and exhaust pipes radiating in excess of 500°F just inches from your legs.

The American Red Cross says that heat-related illnesses can begin to occur from exposure to a heat index of 95°F for as little as 30 minutes. Our heat index today was 109°F so if you are riding for any length of time in this heat, you are putting yourself in jeopardy.

At a temperature of 90°F, a motorcyclist traveling at 60mph can lose three quarts of water every hour. If these fluids are not properly and quickly replenished, you can become dehydrated which can lead to heat stress, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or even death.

As a side note: My neighbor was taking her dog for a walk yesterday afternoon when it began to act funny, she had water with her and immediately gave her dog some but it kept getting sicker. She took it to the vet but it ended up DYING of
heat stroke. This weather is very serious business, especially if you’re riding a bike. Or if you’re a dog.

In this heat, I recommend you properly hydrate yourself BEFORE you get on your bike, and to stop at least every 30 minutes at a gas station or convenience store to replenish your lost fluids. I know it seems like a pain, but even early signs of dehydration can cause dizziness and make you less alert on your bike which can lead to crashing.

There are a couple of products out there that can really help in the heat, and if you ride every day like me I suggest you look into getting them:

CamelBak Portable Hydration System - It’s like a water fountain you can wear on your back.

UnderArmour HeatGear - Underwear designed to prevent excessive heat build up and perspiration.