Safety

In January of 1981 a technical report was published called Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures (aka Hurt Report). Although somewhat dated, the findings still hold to be true even today.

While organizations such as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation have been training riders for years, despite their efforts, many of the factors listed in the Hurt Report are still reigning.

While basic training and parking lot practice is essential for handling skills, little to nothing is offered in the realm of actual street riding techniques.

Nothing can replace ‘hands on’ training under the supervision of a riding coach, however, many good techniques can be discussed, conceptualized and put into practice. As you apply principles, you become, well, a better rider (smarter too).

The quintessential problem with Motorcycle training in the U.S. is most training is conducted in parking lots where there can be no real substitute for what riders will encounter on the roadways.

The two motorcycle crashes that I had, were preventable, but I lacked knowledge and practical experience. My crashes involved failure to negotiate a curve and over-braking the rear while not utilizing the greater stopping efficiency of the front brake.

While both crashes were painful, and required quite a bit of healing time, I was able to walk away from them without serious injury.

Basic police motorcycle was my first real training. It was valuable and I learned much, but it was primarily parking lot practice with no real ‘on the street’ riding. I began to research alternative training that would address street riding.

I discovered the Roadcraft system of motorcycle control. This system is what I was looking for. I found the information to be so valuable that I started writing about it within police circles and then decided I would do whatever to introduce these techniques to as many as would listen.

Purchase the book many refer to as the “bible” from Amazon. I don’t get any money for this, just passing good information along.

I was going to write about motorcycle statistics but decided, there has been enough published on the subject and much is readily available on Internet searches.

I have personally benefitted from what I have learned and my hope is you will too. Safety is a choice and rewards those who seek after it.

Ride safe and God bless!

Ruben