Motorcycle Safety Ebook Free

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IF YOU WANT TO STAY
DRY…
DON’T RIDE!
A BIKER’S GUIDE TO THE HAZARDS
OF THE ROAD
By Andy O'Neal
IF YOU WANT TO STAY DRY, DON'T RIDE! 1/33
ww.bikerAdventureTours.com
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Table of Contents
ABOUT ME..............................................................................4
ESSENTIALS FOR THE ROAD..................................................5
HELMET............................................................................6
SHADES............................................................................6
SHIRTS ..............................................................................7
PANTS .............................................................................7
FOOTWEAR ....................................................................7
VEST ................................................................................7
GLOVES .........................................................................7
CHAPS.............................................................................8
COLD GEAR....................................................................8
SPECIAL GEAR................................................................9
TOOLS..............................................................................9
KNOWING YOUR BIKE.........................................................12
KNOWING THOSE THAT RIDE WITH YOU...........................14
PLANNING THE TRIP............................................................15
YOU'RE OFF!........................................................................16
THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR.............................................16
GRAVEL, SAND AND ROCKS.......................................17
WIND..............................................................................17
RAIN...............................................................................19
HAIL................................................................................20
FOG ..............................................................................20
COLD.............................................................................20
SNOW ...........................................................................21
ANIMALS.......................................................................21
NIGHT RIDING...............................................................23
RESPONSIBILITIES WHILE RIDING.........................................24
WARNING OF AN APPROACHING HAZARD.............25
WHEN YOU ARE IN THE LEAD.......................................25
FOLLOWING OTHER RIDERS.........................................26
RIDING TAIL GUNNER...................................................26
OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD....................................27
WHY I MUST BE IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK AHEAD ......27
CRASHING....................................................................27
GAWKING.....................................................................29
ALWAYS WATCH EVERYTHING..........................................31
BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN.....................................................31
ABOUT ME
I was born and raised in San Diego. My father
was a Motorcycle Officer with the San Diego
Police Department from 1950 to 1971. My
younger brother rode with many of the clubs
without joining any but “ BELLYMEN
WORLDWIDE.” Both were avid bikers and
completely enjoyed making fun of me for riding
“ethnic” bikes. Well, I could climb a brick wall in
my day and came back with “You may out run
me on the road, but you’ll never catch me when
I pull a Steve McQueen and jump the fence.”
Didn’t matter, they still laughed.
Well, they’re both gone now, and I miss
them, but they ride with me still. With almost forty
years of riding experiences under my belt and
aspirations to start a touring business, I thought it
was time to pass on some of my observations
and advice. I have learned from dirt biking and
touring. I have survived four serious crashes with
little or no damage to myself. Surviving two
because of the gear I was wearing, and actually
all four by the grace of God. When it’s your time,
the best gear and training in the world won’t
matter. Till then, I’ll pay attention and gear up.
ESSENTIALS FOR THE ROAD
HELMET
We all go without once and a while, but, a
good DOT approved helmet is HIGHLY
recommended… I prefer a full face, with
some sort of sun visor. I wore a helmet in
two of the four crashes I was in, and
needed one both times. I sometimes
carry a second half helmet for slow
riding, like in Yellowstone or Glacier
National Parks. If you can’t abide a full
face or shield, you’ll want to consider a
thermal face mask (bugs, wind, rocks,
cold AND you can’t believe how much a
piece of hail hurts!!!).
SHADES
UV protection is needed on bright beautiful
days. Polarized and prescription make
the scenery so much nicer. I suggest a
good pair of wraparounds or even the
goggle type that seal against your face.
SHIRTS
Anything you like. I bring a light colored long
sleeve dress shirt for hot or desert riding,
cuts down on sun block
PANTS
Anything you like. I prefer Levi type because
they are durable and cut down on road
rash.
FOOTWEAR
Once again, anything you like… BUT…
Durable lace up 9’ to 11” boots add
support to ankles and bracing when you
go down.
VEST
Vests are essential because it can be
your signature/luck/remembrance
display. Plus, they look cool.
GLOVES
A light set helps keep your hands clean
and helps with road rash. Heavier sets
that are insulated or even electric, warm
up the coldest rides.
CHAPS
Have you ever been hit by a
grasshopper at 70 MPH? Make sure these
fit long.
COLD GEAR
• Two insulated sets of gloves or one
electric and one insulated.
• Under Armour or thermals of some
type.
• Vest, insulated, to fit under your
leather jacket.
• Over jacket, to fit over your leather
jacket.
• Ski pants, to fit over regular pants
with thermals.
• Rain pants with zippered legs, to fit
over ski pants.
• Rain jacket, to fit over your over
jacket.
• Over boots or leggings.
• Scarf or bandanna I find the leather
fleece lined warmest.
• Extra thick socks, or an electric pair.
SPECIAL GEAR
• My back surgeon has suggested that
I wear my brace whenever riding.
• Kidney belts have long been
popular.
• Motocross has given birth to armor
that some bikers have started taking
to the road.
• Lip balm and sunblock are a must.
Careful though, sunblock in your
eyes will sting for a really long time!!!
TOOLS
We all know that our beautiful, prize
winning bikes will never break down. But,
what if someone else has problems? A
tool kit assortment is a great thing to
have. You can buy various sizes and
complexity at your bike dealer.
Less expensive kits can also be ordered
out of several bike catalogs. There are
also a few things that I would suggest:
• Screwdrivers… a really long Phillips
and Straight slot, plus, a good multi
bit can save the day.
• Jumper cables… these don’t have
to be the bulky ones that everyone is
used to… six feet of #10 gage red
and black with ends bought at the
hardware store, are really very
compact.
• A tire patch/ plug kit along with a
CO2 inflation kit will save hours of
waiting for rescue in the middle of
nowhere. If you have tube type tires
(anything with spokes), you may also
want a pair of tire bars. Aerosol tire
repair products are not
recommended for motorcycle
applications, and definitely won’t
work with a tube. In a pinch they will
inflate a tubeless tire, though. A
special note here: When a tire goes
flat, it can sustain a fair amount of
damage not visible to outside
inspection.
• Take care and ride at a slower
speed to the shop. You can’t afford
a high speed tire shredding event.
• A pair of long nose vice grips are
always handy.
• Lastly.. Allen bits and star bits that
can fit your multi driver are also
handy.
KNOWING YOUR BIKE
In this area, time is your most valuable
investment. Head out to an open dirt field. Here,
practice circles, right and left. After a time, break
into figure eights, right and left. At some point,
shift to straight runs of varying speeds, shifting up
through third gear. You probably don’t need to
go faster, you are feeling out the bike. During
these straight runs, practice breaking. Use
primarily the rear brake, saving the front brake for
backup if you aren’t slowing fast enough in a
quick stop situation. Using only the rear brake
allows for a smooth even stop. If you slam on the
front at higher speeds, your forks take a dive that
could throw you forward and off balance or,
over the handle bars. Too quick an application of
the fronts can also cause a skid, a wobble, and
very possibly loss of steering control.
After spending some time on dirt and
gravel, find an empty asphalt parking lot and
start the process over. By now, you should be
used to the rear tire slide and shift. Here you can
go a little faster. Stay sensible though, you and
the bike are still becoming friends. A couple of
weekends following this method and you should
be fairly comfortable with turns and breaking.
You will be ready to tackle the streets and
highways. WRONG!!! Please be aware: You
encountered no traffic here, and the biggest
hazard was yourself. An accredited motorcycle
safety course is always a plus and sometimes a
requirement.
All of the preceding were aimed at
riding. You also need to know how to check tire
pressure, check oil level, how far can you go on
a tank of gas, and how many hours your butt will
stand being in the saddle without falling off. Time.
Time. Time. You really should spend a few weeks

learning your bike, before you do a road trip.
KNOWING THOSE THAT RIDE WITH YOU
Knowing the people that ride with you
and the way they ride is a huge plus. It makes the
trip far more safe and enjoyable. However it is
not always possible. There is always someone
new that wants to come along. What about
riding for a cause or if you join up with some
riders that are headed in your direction? There
will be many instances when you find yourself
riding with folks you don’t know. It’s all good.
Give a little distance for a while and keep an eye
out for them. Communicate your moves by turn
or hand signals. Be careful until everyone gets
used to each other. Part of the fun is sharing the
experience with those around you.
PLANNING THE TRIP
Any ride starts with two options: Do you
plan the trip or pick a direction? You are truly
fortunate if you are able to pick a direction and
just take off. I have done it several times and had
a great time. Most times though we must plan
our trips accounting for days off and gas money.
My best advice is to take the time you
have to ride and cut it into thirds. Figure out how
many miles you can cover in a day, comfortably,
and draw a circle on the map. Many times I
have opted to cover four to five hundred miles a
day in the first couple days and mosey my way
back at a leisurely pace. In this great USA, the
adventures are almost endless. You may even
decide to join a guided tour. Some outfits offer
GPS self guided tours. No matter how you cast
the stones, free yourself and live the adventure.
YOU'RE OFF!
THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR
GRAVEL, SAND AND ROCKS
Whenever I ride through gravel or sand,
my guts tighten a little. My first wreck was due to
my lack of experience with sand on asphalt. If it is
thick, you can lose control. If it is on a corner, it
could cause your rear tire to slide out from under
you. Be watchful, slow down, be careful how you
apply the brake. Apply hard and you will lock up
and lose control. A light pressure is best, and stay
calm on the corners. Be steady. As to rocks, one
inch to one foot, they appear on the road at
times. Just watch out and avoid them.
WIND
The only time wind is your friend is when
it’s at your back. Everyone knows the feeling.
With the wind at your back, it’s great sailing. Gas
mileage picks up. Traveling becomes so easy, it’s
a virtual breeze.
For those of us on two wheels, a head
wind buffets you around, but creates a situation
where your muscles are constantly tense. A
person tends to tighten shoulders and neck to
support their helmet and just hang on.
It just gets worse in a cross wind. In a
cross wind, you will find yourself leaning the bike
to compensate. That takes a bit of doing, but
you also have to be ready for gusts that tear at
your glasses and helmet. These gusts can also
throw you to the side with surprising force. Added
to this is the turbulence created by big rigs.
Combined, these conditions can make you feel
like you’re in a paint shaker. All of this tolls on a
person. Make your stops more frequent and have
consideration for newer riders that are with you.
Watch also for anyone having trouble or tiring
out.
Before we move on, here are a couple
more things to watch for when the wind
becomes a problem. What I refer to as wind
shear probably has a more correct definition, but
that is what it feels like. It happens when you ride
through a cut bank in the road or pass a truck or
semi. You’ll be leaning into the wind, and all of a
sudden, BANG, NO WIND. You’ve just entered a
calm spot with absolutely no wind. If you are not
ready, your overcompensating can throw you
towards where the wind was coming from.
The other thing to watch for is this, in a
higher wind situation, if the wind is coming from
your left, an oncoming semi’s turbulence will
most always hit you a lot harder than normal. If
you are on the inside track, try to move to the
right a few car lengths before you pass to lessen
the effect.
RAIN
I know many people who refuse to ride if
the forecast calls for rain. I get ready to ride and
they back out. That’s when I started saying “ IF
YOU WANT TO STAY DRY, DON’T RIDE!!!” Company
is nice but, not one of my criteria for a ride. When
you get caught in a rainstorm, rain gear and a
helmet with a face shield, will cross your mind if
you don’t have them or have left them home.
Another alternative can be a face mask and
goggles. This is also the reason I carry a second
pair of insulated gloves. Actually, my second pair
is electric. You can’t believe how cold your
hands can get at 65 MPH when they are wet. The
only good view if a thunderstorm is in your mirror.
HAIL
Once again, the helmet and face shield.
This is one time you may be forced to take cover
if there is any depending on the intensity of the
storm and the size of the hail. Imagine getting hit
with a ball bearing or marble.
More importantly, please notice when it
starts to accumulate on the road. A river of small
ice balls makes for instant hydro plane. This will
be a good time to locate a coffee house or
underpass. In the case of the latter, remember
your flashers.
FOG
For those of you who have not spent
time on the coast, fog is like riding in a cloud, but
worse. In fog , YOU CANNOT SEE…. For the love of
God, SLOW DOWN. It also makes the road wet.
COLD
Cold conditions cause change in how
your body feels and reacts, subtlety. It makes
your face and hands lose feeling and become
numb. I have actually found myself in the middle
stages of hypothermia. As your body becomes
colder it becomes more difficult to recognize
what is happening. The best advice here is that if
you find yourself even slightly uncomfortable, pull
over and break out the cold gear.
SNOW
If you are riding in snow, you are riding in
cold. You should already have your cold gear
on. Heated gloves will become your favorite
thing if you ride like this often.
When the snow starts coming down, start
looking for a place to hold up. When it starts
sticking to the road, use utmost caution. Slow
down and look for a place to stop. If I go slow
and am real careful, I have made it through
three inches of accumulation (before I tipped
over). Find a place to stop that has hot coffee.
You must stop when your rear tire starts
to slip.
ANIMALS
My last crash involved an antelope that
sprinted from the right side bar ditch. I was
cresting a hill on the way to work one morning,
the light was good, there had been a light rain
earlier but the road wasn’t too wet. It happened
September 10th 2002. During fall, the grass along
the road is antelope colored.
I had glanced to my left for a brief look
at the mountains and when I looked back, its
forelegs were on the pavement and she was on
a dead run. She was probably 75 feet in front of
me and I was doing 70 MPH, or 103 feet per
second. No time to react. I hit her square and she
came right up into the windshield. For a second I
thought I was going to be able to stay up. Then
the bike went down on the left side. I let the bike
go and slid 273 feet down the pavement on my
back and side. The bike flipped about halfway
and was I happy to not be onboard.
I was lucky. I had six stitches in my elbow
and a cracked shoulder blade. I also had a
supplementary insurance plan , and it paid for
my stainless Smith and Wesson, a 357 with a 2
inch barrel.
The point of this story is that even the
most careful rider can be caught off guard. In
my opinion, animals are tied with other people
on the road as the scariest things to watch for. I
live in the Upper Green River Valley of Wyoming
and I seldom ride after dark. There are just too
many creatures that move after dark and they
start moving at dusk. A rabbit or dog can take
you down. I’d really like to avoid an encounter
with a cow or moose.
NIGHT RIDING
Riding in the declining light presents a
different set of problems, sunglasses become a
hindrance. A rider needs to shift to clear eye
protection or be wearing photo grays to keep
perception sharp. Dusk has a period of time
when everything becomes harder to distinguish.
The headlights make no difference. This is
another time for extra care. Think about this… If
you are on a trip, you want to see what is around
you. If you ride after dark, you are just hurrying to
the motel. Try to plan the stages of the trip to be
at a stopping point before the sun sets.
RESPONSIBILITIES WHILE RIDING
WARNING OF AN APPROACHING HAZARD
Be aware of oncoming bikes, cars or
trucks gesturing, having their hazard lights on, or
especially if they are flashing their lights. There
may be something ahead you want to be
careful of. Slow down a bit and become more
watchful. It might be an accident or a road
hazard that you are coming to. It might be a cop
and your slowing down just saved you a
speeding ticket. And if it’s nothing, so what, at
least you are safe and no harm done.
WHEN YOU ARE IN THE LEAD
Being lead bike carries certain
responsibilities. You set the pace. You should
know where you are headed. Keep an eye in the
rear mirror, watch out for those who follow. Be
aware of the range of the smallest gas tank in
your group. Try to be aware of the comfort level
of the least experienced rider. You shouldn’t
baby them, but don’t push them so hard that
they become too tired, panic or become a
hazard. Make sure that if someone becomes
uncomfortable that they feel free to say so at the
first opportunity. The ride should be enjoyable,
not a race.
FOLLOWING OTHER RIDERS
When you find yourself between the front
and rear bike, always keep a staggered position,
at a proper interval. My preference is two to
three bike lengths, but, I don’t like crowding.
Don’t stretch it out too far either. Too great a
space between bikes makes a tempting target
for a car or truck to squeeze into the middle of
the group while passing and they always do it.
If a car is passing, be very aware of
oncoming traffic. If it looks like they won’t make
it, slow down and let them in. They will come over
anyway and if you fight them, you’ll lose. Relax
and enjoy. Be cool and have fun. No worries!!!
RIDING TAIL GUNNER
Tail gunner is my favorite position. Any
pressure is on those in front. Your job is to be the
first responder if anyone gets into trouble. At a
rest stop or gas station, you pull into the travel
lane and hold traffic until your people are safely
on the road. Most travelers will respect what you
are doing and give you the right of way.
One added plus for me is that I do not
have to watch those behind me. Don’t get me
wrong, watching your rear is still a must, just not
as much.
OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD
Hikers, bicycles, horses, critter drawn
wagons (Hey! I live in Wyoming) are just a few of
the possibilities. Show courtesy, even if they
don’t. We must share the road.
WHY I MUST BE IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK AHEAD
Trucks and SUVs block your vision. I’m
sorry, but it takes away from the joy of the ride for
me. And, many times the vehicle that is blocking
my view has straddled road debris and it only
becomes visible when it emerges from under the
back. Not safe!
CRASHING
I have crashed four times. Inexperience
was the main cause of the first. As for the others
who knows? As Forrest Gump says “It Happens”. I
like to think carelessness was not part of the
equation, but, each case is relative. I know this…
NOTHING can prepare you for a crash. You can’t
second guess how you will react. Try to remain
calm. Do you best to stay loose. When everything
comes to a stop, assess your condition as best
you can. Let those on the scene help you. In the
best case scenario, you need to take a break.
If you witness or come on an accident,
remain calm. Assess the situation. Attempt to
help. Sometimes, staying out of the way is the
best. If you do find yourself involved, remember,
DON’T MOVE THE INJURED PARTY until
emergency personnel arrive on the scene. When
they show up, LET THEM DO THEIR JOBS. Until
then, have at least one person stay with the
fallen. Keep them still, and try to keep them
awake and talking. If you know first aid, great
be available if not, there are other ways to be
useful. Clearing debris and vehicles that block
the road is something that needs to be done.
Traffic control is very important. Keeping traffic
moving is especially important on narrow two
lane roads like the ones in parks or other scenic
areas. Blocked roads hinder emergency vehicles.
If possible send a person a fifty yards or so in
either direction to hold and release vehicles until
law enforcement shows. If you have been
assisting, and emergency troops arrive, check
with law enforcement before you leave the
scene. What you know or say may be important.
In my opinion, the less bystanders the better.

GAWKING
Gawking: Serious looking around at the
scenery and other wondrous things as you ride.
Gawking is something that is part of
riding; part of the experience. BUT . . . IT WILL GET
YOU INJURED OR DEAD! Worse you might take
someone else down as a result of your mistake.
YOU “MUST” follow certain rules or precautions in
order to be safe while GAWKING:
• You should not gawk while
cornering…
• You should not gawk if anything
possibly hazardous is immediately
ahead.
• You should scrutinize the road, far
enough so that you can turn your
head and look for a few seconds.
• You should develop your peripheral
vision or at least know its limitations…
if you turn your head try and keep
the road ahead in the corner of your
eye.
If you feel the need to look longer than a
few seconds… PULL OVER AND TAKE A GOOD
LOOK!!!
You can also take several glances as
long as you keep looking back straight ahead to
re assess the road for possible hazards in
between.
And for goodness sake… BE ESPECIALLY
CAREFUL when following someone. Make sure
you have several bike lengths between, and
never let the vehicle in front of you out of your
peripheral sight.
ALWAYS WATCH
EVERYTHING
BE SAFE AND HAVE
FUN

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