2Wheeltips

I know…you like the look of that novelty helmet that you saw on someone and you know that you would look GREAT in the same helmet….  Riding down the road on your cruiser, wind in your face,  that's the ride and the look for you!  You'd ride without a helmet if only your state allowed it, so the novelty helmet is the next best thing, right?  After all, something is better than nothing, and you won't be pulled over for riding without a helmet.  All is good on the road, right?  Well, perhaps you should think again.

Complain all you want about the government getting involved in your personal business by requiring you to wear a helmet, but it's not the state official who will be injured if you crash with no head protection.  And, personally, I just want you to understand a little more about novelty helmets before you convince yourself that they do anything to help you in the case of a crash or fall.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tested some novelty helmets to see how they performed against the DOT certification.  All the novelty helmets tested failed.  I repeat…..all of the novelty helmets test failed. Not only did they fail but the test results even state that you have a "100-percent probability of brain injuries and skull fracture, indicating that the person wearing the helmet will sustain fatal head injuries."  Other findings from the tests….."All the novelty helmets failed to pass the impact attenuation, penetration, and helmet retention system requirements."

In plain english…..when they hit the ground, they will split open or get punctured by debris on the ground. What remains of the helmet will come off your head because the chin strap will stretch or snap from the stress of the impact. You will crack your skull and die or become a vegetable. Sounds nice, huh?

The bottom line is that your head gets little to no protection.  Good luck if your novelty helmet even remains on your head.  Most of the helmets tested could not even do that!  Some chin straps could be pulled off the helmet with a good yank. Why not just wear a baseball cap? They are cheaper and seem like they give the same amount of protection.

So, it seems to me, at least, that the choice is pretty clear.  Like your head?  Care about your brain?  Wear a helmet that is DOT and/or Snell certified.  Think about it now, before you need it, before you have an accident or fall…because if you wait until AFTER that accident or fall, it is too late.

NHTSA has just released accident statistics for 2008 (it takes them 2 years to collate the data).

This info was brought to our attention by the great David Hough, author of Proficient Motorcycling  and other must-read titles

Note that the total motorcycle fatalities continued to climb, even though the fatality rate for 2007 dropped a mere 2%.

Read the details here http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pubs/811159.pdf

 

Earlier this week I renewed my insurance policy. I decided to do it online and while I was waiting for the confirmation number, I decided to take a look at what my policy actually covered.  What I saw was confusing so I decided to call up the customer support line to get some details. What I was told was scary.

In a nutshell, I had the bare minimum coverage of 15k per person/30k per accident and 5k for property damage. I told the agent that I could kick a car and cause 5k worth of damage and that 15k would barely cover a broken arm. I asked what happened to the larger amounts I had in the past? I was told that last year that if you didn't specifically request the same amounts, you were given the lower coverage by default! Ummm......interesting. I told the agent that I definitely needed more coverage (50k per person/100k per accident/50k per car/bike/etc) and asked how much would it cost? What I heard shocked me.....it will cost $20 more per bike!!

Of course I got the coverage but was upset that I rode around for a year with basically no coverage at all. I'm sure the "notice" was on the back page in small print somewhere. I'm writing this as a warning....make sure you check not just your bike.....but your insurance as well. You never know what you may find. Check your insurance.

Riding an early motorcycle entailed a certain preparation that went like this:

1. Set the throttle at a very small opening (there would likely be no spring returning the throttle to idle position)
2. Set the choke at a position judged the appropriate one for the ambient temperature, and retard the spark timing manually by several degrees.
   
3. Then approach the kick-starter with due apprehension, bracing yourself for yet another blow to your chronically bruised shin.
   The thing about kick-starters is, they tend to kick back. This is especially likely if you don't retard the timing far enough, as then the motor backfires mechanically, as it were, through the kick-starter, sending your shin to its fated meeting with the foot peg.
   
4. With the bike balanced on the center stand, and you on one foot, use your whole weight on the kick-starter to ease the motor slowly through its power stroke and well into its exhaust stroke, judged by listening for air escaping from the open exhaust valve.
   
5. Having positioned the piston at the start of its intake stroke, you are ready to kick-start the bike. But first check to make sure there are not attractive women present to witness your display, nor any of your rivals, for it is likely to be a drama of strenuous impotence.

Before taking that first kick, it is traditional to light a cigarette and set it dangling at an angle that suggests nonchalance. While you're at it, send up a little prayer for fuel atomization. You woudln't be riding a motorocycle if you weren't an optimist.

Ten or twelve kicks later, sweat dripping form your brow, you might get to ride the motorcyle.

This is a rewrite from Matthew B. Crawford's Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work

It really makes you appreciate the level of sophistication we've achieved since then...or did we lose something in the process?

I've had the privilage (or misfortune -I guess it depends on one's point of view) of riding motorcycles that seemed like they came from 1930s. There is a certain sense of accomplishment in mastering an unwieldy stallion who is unwilling to submit to most.

What do you think?

There are few principals of motorcycle riding that should be everyone’s mantra this riding season. So here is a reminder that might save your ass this spring.



1.    Consider yourself invisible.
2.    Maintain at least 3 escape routes out of every situation
3.    Maintain 360 degree awareness at all times
4.    Leave enough room between you and everybody else
5.    Ride your own ride
6.    Be protected (I got my 9mm)
7.    Get to know your motorcycle…again (T-CLOCS)
8.    Ride sober, well hydrated and well rested
9.     
10.   

That’s it. What? You only counted 8? So what? You guys can add the remaining two :-)

Motorcycle are a great source for motivational inspirations, so here are 39 motorcycle posters I have found on the net, plus one that's not motorcycle related (the last one)... 

Some are funny, but no worries, the others are insulting ;-)

Enjoy 

1. The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rear view mirror.
2. Four wheels move the body; two wheels move the soul.
3. I'd rather be riding my motorcycle and thinking about God, than sitting in church thinking about my bike.
4. Life may begin at 30, but it doesn't get real interesting until about 75 mph.
5. Midnight bugs taste just as bad as Noon time bugs.
6. Sometimes it takes a whole tank full of gas before you can think straight.
7. A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.
8. Young riders pick a destination and go; old riders pick a direction and go.
9. When you're riding lead, don't spit.
10. Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 75 mph can double your vocabulary.
11. If you can't get it going with bungee cords and duct tape, it's serious.
12. Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window

If you think that the back-seat of your bike is reserved for your “old lady” alone, then get a load of this.

A company called Beast Rider (http://www.beastriders.com/) makes a specialized basket for your canine companion. It fits on the back of your bike and has straps for added security.

Check out my dog blog at http://dogandogs.com for other facinating dog bits.

I have a blog explaining why niche sites (like 2wt) will survive the fate of myspace, flickr, friendster, etc.

If you're interested in Social Net Media, check it out at
http://dino-dogan.posterous.com/3-reasons-why-social-networking-is-dead-long

I would love to hear your thoughts...

Tony, Carol and I have a ton of interviews scheduled for this weekend at the Javits expo.

I was thinking though some possible interview questions for these motorcycle professionals (some of which are professional speed racers) and I think I came up with at least one good one. Here it is.

Which one is more dangerous…speed racing or street riding?

My guess is that most people will say that street riding is infinitely more dangerous then speed racing.

What do you think?

What other generic but good questions would be good for the show?