2Wheeltips

I'm sure I wrote a blog about this somewhere, but since I didn't see it in this category I figured I'd write another one. I guess it will not hurt.

Donʼt even think about riding without insurance or registration
If you get stopped, you could pay fines, get points on your regular license and  have increased car insurance. The police will not let you ride it away meaning you will need to get it towed. If you leave it on the side of the road, it's an invitation for someone to steal it. Either way, you will be walking.

Take a class and get a motorcycle license
If you don't, you are a danger to yourself and to others because you havenʼt learned the absolute basics of riding a motorcycle. If you think you will not get caught, think again. Police set up check points all the time on motorcycle routes because they know a good deal of bikers donʼt have licenses, endorsement, inspections, proper helmets or insurance. Again, if you want to walk home, have your bike towed or stolen, and pay big fines....ride without a license.

Get enough insurance
Another thing is to get the proper amount of insurance. Unfortunately you can get a bare bones policy that offers very minimal coverage. Not even enough to fix a broken arm, replace a car rear view mirror or even repair your bike. These policies are cheap, but are they worth it?

Don't get a stolen bike
In some areas you can get a “hot” bike for $500.00. It may be tempting..... but do you really feel comfortable riding around on a stolen bike?

Although you probably would never do any of the above in your car, too many motorcyclists ride around without a license and proper paper work. With all of the focus on cracking down on motorcyclists, doing any of the above is a sure way to get yourself into trouble.

I wanted to alert all of you to a very customer unfriendly web retailer:   Cycle Shop USA. The short version is don't go there and don't buy there. I had bought some things from them a few years ago and had no issues, but this month the experience was drastically different and not in a good way.

I bought some riding pants on 8/10/10 and they charged my credit card on 8/11/10. I keep checking my account to see when they are going to ship the pants they allegedly had in stock and no information is available. They still show my order as "processing" after 7 days.  So I called the customer service number where the web site says I will be connected to a friendly and helpful CSR. Well...due to call volume they are no longer accepting calls so they tell you to e-mail them at: [email protected] or you can leave a voicemail message and they will call you ASAP. I've left about a dozen voicemails and have not rec'd a call back. I have e-mailed the "webmaster" about 6 times now and my e-mail is returned as "undeliverable" because the mailbox is full.

I did get an e-mail fron their Customer Service Manger who told me they would advise me when they had a tracking number for my order but didn't mention if that would be in my lifetime or not. I tried to e-mail him back to cancel my order but my e-mail came back as undeliverable as his mailbox was also "Full".  I guess he and the webmaster are real busy right now ignoring customers and losing orders.

The only positive I can put on this experience is I used my Americacn Express card to charge this order. They have an awesome customer dispute system where they intervene on behalf of the customer and credit you back for your purchase immediately until the dispute is resolved. I have used this service several times and have been delighted with the results!! Yeah American Express. Boooo Cycle Shop USA.

Please stay away from this Company and spread the word to your riding friends and on any of the other motorcycle web sites you frequent, to spare fellow riders the pain and aggravation they will experience by placing an order with Cycle Shop USA.

    A golf instructor once told me that in order to achieve an efficient swing every time you must allow your muscles to remain loose.  Grip the club softly because tight muscles are slower than loose muscles and you’ll never achieve a decent club head speed with stiff muscles.  You become fatigued when having a real firm grip and it becomes impossible to achieve a smooth swing.  What does this have to do with riding a motorcycle?  Funny you should ask.  Recently a friend brought up a good observation when it comes to new riders, and it is also a very common problem with new golfers, and it is where the two are very similar.

    A motorcyclist needs to be aware of a million different variables; the situation that you find yourself in is dynamic and fluid.  Anything can happen at any time and riding requires a tremendous amount of concentration; sometimes your response can be the difference between a simple inconvenience and a trip to the emergency room or worse.   Most experienced riders are comfortable on their bikes and are relaxed.  The way their hand wraps around the grips is loose; allowing smooth responses and inputs into steering the bike also adjusting throttle and braking.  Where the experienced riders tend to make the mistakes is because of complacency and over confidence; they assume they have enough time and miles under their belt to simply know better or that they have the ability to outride the laws of physics. 

    A newer rider has more of a tendency to hold the handlebars with all his or her might, hoping that doing so will somehow enable them to react quickly when in fact, the opposite is true.   Also the fear of what could happen manifests itself in holding the grips with white knuckles and being overly cautious of what could be.  A good habit to get into is to learn to relax while still remaining aware and sharp.  A result of holding the grips too tight is that after a while, you will begin to feel fatigue in your shoulders and eventually your upper back.  If you are on a long ride, this becomes more dangerous because now your focus is shifted from the hazards around you to the pain in your back, shoulders and hands.  Coupled with hand fatigue which might cause you to let go of the grip, this could be a disaster in the making.

    Remember the tight muscles?  Those tight muscles make it impossible for you to react quickly and smoothly.  You may recall from your BRC class that it takes one half second to take your hand from the throttle to the brake lever and another half second to squeeze the brake.  If you find yourself having to make an emergency stop, those tight muscles will not only reduce your reaction time considerably, but also cause you to snap off the throttle and slam on those brakes, almost guaranteeing a massive loss of traction and inevitably, because you are now panicked, the bike will more than likely go down.  In addition, slower turns are no longer smooth and safe, but become choppy and abrupt usually resulting in a wider turn than what you had anticipated, possibly causing you to cross the center line or even leave the road surface altogether.  Faster turns will be more difficult and efficient counter steering becomes impossible because you can’t lean the bike smoothly possibly creating a situation where you take the turn way too wide.

    Worst of all, you just don’t look cool.  Your shoulders up around your ears and your arms straight out make you look like a scared mouse in a helmet. Definitely not cool.  Just remember to relax.  You know how to ride; just stay focused on what’s going on around you and loosen up those hands.  Stay focused, not afraid. You might even find that you can go the extra hundred miles and still come home smiling, ready to go out again tomorrow.  

When I lived in Korea, motorcycles, two wheelers, scooters, had the right of way. The culture of the people expected two wheelers to split lanes, cut in front of you and stop, run through red lights, yellow lights and green lights. It was known that a two wheeler will ride on the side walk and anywhere else it needed to ride to keep moving. I was riding and was obeying the rules of traffic, and many people in cages were upset. It appeared many were expecting me to keep moving, run the red light, split the lane etc., and when I did not, it threw everything else out of whack.  I understood and was told that if you hit a two wheeler even if it is the two wheeler's fault....you have to pay an arm and leg heavy fine. (Maybe when some of our 2wheeltips members from other countries read this, the member can add important information that wil help us, and or correct any error in my understanding and thinking). There is no such thing as, "I did not see you." The fine is so heavy that you do all that you can to see a 2 wheeler. The only thing that frightened me while riding my 2 wheeler in Korea was another 2 wheeler riding up and sharing my lane and coming out of nowhere to do it. I felt safer on my 2 wheeler than in a cage.

When I lived in Korea, I rode an 80cc scooter and then purchased a Softail Deuce Harley Davidson. When I started riding in Hawaii, I had to go through a cultural change in that motorcycles do not have the right of way and people are not looking out for you or expecting to see you.

Now, we have areas here in MI where, if you injure or kill a construction road worker, you will pay a heavy fine and spend up to 15 years in jail (or both). It says that the state is serious about protecting its workers.  So, if the fine is increased for hitting a motorcycle (sitting, moving, parked, and or standing) such as an $8,000 fine, and 6 months in jail for an injury and up to 15 years in jail for a death (no exception, regardless of who you know) then I think deaths will go down, and people will not be saying, "Oh, I didn't see the motorcycle."

It might take about 3 years for the word to get out that people are both being fined and going to jail before the culture takes it seriously.  However, in Korea, motorcycles are not allowed on the highway. Often you will see a group ride on the highway and, to my knowledge, nothing is done (the riders were riding bikes of at least 800cc). If the rule was not in place, 2wheelers with 50cc would be out there on the highway. The traffic was so thick in the inner city like Seoul that if you got up to 45mph you had a good day to remember.

Have a law passed: Cages have the right of way on the highway and bikers have the right of way on all other roads. I love riding in America; I just wish the rule of law concerning protecting bikers from cagers----was such that every biker would be 100% happy and excited that such a law existed. I would hate for a family member to have to go to jail for 15 years because a biker, due to his/her own fault went beyond his/her riding skill level, or was intoxicated and caused a cage kissing which resulted in a death. When I think of my own family member doing the right thing and the 2wheeler doing the wrong thing (with my family member paying the fine) it causes me to think differently.

The bottom line is that there needs to be a way that people who are riding a motorcycle are taken as seriously as construction workers in a work zone, and given all safety space that is needed so that no one gets hurt. (The writing of this blog is by no means the opinion of 2wheeltips, it is just the author's point of view.)

I got up this morning with the desire to ride, and take just a short trip down US 12 from Ann Arbor, MI to Cement, MI near US127. On the way, I saw where there was the auto racing activities near the Michigan International Speedway. The cones in the road had been set up to take care of the heavy traffic. I made a U-turn and decided to go in a different directions which would take me to M52 towards Chelsea on to Stockbridge, MI. On the way i encounter a detour which was ok. Once I made it throught Stockbridge, I got on 36 head towards Pinckney and I saw a sign "Hell" and the arrow pointed to the right. I got off the bike and took several photo with the bike next to the sign. I when down the road and there I was in Hell. I had been there before several times. I was in Hell. It was not hot, and I began to take photos. I heard a friendly voice say, "Do you want me to take a photo of you next to your bike?" I turned around and said, "Ya." This gentlemen took my photo and we began to talk and to my supprised he was the owner of Hell. Now, just think, I met the owner of Hell, and who do you think that is? I was not shaking in my boots, and as we talked, we discovered that we had participated together on a couple of programs. (Humm, am I really saying that I worked with the owner of Hell on a couple of projects). Well, the owner invited me to one of his stores to have some ice cream. I was delighted to say, that I ate ice cream in Hell and it was a free gift from the owner of Hell. (Was this a trick, is there anything cold in Hell---I heard all my life that Hell was hot and the Devil was the most likeable being that you can ever meet). I was afraid to say, "No." Well we went to the ice cream shop and "he" told me to get whatever I wanted (I did not know if I was getting fatten up for the big supprise). In the store, I saw a skeleton laying in a coffin, I saw spiders, black cats, and skeleton at the entrance of the door. I took photos of each and smile and began to think of several frighten movies that I have seen in the past. I asked for a double dip vanilla and blue berry cheese cake and it tasted great. I had an excellent conversation with the owner. "He" shared with me all the activites of the place. A golf course that is made so that people with disabilities can play; a Chapel so that people can say they got married in Hell; or had the wedding from Hell; fundrasing activities for Veterans, and just yesterday they had an event for "Gold-Star Mothers" (mothers who have lost a son or daugther in the war), and had about 400 bikers to participate. I took some more photos and had a great time. I got on the bike, and before, I left the owner gave me a "free get out of Hell" card. I rode off and Hell was at my backdoor. I wish I could add photos to this, however, I must say that Hell is not bad. The owner even said, "It even gets cold in Hell." Well to all the readers, I was in Hell, MI. If you are ever in lower MI near Ann Arbor, Dexter, Jackson, Lansing, area, please take the trip. You can say that you have really been to Hell and back and lived to talk about it. You will have an outstanding time and really enjoy yourself. It is a biker friendly place--the place is just friendly---just like the owner.

It's been a real downer of a week here in the middle of Iowa. We had torrential rains and thunderstorms last Sunday night, Monday night and then again on Tuesday night on top of already saturated ground. The results have been devastating with loss to crops, homes, vehicles and endless detours to get anywhere you might need to go. Three people died when they tried to cross a flooded road and were swept away in the flood waters. Not a good week!! Flood waters have receded now and my wife and I went out for a ride this morning down around the Des Moines river towards the South East and it wasn't pretty. Anyway, that is just info to give you an idea of where my heads is at for this ride today. So, we get out and the temps are great, a bit overcast which is, also, great because it's been so hot here and we have a very enjoyable ride and are on our way home. Here is where the real story begins!! I've been taking all back roads since about 9AM this morning. We stopped for lunch in Oskaloosa, IA about Noon and it's now 1PM and I decide to jump on I-80 for the last 30 miles as I'm getting tired and the heat is now in the high 80's and the Interstate will get us home in about 15 minutes. We get on the Interstate and after about a whole 2 minutes we come to a screaching hault and into a slow moving back-up that looks to go on forever. Being the type "double AA" personality that I am with an extra helping of "hurry-up" syndrome, I am not happy with this situation!! In fact I'm furious!! What a bone head decision to ruin a perfectly wonderful ride by getting on the expressway. We endure this for about 30 minutes and then we can start seeing the flashing lights and their are a lot of them. I tell my wife this is really bad. It was all of that and more. We see that traffic going East on I-80 has been completely stopped. We see a vehicle that looks like it exploded. We see 5 bodies laying in the road covered with blankets and towels. How could this happen on a perfectly lovely day on a two lane interstate with no entry or exit ramps even close?? We get home and go on-line and learn that a van crossed the median at a very high rate of speed and hit a car going east bound head-on. Five were dead and the 6th was air lifted to a Des Moines hospital in critical condition. I-80 was shortly closed in both directions and still is as I write this, for Police to try and determine what happened and clean-up the mess. My inconvenience became infinitesimal to the poor victims of this tragedy. My delay was miniscule to the delay of those motorist going eastbound, they would be there for hours. This was not the ending I had hoped for when we started our ride this morning. This was not the ending I had hoped for after a very trying week full of stories from our friends and co-workers about losing everything in the flood waters. I had nothing to complain about. I shut my mouth, rode home and said a prayer.

I have seen several bikers videos and photos of wet t-shirt contest and it appears that the people involved are having a lot of fun and the on lookers are having fun as well. I must say that I entered the wet t-shirt riding group. When I rode out of North Carolina it was hot and the first stop that I made, I took off my t-shirt and soaked it in water and put it back on. I put on my full armor riding jacket (mess) and zipped it up. I felt like I was riding air conditioner and it felt good. This is what I did during the day all the way to Orlando, FL. When I left Orlando on my way to Weston, FL, I did the same. I really liked it the cool breeze refeshing my upper body. I kept drinking water and water and water and each time I made a pit stop it was a (hummm how do I say this) pee stop as well. When I left Weston on my way to Key West it was morning time and I did not think that I needed to soak the t-shirt so I did not. However, I found myself, later in the restroom soaking the t-shirt and riding wet and feeling the coldest touching my upper body. Well when I arrived in Key West it was hot..... I did the sightseeing that I needed and got me something to eat in a place that had the air conditioner on; and just before I got on the bike; I thought about putting water on my t-shirt. I started thinking, that I should have soaked my t-shirt in the restroom at the place where I ate and I was ready to go. I hopped on the bike and headed north about 4:30pm. The good thing is that the weather started getting cooler on the way back to my "chash station" and I did not need the wet t-shirt. The moral of the story, is each time I read the words "wet t-shirt" or see a photo of someone in a wet t-shirt, I will think of my ride to Key West, Fl riding in a wet t-shirt under a mess riding jacket and I am a member of the wet t-shirt riding group.

I hate using tragedy as an example but here is another example of a motorcycle fatality at an intersection. It appears from the article that the rider swerved to avoid a turning car, lost control and crashed.

When approaching intersections, you should ALWAYS slow down and look for cars on side streets and also look for situations where other vehicles are blocking your view. 

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100804/NEWS/8040338/1003/NLETTER06 

We recently came across a company called Gears Canada that makes really nice stuff for sport bike riders. Many in the industry do not think people "tour" or go on overnight trips on sport bikes. Nothing could be further from the truth.....and this company makes great stuff just for those who do.

Three products they sell come to mind. For those taking multi-day trips they have a roomy piece of luggage called the Navigator Tail Bag. For overnight trips they have what's called the Navigator Tour bag. They have other nice stuff for sport bikers such as heated vests and heated chaps! We will be doing product review videos on their products soon and will keep you posted.

The older I get (and I'm pretty darn old right now), the more my tolerance level for inattentive (now called "distracted"), rude, incompetent or just plain stupid motorists is next to zero.

When I'm driving my car it bothers me a lot but I feel I'm at least on an equal playing field (car versus car). When I'm on my bike it makes me furious because I'm at such a disadvantage and so much more vulnerable.

I'd be very interested to hear how all of you feel about this problem. Can you easily shrug off a bozo who cuts you off and go merrily on your way? or are you more like me where I'm pulling out the AK47 ? I don't want to get off track with this article as it's not about anger management due to misbehaving motorists (that's just my personal problem!!) but about identifying those motorists who are either misbehaving now (pretty easy) or have the potential to misbehave, based on their "profile", and do you serious harm.

Here is how I profile drivers I don't want to be around and it's solely based on bad experiences I've had. Just like my article on "Junkers and Clunkers" so I take the same concept in a different direction. Here is my list of drivers I avoid as each category relates to an example of a driver who has nearly ruined my day at one time or another.

• Cars full of teenagers who are more concerned about what's going on inside the car than what's ahead of them.

• Soccer Moms with the team onboard and a lot of "activity" inside the minivan or SUV.

• Senior drivers going 10 MPH under the speed limit with those dark wrap around sun glasses and a death grip on the steering wheel.

• Young men or women drivers with several toodlers or babies in child seats in the back and no other adult in the vehicle.

• Business people in their typical company cars or rental cars multi-tasking as they attempt to drive. (I saw a guy driving down I-35 in his company car and he had his laptop very professionally mounted off the dash so he could keyboard while he drove which is what he was doing when I passed him. How would you like that "over achiever" following you down the highway?)

• Any driver who is speeding, tailgating, and or weaving in and out to get that one extra car length ahead.

• Truck drivers are a mixed bag for me. They can be the most well trained, diligent and courteous drivers on the road. They can also be the the most arrogant, rude and sleep deprived. I can give examples of both extremes, and I choose to make my determination based on how they perform at the time I encounter them. My rule of thumb is to stay away from tractor trailers as much as possible for 3 reasons:

  1. First, they obscure my view big time.

  2. Second, they block other motorists from seeing me. 

  3. And third, they create air turbulence (some call it "dirty air") that buffets you around and diminishes the quality of the ride. 

Anyway, I think you get my point by now. It's not that I have a grudge against older people or young people with families or Mom's who volunteer to haul the team around. I simply don't feel comfortable riding in their vicinity (or anybody else's for that matter who is giving something less than 100% of their attention to driving the car). It's perfectly legal, I guess, because thousands of motorists do it every damn day, but it's not OK with me and if I have a choice I get the heck away as fast as possible and find friendlier company.

I pay a lot of attention to who I'm riding with because, to me, it matters. It's something I can do proactively to protect myself before the "distracted" driver puts my life at risk. We've all had close calls while riding; it's near impossible not to, with the lack of attention to the task of driving paid by many drivers today. It's a huge problem on the roads and I expect it will continue to get worse.   This is my advice on how I deal with it; hope you find it useful.

This leads me to my third and final article in this series:  How to improve your vision skills and avoid missing something that is a serious threat. VTXRon did an excellent article discussing the problem of "target fixation". This is a serious error in focusing on the problem and not the solution. Please stay tuned for my next article as I will talk about how you keep your vision open and look at the 'big picture". The next time you're out riding, notice what those drivers that are "near and dear" to you are doing and act accordingly.

Ride safe, be safe, live long, and prosper!!