Rider Training Update

 

Click here for the March 2009 Training Newsletter on Loading Your Motorcycle
 

BMMC Rider Training Newsletter

March 2009

1. Safety Meeting: Reviewing is always a good idea, especially when it comes to motorcycle safety.
 

• Chris Christner did a cursory walk-through the motorcycles parked outside of Harold’s and found that approximately one-third of them had a front brake lever that could be pulled from 80% to all the way back to the handgrip. That leaves very little to no braking capability to the front wheel. Is yours adjusted correctly? Remember that the front brake gives you about 70% of your motorcycle’s braking capacity. Feed it in first, then begin applying the rear brake.
   

• When cornering: enter at the appropriate speed, look through the turn to the apex; once at the apex look for your exit point. The motorcycle should be in a gear that will be pulling the bike through the turn at all times so that the suspension is set properly. Braking and suddenly coming off the throttle have the net effect of shifting weight forward and upsetting the suspension.
   

• Head-checks should be as natural to the rider as rolling on the throttle. Before you move out, make sure some phantom vehicle hasn’t just appeared since you last looked behind you. Think “head-check” every time you put on a turn signal to pass, turn, or change lanes.
  
  
  2. The weather keeps getting better and better for riding. This is good for us. It’s also bad for us because every “Charlie with a Harley” and a tank full of gas wants to ride too. Remember S.E.E? Search, Evaluate, Execute, and keep your head on a swivel. No dents is our goal.
  
  
  3. With all the new rides available on the BMMC website and the upcoming scheduled rides, it behooves us to refresh our memories on how to properly load the bikes for an overnighter. This month’s Safety Topic covers some items regarding weight distribution, balancing, and how to strap down your load. We hope you find it useful and interesting.
  
  
  As always, Ride Smart and thanks for your time.
  
  Gene Adee
  BMMC Director of Rider Training

 

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