Safety First

Motorcycle safety is a primary obligation of every rider on the road. In my opinion the best safety gear you will ever own is right under your helmet and comes standard with every rider. The only problem is that riders sometimes forget to switch on this primary safety device which can lead to serious (if not deadly) consequences.

I don't mean to intimate that all mishaps are the fault of riders. In fact I strongly beleive that if you ride long enough, you will eventually be involved in some type of vehicle mishap. It's just a matter of statistics. What I do beleive is that your chances of being involved in a motorcycle incident are inversely proportional to how much you beleive that you can be involved in an incident. If you beleive you are invincible, you will probably find out you are wrong.

In my experience I have found that there is a large difference between someone who understands their skill level and someone who believes they are a great rider. I think we all tend to lean towards a belief that we are good riders; the difficulty is that we seldom test that theory under controlled conditions. We so seldom truely need our 'expert' skills that we let them fade and let our habits become the normal riding condition without review.

This page is intended to remind us that our skills and habits should be sharpened and reviewed. We do not need to fear the road, only understand and respect it.

Safety Video for inspiration My appreciation to StarZship for posting this video on YouTube May we all learn to respect the road and let this remind us to refresh our skills and review our habits on a regular basis.

The T-CLOCK Inspection

Do you remember "T-Clock" from your school days? Did you learn to ride before it was introduced? In case you've forgotten, here is a refresher.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation created the T-CLOCK mnemonic as a memory and orgaization aid for a pre-ride safety check of a typical motorcycle. Each letter represent a particular inspection category:

T	Tires & Wheels
C	Controls
L	Lights & Electrics
O	Oil
C	Chassis
K	Kickstand

TIRES AND WHEELS

Tires: Pressure correct (cold), tread condition. No cuts, bulges, punctures of foreign objects. Wheels: Spokes tight and intact; rims true; no free play when flexed; bearing seals intact; spin freely. Brakes: Firm feel; sufficient pad depth, no leaks or links in hoses or cables.

CONTROLS

Levers: Pivot bolt and nut; action and position correct; pivots lubed. Cables: Ends and shafts lubed; no fraying or kinks; no binding when handlebar turned; proper adjustment. Hoses: Check for damage or leaks, proper routing. Throttle: Snaps closed freely when released; no excess play.

LIGHTS

Brake and Tailight(s): All filaments work; both levers actuate brake light. Headlight: All filaments work; properly aimed; no damage. Lenses: Clean; no condensation; tight. Reflectors: Clean; intact. Battery: Fluid level; terminals clean and tight; held down securely; vent tube not kinked or mis-routed. Wiring: Check for pinching or fraying; properly routed; no corrosion.

OIL AND FLUIDS

Levels: Brake fluid, oil, final drive, transmission, coolant, fuel. Leaks: Check all systems for leaks. Condition: Check color of brake fluid & coolant.

CHASSIS

Frame: Paint lifting or peeling may indicate cracking. Steering head & swingarm bearings: Lift wheels off floor, grab lower fork legs and pull and push to feel for play; repeat at rear. Turn fork to feel for detents in bearings. Suspension: Smooth movement; proper adjustment; no leaks. Chain or belt: Tension; lube, look for wear. Fasteners: Look for missing or loose threaded fasteners, clips, pins.

KICKSTAND

Sidestand: Retracts firmly; no bending or damage; cut-out switch operates; springintact. Centerstand: Retracts firmly, no damage.

If you buy a new bike, it's worth asking the dealer's tech folks what things you should make part of your daily check.

Gear

Do you think that "electric, neon green" is a fool's colour? Have you ever considered wearing a traffic cone on your head just to increase your visibility? There are thousands of bits of 'safety gear' on the market for construction and other workers, and there are more and more becoming available for motorcyclists as well. While you may think that lime green or neon orange is just too extreme for your tastes, some folks have embrased the idea and are providing 'high-visibility' gear for riding. My taste tends towards the more classic riding gear, however I have notice that a simple reflective stripe on a jacket, helmet or bike can increase your visibiltiy at night or in bad weather, and you don't have to scream "fashion nightmare" to get the benefit.

Consider adding a retro-reflective sticker to the back of your bike, on the saddlebags, or on your helmet. You can go for the camo-look with a black retro-reflective sticker that shows up bright white at night, or add some colour to your gear with many types of retro-reflective add-ons.

As a bit of safety gear, consider packing one of those 'tasteful' safety vests in your gear. They pack down to a very small bundle and if you get caught in a downpour or nasty fog and just have to ride, the extra visibility can be a huge advantage. And if it clears up, just hide it away for another day...

Safety Tip

If you park your bike by the side of the road at night (either for a rest or due to a break-down). Place a reflector 50 to 60 feet behind your vehicle. Drivers have been known to fixate on objects at night and may drive right over your 'warning sign'. You don't want that to be you and your bike.

The Basics

Get professional training.
Practice your safety skills
Motorcyclists should be paranoid. We live longer that way.
Wear proper gear.

This may sound like "common sense", but next time you are out on the road, take a good look and you may be surprised at how many riders (and drivers) don't follow these simple steps.

Thought for the day:
Being un-cool might bruise your reputation... Getting hit by a truck will leave more than a bruise....