Seasons change. Climates change. People Change. More importantly , road conditions change. Your aspirations for oneness with the motolife serenity experience will be challenged this time of year. The changing weather has resulted in many factors that you will no doubt encounter while out on the road. Safety while riding depends on how prepared you are to handle the road as it continues to evolve directly under you. The on again off again freezing , snowing, raining, and warming cycles that have occurred this year have left the roads (especially the scenic side roads) riddled with mud, cracks, rocks, dirt/sand, and even mud. Any or all of these things will throw you a curve ball and overload your stress. At worst, they will cause you to end up on the side of the road with lights and sirens heading your way.
Here are 5 tips to keep you in control and safe while out on the open road this spring.
Staying in Control
- Look ahead. One of the first safety practices that the MSF course teaches is to look and scan the road ahead. Far, near, left, and right. Safety starts with being prepared.
- Be aware of your speed. Nothing causes a motorcycle disaster as much as speed. Speed, going into a situation you are not used to or comfortable with will increase your panic response. Panic will lead to other undesirable responses. Speed also limits the time you have to adapt and change body postures, gearing, and even lines/routes.
- Don’t Forget the Zone. The friction zone. When dealing with muddy sections of roads and navigating tough terrain, you need to control the drive to your rear wheel. The best way to do that is with the clutch. You can eliminate unplanned blips on your throttle due to bumps and tension. Those little things can cause you to spill on a tough section.
- Relax Your Arms. Not talking relax to the point of one armed Sunday afternoon cruising , but the point of staying away from locked elbows and white knuckled riding. If you have a balanced grip on your bike and some flex in your arms & shoulders, you will be able to work with those bumps and wobbles that will occur. If you are too tense, you’ll MAGNIFY any action that comes up through your fork and over compensate .
- Rear Brake. Safety on the road depends on control. Those sections of sand and mud that take over the scenic Route 56 will require some adjustments to speed that are limited and cautious. If you hit that front brake on a slippery section, you’ll lose control . The rear brake may prevent you from going one way and the bike going another way.
Don’t fear the road, just know how to control your response. Ride safe , Ride longer.