Spring a good time to renew motorcycle safety practices

  • Published
  • By Rick Peterson and Tech. Sgt. Ben Noyes
  • 277th Air Base Wing Safety
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  Spring has begun and motorcyclists are getting revved up and ready to ride. Before you do, you need to get your motorcycle and gear into shape. Your life depends on it. You and your bike will soon be battling the obstacles thrown at you when you're out on the roads. Let's focus on the easy parts first -- your motorcycle and personal gear.

First, reacquaint yourself with your motorcycle's parts and systems. A good place to begin is to use "T-CLOCS" (Tires, Controls, Lights & electrical, Oil & other fluids, Chassis, Stands). Inspect these basic mechanical systems and make an honest assessment of their state, and then bring up any deficiencies to the manufacturer's specifications.

Next, make sure you have all the required personal protective equipment, a Department of Transportation-approved helmet, protective outerwear, gloves, footwear and eyewear? Ensure they are in good condition and not excessively worn. If you need to replace them, spend the money to ensure the greatest protection.

That's only half the battle planning for your survival. If you took the winter off from riding, your skills may be rusty. Brush up on the lessons learned at your Motorcycle Safety Foundation motorcycle training. If it's been three years or more since your last course, sign up for a refresher course.
Motorcyclists need to ensure they readily SEE (Search, Evaluate and Execute) while they ride. This is a strategy to manage the risks of the riding environment and get an accurate image of their situation.

As a vehicle operator, you have a better knowledge and ability to control the space and time around you when sharing the road with other motorists. If you don't control your time and space, you may receive an unwanted reality check, such as laying your bike down or tangling with another vehicle. Other motorists may not comprehend spacing issues around motorcycles, because of their size, maneuverability and speed.

To ensure your riding experience is enjoyable, you need a balance between the person and the machine; any element that throws the equation out of balance can end in a tragedy. Examples are a pickup ahead of you losing an unsecured mattress; coming around a blind curve and finding loose gravel on the road; or a deer crossing the highway in front of you. Riders must continually evaluate these situations and be ready to execute counter maneuvers to avoid injury. Applying training, knowledge and awareness into your defensive driving every time you ride is the best bet in countering the unexpected.

For more information or to sign up for Motorcycle Safety Foundation classes, call Ralph Crump at 846-4227 or email ralph.crump@kirtland.af.mil.