Prepare Now Ride for a Lifetime
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Prepare Now Ride for a Lifetime Our goal is to do what we have to today, so we can ride tomorrow Addenda • Prayer • Statistics • Basic Maintenance and Walkaround Tips • Bike Accessories that Greatly Enhance Rider Safety • All Weather Riding Gear • Long Distance Riding • First on Scene • Pack Riding • Tips from the Road – Share your best tips Prayer Statistics Facts and figures Statistics - Facts Rider Choices Direction Common Accidents Lack of Formal Training The National Highway Traffic Safety • A Car Turns Left In Front Of You Association shows that: Alcohol • You Hit Gravel In A Blind Corner 53% of “crossing path” crashes Speed involved left-hand turns. • You Entered A Corner Too Fast Helmets reduce the risk of death 36% of fatal motorcycle accidents • A Car Changes Lane Into You by 37% involve a car making a left-hand • A Car Hits You From Behind Helmets reduce the risk of head turn in front of that motorcycle. injury by 69% • You Locked The Front Brake • A Car Opened Its Door • It’s Slippery! • The Most Common Bike Accident Statistics – By State Statistics – By Holiday Statistics – By Location - Condition Statistics – By Age Statistics - Deer Basic Maintenance and Walkaround Tips Your bike can’t check itself Walkaround Tips – T-CLOCK T-CLOCK T - tires and wheels C - controls L - lights O - oil C - chassis K - kickstand Walkaround Tips – T – Tires & Wheels Check tread depth of tires with Check spokes (when used) for “wear bars” and check pressure. “ring” sound. Walkaround Tips – C - Controls Check Levers and cables for condition and smooth operation Walkaround Tips – L - Lights Check all lights: • Headlight / taillight • Running lights (if equipped) • Turn signals – front and rear Walkaround Tips – O – Oil Check fluid levels: FLH shown • Motor oil (left arrow) • Transmission fluid when separate (right arrow) Walkaround Tips – C - Chassis • Check drive belt • Look over bikes suspension • Look for any loose fasteners Walkaround Tips – K - Kickstand Check kickstand operation: • When picked up, kickstand should stay up • Metric bikes will not start when in gear and kickstand is down Bike Accessories that Greatly Enhance Rider Safety Accessories that move the needle in your favor LED Lights #1 Improvement you can make to your motorcycle • Very bright white light • Low energy usage • Illuminates forward and to the sides • Headlights, running lights, turn signals LED Running Lights Additional Lighting & Visibility • Light always points straight ahead • Provides additional ground illumination • Helps when exiting freeway at night • LED in daytime increases your visibility Electronic Deer Whistle GPS Dash Mounted Handle Bar Mounted Thoughts • Unfamiliar area • Night time • Weather • Know time to turn • Easy to reroute • Load favorite ride • Exact location • Elevation • Zoom out map Handgrip Guards Helps With • Rain • Cold • Sleet • Hail • Rocks • Birds • et al Heated Hand Grips Helps With • Keeps your paws warm • Rider comfort Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) When there’s no room for error, an H- D Anti-lock Braking System can make all the difference. Remember: If you have ABS, you’re stopping power, distance, and control is better that those around you without it. (Think Pack Riding and cars behind you) Front and Rear Crash Bars Features • Protection in crash • Protection if you tip over • Mounts for Highway Pegs Blind Spot Mirrors Features • Split Vision Mirror minimizes blind spots. • Provides a wide panoramic rear view of the left and right lane, and the road behind you. Oil Level – Temperature Gauge Oil Level Gauge • Don’t have to burn your hands removing oil filler cap to check levels on long hard rides • Displays oil level • Displays oil temperature Soft Lowers Blocks the wind and rain on those long winter rides. All Weather Riding Gear Riding gear that moves the needle in your favor Helmet Full Face Helmet • Are lighter than they used to be • Protect from sun, rain, hail, sleet, rocks, birds, et al • Anti-Fog liner helps in cold weather • Some have an inner sun visor • If so, use electrical tape to greatly reduce rider eye fatigue and glare at dusk and dawn Rain Suit Harley Rain Suit • Reflective • (would not buy the black ones) • Keeps you dry • Has hood • Use as another layer in bitter cold • Bring your leathers to the shop when trying on. Be sure to mount, sit, and dismount your motorcycle with the suit on, to ensure fit. Rain Glove Covers Dry Hands Anyone? • Several manufactures make these incredibly useful rain glove covers. • Adds an additional layer when it’s very cold outside. Anti-Slip Motorcycle Boot Rain Covers Must Have for All Weather Bikers • Several manufactures make these • Keeps feet dry • Very sturdy, can walk around in them • Covers lower leg, keeps wind out • Folds ups small • Do not buy the Harley brand, the heels are open! Rainx Plastic Water Repellent Helps Keep Face Shied Clear • Hydrophobic treatment for plastics • Dramatically improves water repellency on plastics • Easy to use • Durable coating • Spray-on application Seat Pad Circulator Large Seat Pad • Several manufacturers • Breathable Circulator Seat Pad promotes air movement and reduces heat build-up where the rider's body touches the seat. • Low-profile design minimizes seat-height change compared to inflatable pads, while enhancing comfort with its shock-absorbing construction Waterproof Bag Long Distance Rides Need More Storage • Waterproof river raft bags are perfect, many manufacturers make these. • Your gear is dry • After loading the bag, you compress it down then seal it. Notice how my bike is packed out, the bag is compressed. • This was a 5,000 mile cross country ride in December, departing from San Diego, CA. Spot™ Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger Features • Satellite works when your cell doesn’t • SOS button alerts GEOS International Response Coordination Center • Help-assist button allows you to ask for help from friends and family • Check-in button lets your contacts know you're okay and where you are • Track button allows your contacts to track your progress using Google Maps Electric Riding Gear Cadillac Winter Riding Experience • Keeps you warm a toasty even in the bitter cold Thermal Insulated Fleece Lined Neck Warmers Keep Your Neck Warm • At 20°80 mph any exposed skin will suffer • I found this easier than a scarf • Does not blow in the wind Cold Weather Helmet Liner (aka The Beak) Keep Your Face Warm • At 20°80 mph any exposed skin will suffer • Several manufacturers make this or similar products • Wickable and Breathable • One Size Fits Most Gaiters Extreme Cold Help • Keeps wind from running up your Carhartt’s Extreme Cold Mittens Mittens Make Big Difference • For those very long days in the cold, artic mittens can really help. • Several manufacturers make these • Get Gore-Tex ones, water proof • These have separate liner and covers Extreme Cold Boots Artic Waterproof Boots • Several manufacturers make these • Waterproof • Rated for extreme cold • Try on with wool socks • If your feet sweat, get thin liner to wick moisture away to keep your feet dry Layers = Success in the Cold • The key to staying warm is to layer up. • Practice putting your gear on, ensuring you have full movement when dressed out. If not, fix it before riding. • Long Johns, top and bottom. • Long sleeve shirt or sweat top or hoddie. • Knee length wool socks • Carhartt Overalls or similar - keeps air off your back • Rain suit for wind protection and another layer • Don’t layer up in a heated building, prevents sweating. Try Your Gear On BEFORE You Need It • Rain gear, cold weather gear is bulky at best. • You MUST try on your gear, ride your motorcycle before you need it. • Gloves or mittens change how you operate the controls, switches, and buttons. • Bulky boots could change how you operate the controls and your foot placement options. Cold Weather Refueling • Your gloves are not heaters (unless electric) • At best they keep you warm or not cold • If your hands are cold, putting them into a glove or mitten will not warm them up! 1. Pump your gas 2. Go inside, warm your hands and gloves using hand dryer 3. Put gloves on, go outside and ride in comfort Long Distance Riding This tool gives you the ability to see more places, some distant, in less time Long Distance - Defined • 750 – 1,200+ miles per day • 2,500 mile 3 or 4 day weekends • Cross Country Trips Long Distance - Rider • Be well rested with several good nights of sleep before departing • Each night you need proper rest • Hydrate well each night, even in cold weather • Learn to eat without suffering a sugar spike and resulting drop, dozing on your motorcycle is not good. • Example: Hash browns in the morning are a no-no. • Fruit, nuts, beef jerky, sugar free or low sugar protein bars, and cheese sticks. • Everyone is different, practice, practice, train, train, train. • Stress or expectations have no place in 1,000+ mile days • Know your limitations and never exceed them, ride your ride. Long Distance - Motorcycle • Know when your motorcycle needs servicing • Oil, check up, tires, fluids, brakes, battery, chassis, forks • If your bike burns oil, you must stay on top of this on long rides. • If required, plan ahead for • Oil change and servicing, tire change when on the road • Keep you motorcycle in top mechanical shape • Know your tank to tank mileage at cruising speeds • GPS routes programmed • Ergonomic position on the motorcycle prevents hand numbing, back discomfort, and neck pain. See your dealer or specialist to help you sort out riding comfort issues. Get help, it will pay off in spades. • Wipe your headlights, taillights, turn signal lights, keep them clean. Long Distance - Planning • National and Local Weather Services – know what’s coming • Snow, sleet, ice, rain, thunderstorms, tornadoes, flash flood warnings, dust storms, hurricanes • Check out the Weather App - RadarScope • Forest Fires – know about these before you travel near them.