Commute Safely With Motorcycle:

Motorcycle Commuting Safety

By Dale R Smith

The two-wheeled genre of transportation has always carried with it a certain sense of danger and adventure. Festered by the many "outlaw" groups that chose to lustily proclaim their presence
with thundering bikes, mostly of the Harley Davideson "chopper". Never being satisfied with factory stockiness, there began a movement of building out very different and custom machines.

Ridiculously high handle bars, personalized seating, a plethora of shiny trinkets that made each motor bike very personal. Same changes were very practical and some were just simply outlandish
to make the rider outstanding.

But a discussion of the outlaw bikers is not the point here. The purpose here is to analyze and describe the basic motorcycle as a reasonable mode of transportation, safe and dependable. Herein
is attempted a central description that the norm motorcycles as a dangerous and certainly outside the box movement. In the out of control costs of fuels in this nation and around the world, we should at least conhsider the two-wheeled motorized option as a reasonable choice of getting from point to point.

The first point to be discussed is size. Motor size, in particular. I just noticed is a recent motor magazine an advertisement from the foremost motorcycle manufacturer in these United States. This company now offer a bike that sports 160hp. My goodness, that is a lot of punch that is primarily designed to carry one person! With this amount of torque, let's not even speculate the nominal top speed. With no further calculating, it would be much more that the legal speed limit. I really think that the manufacturer should use a little restraint. And this company is not the only one that offers this level of ampleness. 

Initially realizing this is directed to the buying market, it is virtually more than enough. As long as the public will buy them, they will come. Point here is that we, as a general community, should also use some restraint.

But, for a moment, consider that you have that much power between your crotch. Consider that you use that much power to get from point to point. You really don't require that much torque to make a commute. If possible, common sense should control you and keep your speed and daring in check. For the sake of safety, hide that adventure inside a veil of safety. It might be a little difficult, but you can do it. I know, there is a feeling that "it won't happen to me" but it might. There are a large number of accidents each day that did not "happen to me." The bottom line here is to be careful, very careful.

The most important choice is using a helmet. I know that it is very relaxing to feel the breeze in your hair, but, realistically, no one has much protection against a sharp blow on a concrete abutement, even in a very modest accident. I see bikers every day, zipping dangerously through heavy traffic, with no protection at all. Make sure you have a helmet, a good helmet, and you might live to go biking another day. Make sure you helmet meets the safety standards set up by several organizations just for that purpose. Never be satisfied with the skinny skull caps that actually do not protect you.

When on your bike, always ride defensively, always on the lookout on every side. You, as a motorcyclist, are generally "bottom man of the pecking order" and are the most likely to be
injured in a collision. Always keep this in mind. This is especially true in heavy traffic. Do not appempt to out guess the traffic. Always think ahead.

There is a biker in my neighborhood that, in my estimation, is a perfect example of a good biker. He has a resonably sized motorcycle and I have never seen him riding it beyond normal traffic. He always has his helmet in place, even when just going to the local shops. I see him when he goes by my home, and he seems to be continually alert to all that is around him. Now, this is the way it should be. Please take this attiude in your riding. If you do, you will be riding for a long while.

About the author:
Dale R Smith has long be fascinated with motoring on two wheels. As age creeps us, he has lost some of his vim and vigor. Mr. Smith is not riding actively but has never lost interest. He is
particularly concerned by the ridng habits and safety of this generation of rider. He says, "Please slow down and ride forever."