Motorcycle Safety Tips

Safety Tips

Stand-Out Fashion = Safety

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week Stand Out To Stay Safe According to a study by the NHTSA, almost half (41%) of fatal crashes of motorcycle with other vehicles were caused by the other driver turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle. Evidently, the other driver either didn’t see the motorcycle coming or misjudged its speed. This data is from 2015. It will be interesting to see how it changes when tough distracted driving laws are in place and enforced. Motorcycle enthusiasts can take precautions. Wearing bright and reflective colors and using lights all increase visibility. Be wary of oncoming vehicles that are signaling a left turn across your lane. Be sure they’ve stopped and stay stopped if you can. Try to catch the driver’s eye; then you know you’ve been seen. Try to keep an “emergency exit” to right or left. If you have other ideas, please post them on the Eagle Leather Facebook page.

Safety Tips

Don't Be A Statistic!

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week What Are Your Thoughts On Drinking & Riding? 2015 Statistics Every year at Eagle Leather we hear about another rider that was lost on the road, and recently we mentioned the special dangers to motorcycle enthusiasts from vehicles turning left into their lane. That information came from the NHTSA report for 2015. That report has a lot to say about drinking and riding motorcycles. Of the 4,684 motorcycle riders killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2015, 1,285 were alcohol impaired. That is, they had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 g/dL or higher. An additional 337 riders (either killed or survived) involved in fatal crashes had lower BACs (0.01 to 0.07 g/dL). Of alcohol-impaired operators involved in fatal crashes, the highest percent were motorcyclists (27%). And these motorcylists are not kids, either. Most of the alcohol impaired motorcyclists were between 35 and 39 (38%), then 45 to 49 (36%) and finally 40 to 44 (34%). The percentage of deceased riders who were alcohol impaired went up a bit from 2006 to 2015. Finally, almost two-thirds of the fatalities (63%) on single-vehicle crashes on weekend nights were alcohol-impaired. Ride Safe!

Safety Tips

Speed Limit

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week Speed Demons In the blog, we mention a race in which speed doesn’t matter very much. In day-to-day riding, it matters a lot. In fact, speed is a major cause of motorcycle fatalities. If you really must go all that fast, find a safe place, like a track, to speed on. Slow down in adverse weather. Rain makes road surfaces slick. In addition, rain or fog make it harder for you to see and to be seen. So slow down, please. And check your brake lights, turn signals, and headlights before you ride. Watch both your following distance and the distance between you and the vehicle behind you. You can’t always control the latter, but you can try. Keep scanning, not just for hazards, but so that you have an escape route if you need to go around something quickly. Remember to leave room between you and the vehicle ahead of you when you’re both stopped so that you have an exit in an emergency.

Safety Tips

Safety Tip: Meet up before you start up

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week Why are ride meetings important? When you read the blog, you’ll probably notice that the organizers of the Jack Persons/Brian Fisher Memorial Ride have scheduled a Ride Meeting. A ride meeting is more important when the people riding have varying amounts of experience. A typical Ride meeting goes over the length and pace of the ride and where riders will stop along the way. You might also go over hand signals. A lead rider will be named, who will set the pace, navigate, and watch for any hazards or obstacles. The lead rider will communicate with following riders using agreed-upon hand signals. A tail rider will also be designated. The tail rider will keep an eye on the group, watching for strays and for riders who need an early rest or have mechanical trouble. Set the traveling order with more experienced riders follow inexperienced riders, so the newcomers are not accidentally left behind. You may also want to be sure that at least one rider has things you might need in an emergency such as a flashlight, a first aid kit, duct tape, and so on.

Safety Tips

Tips for Traffic

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week How do you stay safe on high traffic roads? If you take to the road this weekend, your apt to find yourself in heavier-than-usual traffic, and that traffic might include lots of drivers who are looking hard for road signs, making poorly signaled turns, and gawking at the scenery. These tips might help you enjoy your ride more safely. Keep an eye on the head movements of drivers near you. Most people will “signal” a motoring move by turning their heads, even if they don’t actually use their side mirrors. Speaking of mirrors, don’t rely entirely on your own mirrors. A glance over your shoulder might show a vehicle in your blind spot. If you must pass on the right, don’t do it right at an exit or cross-street. Drivers are too apt to make a turn—into you. Use your high beams—you can turn them off when you’re stopped behind someone. Pretty much anything that makes you more visible is a good thing. Keep scanning your riding environment. Focusing on just the road ahead will get you into trouble. And, if the scenery is all that, pull over at a safe spot and enjoy.

Safety Tips

In Case Of Emergency

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week Do you know what details to collect post-accident? We all know that we should exchange information in case of an accident. However, in this era of identity theft, it’s important to know which information to exchange and which to keep to ourselves. Give your name, but not your address, phone number, email address, or any other contact information to other drivers, passengers, or witnesses. Give the make, model, year, VIN, and color of your vehicle. Give the name of your insurance company, your policy number, and the name and phone number of your agent. Similarly, when you are obtaining information from the other driver, you only need their name and insurance information, but, if they don’t give you insurance information, then get their contact information. Do write down names and contact information for any witnesses. Never let anyone photograph your driver’s license or registration. You should, if it’s safe, photograph license plates of vehicles involved, any and all damages, street signs to show location, skid marks and the like, and stuff that might have been a factor in causing the accident, such as an obscured traffic sign.

Safety Tips

Clothing Care Protect Your Investment

Oct 30, 2019 Damien Heenan

Safety Tip of the Week Protect Your Investment! Now that you’ve bought your beautiful, stylish leather jacket, you’ll want to take care of it so that it lasts and looks terrific for a good, long time. Here are some do’s and don’t’s. Do check the care instructions on the manufacturer’s label and follow them. Do consider water-protecting your jacket. You’ll find several water-protecting products here. Your Eagle Leather expert can advise you about the best leather protector, conditioner, and cleanser for your jacket. When you use a conditioner, do use a quality conditioner, like Lexol’s Leather Dressing. It conditions and protects without darkening the leather but is not made for use on suede or other rough leathers. Do hang your jacket on wide, padded hangars. You don’t want the shoulders to take on the shape of pointy hangars. Also, when the jacket is hung on a hangar, any wrinkles will probably disappear. Do store your jacket in a breathable garment bag. Do not use a plastic dry cleaning or storage bag. If your jacket gets wet, let it dry on its own. Do not use a blow dryer or any other heat source to try to speed up the process. Do remove any stains or salt right away; just wipe with a damp sponge and hang to air dry. Do not use any kind of household cleaner. You can find leather cleaners here. Do take your jacket to a professional leather cleaning specialist once a year—but don’t hang it up in the cleaner’s plastic bag.

Safety Tips

Don't Let The Bugs Bite!

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week What is your favorite repellent? One thing a motorcycle enthusiast from the Pacific Northwest might forget to pack when going to Sturgis is insect repellent. You’ll be travelling through and staying in areas where mosquitos and ticks carry diseases. Some ticks carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever and almost a dozen other serious diseases. Mosquitos can give you West Nile virus and other forms of encephalitis. The best defenses against these insects are wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants that tuck into your boots, checking yourself daily for bugs and bites, and using a good repellent. Consumer Reports studied repellents and found that the most effective contained 15% to 30% deet, 20% picaridin, or 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE). Products made with such natural plant oils as citronella or cedar didn’t perform well. Concentrations above 30% of deet can cause rash, disorientation, and seizures. Concentration of deet as low as 4% is effective for about 4 hours. A larger concentration gives you longer, not better, protection. So your best bet is to use a lower concentration of deet and apply the repellent more often. (Since high-concentration products are considerably more expensive, this is one time where cheaper is better.)

Safety Tips

For The Car Drivers

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week How Can Car Drivers Keep Motorcyclists Safe? The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers tips for drivers of cars and trucks about sharing the road safely with motorcycles. Not only can we use them and share them with other car and truck drivers, they give us some reminders about our own actions as motorcyclists. Because motorcycles have a narrow profile, they are more easily hidden by a vehicle’s blind spot or by outside stuff like hedges. Its small size also makes a motorcycle seem farther away than it is. It’s also harder to judge the speed of a motorcycle than that of other vehicles. So take the extra time to look carefully when changing lanes, turning, stopping, and so on. Because motorcyclists don’t always need to use brakes to slow and stop, drivers might not see brake lights. Allow some extra space between cars or trucks and motorcycles when approaching an intersection. Allow extra distance when it’s slippery, too, because the motorcycle may be harder to control then. Most motorcycles don’t have self-cancelling turn signals. Riders, especially beginners, may forget to turn them off. Be sure the motorcyclist is actually turning before you react to it. Riders may change their position within a lane for many reasons. It is not an invitation to pass or to share a lane. Motorcycles are maneuverable, but they can’t dodge everything. Don’t just expect them to get out of your way.

Safety Tips

23 Accidents In 2 Days

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week Keep Sturgis Satisfying & Safe According to the Marine Agency Insurance website, the first two days of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally saw 23 accidents with a dozen injuries. Not only are there thousands of motorcycles, the party atmosphere can lead to motorcycling under the influence, which may account for some of those accidents. Here are some reminders to stay safe at rallies: Before you go, get your bike tuned up: oil and filters changed, tires checked, and so on. It’s no fun to sit at the side of the road when you should be enjoying the ride. Remember to take a spare key. Plan your itinerary, taking into account how many miles you get on a tank of gas. Reserve rooms or camping spots early. Share your itinerary with someone who cares and check in as you travel. Avoid racing your bike on the streets. It’s tempting to rev your engine, but easy to lose control—even just for a moment—on very crowded streets. It’s a good idea to wear your helmet, even on very short rides. Laws regarding helmet use vary from state to state, so be aware of the local rules. Most people at rallies are there to enjoy themselves in the company of other motorcycle enthusiasts. But disputes can get out of hand and lead to fights. It’s best to keep your distance if you see a dispute getting out of hand. Wherever lots of people congregate, you face the possibility of theft. Consider getting a LoJack and a lock for your bike, and don’t leave loaded saddle bags unattended. Planning out the events you don’t want to miss and have a local map will help you get the most out of your adventure.

Safety Tips

Strong Footwear = Safety

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week These Boots Were Made For... Did you know that the lower leg is the part of your body most likely to be hurt in a motorcycle accident? Broken bones in the lower leg make up nineteen percent of hospital admissions for motorcycle-related injuries. Clearly, you need the right footwear. Tennis shoes or brogues or even cowboy boots just won’t cut it. On high-quality motorcycle boots, you’ll get a strong rubber sole, preferable with ridges, to protect your foot when you’re riding and give you traction for good balance at a stop sign, especially if you step down on something slippery—like sand or oil or wet leaves. In an accident, feet are often crushed sideways, and a strong sole can save your bones--literally. Soles that are stitched are less likely to fall apart under impact. The thicker the sole, the more the boot can absorb vibration from your bike while you are riding, and that will keep you more comfortable. Ankle armor in good leather boots gives you reinforcement in the shin and calf as well as the ankle. Ankle armor is made of Kevlar, or something comparable. It protects against flying debris as well as crash injuries. Some people prefer heeled boots because they seem to get a better “grip” over your bike’s pegs. The expert sales staff at Eagle Leather can help you find a boot that will help protect your lower legs and feet, fit properly for comfortable riding, and suit your budget.

Safety Tips

Word To The Wise

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week A Stuntman's Safety Strategy Stuntman Joe Zimmerman offers tips for motorcycle safety “from a stuntman’s perspective.” He says that our safety depends on what we do “before, during, and after” an accident. He says, “With prior knowledge and mental conditioning, understanding that even if you only had a fraction of a second to react to a collision, mentally preparing for it like a stunt could potentially save you from harm’s way.” In this blog, we’ll concentrate on the “before” part. He strongly suggests taking a motorcycle skills course. Even long-time motorcycle enthusiasts can use reminders, and you just might learn something new. You can learn about throttle and brake manipulation for initiating turns, about intersection strategies and the effects speed has on braking distance, how to swerve around or over obstacles. A course can help you hone-in on your positioning and awareness skills. Joes says, “You’re never too experienced that you can’t learn something new, or refine your skills to become a safer and more responsible rider.”Safety skills, like all skills, need practice. Practicing your skills, such as being constantly alert to what’s ahead of you, behind you, and on either side of you, can make all the difference. The “before” part also includes wearing the right gear. People who ride without it must think they will never be in an accident and so are neither physically nor mentally prepared. He tells us that when he performed even an easy stunt he always planned for anything that could possibly go wrong and had a “correction plan” for it. He uses stopping at a stop sign as an example. He doesn’t just canvass the area. He keeps an awareness “that I could be road-kill at any moment.” And he considers what he could do to minimize the damage.

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