Motorcycle Safety Tips

When You Don't Have A Sleigh

Nov 21, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the WeekSnow: What To Do When You Can't Avoid ItOver the river and through the woods, to Grandmother’s house we go. The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh over white and drifting snow. Well, a motorcycle is not a sleigh. The best safety tip for riding in snow is: Don’t do it. But sometimes you might have to ride on a road that’s not clear of snow, though the white stuff has stopped falling. These tips might help:Both snow and salt cause tires to lose traction. Be sure to check your tire pressure before you ride. And, if tread is low, now might be the time for new tires.Because you have less traction, leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles. Double or even triple the space you ordinarily leave and give yourself room and time to stop.Avoid speeding up, even on hills, if you can. Try to let inertia carry you uphill and then go very slowly downhill.As the snow melts, be wary of places where snow and ice linger. Bridge decks, for example, have cold air above and below them and are often slippery when the rest of the highway is dry.And remember to have the right gear for winter. It’s better to be prepared than to be sorry. So have heated gear, including heated gloves, or wear lots and lots of layers.

Pre- and Post-Supper Safety

Nov 15, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the WeekThanksgiving Traffic TroubleThanksgiving Day always sees a lot of highway accidents. After all, it’s one of the biggest travel days of the year with over forty million people driving at least fifty miles. Many of those accidents involve drivers or riders impaired by alcohol. Not only does a motorcycle enthusiast need to be aware of their own limitations, but we must remember that many of the drivers on the road with us have been drinking.Plan your route before you set out. Use a map or GPS. Know your exits by name and number and know when you need to change lanes and when a turn is coming up.Check the weather before you head out. Choose appropriate gear to wear and to pack, or even be ready to postpone your trip if conditions are really adverse.Be sure your motorcycle is in good condition. Check that all the lights are clean and function properly. Remember to have all your safety gear—first aid kit, tool kit, and so on.Leave early. Give yourself time for crowded highways or changing weather. Let people know when you’ll be leaving and what route you’ll follow. If you’re tired or feeling sick (too much food can do that), don’t ride.Enjoy the day!

Safety Tips

Electric Motorcycle Safety

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week Electric Motorcycle Safety If you’re going to ride—even test ride—an electric motorcycle, you’ll be surprised at the quiet. They just don’t make any noise. That’s good when you’re getting home late at night or when you’re hoping to see wildlife in the countryside. But it’s got a downside, too. Critters can’t hear you coming, so you’re apt to find more squirrels and such in you path. Motorists can’t hear you either. So wear brighter clothing and add reflective stripes for night riding. And assume that the drivers of the cars around you cannot see you at all. Please don’t think of your electric motorcycle as a toy that you can ride in shorts and a tank top. It’s not a scooter. It goes over sixty miles an hour, so you can get serious road rash if you wipe out. Gear up—an electric motorcycle is just as dangerous as any gas-engine cycle. Stay safe out there! - Mike

Safety Tips

Dangers of unattended idling motorcycles

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week Dangers of Unattended Idling Motorcycles A man in Manteca, California became bad example at the end of last year. He left his motorcycle idling in his garage while he walked over to a neighbor’s house for a chat. The unattended cycle started a fire, which moved into the attic and led to fire and water damage throughout the house—to the tune of $200,000.00. Worse yet, a firefighter was injured. Think of all the flammables in your garage, from oil spots on the floor, to paint, to rags, to newspapers for recycling. In this cold weather it’s tempting to start your motorcycle and let it warm up by itself. But yielding to that temptation can cost you your ride—and your home. And although the firefighter who was hurt in Manteca recovered fully, that outcome could have been tragic. The Manteca Bulletin has a full account of the fire and how it was fought. Click here to read the full story. Stay safe out there! - Mike

Safety Tips

Motorcycle-Riding Gear for Dogs

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week Safety Gear for Your Canine Companion If you decide to take your dog along on motorcycle rides, be sure it has the right gear first. Unless your dog can ride in a sidecar, and maybe even then, you’ll need a safe carrier. Though you’ll find YouTube videos of dogs riding without a carrier, that’s not safe, especially in traffic or at highway speeds. Small dogs might ride safely in a carrier you wear as a backpack or a front-loaded baby-carrier. Bigger dogs will need a strap-on carrier suitable for their size. A helmet might save your dog’s life in case of a mishap. And besides, they look so cute and cool! Goggles (or doggles) are important, too. They protect your dog’s eyes against bugs and other stuff that might be in the air, and they keep the dog’s eyes from drying out in the wind. Dry eyes are painful and susceptible to infection. You can also get a motorcycle jacket for your canine companion, but perhaps more for looks than for safety. A quick look at various brands and types of carriers, helmets, and goggles shows that you can outfit your dog for less than a hundred bucks—an investment you’ll be glad you made. Stay safe out there! - Mike

Safety Tips

Driving Safely after Drinking

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week When Is It Safe to Drive after Drinking? Have you ever wondered whether a friend (or you) has had too much alcohol to drive? You watch your friend for slurred speech and stumbling. And are you repeating that joke—again? But it’s hard to tell for sure, isn’t it? Technology may have an answer. “BrethalEyes” is an iPhone app that checks for a tremor in the eye caused by drinking alcohol (horizontal gaze nystagmus, if you want to get technical). Android phones have apps like DuI kNOw, which analyzes speech patterns. Best of all is to play a driving simulator on your phone or tablet. You probably already have a driving simulator installed. If not, any game that requires fast reactions will do. If your friend is usually good at a game and now can’t get to Level 2—she probably shouldn’t drive, either. Stay safe out there! - Mike

Safety Tips

Beware of Changeable Spring Weather!

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week Dangers for Riding In the Spring Spring weather is changeable. When you ride in the sunshine, remember that it might have rained not long ago right where you’re going. Rains causes oil and dirt to come to the surface and a short rain won’t be enough to wash them away. And it’s way too easy to slide on an oily, dirty road surface. You might still find patches of snow and ice, especially in shady spots, under bridges, and on ramps, and when you’re riding at night or in the early morning. Spring rains can also flood roads. You can easily hydroplane out of control when driving through a puddle. Remember that you never know what’s under the water. It might be too deep to cross safely. It might hide potholes that can throw you for a loop. And it might conceal all manner of road debris that can rudely interrupt your ride. Stay safe out there! - Mike

Safety Tips

The “Smart Windshield” Prototype

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week A New Way to Avoid Distractions While Riding According to the American Motorcyclist Association, “Distracted motorcycle operation can be every bit as dangerous to the operator, other road users, and pedestrians as the distracted operation of a larger motor vehicle.” They quote the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: “Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event. Primary causes of driver inattention are distracting activities, such as cell phone use, and drowsiness.” As motorcycle enthusiasts, we want to avoid being rammed by an inattentive motorist, but we also want to avoid running into a car, pedestrian, or tree. Yet many motorcyclists just can’t let that text go unanswered or that Facebook post stay unread. According to David Giantasio, writing on AdFreak, a “Smart Windshield” prototype has been developed in Italy by Samsung, Leo Burnett, Edo Mossi, and Cane Secco. The screen connects via a Smartphone app and displays emails, social messages, and voice calls while the driver (in theory) keeps an eye on the road. When a message is received, it gets flashed on the windshield. The motorcyclist can pull over to reply, or the device will send an “I’m driving” message. What do you think about the idea of seeing messages on your windshield? Let us know on the Eagle Leather Facebook page. And don’t ride (or drive) distracted! Stay safe out there! - Mike

Safety Tips

How to Prepare for a Group Ride

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week Four Tips for Preparing for Group Rides The Motorcycle Safety Foundation® suggests that before a group ride: Show up with a full tank and on time. Bring your cell phone. Meet and talk over the route, rest stops, fuel stops. If necessary, divide the riders into smaller groups so there are five to seven riders per group. Assign experienced riders to lead and sweep (tail) for each group. At least one rider in each group should have a first-aid kit and a complete tool kit. Stay safe out there! - Mike

Safety Tips

Safety Tips for Riding 3-Wheel Motorcycles

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week How To Safely Ride 3-Wheel Motorcycles The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers these safety tips for riding 3-wheel motorcycles and dealing with sand, mud, water, or any obstruction (and we believe you’ll notice that they apply to everyone): Downshift and slow down before you get to the troublesome stretch of road. Tap your brakes to flash your brake light, thus helping drivers notice you are slowing down. Cross the bad spot in a straight line if that’s at all possible; at minimum, don’t change direction or speed abruptly. If all the tires will hit the obstacle (like a 2x4 in the road) rise up off the seat a little. BUT if just one tire will hit the obstacle, stay seated. Either way, hold tight to the handgrips, but don’t lock your arms. Slightly roll on the throttle just before hitting the obstacle to slightly lighten the front end of your 3-wheel motorcycle. Roll off the throttle just before the back tires hit the obstacle. If just one tire crosses the obstacle, you might feel a lot of handlebar movement side to side, especially on a dual-rear wheel vehicle. Don’t worry, the motion will stop quickly after you cross the obstacle. Stay safe out there! - Mike

Safety Tips

Seven Tips for Shorter Riders

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week Seven Tips for Shorter Riders If you’re short or have short legs, you might have trouble handling a large motorcycle. Here are some tips from a rider who’s under five-foot-four writing on the 'Motorbikes for Her' website: Do your research first, especially as to seat height and overall motorcycle weight, and then be sure to take a test drive. Are you comfortable? Do you prefer to have both feet on the ground when stopped, or will just one foot do? You can modify the motorcycle by changing the seat (shave the foam from it or have a new one custom-made) or by lowering the motorcycle, making the forks and shocks shorter. You can get a kit or have it done for you. It’s generally okay to lower a bike by an inch, and you can lower it more, but be sure to lower front and rear at the same time. Invest in boots with thick soles. You can find boots that add as much as two inches to your height to you don’t have to stand on tiptoe when parked. Take time to practice shifting, because the gears will be harder to feel. Keep physically and mentally fit. A strong body and a positive attitude will both help immensely. Always plan ahead for a stop. Be aware of the road surface and know where you’ll plant your feet. If you don’t have even ground, park so the incline helps you and put one foot on the ground and the other on the footrest or on tiptoe on the parking surface. Brake using your front brakes consistently and evenly until you’re stopped; you use your rear brake just before you stop. For a smooth takeoff, use high revs and clutch consistently. Stay safe out there! - Mike Toursal

Safety Tips

How to Reduce Noise While Riding

Oct 30, 2019 Eagle Leather

Safety Tip of the Week Reduce Noise to Protect Your Hearing As any motorcycle enthusiast knows, riding can be noisy. In fact, it can be so noisy that may damage your hearing—and once that damage is done, it can’t be undone. Nothing can promise a quiet motorcycle ride—except maybe an electric bike. A standard motorcycle idles at 80 decibels, and hearing damage starts at 85 decibels. Add in the noise of the wind constantly rushing past your ears, and the sounds of the other traffic on the road, and you’ve got a real potential for hearing damage. Some helmets are designed to lower noise levels, but others actually increase the noise. And windscreens may also increase noise by causing turbulence. Your best bet is to use some kind of earplug whenever you ride. Be sure your helmet fits properly. (Our experts at Eagle Leather can help with that.) Try adding a wind blocker, which helps prevent the noise caused by wind turbulence which comes through the bottom of the helmet. By cutting the noise as much as possible, you’ll not only help save your hearing, you’ll cut the stress on every ride. Stay safe out there! - Mike

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