Sport Riding Tip
by Don Orton
FIVE MOTORCYCLING MYTHS (Some that may kill you)
- TOO MUCH FRONT BRAKE WILL FLIP THE BIKE OVER - That won’t happen on a motorcycle because the center of mass is much lower. The front tire will skid before the back end flips up. Being creatures of habit, if you habitually lay off the front brake, your brain cannot instantly erase the memory of those rear-brake-only stops and use both when the situation warrants. For those of you who have seen “Stoppies” or “Brakies” in the movies – those are stunts done by stunt persons. The technique involved in performing a “stoppie” is not the same technique you use when braking so start using the front brake – chickens.
- HELMETS CAUSE MORE INJURIES THAN THEY PREVENT - Helmets absorb energy when they hit an object. As the energy is absorbed, the shock wave that passes to the wearers’ head is reduced by several magnitudes. If there is no helmet to absorb the energy of a hit, your head has to take the full force of the impact. Not good. I’d much rather hear the argument about helmets being a personal choice – that has some merit.
- WHEN CORNERING, THERE IS LESS TIRE ON THE GROUND THAN WHEN STRAIGHT – Motorcycle-specific tires have been around for fifty years now, and motorcycle tires have rounded tread. Today, motorcycle tires have a cross-section more resembling a triangle with curved sides and a rounded top. The tire has more contact area when the bike is leaned over, which provides more traction where you need it, which should result in a more confident you.
- TO COOL OFF ON HOT DAYS, WEAR LESS CLOTHING – Ever see a nomad riding across the desert on a camel wearing a t-shirt and a pair of shorts? Your body’s defense mechanism against heat is sweat. Keep the body covered and the sweat stays on the body, where it can evaporate and keep you cool. Plus, exposed skin can be both sun- and wind-burned. That’s a good way to stay comfortable.
- LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES – Sound is not a very reliable indicator of where an object is. Sound is slow, and sound can echo off just about anything. If you think for a minute that your loud pipe is doing anything other than pissing other motorists off, think again. The primary cause car drivers give as a reason they caused a crash with a motorcycle is “I didn’t see him”. Since we drive and ride with our eyes and not our ears, do you think that someone hearing the motorcycle is going to be any better?
Until next time – Don from Ride Smart
Ride Smart
Motorcycle Training, Inc.
623-877-5425
ridesmartmotorcycle.com