Why Every Michigan Motorcyclist Could Benefit from a Safety Refresher

As anyone who owns a motorcycle will tell you, whether you’re piloting a powerful bike down a busy highway or cruising carefree along a winding country road, riding demands a genuine combination of art and science. You need a good sense of balance along with skills gained through long experience to know how to properly lean into curves and avoid common roadway hazards so you can get the most possible pleasure (and possibly the least unexpected pain!) from your ride.

For instance, changing gears demands precise knowledge of your bike’s capabilities, whether you’re upshifting smoothly to safely accelerate into merging traffic or downshifting and then twisting the throttle to take advantage of your bike’s ability to blast past slow-moving vehicles when needed.

Similarly, staying away from treacherous loose gravel, avoiding nearly invisible patches of black ice, missing dangerous open joints at the ends of bridges, reacting in time to safely stop when a traffic signal unexpectedly turns red, and watching out for careless drivers who might not be aware of your presence, all demand constant awareness of your own position on the road, and attention to the speed limit and your speedometer, not to mention making sure you have the ability to bring your bike to a fast stop safely when needed.

Riding a bike on “autopilot” is a deadly bad habit

Needless to say, though, there’s a well-known and highly relevant old saying that goes like this: “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Essentially, it means that when people have become used to their rides, they sometimes forget to observe the fundamentals of safe motorcycle operation or might even start to take their beloved bikes for granted. Consider this question for just a moment: How many times do you hop on your bike, take a ride to work or travel to a favorite eatery, but don’t really remember much of the trip once you’ve arrived? t’s like riding on autopilot… which can lead to some unsafe habits and result in dangerous incidents if you really stop to think about it.

Remember when you first got the motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license, or when your bike was brand new? Were you a more cautious rider way back when? Did you follow Michigan’s motorcycle “rules of the road” and obey speed limits just a bit more assiduously? Did you take more time to truly appreciate the beauty and raw power of your ride? We imagine that, like most folks, you probably treated your cherished bike a bit differently than you might be these days, after you’ve ridden it for a few years. By the same token, you’re most likely a bit less cautious while riding than you were for the first few thousand miles you owned your bike. If so, maybe it’s time to consider a few ideas that could help you return to the “good old days” when your bike was new and you were a bit more attuned to the importance of safe riding habits.

How to renew your commitment to motorcycle safety …

and enjoy your bike like you did when it was brand new

If you feel as if you might have been taking your motorcycle just a little bit for granted lately, there are several things you can do to help yourself fall back in love with your old bike again. If you do, we think you’ll benefit from bringing your ride back to like-new condition and renewing your personal commitment to safety while riding. Consider these ideas:

• Take a motorcycle safety class. Courses are available across Michigan for beginners, advanced riders, and returning riders (folks who are coming back to motorcycles after taking a break from riding). It can help even the most experienced riders to enroll in a refresher course and, as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation notes, you might get a hefty discount on your insurance for doing so! Rider safety classes are available at such places as Schoolcraft College and Northern Michigan University, among others. And fall can be quite a beautiful time of year to take one, either on your own or alongside friends and loved ones.
  
• Add a fun motorcycle accessory or pick up some new riding gear. A replacement seat (or just a seat cover) can add new life to any bike, especially if exposure to the sun has caused tired old vinyl to crack or there’s crumbly foam rubbing on your legs. If you’ve ever dropped your helmet or it’s showing some honest wear from years of use, a new “skid lid” can help make your daily ride more enjoyable; even a replacement visor can improve visibility (and safety) if your old one is showing its age. New leathers or balaclavas can be great, too, especially with colder weather on the way. For greater safety in the event of an accident, there are also motorcycle rider airbag safety vests that instantly inflate when a crash is detected to help protect your irreplaceable body from impact! 
  
• Get a tune-up or replace your bike’s brake pads. Having a responsive burst of power available whenever you need it will help you regain an appreciation for your old bike’s gutsy engine. So be sure to replace air filters, fuel filters, and spark plugs whenever needed. Also, don’t forget that when you want to come to a quick stop, having new brake pads will help give you a reassuring feeling of control whether you’re approaching a busy intersection or happen to encounter an unpredictable deer or inattentive pedestrian standing by the side of the road!

We’re here to help if you run into motorcycle issues

… or if someone careless runs into your bike!

Beyond all that, you might want to take a look at some other interesting motorcycle-related articles we’ve published here to refresh your memory about Michigan’s most dangerous places for riders, the unique physics of motorcycles that can contribute to bike safety issues, the long sad history of tragic motorcycle accidents in Michigan, our home state’s ongoing commitment to the “Look Twice, Save Lives” campaign, and our own firm’s promise to help riders win fair compensation if they are injured through no fault of their own. If you’re ever the victim of someone else’s irresponsible actions – whether you’re hurt on a bike, injured at work, or hammered in a car crash – call us immediately at 855-MIKE-WINS (855-645-3946) to get our dedicated team of attorneys working hard on your case. You’ll be glad to have us on your side… and in your corner!