So let’s say you went on a hike this summer, and after driving to your point of departure you discovered you that you had forgotten your expensive hiking boots back at the house and the only footwear you had were the flip-flops you were wearing. At some point during your hike it began raining and after digging your rain parka out of your daypack you discovered it had a big tear in it. If you’ve ever been in this situation, or one like it, you know how important proper preparation is to provide a fun and safe adventure.
Likewise, proper preparation is vitally important to a successful motorcycle ride. Few miseries can surpass the discomfort of getting caught in a mountain rainstorm on your motorcycle without proper gear, and riding a motorcycle that has not been properly inspected before the ride can be downright disastrous. This article will briefly discuss the pre-ride components necessary to ensure a safe and enjoyable ride.
The Gear
While there is something liberating about doing a ride in nothing more than your favorite pair of jeans and a t-shirt, you really need to consider the “what if I crash” scenario before you fire up the beast. Here is a list of recommended riding gear:
Helmet:
You may not have an option on this one. As of September 2008, forty-seven of fifty states have some form of helmet use laws in place, and even if you live in one of the three states with no helmet law, if you ride into neighboring states, there is a high likelihood you will be required to wear one. Helmets can be expensive, but there are a wide range of options and features available that can fit most budgets. The most important thing to look for in a helmet is that it is D.O.T. approved.
Eye Protection:
As of September 2008, thirty-six states require some form of eye protection either through use of a visor or safety glasses. Even if you are riding in a no law state, it is extreme foolishness to even consider riding without proper eye protection. Another point to consider is that when riding with either goggles or glasses only, your face will be unprotected and subjected to the onslaught of whatever gets kicked into your face
Long Pants:
Long pants are highly recommended since sand and gravel frequently gets kicked up as you ride. They will also protect your legs from the hot exhaust which will be more than happy to tattoo an unsuspecting rider in shorts.
Jacket:
A good leather or padded synthetic riding is a valuable piece of gear to wear, particularly in cooler weather. When the weather warms up, it’s also good to have a lighter windproof jacket along since even in the summer months, the evenings can become cool, especially when factoring wind chill into the equation.
Boots:
Again, with road debris being constantly kicked up, a good pair of leather riding boots should be considered. Nothing fancy necessary, nor do they need to be steel-toed. They do, however, need to be high enough to cover the ankles and have good rubber tread for gripping the pegs, as well as, the pavement when you come to a stop.
Gloves:
People often overlook gloves as an essential part of the riding gear, but be assured, when you’re clipping along some cool evening at 70 MPH and take a rock to your now frozen hand, you’ll make sure to have a pair of insulated riding gloves next time out. Nowadays, insulated doesn’t necessarily mean bulky. There are plenty of good gloves available that insulate well without the added bulk.
The Bike
Incredibly, one of the most overlooked elements of the pre-ride preparation is the bike itself. Most riders tend to treat the motorcycle much as they would their car when it comes to turning the key, adopting an “it ran fine yesterday” mentality, so they just hop on the bike and go. When you stop and consider the increased inherent risk in motorcycle riding, it’s vitally important to inspect the mechanical function of the bike before each ride. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has a checklist they call T-CLOCS for the pre-ride inspection that is universally accepted as the standard. The list below is a brief synopsis.
Tires and Wheels:
Inspect for proper air pressure, tread wear, damaged wheels or spokes and brakes.
Most motorcycle tires may appear to be quite wide, especially on cruisers, but in reality the only thing between you and certain disaster is the thin piece of rubber in the middle of the tire called a “riding patch”. Many tires have small indentations imbedded into the riding patch to gauge tire wear. When you can no longer see those marks, it’s time for a new tire.
Controls:
This means virtually anything on the motorcycle that is used to control the machine, i.e. - Throttle, handlebars, cables etc. Any controls that do not function properly can lead to loss of control of the machine. Not a good thing.
Lights and Electrical:
All lights and electrical connections should be examined for proper function and connectivity. One of the most dangerous elements to riding is when stopped at an intersection. In this situation you are vulnerable and oncoming vehicles behind may not see you. For this reason, it is imperative that your brake light and indeed all lights are functional.
Oil and Fluids:
This is pretty much a no-brainer. If you don’t monitor fluid levels on your bike, damage to yourself or the machine can occur. Lack or improper levels of oil can lead to engine seizure, lack of hydraulic fluids lead to loss of control, and lack of fuel will leave you sitting on 600 lbs. of static iron.
Chassis:
What you’re looking for here are any obvious deficiencies in components such as, frame, suspension and drive-train. Cracks in a frame or worn and/or damaged chains or drive-belts, though not frequent, can make for a bad day.
Sidestand:
This is probably the most ignored piece of equipment on the bike. You stop, throw down your sidestand, or kickstand as most of us know it as, and get off the bike without ever giving it a thought. However, failure to regularly inspect the kickstand for full freedom of movement, proper connection and spring tension can lead to a motorcycle ending up in a position it ought not; on its side. If you’ve ever checked into the cost of repairing damaged tins or other components, you’ll take a bit more notice of this piece of equipment.
So Let’s Roll!
So now you’ve got full riding gear, you’ve inspected your bike front to back and you’re ready to roll. But there is one last thing before you turn that key. Consider the reasoning behind pre-ride preparation. It’s not about style, looking cool, or going through empty motions; it’s about risk management and making a commitment to safe riding. The easy thing to do is climb on that fire breathing dragon in your jeans and t-shirt and hit the road. But when the risk factors start adding up, you may find yourself wishing you had taken just a few moments to prepare.
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