Top 5 Pet Peeves of Motorcyclists

Like many, motorcycling for me is a passion and because I am passionate about it I am also fairly opinionated.  Okay, okay so admittedly this is probably one of the key driving forces for me to start this blog to begin with.  There are some things fellow motorcyclists do that just drive me nuts!  Here's my top 5, not in any particular order.  Feel free to chime in if you wish.

1. Passenger's without proper attire: How many times do you see a motorcycle going down the street, 2-up, and the rider is wearing all the right stuff; helmet, gloves, boots, etc. and then you look at that passenger...flip-flops, spaghetti straps and short-shorts. It's great that the rider has become aware of the risks and has taken measures to reduce his/her risk but that passenger may not be fully aware of what they are getting into. As riders we have to take some accountability for our passengers.  We are their guardian so-to-speak therefore we should be as concerned about their safety as we are our own.

2. Leaving the blinker's on:  I'm guilty of this at times too. Rider's, turn your f'n blinkers off when you're done using them; it confuses drivers and opens up opportunity for confusion and miscommunication on the road. And, it's annoying.

3. Attitude:  How do I put this? Yes, you are cool because you ride a motorcycle and yes, there are several subcultures within the motorcycling community and yes, with that culture comes a certain stereotype and/or personality if you will. Now that we have that on the table let's leave it there. We are all cool because we ride.  If you ride ride a Harley you can still waive at other, dare I say it, non-Harley riders out there on the road and vice-verse.  There are great people (and idiots) on all kinds of bikes, trust me.

4. Not taking accountability:  As rider's we are vulnerable and therefore have to expect the unexpected. In every crash there is at least part of it that is your fault.  Maybe it's 1% or maybe it's all your fault but don't try to avoid taking your fair share of blame. The leading cause of single bike crashes is improper cornering. If you take every corner as if there are potential hazards then you will leave most every corner safely.  Sportbike riders; your knee has no business touching the ground anywhere except on a racetrack. Cruisers; your bikes are heavy and low to the ground which means they do not corner the greatest so be aware of that.  Always leave yourself a margin of safety so you have enough time react properly when things go wrong.

5. Negative Attention: Whether it's bar hopping, street stunts or my no. 3 pet peeve getting the best of you it reflects all of us negatively. It's your business if you want to put your life in danger but at least have the decency to think about how your actions reflect public opinion about all motorcyclists. I've been at rallies and have seen drunk motorcyclists literally running into each other and I've ridden in large groups down the highway where some thought it would be cool to ride wheelies at 70 mph. For non-riders, all they see is a motorcycle, nothing more and they take that negative image and apply it to all of us. Example: when someone finds out that I ride a superbike the most common question i get is, "Are you one of those guys that do wheelies on the highway?" No, I am not. Due to the acts of few, people (J.Q. Public in his/her car) on the street view me the same way they view the idiot on the mostly banged up Gixxer.  They don't see a 37 year old, father of 2 with a full time job, and a mortgage that also chooses to teach motorcycle safety classes on the weekends.

Street Wise

I read an article in this months Cycle World titled, Pace 2.0.  It was a good read on basic...let's call it, motorcycle technique albeit I use the term loosely.  One of the key takeaways from the article is simply this; learn to be smooth with your controls.  Sounds simple but breaking it down and defining what "smooth" means makes you quickly realize that regardless of experience, you (me) are still stabbing our controls versus being fluid with them.  Example: being truly smooth with your brakes means you can use them in a corner IF they are handled with an extreme amount of care and finesse.

I preach over and over again in my BRC classes for my students to work on being smooth with the controls. Me and my fellow RiderCoaches are constantly saying, "Squeeze the brakes. Don't grab them!" and, "Ease the clutch in & out; use the friction zone!"  Refining what that means includes gaining a full comprehension of what the bike is doing. How preload and geometry play a part in leaning the bike into a corner. As motorcyclists we should be on an ever-ending pursuit to understand as much as we can about riding including the how's and why's the motorcycle does the things it does. Another Example: When downshifting to reduce speed (especially before a turn) increase throttle before engaging the next gear to prevent too much front end compression.

If reading an article, book or owner's manual leaves you scratching your head then don't shrug your shoulders and throw it aside.  Read it again, break out the dictionary, talk to somebody in the know so you can comprehend what you are reading because it is important. MSF defines a good motorcyclist as someone who has, "the desire and motivation to choose to reduce risk while riding." You reduce risk thus, increasing safety for yourself and others by being a better rider and being a better rider happens with experience and education.