A Little Motorcycle Fun to Gear up for Summer

 The First Motorcycle invented by Gottlieb Daimler, 1885

Via MattarMedia - May is coming to a close and with it ends Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Our topics all month have been full of safety tips and information geared towards helping motorcyclists. After weeks of serious articles, we thought we should close out the month with a bit of fun and trivia.

Did you know...

...Some famous motorcycle brands make more than just cars and motorcycles? Yamaha also makes swimming pools, Kawasaki makes spaceships, and Ducati used to make radios.

...You can find motorcycle parts in your pantry? The first Harley Davidson motorcycle built in 1903 used a tomato can for a carburetor.

...That there is a patron saint of motorcyclists? The Vatican officially endorsed the Irish saint Columbanus of Bobbio in the 1940's.

Do you pride yourself on being a bike afficionado? We invite you to test your knowledge on motorcycles. Take this fun Motorcycle Trivia Quiz to see how much you really know.

Enjoy your motorcycle even more this summer by riding safe and sober.

Still THINK Speeding on a Motorcycle is Cool?

Via MattarMedia - We have been blogging about motorcycle safety all month to commemorate Motorcycle Awareness Month. Today we are going to talk about speeding and the importance of staying within the posted speed limits.

Speeding is dangerous irregardless of how experienced a driver you are, how well you "know" the roads, or what the road conditions are. We know what it's like to be late for something or to be in a hurry to get where you are going, but speeding is not the answer. Besides making you an aggressive driver, speeding also increases your likelihood of getting into an accident and decreases your ability to react to obstacles or situations in your path.

A common error made by many drivers is thinking that you are safe when you are close to home, which can lead to careless or distracted driving. There are many of us who can probably attest to having driven home on "auto pilot", where you don't even remember making the turns. The reality is that a large proportion of accidents happen within just a few miles of your home. It is never safe to assume that the roads you "know" so well should be treated any differently than roads you have never traveled on before.

This video is yet another creative collaboration by the United Kingdom as part of their THINK! Safety Campaign. Watching it will definitely make you THINK before speeding.

"Look out!" Avoiding Obstacles in the Road

Via MattarMedia - One of the big hazards motorcycle riders face is dealing with obstacles on the road. How should you handle an obstacle? Well, there are essentially two options: slow down or go around it. Do you know the rules for when you should to do which?

According to one safety site, the general rule is that when you are traveling under 50 MPH, you should brake. When traveling 50 MPH or faster, you should try to maneuver around the hazard because the distance needed for braking increases with increased speed.

Some common hazards to avoid include:

Leaves: So pretty in the fall but far more dangerous than they appear, especially if wet.

Small animals: Hitting a very small animal can be treacherous, especially on a smaller motorcycle.

Standing water: Don't just charge through water like you would in a car. Depending on tires you can hydroplane which will make the bike feel like it's on ice. If you are unlucky enough to experience this make no steering inputs and ride straight on through.

Ice: A pretty clear danger. Stay off the roads in icy conditions and beware of early mornings, even in warmer fall and spring weather.

Snow: Another one to avoid. If you have to do it, make minimal traction demands and remain smooth.

We encourage you to watch this video which highlights the importance of staying aware of your surroundings when you are riding a motorcycle. "If Only" obstacles were clearly labeled like this, there would be far fewer accidents and fatalities.

What not to do on a Motorcycle...

Via MattarMedia - In honor of Motorcycle Safety Month, we have been blogging about different topics aimed at keeping you safe and informed about motorcycle riding. So when we saw this news article in our feed this morning, we had to bring it to you as What Not to Do on a motorcycle.

As reported by an Albany, NY news source:

An Esperance man on his motorcycle led police on a high-speed chase late Friday night, running red lights, sideswiping a car and went flying after hitting a parked car, police said.

Morgan Henness, 21, was charged with DWI, Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer, Reckless Driving and several other traffic violations, police said.

Henness was riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle on Madison Avenue when he ran through a red light at Madison Avenue and Quail Street, police said. A patrol officer witnessed it and tried to pull Henness over near the entrance to Washington Park at Madison Avenue and New Scotland.

Police say Henness actually accelerated, sideswiping another vehicle that was traveling in the same direction on Madison Avenue. Henness ran through the red light at Willet Street then lost control of his motorcycle and hit a parked car at Madison and Delaware Avenues, police said.

Henness was thrown from the bike and sustained injuries from the accident. He was taken to Albany Medical Center for treatment. His condition is unknown at this time but his injuries were not life threatening, police said.

Hmm....wonder what he did wrong?  Where do we begin?!  Let's see....there's the drinking and riding, evading the police, hitting other vehicles, and being ejected from the motorcycle, just for a few starters.  We sincerely recommend not taking a page from Mr. Henness' book, and do not encourage this type of riding. 

Motorcycle Safety - Do you know what you need to know?

Via MattarMedia - Maybe you have decided that you want to purchase a motorcycle, or maybe you have been riding for 20 years. Either way, there is a RiderCourse for you.

Why should you take a motorcycle safety course?  Besides for the obvious reasons - like being safer on your bike, being a more experienced rider, and being better equipped to react to situations - most insurance companies will offer a discount to riders who successfully complete a RiderCourse.  Check with your agent to see what these savings could be for you.

The Basic RiderCourse is about 15 hours of class time - both in a classroom setting and on your bike in a controlled environment.  Some of the topics covered at the Basic RiderCourse include:

• Protective Gear
• Pre-ride inspection of your bike
• Street strategies to stay safe
• How to maneuver your bike
• Avoiding obstacles
• Collision avoidance
• Riding at night

Advanced classes are also available for experienced riders.  For information about where you can take a RiderCourse, visit the NYS Motorcycle Safety Program. This site is full of useful information for both the novice and advanced rider. Please remember to ride safe and ride sober.

Drinking and Riding Don't Mix

Via MattarMedia - We all know the dangers of drinking and driving, and it applies to drinking and motorcycle riding too.  It seems like that would be a logical conclusion, yet studies show some scary trends in motorcycle accidents.

Here are some sobering motorcycle statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA: 2004 study):

• 41 percent motorcycle operators who died in single-vehicle crashes had BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher. 
• Riders in the 40- to 49-year-old age group had the highest percentage of alcohol involvement (46%).
• Alcohol was involved in 49 percent of single-vehicle fatal motorcycle crashes and 25 percent of multiple-vehicle fatal motorcycle crashes.
• Alcohol was involved in 54 percent of nighttime fatal crashes.

Riding while under the influence of alcohol is simply not worth it.  If you are planning on drinking, have a designated driver or call for a cab ride home.  The risks are too big to take.

Check back this week to find out what you should know about motorcycle RiderCourses and where you can take one.

The Least Known Motorcycle Safety Tip

Via MattarMedia - Continuing with the topic of motorcycle safety, here is a tip you may never have considered before. Do not wear sunblock with a full-face helmet. Why? Read the story by James Davis from this resourceful Motorcycle Safety Site to find out:

Yesterday Elaine and I participated in the third annual Lime Run hosted by the Lone Star Ladies. It turns out that we manned one of the stops on the run which meant that we were in the sun all day long. We used a sunblock on our faces, necks and arms so that we would not get 'over-done'.

We had about a 100 mile ride to get home. 12 miles from home I went blind, at 70 MPH! One minute all was right with the world, the next instant both my eyes stung and gushed tears so badly that I was forced to shut them both completely - blinking did not help - I could not see a thing!

Mind you that I was wearing a full-face helmet, glasses, and the shield was down on the helmet. It didn't exactly make any sense to me either - how could something get into my eyes like that?

Elaine happened to be driving her cage rather than her bike yesterday and was in front of me. Fortunately we had put a hand-held CB into her car that very day! She slowed and steered interference for me for about a quarter of a mile.

With one of my eyes totally shut and the other blinking rapidly (and painfully), I managed to be able to see enough to guide the bike one lane to the right on the freeway, then mercifully there was an off ramp right in front of us - we took it.

Off the freeway we pulled right into a vacant lot off the access road and again I was unable to open either eye. I felt for the kickstand and got it in place just as she jumped out of her car and came back to see what was wrong. Not sure if I was level or not, I wanted both hands to stay on the handlebars and asked her to take my glasses off for me.

Tears poured down my face from both eyes - not from the pain, though there was plenty of that, but from whatever was in my eyes. Elaine ran to her car and got a bottle of water and a handful of Kleenex tissues for me. I washed my eyes with the water and then applied the tissues and all was instantly well again!

It turns out that some of the sunblock on my nose had vaporized with the heat in my helmet and my dark glasses wrap around my head and touch my face all around my eyes - keeping the vapor in.

The message is simple: If you use sunblock on your face be sure to wipe it off before putting your helmet on! (Incidentally, you can buy sports-oriented sunblock products that purport not to sting your eyes.)

Hey! Watch out for that motorcycle!

Via MattarMedia - May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and we have been commemorating it by posting some helpful safety tips since last week (be sure to check out some of those informational articles).

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 70% of motorcycle-vehicle collisions occur at intersections. As motorists, we need to be aware of everything that is going on around us. Often times, a motorcycle or bicycle can be overlooked or completely out of view in your blind spot.

Watch this eye-opening video to see how simple it is to miss a motorcycle. Please remember to always look twice for bikes - it only takes a second of your time and it's easier than living with the consequences.

[You can also view other great videos at MattarMedia.]

How can you avoid hitting a motorcyclist?

Via MattarMedia - Spring has sprung! The warm weather is rolling out, and so are the motorcycles. After a long winter, cyclists are revving up their engines and breaking out on the open roads. So, what should you know as a motorist to avoid colliding with a biker?

Motorcycles have some unique characteristics that generally would not be known by people who do not ride themselves. Being aware of these small differences may help to keep motorcyclists safer on the roads.

Hazard #1: Braking
Motorcyclists will often slow down by downshifting, as opposed to applying the brakes.  When this happens, there will be no brake lights to communicate their change in speed. 
Solution: Always keep a reasonable distance behind a motorcycle so you have enough time to respond when you notice that they are slowing down.


Hazard #2: Turning
Unlike most cars, the turn signals on a motorcycle are not self-canceling.  This means that if a biker does not turn it off, it may look like he is turning when he is not.
Solution: Never assume a motorcycle is turning, even when the turn signal is on.  This simple defensive driving tactic can help to eliminate this danger.

Hazard #3: Stopping
Inclement weather and slippery road conditions make stopping quickly difficult on a motorcycle.
Solution: Again, allow plenty of distance between you and a motorcycle.  Don't expect that the rider can stop suddenly.

Hazard #4: Maneuvering
Motorcycles are known for quick and easy movement.  While maneuverability might be characteristic of a bike, don't assume that a rider will always be able to get out of the way of road hazards.
Solution: Keep your distance and slow down when you spy potential risks, such as potholes and road debris.

As motorists, we are responsible for not just ourselves, but everyone else on the roads that we may encounter.  Treat motorcyclists as if they were pedestrians in the road - bikers have just as little to protect them when they are hit by a motor vehicle.

Is motorcycle riding for you?

Via MattarMedia - The motorcycles are back on the road and you find yourself envious of the inherent freedom that biking symbolizes. But before you seriously think about purchasing a motorcycle, is it right for you?

Take this self-assessment, courtesy of The Motorcycle Safety Foundation,  to see if you should even consider getting a bike:

1. Are you a higher risk-taker than others you know? If you tend to need a thrill while driving a car and have aggressive or risky tendencies, motorcycling may not be for you.

2. Can you ride a bicycle? This is generally a good gauge of your ability to maneuver a motorcycle. Bicycling, like motorcycling, is a physical activity that involves balance and coordination.

3. Can you drive a stick-shift car? This is not a requirement, but it may make learning to ride easier because almost all motorcycles have manual transmissions.

4. Do you see well? Riding a motorcycle requires special perceptual skills that rely on good vision. The ability to see well ahead is important for safe riding.

5. Are you safety-minded? Riders can control their situation only if safety is a high priority. Millions of motorcyclists ride millions of miles without incident, and they likely take safety seriously.

6. Can you focus? Inattention is a major cause of crashes. Safe motorcycling requires dedicated attention to the immediate task and a keen awareness of everything going on 360 degrees around you.

7. Can you react quickly in an emergency? On a motorcycle, having quick reaction skills is essential because other drivers tend not to see motorcyclists in traffic, especially around intersections.

8. Are you willing to invest some time in learning to ride the right way before hopping on a bike? Your best “first ride” is a Basic Rider Course where you can familiarize yourself with the safe operation of a motorcycle.

Riding a motorcycle can be a lot of fun, but also comes with some serious risks.  Please ride carefully. 

Why older motorcyclists should be careful

Via MattarMedia - Riding a motorcycle can be risky business. Now, a new study shows that older motorcyclists are at an even greater risk.

As reported by YNN:

Motorcycle riders across the country are growing older, and the impact of this trend is being seen in emergency rooms daily. That’s according to a recent study published in the March issue of the American Surgeon. Doctors are finding that these aging road warriors are more likely to be injured or die compared to their younger counterparts.

Despite the warnings, riders themselves say it’s worth the risk. In only ten years on her bike, Grace Rizzo has become a pro, but even the most experienced rider can run into trouble. That's just what happened to Grace two years ago during a trip through the Smokey Mountains in Georgia.

"And I slipped on some gravel and went down and the bike landed on top of me," said Rizzo. By the time help arrived, the heat from the motorcycle burned through her leg right down to the bone. "The accident was almost three years ago it took almost two years for me to be actually being walking again," Rizzo said.

According to a national study, Grace's story is all too common among older riders. "It tells us that people getting injured on motorcycles appear to be getting older. It's possibly a result of the 'Baby Boomer Generation' continuing on with their motorcycle activity," said Dr. Mark Gestring Assistant Professor of Surgery and Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester.

Gestring co-authored the study that tracked more than 61,000 motorcyclists over a ten year period. Between 1996 and 2005, researchers found the average age of motorcyclists involved in crashes increased from approximately 34 to 39 years, and the proportion of injured riders above the age of 40 increased from around 28 percent to close to 50 percent.

For riders above the age of 40, injury severity, length of stay in the hospital or intensive care unit, and mortality were higher compared to riders below the age of 40. The risk of dying was one-and-a-half to two times more likely in riders over 40, based on the severity of the original injury. The study also found that older riders are more likely to die from less severe injuries than younger riders.

Even before her accident, Rizzo knew how dangerous riding could be. As a nurse in an intensive care unit she tells her patients to take precautions. As a lover of the open road she has a different message.

"Keep riding. Enjoy life. You never know. Just be careful," Rizzo added.

Check back this week for some safety tips and more information about motorcycling. Please remember to ride safe!

Bikers Reminded about Motorcycle Safety

Via MattarMedia Syracuse - Bikers are out on the roads earlier than ever because of record high temperatures.

But the unofficial start of the motorcycle season has been accompanied by an increased number of motorcycle accidents.

"People forget some of the basics, such as a motorcycle goes where you look," said Dale Parsons, Owner of F.I.R.S.T. Motorcycle Safety Program. "If you get in trouble and you look at what it is you're trying to avoid, you'll hit it."

New York riders are required to pass a written test and a road test in order to get their motorcycle license.

The DMV also recommends the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. Both beginners and experienced riders can sign up for the course at http://nysmsp.org.

"I tell everybody who tells me they're buying a bike or thinking about it," said Patrick Hogan, a 44-year motorcycle veteran. "I make them promise me that they're going to take the course. It's not going to save everyone's life but if it saves one, it has done a good job."

Beating the odds after a life-threatening accident

Via MattarMedia - A Rochester man, who was never expected to survive after a serious motorcycle crash in August, celebrated his 19th birthday Saturday.

Vinnie Williams is beating the odds. Family and friends came together at Monroe Community Hospital for his birthday.

Three months ago, doctors said if Williams lived, he'd be in a vegetative state and on a ventilator the rest of his life.

Today, he's breathing on his own, communicating with his eyes and moving the left side of his body. His family says it's an answer to prayer, and his birthday is something to celebrate.

"So it's always a beautiful thing to see people that you love to come together as a family and just support one another and just stay together as one, says Corey Jackson, a family friend.

Williams was hurt in a motorcycle accident back in late August at the corner of West Main and Brown Street. Police say he turned in front of a truck.

His mother tells us he's making progress every day and that she's holding on to her faith during his recovery.

Motorcycle crash in Niagara County

Via MattarMedia NIAGARA COUNTY (WIVB) - A motorcyclist was airlifted to the hospital early Sunday morning after authorities say he crashed into a deer in Niagara County.

Niagara County authorities say the driver was travelling on Johnson Creek Road a little before two this morning when he crashed into a deer near Bradley Road.

He was taken to ECMC by Mercy Flight.

His name and condition are not known.