Tip: Before you ride...

[beyond]

I've given a few tips out over the last couple of weeks but to put things in there correct perspective, I reckon a tip on what to do before you ride could be more important than all of them.

I'll no doubt open a can of worms here but from personal experience, from reading much material and sharing with others.... before you go out and ride (for some, the first time) the following points should be noted:

1. Buy the best gear you can afford and the best is not necessarily the most expensive. No point having a multi thousand dollar bike and cheap, crap gear.
If you can afford it, get leather. Sliding down a Kiwi road will cost you 5 millimetres of skin and muscle for every second you slide at 100kmh. Where there is no muscle you are into bone :(

Get tight fitting leather as it stretches and loosens up with wear. Also get armoured leather as even thick leather won't help prevent broken bones in a decent highside. Good chance you will break some bones if you highside anyway, but tight leathers with good armour, won't move around much when you need it most.

Good gloves with armour protection to help mimimise knuckle and palm damage.

Good boots. The more protection and ankle support the better. All the ratchets and side supports on fancy looking boots aren't for show. They work.

There are many good helmets on the market. You don't need to spend a fortune to get a good quality helmet but there are well known "better" brands.

2. Check your tyre pressures before every long ride and at least once a week if using your bike every day. Severe handling problems result from wrong tyre pressures and braking can be severely affected too.

3. Check all fluid levels, such as oil, water, brake and clutch reservoirs if hydraulic. If you run your engine out of oil or water for any reason and the motor locks up, grab the clutch straight away to disengage the rear wheel lock up and coast to the side of the road as safely as you are able.

4. Check all lights work... headlamp, rear light, brake light, indicators etc.

5. When setting off, test your brakes, both front and back.

6. Always ride with all your gear. Murphy's law says that when you think you need it the least (short trip to the shop) you will more than likely need it the most at that time. Most accidents occur within 5kms of home.

Those reading this, feel free to add anything else.

[MIXONE]

Engage brain before turning key.

[Mom]

Nice thread!

Do a head check!

Stressed/pissed off/madly in love? Think carefully about your head space.

[MSTRS]

I'd add to keep your visor clean. The other stuff is no good if you can't see where you are going.

[jrandom]

And never forget to trash-talk the other racers.

[MsKABC]

Thanks Beyond, good advice ;)

[slofox]

Most accidents occur within 5kms of home.
.

Yeah. I heard that. So I moved...

[The Pastor]

only 3 beers an hour if your riding, alcohol effects you way more on a bike than a car.

[98tls]

Bit of a gear freak myself and nothing much to add other than any gear without armour in elbows/knees etc is only a small step up from completly useless,ive a permanently stuffed elbow from what could be called a minor off,middle of town a car doesnt give way resulting in hitting the deck,for the sake of some elbow armour i could have saved myself a heap of grief.

[sondela]

Excellent advice Beyond, well thought out.. :niceone:

[Maha]

Yeah. I heard that. So I moved...

Brilliant...cant bling ya twice :eek:

[Molly]

Be mature enough to recognise when you're just in the wrong frame of mind to ride safely. I realise lots of people ride to think or relax but if you're totally pissed off or consumed by some or other problem it might be best to take a walk.

[yod]

only 3 beers an hour if your riding, alcohol effects you way more on a bike than a car.

if my riding what?

[breakaway]

if my riding what?

A woman of course, don't want none of that whiskey dick, ya dig? :rockon:

[mikeey01]

Get tight fitting leather as it stretches and loosens up with wear. Also get armoured leather as even thick leather won't help prevent broken bones in a decent highside.

Good advise beyond, all of it!
I'd like to discuss one particular thing you mentioned.
Dunno about you but I've noticed a disturbing trend down this way with bike shops selling loose fitting gear! Seems to me most are interested in selling and getting the dollars, rather than ensuring the gear they are selling is actually going to do it's job and not slide up / off!

Anyone else seen this?

[beyond]

Good advise beyond, all of it!
I'd like to discuss one particular thing you mentioned.
Dunno about you but I've noticed a disturbing trend down this way with bike shops selling loose fitting gear! Seems to me most are interested in selling and getting the dollars, rather than ensuring the gear they are selling is actually going to do it's job and not slide up / off!

Anyone else seen this?

Not good at all :(
My leather suit was so tight when I first got it I could hardly breath and couldn't swing a leg over my bike :)

Had to wear it one evening and roll around the lounge floor to get it to loosen up. But, when I had my off, nothing moved, the armour stayed in place and did an awesome job of protecting all the bits that needed it.

Was wearing cheaper boots which is why I broke my ankle back then, but now have the latest Sidi's with all the extra ankle support and protection.

[retro asian]

Good advise beyond, all of it!
I'd like to discuss one particular thing you mentioned.
Dunno about you but I've noticed a disturbing trend down this way with bike shops selling loose fitting gear! Seems to me most are interested in selling and getting the dollars, rather than ensuring the gear they are selling is actually going to do it's job and not slide up / off!

Anyone else seen this?

Hopefully that's not the case. :crazy:
I'd recommend asking the shop salesperson (or a knowledgeable friend) to help you first time getting the gear.

In my noobie squid scootering days I bought an armoured jacket without any help, after riding for a few weeks I realised it was 2 sizes too big. Luckily the very nice people at Cycletreads let me swap it for a small :2thumbsup Big Ups!

[Quailboy]

Good advice Beyond.

My contribution:
Do up the strap of your helmet.
Open fuel line (preferably before the motorway fastlane).

[Crazy Steve]

I always wear clean undies, Ice !! So if the ambo driver is a Hottie....She dosnt she my dirty huda's...

Crazy Steve...

Oh and check brakes....lol

[Mystic13]

And what I'd like to add is;

- make sure the gloves have the straps done up and can't come off. A glove with great protection is useless if it slides off as you go down the road.

ditto boots.

ditto jacket sleeves.... I don't usually do this consciously but seeing another rider go down the road with the sleeve sliding up and getting gravel rash made me think it needs more attention.


____________

So what's the go on back protectors?

Personally I'm not a big fan of the cordura jackets that have a small zip for connecting to the pants and then the zip is at the end of a big piece of elastic... again I'm curious about peoples experiences. Do the jackets ride up if you manage to slide feet first with your back on the ground?

[shepster]

Living here in Singapore (sadly not riding) I'd say 95% of motor cyclists here would benefit from Beyond's tip. Jandels, no gloves, shorts and t-shirts are standard riding gear here. Often get passed (while in a taxi) by riders on big bikes hauling ass down the motorway in their jandels.

Side note: Best advice those guys at motomail gave me was to buy my leathers tight.

[elevenhundred]

Make sure your side stand is up before pulling away :)

[Mikkel]

Leave your ego at home.

Get insurance.

Don't worry, be happy.

[Boob Johnson]

only 3 beers an hour if your riding, alcohol effects you way more on a bike than a car.
if "you're" riding??? :scratch:


That HAS to be a piss take........no pun intended :bleh:


If I have one beer a day whilst riding that's more than enough. Most times it's water to make sure im hydrated.

[The Pastor]

if "you're" riding??? :scratch:


That HAS to be a piss take........no pun intended :bleh:


If I have one beer a day whilst riding that's more than enough. Most times it's water to make sure im hydrated.
nah beer hydrates you waaaaay quicker than water

[Boob Johnson]

nah beer hydrates you waaaaay quicker than water
Sarcasm, the lowest form or wit :yes:

[dwnundabkr]

Beyond all good tips and yes cannot stress enough of good gear, it can save ya ass,
ask a very good friend of mine who decided to clip the back of a trailer at way to much speed and was able to tell the story.
always check your basics on the bike before ridin as you have already suggested
cheers

[rie]

don't leave the house with the tinted visor on, if you know you're heading off later for a 'short pootle' with GIJoe. You could be left out in the countryside at 1am getting a facefull of poo aroma because you can't see with the bloody visor down.

[reofix]

leather you cant move in required by our younger readers....comfortable top quality expensive with latest armour for the boomers!!!

[stevewederell]

Nice thread!

Do a head check!

Stressed/pissed off/madly in love? Think carefully about your head space.

1+ Can't agree more. There are times where I've giving myself a wee smack upside the and either not gone for that ride or calmed down after a cage tried to take me out. Hard sometimes though