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Copyright © 2000 by M. Hilton Taylor. All Rights Reserved by T.A.M.S. It ain’t rocket science . . . is it. |
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Safety on the road is a very important part of being able to enjoy the sport of motorcycling. You should train yourself to recognize what is safe and what is not. While most motorcyclists are very friendly not all of them are. There are groups of motorcyclist that are referred to as “1 percenters”. These groups of biker’s have used this name as their distinction from the other 99% of the motorcycling public. They consist of groups like the Hells Angels, Outlaws, Pagans, and many others. They can usually be recognized by their patches and sometimes even have a patch that reads 1 percenters. They also usually wear patches on their vest or jackets that do not touch each other, since some of the groups make you “patch in” to be a member of the group. Most of the other motorcycle groups like STAR, HOG, etc wear their patches in a manner that touch and almost form a single patch. Wearing patches on your vest or jacket is commonly referred to a displaying your colors (club affiliation). While we all like to be proud of organizations we like, sometimes in motorcycling it is not always best to do this. Some rallies or events prohibit wearing of colors to help prevent problems between rival groups. This does not mean that every time you happen to find yourself in such a group you are in danger personally, but you could get caught up in someone else's problems. It is always better to be safe than sorry. When around other people’s motorcycles it is always best to ask before touching their motorcycle. People get real protective when it comes to their motorcycles. Most don’t mind but you will know for sure when you ask. I have found that a bruised ego will heal much faster than a bruised nose. Most people are very proud of their motorcycles and a lot of the enjoyment is being able to show them off to others. Securing your bike at night can sometimes be a little tricky when you are traveling. Putting one of those disk lock on your bike might keep “Joe I think I’m a thief” from rolling it off, but not real bike thieves. They will just lift it up into a truck in a few seconds and the next thing you know someone in a third world country will be riding around on your motorcycle. Using one of those flimsy little bike locks is like having a 95 lb body guard. It is best to use one of the large high strength cables with a high security lock on it and locked to an immoveable object. You can also lock the frames of two bikes together. This makes it almost impossible to lift two bikes into a truck. Locking the wheels together will only assure you that you will not have to buy new front wheels when you replace your bike. Amazingly thieves also have tools. Unfortunately, none of these will stop a professional thief. So your next best alternative is to take a lot of pictures of your bike and keep really good insurance. Parking your motorcycle near the front of the motel or in a well lit area is another deterrent to thieves. Parking where there is the possibility of many people walking by helps reduce the risk that your motorcycle will be targeted. If one was available I always parked my bike next to one of the billet and chrome, high dollar customs. I figured that maybe they would make the choice for the custom rather than my ordinary looking motorcycle. I am not sure if it actually works but to date I have not had a bike stolen. I guess it follows the same principle as the deer whistles. The loss is not always a stolen bike. Detachable windshields, luggage rack, backrest, etc. are also easily stolen. You may want to purchase a lock for them or remove them at night when you turn in for the night. It may assure you get to use them the next day. Almost anything on a motorcycle is detachable quickly with a good set of tools. You cannot plan for everything so you have to use a little common sense on how and where you park. Another good thing to remember when parking your motorcycle is to park it where it will not be run over by someone backing up. It is a good sized item but apparently not large enough to be seen by someone backing a cage. The crunch of fiberglass or squeaking of steel is usually the first sign someone has gotten too close. Better to be safe than sorry even if it requires a few more steps to the door. Think of it as not only smart but also as a small exercise program. I have found that most people are honest and stuff in your saddlebags is safe when you are not around. I have never had anything stolen from my saddlebags whether they were locked or not. While I have not suffered any loss to date, I also do not leave anything of great value in my bags whether they are locked or not. When I arrive at the hotel, I take the things I would not like to lose into the room for safe keeping. It is also a good idea when you purchase insurance or join a motorcycle organization to be sure they offer good roadside assistance. Nothing is worse than finding yourself stranded on the side of the road and not knowing who to call. If you have a service they will find the tow truck that is closest to you to come pick you up. Then with the peace of mind of knowing assistance is on the way you can relax and act like you are just taking a break. If you carry a cell phone when riding, be sure to put your emergency number in the phone under {space} ICE (in case of emergency). It will show as the first number in your phone directory and is a well recognized method to contact someone quickly should you have an emergency and are unable to give the emergency personnel any information. |