If life were perfect every road would be limited to a 100 yards of straight pavement before a curve, there would be no cars, let alone traffic, and all roads would be gravel repellent. But life isn’t perfect and every road has its hazards. As a motorcyclist you have to watch the road as much as you watch the scenery. Here are a few tips on how to handle common motorcycle road hazards.

SIPDE Strategy.

If you’ve ever taken a riding course, or if you’ve been on a bike for more than a year, you’ve probably heard someone talking about SIPDE. If you haven’t heard of it, chances are you are practicing it without knowing.  

Scan - Identify - Predict - Decide - Execute

It’s a simple strategy that is pretty self explanatory. You have to read your situation, identify the problem, weigh the different outcomes, decide on an action, then act. The key to using SIPDE effectively is to always be scanning. The quicker that you can identify a problem, the easier it will be to avoid.

But sometimes a veteran scanner is going to let something slip by. It happens to everyone, and if it hasn’t happened to you, it will. Here are some common motorcycle hazards, and what you can do to handle them safely.

Curves

Curves are the reason that we ride and the reason why we fall. You need to slow down going into curves. No, you don’t have to stop, and no you don’t have to make your turn standing up, but you have to remember that you aren’t on a race track. If you drift into the other lane, you could run into some serious problems.

You need to find your rhythm when riding on windy roads. Too slow and it isn’t fun, too fast and it really isn’t fun. Remember the basics of riding, your bike is going to go where you look. You need to look through the turn to a point where you bike can find a straight line again. Don’t get distracted by passing cars or scenery. Concentrate on the point just beyond the curve.

Ideally, you should take your curves toward the center of the road, while staying within your lane. This way, if there is an obstacle, like a tree branch or gravel, you can swerve back inside your lane, instead of into oncoming traffic or off the road.

Slippery Stuff  

The world is full of slippery stuff. The paint on the road is slippery to begin with, but it can feel like ice after a good rain. The same goes for manhole covers, oil on the road, and just regular old pavement.

The key to handling any slippery surface, or any motorcycle hazard in general, is prevention. If you know that you are going to have to cross a slippery surface you need to be prepared. One of the biggest reasons people fall on motorcycles is that they get caught by surprise. If your bike slips and you panic, you are going to go down.

When riding over a slippery surface, stay calm. Your motorcycle is going to stay upright if you let it. Stay relaxed, stay calm, and stay straight. Don’t try to turn or your motorcycle will slip. Think of it like running on ice. Have you ever tried to change directions on ice? In boots? It doesn’t work.

Trust your bike, and make any adjustments that you have to make after your bike has left the slippery surface. When you regain traction, find a new path that has less hazards.

Grated bridges, grooved pavement, and gravel.

No one likes riding over a grated bridge. The first time that you do can be terrifying. It feels like you have no control over your bike. Your bike will weave left, fall right, straighten out, then lean right. This is another situation where less is more. Trying to correct every little thing that goes wrong with your balance while riding over a grated surface is going to make things worse.
Slow down before you ride onto these surfaces, and try to maintain a constant speed. Accelerating quickly or stopping quickly could make you lose traction. Maintain your speed and relax your muscles. Don’t strangle your handlebars, your bike needs to move. Try to ride in the center of your lane so you can give yourself the most room to teeter while crossing one of these surfaces.

If you hit gravel in a curve, the best thing for you to do is to let the bike ride it out. Gravel on country roads is a temporary problem. The bike will slip for a second, but it should catch itself. When your bike hits gravel, just wait for it to regain traction. Also, if gravel on the road is unavoidable, it probably means that you are driving too fast.

Bumps, cracks, and potholes

The road is full of bumps.  The best thing for you to do when approaching a bump is to see if you can avoid it. A bump in the road might require you to move a little bit to the right or left, other bumps might require you to take them head on. If you are going to hit a bump, you want your bike to be as close to perpendicular as possible. This means that your bike is perpendicular to the street, but that it is also perpendicular to the bump. You want to hit it straight on.

You also want to hit it in the center. A speed bump, for instance, is going to slant down at the end. If you take a speed bump toward the end, you run the risk of glancing off of the side. If you take the speed bump in the middle, you’ll get a little jolt but that’s all. .

Railroad tracks

Railroad tracks are usually the only bump that you do not want to take at a 90 degree angle. The reason is that railroad tracks are usually slanted across the road, and if you turn to make a 90 degree angle, you are going to be driving into oncoming traffic. It’s a compromise between two hazards. You don’t want to be riding parallel to railroad tracks, but you don’t want to make your angle so extreme to bring you into oncoming traffic.

The best thing to do is to not think too much about it. Most streets are laid out so that they are going to cross the tracks at a  45 degree angle. This should be fine for you to get across safely. But remember, a track at any angle is going to be a series of bumps. So prepare yourself for the coming hazard.

Animals

These moving hazards can pop up just about anywhere, and you can’t trust those animal crossing signs because animals never cross where they are supposed to. So how to you watch out for animals entering the road when you have no idea where they will be? Well that’s the trick, you always have to be ready. You should be especially alert if you see a deer, or other wild animal. Animals usually travel in packs, and where the is one, there are usually others.

Also, many drivers have problems with animals at night. Why? Because they can’t see them. If you are driving at night, you need to have a solid headlight. You also need to slow down. Slowing down will give you time to see, identify, predict, decide, and execute.

If you see an animal on the side of the road ahead of you. Don’t think that you can just speed by them. Animals are quicker than you think and might decide to make their move across the road as you are making your move to pass them.

The art of the swerve

Of course, the best way to handle a hazard is to avoid it altogether. The sooner you can identify a problem, the more time you will have to get away from it. But sometimes, you are going to encounter a problem and your only option is going to be to swerve. Maybe you weren’t paying attention, maybe you were riding to fast, or maybe that damn deer just came out of nowhere. Here are a few quick tips on mastering the swerve.

A swerve is essentially two quick turns. One to get you out of harms way, the other to bring you back on a straight path. These turns are extremely quick, and you aren’t going to have the time, or the grace, to lean. You need to stay calm and focused. When you push with your right hand, the bike will move right. Push with the left, and you move left. This counter steering is going to feel unnatural for a new rider so it is highly recommended that you practice.

Take the bike to a parking lot and set up a cone to practice swerving.

The key to motorcycle safety is comfort. You have to be comfortable with yourself, with the bike, and with the road conditions. The more you ride, the more comfortable you will get. But do not mistake comfort for invincibility. We are all susceptible to the cracks in the road.

1. When other riders ask you what kind of bike you have, you tell them red.

2. When you spend more time accessorizing for your ride than actually riding. Nobody cares if you have Harley socks, just ride the bike.

3. When the highlight of your day is not waving at sport bike riders. What's the deal with not waving?

4. When you stand up on your bike for no reason. Listen people, being on a bike is cool enough. Newsflash! Standing is not a stunt.

5. When you rev your bike at a stop sign. Please people, stop the madness! You look...well, like a moron. Your bike isn't going anywhere; Just wait until it's green, then accelerate.

6. If a 55 year-old man in a 95 Buick Lesabre can out corner you.

7. When you wear more leather while riding than a cow ever wore when it was alive. Chaps...not a good look for a grown man.

8. When you drag your feet from a stoplight, and continue to drag them, and drag them...

9. When people ask about your chicken strips...Well, there's the whole problem.

10. When you're riding in a group, try to pull a stunt at the stoplight, and then crash into everyone.

11. When your helmet spends more time on the helmet hook then on your head.

12. If your swingarm is longer than the bike you're currently riding...Here's your sign.

JESSUP, M.D. – On December 5, 2009, Rider Insurance’s Director of Sales, Michael Osheroff, presented a $7,500 check to Bob Henig, owner of Bob’s BMW and board member of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Rider has supported many local and national charities affiliated with the motorcycle community.

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) is a 501c3 non-profit organization that funds research to find the causes and cures for childhood brain tumors. Based in Asheville, N.C., its programs include free educational information about brain tumors, Internet conferences, college scholarships for brain tumor survivors, and Ride for Kids® motorcycle charity events. For more information on the PBTF, go to http://www.pbtfus.org.

Bob’s BMW Motorcycles is one of the largest BMW motorcycle dealerships in North America, and hosts an extensive inventory of new and pre-owned motorcycles as well as motorcycle parts, accessories, and apparel. Bob’s BMW is located in Jessup, Maryland, and can be found online at http://www.bobsbmw.com.

Rider Insurance made this generous donation through The Bleiwise Family Charitable Foundation Trust, set up by Rider’s founder, Harry Bleiwise. Rider is an insurance company for riders, by riders and supports the motorcycle community and charities important to them through donations and sponsorships of numerous events throughout the years.

For more information on the charities Rider Insurance supports, visit http://www.rider.com/motorcycle_community/charitable-causes.html. Rider is also on Facebook! Become a fan for up-to-date information and events that Rider will be attending.

Springfield, NJ – Originally only available in New Jersey, Rider Insurance has branched out to provide motorcycle insurance to Pennsylvania, Ohio, and now West Virginia. Founded in 1971 by motorcycle enthusiast Harry Bleiwise, and built on his dedication to riding, Rider is currently the largest motorcycle insurance provider in New Jersey, and the only carrier serving the motorcycle community exclusively. Rider is now expanding operations to provide coverage to riders on the highways and back roads of West Virginia.

Rider Insurance prides itself on competitive rates, excellent coverage, and hassle free service. Our representatives are committed to providing an unparalleled level of customer care, one that will give riders the freedom to embrace the sport of riding. We provide coverage regardless of income or education level, with no credit checks. Discounts are available, and coverages include liability only or full coverage, with a variety of limits available. Rider insures a wide range of motorcycles, including:

In addition to providing insurance coverage to the motorcycle community, Rider feels it is important to give back to the community. Through the Bleiwise Family Charitable Foundations and general corporate sponsorships and donations, Rider has been able to support many organizations. For the list of charitable contributions, visit www.rider.com.

For more information on Rider Insurance or to get a quick quote, call 800-595-6393 or visit www.rider.com.

Hilliard, OH – Rider Insurance and ABATE of Ohio have teamed up to promote safe motorcycle riding throughout Ohio with their Impaired Riding Program. The purpose of the program is to educate motorcyclists on a peer-to-peer level at various events throughout the state about the effects of impaired riding due to alcohol-related activities. The ABATE of Ohio booth will have portable breathalyzers that can be used to test individuals, B.A.C. (Blood Alcohol Concentration) cards that show the safe zone if alcohol is consumed, fatal vision goggles that can be tried on to imagine what it is like to function while intoxicated, and support materials.

According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s statistics for 2008, 77 of the 212 motorcycle fatalities involved an impaired rider. Statewide, law enforcement is cracking down on impaired riding in an effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related fatalities. As two organizations that care about the motorcycling community, Rider Insurance and ABATE of Ohio decided to help reduce this number on a peer-to-peer level.

ABATE of Ohio launched the program the first Saturday of Ohio Bike Week in Sandusky, OH. During that first day, 53 B.A.C. cards were handed out and over 70 people put on the goggles and experienced the effects of alcohol on both their vision and coordination. Many of those people thanked ABATE for the program and stated that they thought it was a great idea. The program is scheduled to be at ABATE of Ohio, Region 5’s Wooley Eagle Dirt Drags in Hillsboro, Ohio August 15th. For a list of other upcoming ABATE events, please go to www.abate.com.

Rider Insurance, through the June Bleiwise Memorial Foundation, is a very proud sponsor of the program. Rider’s founder, Harry Bleiwise, set up the Foundation in 1995 to provide funds for various motorcycle charity events and programs for great causes. Rider is an insurance company for riders, by riders and supports the motorcycle community and their charities through donations and sponsorships of numerous events and programs throughout the years.
For more information on Rider Insurance, call 800-595-6393 or visit www.rider.com.
For more information on ABATE of OH, call 1-800-25BIKER or visit www.abate.com.