Safety Tip: “Dealing with the Skid”

Safety tip from Paul Carroll It’s inevitable, if you ride you will eventually experience a loss of traction on your bike at some point.  Now, the more important thing is what you are going to do about it. First is not to panic.  You can deal with this skid.  If you are talking about hitting some sand or dirt…

EXPLORE

Riding Smart: The Importance of Escape Paths When Riding a Motorcycle

Motorcycling is more than just a mode of transportation—it’s a lifestyle, a passion, and for many, a thrilling adventure. But with that thrill comes inherent risks.  As any seasoned rider will tell you, being aware of your surroundings and anticipating potential hazards are key components of staying safe on the road.  One critical skill that often goes overlooked by…

EXPLORE

Safety Tip: Lane Positioning

Safety tip from Paul Carroll I am asked quite frequently, “what is the best lane positioning for riding one’s motorcycle?” The answer is, “that depends.” Keep in mind there are two parts of this decision making: lane selection and lane positioning. Lane selection is utilized when you are traveling on a multiple lane roadway traveling the same direction, e.g….

EXPLORE

Gearing Up for Two-Wheeled Adventures with a Passenger: Your Safety and Comfort Guide

Road tripping with a passenger on your motorcycle can be an exhilarating experience filled with shared smiles and scenic memories, but it’s crucial to prioritize safety and comfort for both of you.  Before going on the road with a passenger, hone your skills to become a more proficient rider.  Carrying extra weight significantly alters handling, increasing the risk of…

EXPLORE

Safety Tip: Obstacle Negotiation

NoCo IMRG Motorcycle Skills Practice

A safety tip from Paul Carroll It’s inevitable during your riding that you are going to encounter obstacles which present themselves in the roadway that you cannot simply counter-steer to avoid and you must ride over them. This can be done safely through proper motorcycle placement, throttle and brake control, head and eye placement and good judgment. While you…

EXPLORE

Safety Tip: Pick a Parking Lot and Practice Your U-Turns

Making a U-turn on a motorcycle can be a challenging maneuver, as unlike cars, motorcycles only have two wheels and can easily tip over if not done properly.  It is essential to practice U-turns in a safe environment, such as an empty parking lot, before attempting them on public roads. Learning and practicing how to do a U-turn on…

EXPLORE

Safety Tip: Easy Head & Eye Placement Exercise

This is a very easy exercise from MCrider to practice head and eye placement – i.e. point your nose in the direction you want to go.  MCrider states that using good head and eye placement is an essential riding principal, and something riders need to continually work on.  Where you look through a corner impacts your turning radius, ability…

EXPLORE

Safety Tip: Friction Zone

At our last skills practice session, we practiced riding as slow as you can in a straight line without putting your feet down.  This was to get you to gain a better feel of the friction zone on your motorcycle.  Using the friction zone is a core skill every rider needs to master.  Using the friction zone is the…

EXPLORE

Safety Tip: Lifting Fallen Motorcycle

NoCo IMRG Safety Director demonstrates how to lift a fallen motorcycle.

Paul, Northern Colorado Indian Motorcycle Riders Group Safety Director, demonstrates how to upright a fallen motorcycle. A couple of NoCo IMRG Chapter members also try their hand at lifting the bike. The key to lifting a fallen motorcycle is to use your legs, and not risk injury bending down and trying to lift with your back. Turn off the…

EXPLORE

Safety Tip: Surface Appraisal

Northern Colorado IMRG Carter Lake

If you’ve ridden a motorcycle more than a day, then you know that not all roads are the same. They are made of different materials, the quality of their surfaces varies considerably; they might be pristine and immaculate in one place, only to become pot-holed war zones a few miles further along. This is especially true right here in…

EXPLORE