I published this safety tip a year ago and I thought amid the Coronavirus Pandemic, it would be particularly relevant today.
All of us have fears. It’s normal and necessary for survival. It is our reaction to that fear which will determine our fate. A famous proverb once said our experiences are 10% percent of what the world gives us and 90% of how we react to it. Riding a motorcycle is no different. Allowing fear to consume your thoughts can kill you – it leads to riders panicking and making critical control mistakes or worse yet, taking no actions at all. It leads to self-doubt that “I cannot make that corner, or I cannot get the bike stopped quick enough.”
We all have or have had some type of fear when we started riding and you may still have some of those fears today, but over time with practice and experience, those fears can be morphed into confidence and competence.
Competence = Confidence. The more proficient rider you become, the better you feel when on the ride. There is no better feeling than to be able to make a Big V-Twin do exactly what you want it to do. Master the machine, don’t let it master you.
As I was finishing a ride yesterday, I passed a sign along the road that said, “Hang in there, we got this.” And I say the same to all of you, now get out there and ride!!
Until next time, Ride Safe!