Central Arkansas

H.O.G.

CAC HOG Safety

Safety Tip of the month:

Provided by Ken "Aussie" Wood

July

Riding Gear Tips………

 Helmets should fit tight but not have any pressure points to cause headaches while riding. Helmets should also be DOT approved and have integrated eye protection or offer a way to comfortably add it without affecting peripheral vision.
 Gloves should be leather with a fastening system that prevents them from slipping off in a crash. Gloves with integrated armor offer better protection.
 Boots should be leather and have a fastening system to keep them on your feet and covering your ankles in case of a crash.
 Riders should find a jacket that offers shoulder, elbow and spine padding. Shoulders and elbows usually take the hardest hit in a crash.
 Riders should find pants that offer protection for the often overlooked knees and hips. The more knee protection you have the better.
 Earplugs are an essential part of riding because they help to reduce wind noise and allow you to hear and stay alert to your surroundings. Also they can protect your ears from the loud decibels you get from the awesome rumble of those Harley Davidson pipes!

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June

Every rider experiences painful moments such as the dreaded boot-heel-rubber-to-hot-pipe-melt-scorch. Don’t worry, were here to help because we have all done it; touched a flaming hot exhaust pipe with our boot heel. You get the ugly scorch on otherwise pristine chrome. The blood pressure goes up, now you’re hot too. Before you reach for something sharp, take a second and relax. Go inside and pour yourself a cool beverage because this fix is so easy you will be shaking your head and smiling before you know it. Let your pipes get cold to the touch and then spray the scorched area with a good coating of Easy Off oven cleaner and forget about it. In the morning that nasty mess should rinse off with cold water quicker than greased lightning.

May

The weather is warming and one of the things that may not be in your ride kits yet is sunscreen. Even a cloudy day can deliver a lot of sun damage to unprotected skin and for those who have not experienced it, a small lump or mark on your skin can be cause for some real concern. I carry some sunscreen in my pannier bags most of the time, and try to remember to wear a hat as often as I can when we stop after a ride.

April

Many vehicles on the road have ABS now. This was not so when I learned to ride back in the early 1970‟s and riders could count on reaction time and great braking capabilities of the smaller bikes of the day to keep safe. It was easy to be close to a vehicle and still stop quicker than they could. But today ABS means some cars can stop really quickly – faster than your bike and if you do not have enough space in front of you, you may end up bending the fender of the driver in front. I try to practice my emergency or fast braking maneuvers in safe locations and to remember to keep a decent space in front of me at all times. Have you practiced a quick stop recently? Braking techniques are part of the Experienced Rider course!

March

When I ride, I am always seeing other drivers, riders, pedestrians or perhaps animals and wondering to myself – “What are they going to do as I approach them?” or, “What will they do as they approach a potential hazard?”. Often times, I can tell they have not yet observed a potential hazard even though they may be closer to it than me, so what will they do when they suddenly see the hazard?. I try to make as many as 3 plans to escape these “what if” scenarios and I get very concerned and alert when I can only figure one way out. How about you -do you search for hazards, evaluate the scene and plan on what you can do if you need to do something in a hurry?

Remember to S.E.E.

S: Search aggressively for potential factors and hazards - in front of you, behind you and to the sides.

E: Evaluate how factors will interact so you can predict what may happen.

E: Execute the decision that best fits the situation - adjust your speed, adjust your position and communicate your intentions.

February

Time and Space Safety Margin, the area around you when riding in traffic, is affected by three factors:

1) your capabilities and limitations

2) the capabilities and limitations of your motorcycle

3) roadway/traffic conditions.

Adjusting your speed and/or lane position will give you more reaction time and allow you to be more visible to other motorists. One way to think about your personal safety when you ride is to consider your personal margin of safety. Considering the ‘margin for error’ – how much extra time and space you need given your level of skill.
Have you booked up for an experienced rider training class this year? Why not? Every rider is encouraged to do the experienced class every 3-5 years. Contact Jones H-D or the MSF for more information.

January

Paint, Shadows and Cars are your enemies. No matter how brightly chromed your bike is, how bright the headlights and no matter how loud your pipes, there is at least one deaf and blind motorist out there ready to drive straight through a stop sign just to destroy your beautiful Harley; so be ready for them. Why are Paint and Shadows your enemy? Paint on the road can be slippery especially when wet. Shadows hide things that can be dangerous for you or they may even be black ice. Practice avoiding shadows and dark spots on the road as well as avoid riding on paint. Every little thing can help you to stay upright.