Spring Time, Time to Dust off the Motorcycle ?

Be Aware of Dangerous Motorcycle Riding Weather

The safest thing to do when the weather is bad is not ride at all. If you must ride in inclement conditions, use extreme caution.

Here are some safety tips to help.

Riding Your Motorcycle in the Rain

• Water can make a roadway slippery, causing you to lose traction. Use extra caution and slow down accordingly.
• Wear bright colors to increase your visibility to other drivers.
• Rain-slick roads also increase your braking distance. Increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
• Rain can wash debris onto the road surface, presenting obstacles to avoid. Take action to avoid obstacles in the road.
• If it has just started to rain, oil drips might come to the surface. Use extra caution in the first minutes of a rain storm until oil is washed off the road.
• Rain can sting exposed skin. Wear gloves and full-body protection.

Riding Your Motorcycle in the Snow

• If it snows, stay at home, take a cab or call a friend. If you must ride, slow down.
• Increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
• Watch for hazards partly concealed in the snow.
• Be aware of salt on the road. Road salt can be like riding on gravel and can cause a loss of traction.

Riding Your Motorcycle in High Winds

• Lean over your bike. This presents a smaller profile to side winds.
• Don't "stiff-arm" the controls. Doing so creates rider fatigue – plus, if your body is moved by the wind, that movement goes directly to the controls.
• Get a feel for how strong the wind really is by looking at flags, trees, etc., to see how much they are moving.