Bad ride? No such thing.
It was cold and dark as I left work the other day and the threat of rain was imminent. The gas gauge was on empty. I rode down Street Road in Southampton, a busy four lane road, and tried to… (READ MORE)
It was cold and dark as I left work the other day and the threat of rain was imminent. The gas gauge was on empty. I rode down Street Road in Southampton, a busy four lane road, and tried to… (READ MORE)
“Push left go left, push right go right”. Those of us who’ve taken the MSF safety courses are familiar with the term and I’ve written about it here before. As a practical example I noticed an easy way to demonstrate… (READ MORE)
It’s November here in Pennsylvania which means fairly soon we’ll be setting the clocks back and will lose an hour of daylight. In addition the days are shorter and the weather is turning colder. We’ve already had a large snowstorm… (READ MORE)
The governor of my home state of Pennsylvania is expected to sign a bill into law that will make texting while driving a primary offense. This long overdue law will make the roads just a little bit safer for motorcyclists…. (READ MORE)
I’ve noticed more and more occasions in which an impatient driver swerves out over double yellow lines to swing around another driver making a turn. As a motorcyclist it can be fairly terrifying seeing a car swerve into your path,… (READ MORE)
An important consideration in commuting, or in riding in general, is being mindful of the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you leave too much space you could encourage an approaching driver turning left to… (READ MORE)
One day traveling down I-78 outside Easton, Pennsylvania I was doing about 65mph in the right lane. That part of the highway crosses over a valley where, from experience, I know the wind tends to be nasty. In my mirrors… (READ MORE)
I’m always cautious of accepting a “wave-out” from another motorist. A few things have to be considered if another motorist is letting you pull into traffic. The most important consideration is whether or not you have sufficient clear vision ahead… (READ MORE)
Stebel Air Horn Motorcyclists use the word “Farkle” to describe customizing a motorcycle for both fit and function. A lot of riders, new riders especially, are unaware that motorcycles can be tweaked and adjusted to fit the rider and need… (READ MORE)
Commuting on a motorcycle is an interesting endeavor. The focus required to navigate through traffic allows me an insight into driving behavior that I was never aware of when I commuted in my car. It’s fascinating the way the mind… (READ MORE)
This is the perfect display of throttle, brake and clutch control as well as counterbalancing and counter steering. Just amazing. Take notice of his head when he gets into the 360’s. He’s always looking at where he intends the bike… (READ MORE)
I just saw this on CNN. We really are at our best when things are worst. The cyclist survived and is in stable condition after surgery.
Why ride a motorcycle? Wind in the hair? Maybe but I’m bald so that’s not it. Remember the famous Seinfeld episode “The Contest” in which Jerry explains male masturbation to Elaine by saying: “we have to do it, it’s part… (READ MORE)
Many studies show that over 90% of motorcyclists who are involved in accidents are either untrained or trained by someone they know. Knowing how to operate the controls of a motorcycle is simple enough and can be taught quickly; however,… (READ MORE)
I had occasion this morning to ride in a steady rain that began long before I left the house. Special care needs to be taken when riding in the rain. That said, if proper precautions are taken you can ride… (READ MORE)
I am pleased to announce that rider training/coaching is available upon request: Please see the training page for details.
The end of summer signals the start of the rut for the Pennsylvania whitetail deer in late September. Now, the whitetail isn’t a particularly bright animal but the rut reduces him to among the dumbest in the animal kingdom. The… (READ MORE)
Try the rider perception test. It’s not as easy as it seems…
Have you ever noticed how small and difficult to see most motorcycle turn signals are? To increase your visibility I recommend using the typical hand signals when turning. Not only does it signal your intentions, it also helps get you… (READ MORE)
The friction zone is the area of the clutch between fully open and fully closed. Getting a feel for the friction zone is the best way for beginners to learn to ride and it’s absolutely necessary to have a feel… (READ MORE)
When I was in my 20’s I considered learning to ride. I worked for a land surveyor at the time and we had a client who was a policeman who rode. I had a chance to talk to him about… (READ MORE)
Rather than rant here I’ll just say that, at least in Pennsylvania, everyone is on a cell phone in every car all the time. On my commute home I tried to count how many people around me were NOT talking… (READ MORE)
The position of your motorcycle in your lane can be of critical importance in ensuring that other motorists see you (and that you see them). There are 3 positions you can use in various situations: left, center and right. Consider… (READ MORE)
Almost daily and much to my constant amazement I see fellow motorcyclists riding as though they were driving a car; making assumptions about what’s in a blind spot, not signaling, swerving around turning traffic, tailgating. In my opinion the easiest… (READ MORE)