motorcycle safety

We recently were sent the results of a 10 year study concerning motorcycle injuries and fatalities state by state across America. Utilizing data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the law firm of Easton & Easton in Southern California compiled some eye-opening stats that we thought were worth sharing. Motorcycling is more than a hobby for many of us; in some ways more than even a passion. Motorcycle riding is a way of life, a lifestyle that we embrace, a culture we join and participate in. And because we love it so much and it’s so ingrained in our daily lives, we need to be aware of the dangers all around us and the inherent risks involved, so we can live and ride accordingly.

Safety vs. Joy

by Ted Edwards | Feb 20, 2023 | Ride Life | 10 |

Riding a motorcycle is neither safe nor sane; they are temperamental machines draped in risk. Short wheelbase. Steep steering. Too much horsepower. Not enough brakes. Two skinny patches of rubber. A fuel tank between your knees. An fire-breathing engine between your shins. Delicate fingertip controls. They fall over when you turn, dive when you brake and loft the front wheel under greedy throttle. All of it screams you should have listened to your mother. Or father.

Against The Wind

by Rob Brooks | Aug 20, 2021 | Nuts & Bolts | 2 |

Some years back on a cross-country excursion with my old riding pal Mike, while crossing Oklahoma and north Texas westbound on I-40, we found ourselves struggling against 30-40 mph winds blowing north, pushing on us from our left. At highway speed (doing about 75-80), passing or being passed by semis and the crazy turbulence they generate, Mike and I literally had our hands full keeping our luggage-laden touring bikes in our lane. The winds howled two days against us, determined to toss us into the ditch or under some truck’s tires. But we prevailed, albeit completely exhausted. Quite the nerve-wracking stint in the saddle, to say the least.

Great Group Riding Tips

by Road Dirt Crew | Jun 23, 2021 | Nuts & Bolts | 6 |

Although it’s sometimes thought of as a solo activity, motorcycle riding is far from it. There is a strong sense of community, great camaraderie, and a large contingency of group functions that are built into biker culture. The simplest form of this is going on group rides – if the thrill of the open road is great to enjoy by yourself, sharing and relating the experience of an exhilarating ride is sure to be amplified if you bring your friends along.

Lawrence of Arabia and the Motorcycle Helmet

by Rob Brooks | Jun 4, 2021 | Legendary Bikes, Ride Life | 17 |

I recently ran across a fascinating story of a legendary hero, whose tragic death paved the way for the development of the motorcycle helmet. Being a bit of a history buff, I just had to share this bit of motorcycling trivia that led to the not-so-trivial safety gear we all (hopefully) utilize every time we throw a leg over and throttle out on two wheels.