From the GWRRA Texas Chapter M-2 Education Corner

“New Motorcycle, New Dangers”

A new bike means more than just a financial commitment. Written by Art Friedman and originally published in Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine, copyright 2008.

Did Santa bring you a new bike for Christmas? Or perhaps your spring riding plans include an upgrade to a new machine? Check out Art Friedman’s tips for getting started right on your new ride.

One the great moments in a motorcyclist's life is when he gets to ride that gleaming new bike home for the first time. Unfortunately, it's one of the more dangerous moments too. Research, like the Hurt Report, indicates that even experienced riders who are riding bikes that are new (or at least new to them) are more likely to be involved in a crash.

Unfortunately, the research hasn't determined why. Let's speculate a bit. New bikes are unfamiliar. They don't steer quite the same as what you are used to. Their controls are positioned and shaped differently. Clutches engage slightly differently than on your previous ride, and brakes and tires arrive at lock-up with less or more pressure. You sit on it slightly differently, and you use different muscles to steer, hold on during acceleration, and brace yourself while stopping. In other words, the movements and routines you used while riding that old bike need to be modified. You will need to adjust to the new bike. It takes time and miles, more of both if you don't ride frequently.

Prepare for your first ride on that new motorcycle by reading the owner's manual before you ride the bike home. Find how the components work that are different from any previous bike you may have owned. This includes things like switches and instrument controls. Be sure you understand unique features—Harley Davidson’s turn signals and Kawasaki's automatic neutral finder are examples—before they can distract or confuse you while riding.

Before you ride your brand new motorcycle away from the dealer, make sure it is adjusted to fit you instead of the factory's test rider. Get the brake pedal set so you can cover it comfortably. Rotate the handlebar in its mounting clamps to a position where you can get maximum steering leverage and comfort. Adjust the clutch and brake levers on the handlebar, so you can reach them, and better still, cover them, comfortably while riding. Adjust engagement points to fit your hands or feet or use the lever position adjusters if the bike has them. Set the mirrors so their fields of view barely overlap behind you and give maximum view of the lanes next to you. Once set, make sure all the mirrors' nuts are tight, since a mirror that suddenly swings loose is a major distraction. Other adjustable components may include windshield, suspension, and headlight. Get a dealer's technician to set these components up to fit you (you should be able to look over the windshield), and while he's at it, ask about any other questions you have from reading the manual—toolkit access, fuse box location, how to check oil level (On the stand? Dipstick screwed in or just dipped?), where the idle speed control is, etc.

Take it easy during your first weeks with a new motorcycle. Slow down in corners and avoid situations—like frantic traffic or riding in a group—that add to your workload. You should also deliberately get to know how your new bike works at the edges of the envelope. Find a safe place to learn how far it will lean, when parts drag, and practice swerving and panic braking. Practice quick starts too, since there are situations when a hard launch is your best escape from disaster. This is also an especially good time to wear your most protective helmet and most visible riding gear to help ensure that you don't have to use any corner of the bike's envelope. Keep your headlight on high beam during the day to further increase your visibility.

Of course, there are other, and potentially bigger, reasons that riders crash on new bikes. You may be tempted to show off -- always a bad idea, but even more so when the bike isn't familiar. Looking around to see if people are checking out your cool new bike means you aren't paying attention to Job #1. And don't even think about having a beer when you are going for a ride.

This isn't to say that your new bike is just an accident waiting for a place to impact. A new bike can also be safer. It's likely to have better tires, brakes, and suspension than your old ride, so once you learn about it, set it to fit you, familiarize yourself with how it works, especially near its limits, and adopt a no-nonsense attitude about riding, your new bike will probably be not only more fun, but safer too.

Nancy Kwiecien
GWRRA Spring, Texas Chapter M-2 Chapter Educator