MSF Guide to Motorcycling Excellence now available

In a clear, engaging style with detailed diagrams and extensive full-color photographs and illustrations, the book covers rider attitude, protective riding gear, pre-ride inspection, maintenance, and troubleshooting, as well as basic and advanced street skills. Tips on how to create a “space cushion” to avoid traffic hazards; stop quickly; countersteering and counterweightning; manage traction; position your body for smoother, more consistent riding; travel skillfully and safely in a group; maneuver effectively and efficiently in off-highway riding; and much more, are included. The new edition also features advice from legendary racers Kevin Schwantz, Freddie Spencer, Nick Ienatsch, Rich Oliver, and Reg Pridmore, as well as contributions from Erik Buell on motorcycle geometry, Keith Code on countersteering, and Paul Thede on suspension adjustment, among other experts.

 

Link

Harley-Davidson and Rider’s Edge present About the Bikes course

Harley-Davidson Motor Company announced today that Rider’s Edge the Harley-Davidson Academy of Motorcycling is launching a new educational course, About the Bikes™ – An Intro to the Motorcycle Models. The course is currently enrolling both new and current riders at participating Harley-Davidson dealerships.

The new, 2 1/2 hour interactive course gives students a comprehensive overview of Harley-Davidson®and Buell® motorcycle families, including their model history, features, and modification options. The course curriculum was developed by professional trainers to help students determine their best overall motorcycle fit for their riding needs and style, so they ultimately feel comfortable and confident about choosing and purchasing a motorcycle.

About the Bikes begins with two hours of fluid, interactive classroom instruction on Harley-Davidson and Buell motorcycles and concludes with a hands-on Showroom Experience to reinforce and compliment the training while facilitating the best overall motorcycle fit for each individual.

The course was crafted in response to the volume of customers expressing a strong desire to increase their motorcycle knowledge. Before taking the About the Bikes pilot course, 75 percent of surveyed Rider’s Edge® New Rider Course students expressed some level of uncertainty about their ability to choose the right bike and 82 percent expressed interest in a course that could teach them more about Harley-Davidson and Buell models.

After the pilot course, 100 percent of participants had an increased level of confidence in their ability to choose the right bike. “The About the Bikes course gave me more confidence to choose a bike,” said one graduate. “I’m glad I waited to buy my bike,” said another. “Now I know exactly what I want.”

In addition to About the Bikes, Rider’s Edge also trains customers in the New Rider Course, the Skilled Rider Course and the Rider’s Edge/MSF Guide to Group Riding.

MSF: Facts and Figures

In these so-called modern times, people are under constant stress from bumper-to-bumper commutes, roadway courtesy is a lost art, too many drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and over 43,000 Americans lose their lives yearly in traffic collisions (FARS 2005). According to the World Health Organization, traffic fatalities worldwide exceed 1.2 million annually, with an additional 50 million disabling injuries.

Motorists simply are not taking their driving task seriously.

General Distractions

In a study conducted by Liverpool Victoria Insurance, "Driven to distraction by our children," drivers reported loss of concentration when driving due to:

Children
Hand-held mobile phones
Using audio entertainment
Eating and drinking while driving
Using satellite navigation
Cell Phones

A University of Utah study, "A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver, found that "�the impairments associated with using a cell phone while driving can be as profound as those associated with driving while drunk." Furthermore, the impairment levels were similar whether the cell phones were used in handheld or hands-free mode.

Turn Signal Use

Perhaps no study symbolizes the lack of thoughtfulness on the road more than one conducted by Response Insurance. They found that 57% of drivers admitted they don't use their turn signal when changing lanes. Their reasons?

They don't have time (47%)
They're too lazy to bother (23%)
Fear of forgetting to turn it off (17%)
Too busy changing lanes a lot to use it (11%)
Adds excitement to driving (7%)
The Vatican Weighs In

No wonder even the Vatican has called for a return to sanity behind the wheel. They've put their advice in the form of the following "Ten Commandments for Drivers" and we present them here not to endorse any particular religion but to demonstrate the universal concern over the needless waste of human life in traffic collisions:

You shall not kill.
The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination and an occasion of sin.
Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
Support the families of accident victims.
Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
Feel responsible toward others.
MSF's Key Messages

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has its own outline of key messages for drivers, with an eye toward protecting one particular vulnerable party -- motorcyclists:

Look For Motorcyclists -- Use your eyes and mirrors to see what's around, and check the blind spots when you're changing lanes or turning at intersections. Look, and look again.
Focus on Driving -- Hang up the phone, put down the MP3 player, settle the passengers, and drive.
Use Your Turn Signals -- Signal your intentions for everyone's safety.
Give Two-Wheelers Some Room -- Don't tailgate or pass too closely.
Take Your Time -- Nothing is as important as the safety of your loved ones, yourself, and the others with whom you share the road.
All these principles can be boiled down to this paraphrase of the Golden Rule: Drive near others as you would have others drive near you.

http://www.forcardrivers.com/facts.html

Helmets: Get your head into it

Common Road MSF motorcycle safety public service announcement

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