Safe driving can be attained through following a few simple, common sense techniques. Things that most everyone is aware of, but many fail to practice from time to time. Motorcyclists should be especially aware of all of these things, as they are vulnerable to injury, more so than anyone in a car or certainly a truck.

It should be drilled into all of our heads by now that a main cause of accidents is inebriated drivers who believe that they can still manage to drive but are really incapable. Instances of the effects of drinking can be seen at pretty much any gathering or party when out of nowhere, someone forgets how much they’ve had and makes a stumbling spectacle of them.

For safety reasons, you shouldn’t ever drive after drinking or even allow your friends or family members to do so. This applies even more so to operating a motorcycle. Drinking can effect the vision of the biker. It can slow reaction time, and cause reckless driving. None of which are good ideas when hurtling down the road on an open piece of metal.

Next, do not let new drivers travel long distances on motorbikes. Those who are new to the demands of riding bikes may not know what their limits are yet. Being fatigued or suddenly finding yourself strained on the road is just inviting an accident.

It is far better to take the time to prepare before embarking on a long journey. This simply means having the patience to wait until you have enough experience underneath your belt. Or even signing up for more riding lessons than you may think that you need. There’s no such thing as being over prepared.

Also, do not drive if you are angry, sleepy or tired. Driving needs to be a leisurely activity. Emotional stress can contribute to the chance of mishaps.

Be sure that you are awake. Especially if you are riding a long distance, it might be a good idea to bring something that satisfies you like an Ipod or CD player so that you can listen to your favorite songs. This always helps to enjoy the ride and combat sleepiness.

Bringing something to eat with you is another good idea. You might find that you are famished in the midst of travel. Hunger can distract you and make you less alert.

Anger can contribute to rash, overly aggressive decisions on the road. This can only attract situations that you don’t want. Either in the form of an accident, an escalation of the behavior by other motorists, or a ticket for recklessness.

Most of all, wear your helmet at all times. Wear safety gear like a leather jacket and protective gloves. Do not cross over the speed limits and risk losing control. No overloading of your passengers. It’s a motorcycle, not a truck. Do not make it a habit to overtake other vehicles especially in crowded streets and during rush hour. And don’t be in a hurry. Getting there safely is always worth being a few minutes late.

Being a safe motorcyclist is really just a matter of disciplining one’s self. The more we follow our own common sense as well as the rules of the road, the safer we will be.

Neglecting motocross maintenance and your chain in particular can have disastrous effects on your bike and your wallet.

A few tips:

- Make sure your chain is cleaned the best of your ability every single time you ride. Removing your chain from your bike is the easiest way to make sure that you are cleaning your chain effectively. Many motoring outlets will supply specialist brushes which are just the thing for getting into the nooks and crannies’, ensuring this part of motorcross maintenance is competed correctly.
- There are hundreds of specialist cleaners that can be used, but ensure that once clean, your chain is never left to dry off on its own accord. Used cloths followed by a de-watering fluid such as WD40 to ensure that all water particles are removed from your chain. If left to dry on its own, your chain will swiftly rust and will be no better than junk, your time spent on motocross maintenance will be pointless!
- Not adjusting your chain correctly will result in inconsistent power delivery, excessive wear of the chain and of course excessive wear of both front and rear sprockets.
- Not adjusting and cleaning your chain correctly is important just like every other form of Motocross Maintenance. If it is not conducted on a regular basis, your chain will either disintegrate, or snap!

Right, so back to basics now!

Motocross maintenance of your chain is important and there are three fundamental components that ensure your chain is in tip top shape; cleaning, lubricating and adjusting.

Cleaning – As recommended, remove the chain from your bike first and get stuck in, ensure all dirt and dust particles are removed before drying off with cloths and de-watering agents such as WD40. WD40 and similar products are essential for motocross maintenance, they ensure that metal parts are free from water particles and therefore, rust!

Lubricating – Once clean and dry, ensure that your chain is correctly lubricated, using professional motocross maintenance lubricating agents.

Adjusting – Perhaps one of the most crucial parts of the process is ensuring that your chain is properly lubricated. In general, most manufacturers suggest that there is a ‘play’ of 15-20mm when the swing arm is sitting directly horizontal to the floor. Remember that this measurement is when the bike is standing freely rather than on a stand.

It’s important to make sure you have the correct documentation for you and your motorcycle when travelling abroad. You must ensure you carry the following documents when riding.

1. Passport – Non-European Union citizens may also require a Visa.

2. Driving Licence – Full UK Licence with paper counterpart if a photo licence. (An International Driving Permit is not necessary).

3. MOT Certificate – If your motorcycle is more than 3 years old.

4. Registration Document (V5) – Sometimes referred to as a Log Book.

5. Insurance Certificate for your motorcycle – In line with European Union directives your vehicle insurance will automatically cover you to the minimum requirement of third party only while in other EU countries (a green card is not necessary). If you want to maintain the same level of cover you have in the UK you will need to contact your insurance company or broker before your departure. Your insurance company will normally make a small charge to extend your existing cover to other EU countries.

Make sure all your documents are up to date and will cover you for the length of time you spend abroad. Also ensure your motorcycle has a current Road Tax, and is otherwise road legal.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Ride on the right-hand side of the road (except in Malta and Cyprus). If you don’t have a rear-view mirror on the left-hand side of your motorcycle, have one fitted to aid in riding on the right.

The wearing of a suitable crash helmet is compulsory throughout all European Union countries.

A suitable GB sticker must be displayed at the rear of your motorcycle. Since 2001, if you have a number plate displaying the blue GB euro-symbol, a conventional sticker is no longer necessary.

For many motorcycles, headlamp deflectors or readjustment is not necessary (the headlamp beam pattern is different to that of cars). If in doubt, ask your local MOT station to check.

Riding with dipped headlights is compulsory at all times in most European countries.

GOOD IDEAS

Although not a legal requirement, the following will give you peace of mind and could be essential should the worst happen.

1. European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – In order to receive health care treatment in any other EU country you will need a European Health Insurance Card. As from 1st January 2006 this card replaced the E111 and entitles the holder to state-medical treatment for injuries and illnesses. You can apply for a EHIC by picking up a form at your local post office, there’s no charge. The EHIC may not cover all the services you might expect in the UK, so it’s a good idea to take out a suitable Personal Travel Insurance.

2. Personal Travel Insurance – Make sure the policy covers motorcyclists. Some insurance companies consider motorcycling a dangerous pass time. As always, if in doubt, ask.

3. European Breakdown Insurance – None of us expect to breakdown, but a suitable insurance could save a lot of hassle and money should you have the misfortune to suffer mechanical problems.

It’s also a good idea to carry a spare set of bulbs and fuses, a basic tool kit, a puncture repair kit, chain lube (if applicable) and a spare set of keys.

….literally between life and death. But how does an ordinary guy in the street make an informed decision about what kind of helmets give the best protection? There are so many makes, models and styles. Not to mention DOT approved, Snell approved, ECE approved! It is enough to make you go goggle eyed when confronted with so much information.

Tests have shown that it is perfectly possible to suffer a fatal injury falling off a stationary bike if you hit your unprotected head on the kerb, so clearly choosing the right helmet is important.

But which one?

Wouldn’t it be easier if someone just said, “Look, when you are in a crash, you need to protect this part of you head, because this is the part that is most likely to get hurt”…

Well that’s what I thought. But it wasn’t that easy. The kind of information you need to make that kind of call requires someone, somewhere to look at a whole bunch of motorcycle crashes, look at the motorcycle helmet damage, assess where point of impact occurred and put the information into a form that allows ordinary motorcyclists (like you and me) to make a decision for themselves.

However, the good news is that if you look hard enough, the information is available. A study was carried out a few years ago by Deitmar Otte, at the Medizinsche Hochschule in Hannover, Germany on the damage incurred to helmets worn by motorcyclists involved in accidents. His analysis was extremely detailed; in fact it was far to detailed for me to go into here, but it was extremely important.

What I am going to do is tell you in a nutshell, what parts of your head are most likely to be hurt in a motorcycle accident, based on Herr Otte’s findings. The rest is up to you…

Take a motorcycle helmet and look at it from the front. Now imagine it is divided into three sections; the top (the cranium area) the middle (the area most likely covered by the visor) and the bottom (on a full face helmet, this would be the chin guard area). If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, and you hit your head you would have a 35% chance of the impact occurring to your chin area, 10% to your visor area, and 22% chance of the impact occurring to your front cranium area.

Now turn the helmet around. Looking at it from the back, divide it in two down the middle. In an accident, if you hit you head, you have a 16% chance of impact occurring on the back of you head to the left side, and a 17% chance of impact occurring on the back right side.

Conclusion? Well, this is only my personal conclusion but I would say the following…

The safest helmets are full face helmets…

Second would be three quarter helmets with visors…

Third would be half helmets…

Last would be novelty helmets.

There are lots of reasons people wear helmets. However, if safety is you main consideration, then take a good look at the full face helmets on the market, take some time and find one which you can wear comfortably on every ride.