Life is graded on a Curve!

Life is graded on a curve! In 1997 2,116 motorcyclists’ lost their lives operating their bikes; figures more than doubled in 2008 to 5, 337! Part of the increase is due to the age of the rider and engine displacement. This combination of older riders on higher-powered motorcycles is partially responsible for a steady increase in motorcycle deaths from the late 1990s until 2004. Half of motorcycle fatalities in single vehicle crashes relate to problems negotiating a curve prior to a crash—almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities in single vehicle crashes occur at night (List of motorcycle deaths in U.S. by year). The age of those owning motorcycles over 40 years of age has also increased from 15.1% in 1980 to 43.7% in 1998. With age comes slower reflex times, unsteadiness and loss of dexterity. The average age of a Harley-Davidson owner has risen from 38 to 46 in the past decade!

Having said this, in order to lower the risk of crashes, motorcyclists must attend some form of safety education, mainly hands-on training. Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) has two basic classes; the Basic Rider Course (BRC) and the Experienced Rider Course (ERC). Both classes teach students what they need to know to maintain a strategy to minimize risks. Risks associated with age, riding ability, other traffic, road conditions, weather, passenger, luggage, fatigue and drugs; with each of these comes an increased level of risk. Risks are compared to a step-ladder, each step is equal to a risk factor. As with a ladder, the base is wide and stable, the higher you climb, the more risks are being added, with that a higher degree of a crash developing. Riders need to constantly be aware of their surroundings. By keeping their head up and eyes aggressively searching ahead, they can maintain a 12 second anticipated path of travel. By searching well ahead of ones motorcycle and playing the “what-if” game, you stand a much higher degree of reacting to a situation before it becomes a risk and potential for a crash. Many riders know that intersections pose the most dangers for them and other traffic. Vehicles turning left in front of them because these drivers are not looking for motorcycles only cars. The next area where many crashes and/or fatalities occur is in the curves, hence the title of this article. Life is graded on a curve, actually life and death happens in the curve! By properly setting yourself up prior to the curve, you can be safer, see further into the curve and maintain traction control through the curve. How you do this, will result in a Life, yours!

MSF teaches Slow, Look, Press and Roll as the 4 steps to any curve. One must SLOW prior to the curve. This slowing must be enough to allow for a slight roll-on or increased speed in the turn, this is known as Entry Speed to a Turn. Whatever that speed is, it allows for a slight increase in speed while in the turn and helps increase your needed traction control through the turn. LOOK, by looking all the way through the turn, or as deep into a turn as one can, will allow for a smooth path of travel, not like “connecting the dots”! To help oneself Look into the turn, you must start every turn on the far outside portion of your lane. You need to take turns in an “outside-inside-outside” path of travel. By doing this, you will open the radius of the turn, helping to look further into the turn and allow yourself to increase speed, offering that important traction control. PRESS in the direction you want the motorcycle to lean and go. A slight PRESS on the left hand grip will lean the motorcycle to the left and the motorcycle will go to the left and vise-versa. The final step is the important ROLL step. This is the part where you roll-on the throttle or slightly increase speed to help maintain or increase traction control. Four things you NEVER want to do while in a curve is brake, roll-off the throttle, down shift or pull in the clutch. Any one of these four will result in loss of traction control and may result in a crash. Riders who crash during a curve normally enter the curve too fast, thus feel the need to slowdown. By remembering the 4-Step Process of Slow, Look, Press and Roll, you can maintain safety and minimize risks. Life on a motorcycle is judged on a curve. Attend a Motorcycle education safety class to help with judging curves and your right to life! Practice ride within your ability. Maintain your motorcycle. Wear all the gear all the time. Ride free of alcohol and other drugs. Wisconsin Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club has introduced 5=Zero Campaign. By practicing the 5 elements noted above we can get closer to the goal of zero motorcycle deaths in Wisconsin.