Let's Ride: Lessons for riding motorcycles

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Rex H. Steves
  • 514th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST --  When asked to write an article for the Freedom Flyer, my mind immediately went through all the possible things I could write about. I have settled on my passion, motorcycle riding. Summer is here, those with bikes are riding and those without bikes are often shaking their heads at some of the stupid biker riding habits. The purpose of this article is to share with you some of the lessons I've learned over my past 30 years of riding.

My first two wheels with an engine came as a Christmas present: a mini-bike when I was about seven years old. Believe it or not it was a great thing to learn on; understanding balance, torque (or lack thereof), braking, crashing, etc. I was obsessed with two wheels from that point. My first on-road bike came at the age of 16 years old, and I have been riding since then. Over the years, I have crashed, friends have been injured, and some have lost their lives, and of course countless close calls, however, my passion remains, and all of these events have taught me to respect the road and ride smart. I would like to share four tips for riders and non-riders.

The first thing I will share is never drink and ride. When on my bike I do not allow myself even one beer; nor will I ride with anyone who has been drinking. If you ride, you know how vigilant you must be, and even one drink will slow your reaction time. Drink at the end of the day, after you are done riding.

Second, I remember my first motorcycle course. The instructor told us to make eye contact with drivers when at an intersection or when pulling out onto the road. I have learned this does not always work. People will look directly at you and still pull out in front of you. I suggest watching the front tire of the vehicle pulling out. If it moves at all, I'm on my horn. Your horn is your friend, use it!

Third, for non-riders, seeing a bike in your rear-view mirror coming at you faster than you'd like, I suggest not moving. Typically, the rider has a plan, even though he or she is riding like a maniac. It is best to let them execute the plan versus. trying to get out of the way quickly and possibly creating an even more dangerous situation.

Lastly, do you know where to spend your hard earned cash? In my opinion, this is easy. Tires and brakes are arguably the two most critical areas of your bike. Never patch or plug your bike tire, just suck it up and buy a new one.

Like most riders, I can write a book on experiences and tips. These four tips simply standout in my mind as some of the most important. Obviously, wear your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), it works! If you don't think so watch some of the crashes on YouTube from the Tail of the Dragon; there is a huge difference between crashes with and without PPE. Enjoy the remainder of the riding season and I hope to see you on the road!