Motorcycle Man’s Mantra: Good Experience Comes from Bad Judgment.
In many cases, rider experience, training, and decision-making played a major role in avoiding a motorcycle accident and a traumatic motorcycle injury. But sometimes the only reason that rider avoided a motorcycle accident was that same rider had been through that same situation before, maybe multiple times.
Because of his experience, the rider knew what was happening, DID NOT PANIC, and corrected himself. His biggest concern was not a motorcycle accident or his own death, but the sh*t his friends were going to give him later at the after party.
New riders face the highest crash risk. It takes time to develop the reflexes needed to brake, steer, and balance instinctively under stress. Until those reflexes become automatic, panic responses—such as grabbing the wrong control or freezing—can happen.
That’s why Motorcycle Man says find a mentor. Don’t know one? Well, joining a motorcycle organization can be more than a way to share a ride, have a good time, and develop connections with the world. Joining a motorcycle organization can save your life! There are almost as many different types of motorcycle organizations as there are motorcycle riders. Do your homework, and join one. Find a mentor and hear about close-calls and safety tricks. See the helpful links below
Motorcycle Man’s Mantra for Motorcycle Organizations: “Get In Where You Fit In.”
These clubs can teach you how to be safe. Or a Motorcycle Man Mantra: “How To Not Be A DUMBASS.”
Here is a good A.I. primer video (3:00 minutes) which outlines the 40,000 foot view of priorities, requirements, level of commitment, and styles of motorcycle clubs: Bing Videos
This awesome podcast/video out of Las Vegas, “The Biker Protocol” gives great coverage of the options: Bing Videos
To learn how experience, training, maturity, and impairment affect both safety and legal claims, visit our Rider Factors in Motorcycle Crashes page.