Team Oregon Motorcycle Safety Program

See and be seen. How long does it take you to spot the rider in this image? Now… How long did it take to spot the second rider? High-viz gear might seem a little over the top to some, but its ability to draw attention in a sea of traffic is, just, wow. And research shows that riders who wear white helmets and fluorescent, reflective upper-body clothing are less likely to be involved in a crash with another vehicle. You're welcome.

https://team-oregon.org/rider-resources/safety-tips/

Sunday is Father's Day. Some of us have dads who tried to encourage our motorcycle riding. Some of us have dads who tried to discourage it. Some of us had neither. Whichever way, we're still riding. We hope you give the big guy a little extra attention this weekend. And if you're a dad who rides? Well, you know what to do today.

Riding scenario for you: Your co-worker finally talked you into joining his club for their weekend ride, a nice, long trip to the coast and back, with lunch at the turnaround point. As it turns out, lunch is at the group's favorite tavern, and everyone is drinking alcohol. How would you handle this?

An uncomfortable truth: In Oregon, we lose more riders to curves than we do to other drivers. However, unlike other drivers, most curves have big yellow warning signs. Some of them even flashing. There is no need for ANYONE to enter a curve too fast and crash with this information available. Set a modest entry speed before you enter, based on the advisory speed, and wait until you know where the exit leads before accelerating. The entrance should be the slowest part of your curve.

https://team-oregon.org/rider-resources/safety-tips/cornering-tips/

Words of wisdom. A quote from Motorcycle Roadcraft about scanning ahead: "Riders have observational advantages over car drivers in that they are generally sitting higher and have greater flexibility in positioning their machine to get a good view. If properly used, these observational advantages can help to offset the rider's greater vulnerability." That may be slightly less true now that big trucks and SUVs are so popular, but the nugget is still an advantage we have that others don't. Use it!

https://www.roadcraft.co.uk/motorcycle-roadcraft/reviews/

Advanced training is not for experts. It’s how riders become experts. Many of us take a pass on advanced training after we get our endorsement because we are afraid we're not up to the task. But that's the POINT of advanced training. It's riders who are realistic about their abilities and make an effort to improve. Building an advanced skill or skills not only makes you safer, it makes riding way more fun, too. Come take an advanced course with us and find out for yourself...

https://team-oregon.org/training-courses/additional-training/

“Expert riders use expert judgment to avoid having to use expert skills.” This is the Team Oregon mantra. All the skills in the world won’t help if your judgment fails. When you throw a leg over your favorite machine, make sure you're 100% up to the task, and ready to pay 100% attention to riding. In other words, put everything else aside and ride.

Basic truth about motorcycling #6: No matter how good your are, from time to time your judgment or skills aren't up to the situation. Be realistic. We're not perfect, and we make mistakes. Riding gear is our last resort when our judgement and skills fail us. It won't prevent every injury, but it sure goes a long way to minimizing the consequences of a mistake. Smart riders commit to wearing “all the gear, every time.” Or put another way: If it’s too hot to wear the gear, it’s too hot to ride.

Safety technologies like ABS, traction control, cornering ABS and ARAS (advanced rider-assistance systems) on motorcycles are a GOOD thing for riders. When you are shopping for your next bike and the machine you've fallen in love with comes with these technologies, grab it. And if you already have these technologies on your bike, learn how to use them to max advantage on the street. We have at least three courses (Advanced Riding Techniques, Braking Clinics and Road Riding Tactics) where riders learn to use their ABS...

https://team-oregon.org/training-courses/additional-training/

Speed is the most common contributing factor in motorcycle crashes. Riding too fast for conditions or exceeding the speed limit are cited in almost every crash report. Speeding steals critical time and space you may need in an emergency. Instead, manage your risks by matching your speed to the conditions, approaching hazardous situations on the decel, and not overriding your sight distance in curves. Learn more...

https://team-oregon.org/rider-resources/safety-tips/blind-spots-yes-blind-spots/