Getting Started: The First Steps to Riding a Motorcycle

Riding a motorcycle isn't a right. It is a privilege one must not take for granted.  Here's a checklist for newbie riders to consider before jumping in the saddle:

Safety Gear

Motorcycling is a high-risk activity, and the most vulnerable riders are new ones. Protecting yourself with proper safety gear is an easy way to save yourself from injury, but the cost of gear adds up, and you'll want to add this to your biking budget.

Training Courses

Though it's common practice to experience your first ride in a parking lot, leave motorcycle training to the pros and take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. The skills you'll learn will last you a lifetime, and MSF instructors will educate you with fundamental skills that will make you a better, more competent rider.

Consider Your Bike Options

Will you be borrowing a bike? Are you considering buying your first bike? Plan ahead by either borrowing, renting, or buying a bike, and you'll be more committed to following through with your path to motorcycling.

Start Slow

As a newbie, you're most likely to make potentially dangerous mistakes. Relax, take it easy, and learn at your own pace; motorcycling is an acquired skill that takes plenty of practice, and it's important that you keep that in mind while you learn.

Learn The Rules of the Road

Traffic laws are different for motorcycles, and each state's Department of Motor Vehicles has online manuals for motorcyclists. Download one, and educate yourself on the laws that govern motorcycling.

Get Licensed

There's no excuse for riding on public roads without a license. Once you've taken a MSF course and learned the basics, schedule an appointment at your local DMV office and take the test.


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Source: About: Motorcycles (Wasef)

Ten Things All Car & Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles

We tend to give a lot of advice to motorcycle riders in, but this blog is for all the other motorists on the roads. Too often we hear “I just didn’t see the motorcycle.” The Cole Legal Group is committed to changing this. While many drivers are only looking for cars or trucks, motorcycles have as much right to the road as any other vehicle.

• There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don't "recognize" a motorcycle; they ignore it (usually unintentionally). Look for motorcycles, especially when checking traffic at an intersection.
• Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.
• Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to thoroughly check traffic, whether you're changing lanes or turning at intersections.
• Because of its small size a motorcycle may seem to be moving faster than it really is. Don't assume all motorcyclists are speed demons.
• Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.
• Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders, (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle's signal is for real.
• Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.
• Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle's better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don't expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.
• Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can't always stop "on a dime."
• When a motorcycle is in motion, don't think of it as motorcycle; think of it as a person.

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Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Loading the Motorcycle for Trips

Whether it is a carton of milk from the convenience store, or camping gear for a three-week trip, you will end up carrying more than people on your motorcycle. All loads should be tied to the machine. Do not balance a bag of groceries between your legs for a short ride home. Strap it to the back seat with bungee cords or an elasticized cargo net. A great carrying device is the tank bag. It puts the weight where it should be – near the bike’s center of gravity. Make sure it is properly secured and remember never to carry anything on the gas tank or inside the fairing that might interfere with the steering of the bike. Just imagine what happens if the bars won’t turn far enough – big trouble.

There are appropriate places to carry loads on a motorcycle, but they do not include your front forks or fenders. If your machine comes with saddlebags a travel trunk, you’re set. If you have none of this, you can always buy a luggage rack or throw-over bags; they are very useful items. When you load saddlebags, keep equal weight on both sides. This is even more important when you are using soft throw-over bags, as an imbalance can cause one side to drop down and rest on the muffler. A blazing saddlebag is no joke. Keep the weight relatively light in your travel trunk or on your luggage rack. Being aft of the rear axle, this is the worst place on the motorcycle to carry much weight. It can turn a well-handling motorcycle into a poor handling terror. Sleeping bags go great back there; a 50-pound sack of dog food does not.

Check the security of the load frequently, and make sure nothing is dangling. It is one thing to lose part of your luggage, quite another to get it tangled up in a wheel.

Above all, DO NOT EXCEED THE GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of your motorcycle! You might find that figure on the plate attached to the steering head; sometimes it is found on the frame; but the best place to look is in the owner’s manual. It is written in pounds, and it includes the weight of the motorcycle, all gasoline, oil and coolant, the rider(s), and the luggage.

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Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Drugs, Drinking & Riding

We kid you not. Mixing alcohol or other drugs with motorcycles is like putting nitro with glycerine: there’s a dangerous reaction. Alcohol is a depressant. The first thing to go is your judgment – and good judgment is essential. Bad judgment gets you into trouble. Drinking riders tend to run off the road more often, have a high percentage of rider error, and use excessive speed for conditions around them. Those are the statistics – and that spells trouble.

It takes a long time for the effects of alcohol to be cleared from your body, roughly one hour for each bottle of beer, glass of wine, or shot of liquor. Nothing but time will shed that alcohol - not showers, coffee, or other so-called remedies.

Have a couple of beers if you wish, but have them at home. Then you don’t have to go anywhere afterward. If you are going to drink, don’t even think about riding.

Alcohol is not the only drug that affects your ability to ride safely. Whether it is an over-the-counter, prescription, or illegal drug, it may have side-effects that increase the risks of riding. Even common cold medicines could make you drowsy – too drowsy to ride – and mixing alcohol and drugs is even more dangerous than using either alone.

Drunk Driving Crashes are no “accident" and are usually life changing. Drunk drivers get behind the wheel due to series of horrific choices and should be penalized through punitive damages. DWI/DUI claims are unique considering criminal charges may be pending, driving and employment records can be key when commercial vehicle drivers are involved; and restaurants, bars, party hosts and other parties who supplied drugs or alcohol can often be held responsible when accidents occur.

DWI/DUI accidents are serious threats to the safety of our community and deserve serious investigation. The Cole Legal Group has a proven track record of obtaining substantial insurance settlements and jury awards for people hurt or killed by drunk or impaired drivers.

Let our experience, commitment and fight work to get you the money you deserve to rebuild your life. Our commitment to you: We will not be out worked!

Contact us today for a free consultation.

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Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation

4B Wild West Bike Rally

The 4B Wild West will be holding it's 4th annual bike rally August 10th through the 11th, at 1761 Country Club Rd in Brownfield, TX (79316).

With over 400 acres of FREE camping, it is one of the biggest bike rallies in Texas! Gates open at 12 pm and admission cost $20 for the whole weekend.

There will be 8 live bands such as an AC/DC tribute band Back in Black, and the infamous Whips and Kisses. There will be an afternoon "Cancer Rides 2 Remember," 4 Brigade FMX stunt show,  burlesque shows, biker games, and so much more.

Since 2009, the 4B Wild West's profits for the event have benefited local cancer patients who are in need financially, and continues to help out those in need. You must be 18 or older to enter.

How to deal with motorcycle equipment failures

If your motorcycle is properly maintained, you greatly reduce the possibility of any equipment failure. However, just in case ...

Blowouts and how to deal with them

If you use tires of good quality, keep them at the proper pressure, and change them when the tread is worn, the chances of having a blowout are small. However, should it happen to either of your tires, you must act quickly and properly.

1. Do not use the brakes; braking hard will only make things worse. If you must use some brake, apply gradual pressure to the brake on the good tire and ease over to a safe spot to stop. 
2. Ease off on the throttle and slow down gradually; rapid deceleration could throw the bike out of control. 
3. Hold those handlebars firmly; a great shuddering may take place as the out-of-round tire flops against the pavement, but you are concerned only with keeping that front wheel pointed ahead until you stop.

Stuck Throttle

Most riders have had bad dreams about this, but few have experienced the problem. That is why all contemporary motorcycles have a cut-off switch by the right thumb. Just in case. Practice flipping the cut-off switch. Chances are you will never have a throttle stick, but if you do, you’ll know how to deal with it. As you hit the cut-off switch, pull in the clutch (you will probably be in gear); then look for a safe place to coast to a stop.


Broken Clutch Cable

Imagine you are cruising along in fifth gear; you want to shift down; you pull in the clutch lever – and there is no return action. It just lies up against the hand grip. No fun, but not dangerous. You can shift the bike without a clutch. This is not advisable unless necessary, but it can be done. Back off on the throttle and shift down a gear. If you have a sensitive foot, you can probably find neutral before coming to a complete stop. If not, get set for a jerky halt.

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source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Ride for Teal

While the trip is still a work in progress, Ride for Teal is a charity ride that benefits ovarian cancer research. Teal is the designated color for ovarian cancer charities, just as pink is the designated color for breast cancer charities.

Along with "We Fight Like A Girl," a non-profit organization, and riders, 100% of the proceeds will go to Ovarian Cancer Research: Awareness and Education.

The ride from Sturgis, Nebraska to Houston, Texas can be viewed more like a Ride-A-Thon, where riders pledge cents to dollars per mile they ride.

The Route: August 1- Arriving to Sturgis, NE to the Buffalo Chip Campground, were the Iron Cowgirl Missy will be performing through the entire rally August 2 through 11- Riding and Partying August 12- Head to Texas. Sturgis to Grand Island, NE August 13- Grand Island, NE to Norman, OK August 14- Norman, OK to Houston, TX

This is not an escorted ride. If you'd like to learn more, check out Houston, Tx to Sturgis '12 on Facebook.  You may also look at the Texas Biker Lawyer Event Page.

iPhone Apps for Motorcyclists

If you ride a motorcycle and own an iPhone here are a few iPhone Apps that can help you enjoy both a little more.

Greatest Road: This app helps you find cool roads to ride in your local area. The roads are submitted by local riders, so if you have favorite roads to ride on you can submit some your self. The interface for this App is great, and it is fun to search for nice twisty roads when you have a Saturday afternoon to kill.

Motorcycle Minder: If you ride a motorcycle, you know it takes regular maintenance to keep you and your bike happy. This app helps you keep up with all the maintenance details for your motorcycle, oil change, chain maintenance, tire pressure, etc. It also has a fuel mileage tracker if you want to keep track of mpg’s.

N-Drive GPS: N-Drive is a great GPS App, whether you are on two wheels or four. It provides turn by turn directions, a POI database, and is one of the more feature rich GPS Apps for the iPhone. If you plan on using a GPS on your bike you will need a good mounting system. I recommend using Ram Mounts, they have tons of mounting applications for phones, gps, and any other goodies you might need out on the road. If you do not have a DC plug you may consider installing one of those also, as the GPS feature on the iPhone sucks the battery quick.

Weather Bug App: This App can keep you out of some hairy situations if you are hitting the open road. It provides accurate weather reports and a live radar. No one wants to get caught in a hail storm, this App can save your bacon.

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[via: Rider Groups]

Road Trip!

Tired of Dallas and need to get out of the city for a while? Why not take a road trip to San Antonio? July is the great time to head down there, since there is so much to look at, especially out on the road. Biker Lawyer has a few suggestions on what to check out.

While traveling south on I-35 to San Antonio, you'll pass Waxahachie, which has one of the most interesting buildings: the Ellis County Courthouse. Built in 1894, the "Unrequited Love Carvings" made this 9 stories tall court house famous. Legend has it that Harry Herley, a stone mason who fell in love with Mabel Frame, daughter of the boarding house where he stayed. At first, Herley carved her face in the sand stone that is now part of the court house, but she ignored his feelings for her, knowing that she would never pay attention to him, those beautiful carvings of her face slowly became twisted demons. This is something interesting that catches the attention from anyone.

After walking around the courthouse for a while, you'll probably work up an appetite. An hour or so further down from Waxahachie, you'll want to make a stop in Waco for some barbecue. Michna's BBQ is located on 2803 Franklin Avenue, two quick turns from the freeway. They are known for their amazing ribs and their southern hospitality; a John Wayne lover would love it.

While you're in Waco, you can't afford to miss a trip to the Dr. Pepper Museum. Located on 300 South 5th Street, here you'll learn anything and everything you could know about the Dr. Pepper brand. A fair warning: this place used to be the easiest place to get the best Dr. Pepper had to offer, the infamous pure can sugar Dublin Dr. Pepper, but after losing a lawsuit last year it is no longer in production. They may still have some in stock, but if you miss out, you'll have to try their infamous XXX Root Beer instead.

After getting your motorcycle back on the road, you'll want to travel a little further down I-35 to Austin. While in Austin, if you ever need something extra for your bike, you can stop at Cycle Gear. They have just about anything one needs for their bike. Should you decide to stop for a while longer, check out the Bat Bridge, where a literal a swarm of bats can seem turn the day into night. It's great for sightseers and nature lovers.

When you finally reach San Antonio, there is no time to rest. You must go out and see it all! The Toilet Museum, Gravity Hill, The World's Largest Boots, The River Walk, and last but not least, The Alamo. San Antonio is a beautiful city, with beautiful people, and great places to eat. Don't forget to have fun and enjoy your escape from DFW while it lasts.