I was an instructor for 4 years. I agree 100% with all your avoidable accidents. Great work here Kevin Thanks for posting this. Have your beer back at home after the ride.
When I was young and cocky, I thought I didn't need a motorcycle safety course, but the USAF decided otherwise, and I had to go. Three days after I completed the course, what I learned there saved my life. I can't recommend a MSC enough for new riders.
Hi Kevin, I am just here to say thank you for all your content! Since I started riding my motorcycle 5 years ago (with zero prior experience age 45) I've learned a lot from you and thanks to that I haven't had any accident. I had more than 25 years car driving experience when I stared on a motorcycle but this need more focus and alert! Recognizing hazardous situation is very important for a beginner even if they drove a car before! You made a huge impact on me how to recognize these patterns! Thanks again for you great educational work! God bless you and your family!
My only comment with regard to group writing is as follows: our riding group has a strict policy of the posted speed limit +/- 5 mph for group rides… If the new rider is incapable of riding at the speed limit, that individual should not be involved in the ride… here in East Tennessee, we have some very challenging roads and new arrivals are very often unprepared for those challenges… Our Ride Captains rate their rides on a 1-5 scale based on distance & degree of difficulty for newer riders to determine if they care to be involved… At the same time, we offer, formal and informal, rider education to help improve, expand and sharpen their skills…
when I took the msf course years ago I was surprised to hear about the percent of motorcycle accidents that involve alcohol? biking in itself just relaxes me, why ruin it with alcohol
I breathed a huge sigh of relief after hearing that. Between that and people riding without helmets, the statistics really don't look so bad for a normal, defensive rider.
Thanks Kevin. On the topic of drinking and riding, one fact worth mentioning is that even a single drink can make you feel more CONFIDENT and CAPABLE, even though your reflexes are slower and your judgement is less than stellar. Just because you're confident and capable doesn't mean you are. Keep up the good work!
Kevin, myself 58 (11/'64) and a "newb" rider, I am taking in this video as much as I can! I still need to get a grip on the "SLPR" & the "trail braking" manuvers, to make them SO second nature for me as a rider-it's important, just like counter steering. My friends think I'm being silly or stupid about this matter. I need better friends in my life than those nit-wits, they have little to no respect for motorcyclists at all.😫🥺😵😠💔 Doug🧸🐻🏍️
Thanks Kevin! I didn't realize how much I was relying on my front brake. Had to do a emergency brake yesterday. Was able to stop in time thanks to seeing your video! Appreciate all you do!!! Thanks again!!!
When I took the MSF course at Harley Davidson in Orlando, they said most people (who were under the influence)if they were driving a car would call a Uber or cab. Most people that riding a motorcycle would not leave their bike no matter what. That’s were bad things would happen. Not a problem for me since I have a CDL license. Having a wreck is a concern . Potentially being unemployed, is a really big problem. As we all told his kids, there’s a time and place for everything. Choose wisely.
My first crash on my Honda Rebel was front-braking into a turn. I went into a low-side slide and a motorist stopped to help me out. Minor body and bike damage, but LESSON LEARNED.
Hi Kevin. Love your vids. You talk such a lot of sense. I've been riding since I was 14 (68 now) and have overlanded all over the world-but still don't consider myself "good". ...but these things are undeniable. 1) Don't drink when you're on the bike. Ever. 2) regarding the corner speed and entry I'ver always used this maxim taught to me by a UK Class one Police trainer. "Always be able to stop in the distance you can see." Ride safe , Sir. Rod
I'm new at riding. I'm blessed with having a 20mph street in front of my house. This road intersects with a main road and side street. The great thing about this street is that there are parking lots at each end and a stop sign halfway down. I ride down, turn around and ride back.
Lookin looking through the turn, as taught when I had the MSF, saved my life. One day I was trying trying to keep up with friends (stupid I know!) and found myself in an OhShit moment. Looking through the turn to where I wanted to go was hard; but it worked. When I got home I contacted Texas DPS and said I want to teach the course. Taught for 14 years and will. be recertified later this year. Thx MCR for reminding us of these tips!!!
As a beginner, I had to learn the hard way the bike will follow your eyes. I was making a turn at speed with a bus coming from the opposite direction into the same turn and my eyes were on the bus instead of where they needed to be, where I was heading. That was a lessen well learned.
Another Great video! Thanks Kevin! We get in our comfort zones and forget these tips due to routine, but these tips remind us that bad routines can lead to a very bad day.
Boy you are right about all this. I live in florida and we do not have a helmet law here. I crashed and after the ambulance ride to the trauma center there was a gash in my helmet. The trauma surgeon looked me in the eyes and he said that had I not had the helmet this outcome would have been much different. I ended up with 3 broken ribs collapsed left lung and a broken ankle . I learned the hard way to wear all the gear all the time. I think that riders who don't wear a helmet do not use their brains to consider the end result of bashed in skulls.. A video about protective gear is in order.
Great video Kevin another mistake we should point out one that I made serval years ago. I struggle with back pain my wife and I were off on a long ride from NJ to Connecticut I knew better didn’t take any pain meds but however I decided to take a mild muscle relaxer. It nearly caused us our lives… we were on the interstate and was making a lane change I was so relaxed didn’t notice a car in my blind spot he thankfully moved over and slowed down on top of the we had a 18 wheeler behind us….. 😮 God was with us for sure I never ever takes meds other than Tylenol if I’m in pain and can’t ride I go in a cage… to many good days for riding not worth riding a motorcycle under any circumstances that would take away from your ability to stay 100% focused!! Thanks for great video’s!!
Proud to say i'm a rider under the influence of Coffee !! a Member of the D-D Crew (dunkin-Donuts) and the Coffee Cruisers International, i have a cousin owns one of the world famous Biker Bars, and he has a coffee pot for me LOL !!
You don't have to be at the legal level of legal impairment for it to affect your ability to drive a motorcycle. I no longer don't drink or smoke pot but I got friends who do. They feel if they could pass a breathalyzer test they are good to go. I don't believe this is true and it is even more of an issue at night. Great video.
Took a spill about a year ago. Entry Speed and not looking where I needed to go was the cause. 180 sharp bend turn, I got about half way through the turn, and the bike started going wide. SLOW DOWN AND LOOK WHERE U WANT TO GO!!!!!
As always Kevin, "spot on"! Excellent advice as always. I've always been leary of "poker runs". Usually the run is for a good cause, however they all seem to have stops along the way at bars. I feel that riding in a group of unknowns whom have been drinking is highly dangerous. If I feel the cause is a good one, I just show up, pay the entry fee and leave. The only other thing that I could add to your commentary would be this. Watch the road signs. Doing a lot of riding in S.E. Ohio, I can't count the times I've been in a corner to find a pickup truck with a trailer or piece of farm equipment coming out from a hidden driveway. Thinking back or physically checking back, there WAS a sign in place warning of this. Thank you for your teachings, I have become a better rider over the years because of your channel.
Head and eye - The thing I would add is to keep your eyes up and looking as far ahead as possible. I still repeat this in my helmet, because on less than perfect roads it is easy to find yourself looking just past the front wheel. Head up, looking through the curve, and reading it right. I also find that leaning forward, some, to the inside of the curve - gets your arms in the right position to countersteer (relaxed inside - extended more outside the curve), and helps you focus on the curve.
It would surely be a good day if you didn't have to put these out there again (and again). Not thinking "it'll happen to me" is a huge human failing, and why YOU need to keep doing these videos! I can't say it enough to my son, a new rider: Stay away from other vehicles, no matter what! Always look ahead! Practice the low-speed stuff frequently! And do NOT ride impaired. While driving a car after pot isn't the best idea, you only have TWO contact patches and whatever you had messes with physical balance, EXACTLY what you don't want on a bike. Thanks again, and keep pounding home these messages!
To me its funny- when I started riding all you got was a booklet and a road test and you were on the road! I took my first saftey course in my twenties to learn how to corner better on my wideglide! I'm in my late 50's now and I still brush up on the newest techniques! I believe it's pride and arrogance that kills most of us! In 47+ yrs of riding I've had only two accidents and they were both avoidable with the exception of my own failures to react ahead of time!
Another great vid, Kevin...all backed up by the MSF BRC and ERC courses I took. One comment regarding looking deep into corners...I ride a lot of country roads by choice and one thing I find a lot is gravel entering the turns. If you are looking deep into a turn you won't see it. I have modified my approach by looking deep as I enter the turn but shifting to close-up to get through the gravel. Any good alternatives you can think of?
Great content Kevin. Being under the influence of any substance is a recipe for disaster on 4-wheels let alone 2-wheels. I see it all the time and never understood it myself...
Long ago I went to a party and carefully limited my alcohol to 1 per hour to stay legal. So I had 3 beers in over 3 hours. Got on the bike to ride home and though I was legal to drive, I was super uneasy riding. I never, ever drove after alcohol or drugs after that. My friend was killed on the freeway in MN while driving drunk.
Many years ago at the pub one night, my best mate (who lived within walking distance of the hotel) decided he was okay to ride home. We could neither talk him out of it, nor get his keys off him, so I put pebbles in the boots of his spark plug leads to prevent him starting it. He was SOOOO drunk that he couldn't work out why it wouldn't start even after watching me do it. He gave up and walked. Next day he thanked each of us for what we did, and we're all still around to laugh about it today.
Frankly, freeway riding around the DFW area is tantamount to surrounding yourself with stupid. It’s not an option for me, and I’ve never seen an upside to it. Great video, Kevin. Thanks for sharing the info.
Thanks Kevin, as you say - time and space, so important for safety. I ride 75 miles round trip daily to work and this for me is crucial, along with being predictable for drivers. Expect the unpredictable from them though. Thanks for another terrific video. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
If I could make a video for newer riders, I’d hope I could make one half as good as this. So with over a half century of motorcycles under my belt, why am I watching this? Because my journey to always be a better/safer rider, never ends. For the record; I got my screen name, on a motorcycle, in 1981, thanks to a drunk driver. But I still ride, but when I do, I ride WOKE. Ride safe, my Brothers & Sisters!
Keep up the good work Kevin, i was in a wreck around 5 years ago and was on the Interstate getting ready to turn left and get on to another Interstate was doing the speed limit and slowing down looking ahead and saw a pickup truck merged from 2 lanes over and jumped in front of the vehicle in front of me and slammed their brakes and the vehicle in front of me did the same and I started braking and moved to the left shoulder to avoid a accident but the person in front of me moved to the left shoulder also and hit me with their rear bumper and I was in the jersey wall, totaled the bike and I had to have surgery on my right ankle and I had a plate and screws there, was always asked if I was going to get another bike and my answer to them was if you were in a wreck are you doing to quit driving a vehicle they said no but it is different i said no it is the same thing because the bike is my main transportation, i ride 80 miles a day round trip to work and back home. Thank You for what you are doing here. God bless you
I sometimes try to get the front wheel to lock up while just pushing the bike (bars straight), but so far all I get is fork compression. I don't think I'm very good at snatching the front brake
These are good controllable behaviours, but what about attitude? I would like to see a discussion on the importance of attitude, as it seems to me to be an important factor in dangerous driving and accidents. For example, forgiving people who cut in or cut you off, or getting into a race with other riders or car drivers. Yielding to others when they are in a 2 ton vehicle and you are on an exposed 200kg motorcycle is a survival strategy and in no way a reflection on your manliness.
Front brake at slow speeds is a result of lack of slow speed riding skill and the ever present motorcycle shuffle with both feet dragging the ground instead of on the bike and controlling the rear brake. Don't look where you are going, look where you want to go. Drinking and operating any machine is a problem just waiting to happen. Enjoy your bike, enjoy your beverage of choice, just no at the same time.
You and me are some of the best in the world. Just connecting to those that want to learn is a challenge. You can ride with me anytime. I will always hope we can teach at the same time!
I agree that learning in the dirt is a good way, but it can also develop some habits not appropriate on the street. One of them is putting your foot down to avoid a fall. This isn’t good on a large bike on pavement as I learned once. Another of them is rear brake bias as you mention. That is very bad on the street unless you are traveling 5 MPH or less. You want front brake bias on the street in all but the slowest of maneuvers.
@LTVoyager you are correct for the majority of situations on the street. Relying too much on the rear brake can get you in trouble. What o should have said was I always cover my rear brake in a stop and initially apply about 10% rear then follow on with front brakes. My comment was more directed at stopping not braking in curves etc. I never stab the rear brake hard like I would on a dirt bike. With regards to your comment about sticking a leg out on the street being bad I did use that technique recently when I was turning left into a road that was cambered down from the road I was on. I hit a tar snake and was going to low side to the left. I stuck my left leg out and pivoted around it keeping the bike from dropping. That was a very low speed maneuver. Once again the dirt skills help with low speed issues not so much with higher speeds.
@@postalshark Many years ago while riding my Kawasaki Voyager XII, I was riding through a construction zone where heavy equipment had been crossing the paved road and left a thin layer of mostly clay dirt. There had been a light rain that morning and even though I was holding steady throttle, my rear tire began to slide down the camber of the road as I crossed this dirt part. I instinctively dabbed my foot and when my boot caught the pavement at probably 20 MPH, it nearly ripped my leg out of my hip socket. Not a good habit to have on the street.
@LTVoyager I agree with you that putting your foot down is risky. I'm not talking about 20 mph I'm talking about less than 5. Low siding in that intersection with traffic moving was not a better solution in my situation.
Yes I agree about the entree speed and distance because yesterday when I was following my dad on my motorcycle instead of giving five meeters I gave a space of about forty meeters so I could see a head of my dad's car what find of Hazzard's there a head.
The most important thing to remember. Always assume no one sees you, because most of the time they dont. Wear that bright shirt and helmet, whatever. The person that hits you never saw you.
This is the 3rd time watching this video 😊. My most recent drop, 4/13/24 was as a STUDENT in BRC2 in training to accumulate more MSF Coach qualifications!! X With a full left crank of the handlebars, MY clutch management FAILED ME and down I went, the stop sent my helmet impacted the windshield at the same time the brake reservoir hit it and it cracked at the bezel. A complete fracture and I had to discard it for ever,
To the last point- pilots are required to wait at least 8 hours after having a drink before flying. And most won't do it the day before at all. Great advice I'd say. Especially when you consider things like cars and telephone poles are going by just feet away 🤨
Front brake with the handlebars turned? It all depends on how you use it. If you use the front brake abruptly with the handlebars turned, then you'll discover the fastest way to drop a motorcycle. Use the front brake smoothly and the bike will straighten itself, coming to a smooth controlled stop.
🙋♂️Guilty X4. I'll admit that back in the day we may have spent a Saturday fishing, swimming & partying and then rode home. Rest assured that after years as a Extraction Tech on a VFD I'm not going to be that person ever again. I'd never heard of Trail Braking before I started watching MC training vids a couple of years ago. At this time, I've practiced it enough to use it but it's not my cup of tea. After decades of using SLPR I'm just more comfortable with it. My point here, Learn, Train & Make up your own mind what level of dumb you're comfortable with.🤷🏻♂️
Words of wisdom. Wish I had this knowledge when I started riding back in the early 90's. It is very bad there are people that still ride after drinking. I avoid all riders that even think about getting on a bike after a beer.
Wow! I didn't know the percentages of alcohol/substance related motor vehicle deaths was that high. Those numbers are scary. It is quite possible to lower the amount of deaths in accidents by nearly 1/3 just by not drinking or doing drugs before riding or driving. Terrible waste.
I don't drink alcohol, at all, but know a lot of riders that do. I will NOT ride with someone in a group if they have been drinking more than a beer. It is just too dangerous, and could end up involving you in their accident. My brother was killed by a drunk driver, he was not on his bike when it happened, but would not have happened either way if the driver would have cared what might have been the result of his drunk actions!
Under the influence why I don't do poker runs. Seems the majority of them go from bar to bar for check in places and most of the riders have at least one or maybe two beers at ever check point.
There's an interesting formula that relates to dropping a motorcycle at a gas pump. The weight of the motorcycle is inverse to the weight of embarrassment squared by the number of witnesses, causing a full dress tourer to suddenly equal the weight of a Honda Grom. This inversion increases in the company of a date.
If you REALLY want to lower your risk of dying while riding a motorcycle, get rid of your over-powered Sports Bike. Just think, more skills training, no riding while intoxicated and not riding a Sports Bike, the stats will go down to near zero.
I saw a video of yours earlier where you had a website for crash bar sliders. I have a 22 Indian chief that limited and I want to get a set for my bike.
33% of riders in crashes had alcohol/intoxicants in their system. It is possible that 33% of all the population have intoxicants in their system at some time during any day. If that is the case, then correlation is inevitable. In my state 99% of street bike fatalities are wearing helmets. It is a helmet mandate state. We have to go to SC and Fla to get real causality stats...and ignore the mandate states. Same with seatbelts or under 16 rider age. However we know if buzzed or drunk you are going to make mistakes in distance judgement, spacial geometry, balance, coordination.... I'm assuming the relationship of bars to riders is our childhood if relating bars to horse riders in westerns.
Erm if what you said is true, 33% of crashes are intoxicated but also 33% of the general population is intoxicated, then that's actually no correlation at all. It's like saying 33% of crashes were blondes and 33% of the population are blondes.
@@xpusostomos correct. Most accidents occur in the party hours where 1/3rd of the general population has some buzz going. Brews with buds, a joint or three, glasses of wine at a meal or at a venue. That art exhibit or art night downtown. A stop on the way home from work at Mo's. Golf or a game. Meeting girlfriends friends at that cute new winery. Various soma in the system. I'm just being realistic by observation.
@@xpusostomos no at the end (orig post) I did say that intoxicants slow response, warp perception and increase bad decision choices. I'm only saying the statistics are suspect. It is also suspect that they are a nice number 33%...basically 1 out of 3 a very popular number in advertising and political statistics for over a century. There are a large number of crashes not reported. He even says he considers any drop outside his proverbial training parking lot to be a crash. There are a lot of crashes without serious injury. There are more 1 person wipe outs than two vehicle bike crashes. How would they fit into the statistics if their blood alcohol was not tested, or they weren't eve in the accident? These are questions to ask of any research that finds exactly what the researcher already assumed and wraps it up in a neat package report. The cops test living people they think are drunk. The hospital does blood work on some injuries that involve torso but not a broken leg, collar or arm. There may be an autopsy on deaths, there may not. That's a lot of problems with the base population collection right there. I'm not telling you what to think, but I am suggesting HOW to think. Don't just consume the talking head flippant quote.
I took msf motorcycle safety training in 80s in Oregon, while I was teaching school. The class organization was a joke. 1 student was assigned too ever section too teach the class. After each section was presented instructors would take that student too another room an tell him what he did wrong an what he needed too do to correct teaching skills. But going to another room left rest students sitting in empty classroom, doing nothing, "Learning Nothing" on correct presentation, teaching all being reviewed on another room. By time course was completed, all students only observered all students teaching wrong way for every section, but their own, where they were separated from class. by class end students had no instructions on correct teaching on any section but one. It was a nightmare! Then after class completed instructor started yelling in anger at all student an me. MSf was a complete joke too any teacher, an that was my profession. I walked out, never went back!!! Note: cop/biker/neighbor that asked me to take msf instructor program owned police dog that killed his wife, tore her head off by her throat an ate her chest cavity heart an lungs by time daughter found her mother ate alive by a police dog! No one ever saw msf/cop/husband again, an his dead wife was a wonderful person!
Now this might amuse some viewers when I recall an incident I was kind of involved in just before covid hit. I was driving my van down a single lane close to my house. Halfway down the lane there was another lane to my right that joined my lane at 90°. I was probably driving less than 10mph as I approached the lane joining mine on the right a motorcycle pulled out onto my lane without even slowing or looking properly. The guy grabbed the front brake and fell down 10’ from my van. I jumped out to help him up with his bike and boy was this guy super embarrassed. I knew the guy as he lives at the back of me and I know what he does for a living. Well he’d been a bike instructor for about 5 years at that point. If anyone should have known better it was him. The reason I’m telling this storey is that even experienced and in this case professional motorcycle riders can have a momentary lapse in concentration. Lesson here is this can happen to anyone not concentrating ALL the time.
hey, this is really good Contin and the whole thing about not driving a motorcycle drunk or high you would think it’s common sense, but just so you know you have made a difference with at least one person that would be me appreciate your Content
Nice refresher video here. Always good to get a reminder as the riding season ramps up for most of us. Knock off the rust with this information and with some refresher skills building in a parking lot. Just did my emergency braking skills the other day, first time on the bike this spring. Cornering was really rusty; I have a great Tail of the Dragon type road near home and it really shows how much work I needed to get smooth again. If professional racers are always in training then us road riders would be wise to do the same. Next up, countersteering drills and emer braking.
Hey Kevin, not sure if you do this, but I would love to have you analyze a situation from an accident I was involved in back on March 29th where a driver turned in front of me and wiped me out on the bike. Would love to know what I could have done better, would be happy to provide all the details if you're interested.
@@MCrider Unfortunately no. It was a situation where I was riding in the right lane of a four lane road, truck slowing to a stop to turn in the left lane, oncoming car didn't see me and thought it was clear to turn left in front of the truck. I saw the situation unfolding, didn't like it and covered the front and rear brakes but that was all there was time to do, didn't see the car coming across my path until it was too late to do anything about it. I wasn't riding in the truck's blind spot, I know not to do that. The road dips down to go under a railroad underpass, so the car coming the opposite direction was looking uphill which was obscured by the truck waiting to turn and my view was also obscured by the truck. I'm thinking the only thing I can do moving forward is to NEVER cross an intersection like that in the future unless I can see the full thing. The car should not have turned left if they couldn't see that it was clear. It was all a timing thing, the situation was created in just a few seconds. Another strategy I thought of was to always ride in the left lane. The accident couldn't have happened if I had moved to the left lane and stopped behind the truck waiting to turn. Been thinking through strategies to reduce the chances of someone turning across my path.
I was an instructor for 4 years. I agree 100% with all your avoidable accidents. Great work here Kevin Thanks for posting this. Have your beer back at home after the ride.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
"Separate you from a whole lot of stupid", what a way with words! I love these little nuggets of wisdom. Thanks again Kev. See ya on the road.
When I was young and cocky, I thought I didn't need a motorcycle safety course, but the USAF decided otherwise, and I had to go. Three days after I completed the course, what I learned there saved my life. I can't recommend a MSC enough for new riders.
Hi Kevin, I am just here to say thank you for all your content! Since I started riding my motorcycle 5 years ago (with zero prior experience age 45) I've learned a lot from you and thanks to that I haven't had any accident. I had more than 25 years car driving experience when I stared on a motorcycle but this need more focus and alert! Recognizing hazardous situation is very important for a beginner even if they drove a car before! You made a huge impact on me how to recognize these patterns! Thanks again for you great educational work! God bless you and your family!
My only comment with regard to group writing is as follows: our riding group has a strict policy of the posted speed limit +/- 5 mph for group rides… If the new rider is incapable of riding at the speed limit, that individual should not be involved in the ride… here in East Tennessee, we have some very challenging roads and new arrivals are very often unprepared for those challenges… Our Ride Captains rate their rides on a 1-5 scale based on distance & degree of difficulty for newer riders to determine if they care to be involved… At the same time, we offer, formal and informal, rider education to help improve, expand and sharpen their skills…
when I took the msf course years ago I was surprised to hear about the percent of motorcycle accidents that involve alcohol? biking in itself just relaxes me, why ruin it with alcohol
I breathed a huge sigh of relief after hearing that. Between that and people riding without helmets, the statistics really don't look so bad for a normal, defensive rider.
@@GeneralChangFromDanang THIS!!! I want this to be more clearly explained! Many people really don't realize that the stats are significantly off!
Cause you'll get beat up going to a biker bar and ordering an apple juice
Thanks Kevin. On the topic of drinking and riding, one fact worth mentioning is that even a single drink can make you feel more CONFIDENT and CAPABLE, even though your reflexes are slower and your judgement is less than stellar. Just because you're confident and capable doesn't mean you are. Keep up the good work!
Kevin, myself 58 (11/'64) and a "newb" rider, I am taking in this video as much as I can! I still need to get a grip on the "SLPR" & the "trail braking" manuvers, to make them SO second nature for me as a rider-it's important, just like counter steering. My friends think I'm being silly or stupid about this matter. I need better friends in my life than those nit-wits, they have little to no respect for motorcyclists at all.😫🥺😵😠💔 Doug🧸🐻🏍️
"Ride your own Ride" Excellent lesson again, thank you!
Thanks Kevin! I didn't realize how much I was relying on my front brake. Had to do a emergency brake yesterday. Was able to stop in time thanks to seeing your video! Appreciate all you do!!! Thanks again!!!
Thanks Kevin, great episode today, as usual. Looking forward to getting the bike out for the season soon, here in Canada.
When I took the MSF course at Harley Davidson in Orlando, they said most people (who were under the influence)if they were driving a car would call a Uber or cab. Most people that riding a motorcycle would not leave their bike no matter what. That’s were bad things would happen. Not a problem for me since I have a CDL license. Having a wreck is a concern . Potentially being unemployed, is a really big problem. As we all told his kids, there’s a time and place for everything. Choose wisely.
My first crash on my Honda Rebel was front-braking into a turn. I went into a low-side slide and a motorist stopped to help me out. Minor body and bike damage, but LESSON LEARNED.
You can front brake into a turn, it's called trail braking. But you cant incorrectly front brake into a turn 😊
Thank you Kevin for this valuable riding safety education, it has helped me become a better rider over the last few years
It's good to be reminded. Thank you Kev. JB 🧑🏻
Hi Kevin. Love your vids. You talk such a lot of sense. I've been riding since I was 14 (68 now) and have overlanded all over the world-but still don't consider myself "good". ...but these things are undeniable. 1) Don't drink when you're on the bike. Ever. 2) regarding the corner speed and entry I'ver always used this maxim taught to me by a UK Class one Police trainer. "Always be able to stop in the distance you can see."
Ride safe , Sir. Rod
I'm new at riding. I'm blessed with having a 20mph street in front of my house. This road intersects with a main road and side street. The great thing about this street is that there are parking lots at each end and a stop sign halfway down. I ride down, turn around and ride back.
Lookin looking through the turn, as taught when I had the MSF, saved my life. One day I was trying trying to keep up with friends (stupid I know!) and found myself in an OhShit moment. Looking through the turn to where I wanted to go was hard; but it worked. When I got home I contacted Texas DPS and said I want to teach the course. Taught for 14 years and will. be recertified later this year. Thx MCR for reminding us of these tips!!!
As a beginner, I had to learn the hard way the bike will follow your eyes. I was making a turn at speed with a bus coming from the opposite direction into the same turn and my eyes were on the bus instead of where they needed to be, where I was heading. That was a lessen well learned.
I am trying now to break myself of that deadly habit.
The bike goes where you look. Target fixation can kill.
Another Great video! Thanks Kevin! We get in our comfort zones and forget these tips due to routine, but these tips remind us that bad routines can lead to a very bad day.
Boy you are right about all this. I live in florida and we do not have a helmet law here. I crashed and after the ambulance ride to the trauma center there was a gash in my helmet. The trauma surgeon looked me in the eyes and he said that had I not had the helmet this outcome would have been much different. I ended up with 3 broken ribs collapsed left lung and a broken ankle . I learned the hard way to wear all the gear all the time. I think that riders who don't wear a helmet do not use their brains to consider the end result of bashed in skulls.. A video about protective gear is in order.
Great video Kevin another mistake we should point out one that I made serval years ago. I struggle with back pain my wife and I were off on a long ride from NJ to Connecticut I knew better didn’t take any pain meds but however I decided to take a mild muscle relaxer. It nearly caused us our lives… we were on the interstate and was making a lane change I was so relaxed didn’t notice a car in my blind spot he thankfully moved over and slowed down on top of the we had a 18 wheeler behind us….. 😮 God was with us for sure I never ever takes meds other than Tylenol if I’m in pain and can’t ride I go in a cage… to many good days for riding not worth riding a motorcycle under any circumstances that would take away from your ability to stay 100% focused!! Thanks for great video’s!!
I agree 100% - thank you MC for repeating it once more! Greetings from Croatia, Europe!
Proud to say i'm a rider under the influence of Coffee !! a Member of the D-D Crew (dunkin-Donuts) and the Coffee Cruisers International, i have a cousin owns one of the world famous Biker Bars, and he has a coffee pot for me LOL !!
You don't have to be at the legal level of legal impairment for it to affect your ability to drive a motorcycle. I no longer don't drink or smoke pot but I got friends who do. They feel if they could pass a breathalyzer test they are good to go. I don't believe this is true and it is even more of an issue at night.
Great video.
Mistake no.1 happened to me. The slight drizzle didn't helped either. Luckily I wasn't too injured, save for needing a new boots. 😂
My favoite quote form this video, "Time and space on a motoricycle will help seperate you from a whole lot of stupid out there on the road...." 11:25
Took a spill about a year ago. Entry Speed and not looking where I needed to go was the cause. 180 sharp bend turn, I got about half way through the turn, and the bike started going wide. SLOW DOWN AND LOOK WHERE U WANT TO GO!!!!!
As always Kevin, "spot on"!
Excellent advice as always. I've always been leary of "poker runs". Usually the run is for a good cause, however they all seem to have stops along the way at bars. I feel that riding in a group of unknowns whom have been drinking is highly dangerous.
If I feel the cause is a good one, I just show up, pay the entry fee and leave.
The only other thing that I could add to your commentary would be this.
Watch the road signs.
Doing a lot of riding in S.E. Ohio, I can't count the times I've been in a corner to find a pickup truck with a trailer or piece of farm equipment coming out from a hidden driveway. Thinking back or physically checking back, there WAS a sign in place warning of this. Thank you for your teachings, I have become a better rider over the years because of your channel.
As always Kevin, great advice and great video!
Head and eye - The thing I would add is to keep your eyes up and looking as far ahead as possible. I still repeat this in my helmet, because on less than perfect roads it is easy to find yourself looking just past the front wheel. Head up, looking through the curve, and reading it right.
I also find that leaning forward, some, to the inside of the curve - gets your arms in the right position to countersteer (relaxed inside - extended more outside the curve), and helps you focus on the curve.
Greetings from the PPRC great advice as always.🇺🇸🏍️
It would surely be a good day if you didn't have to put these out there again (and again). Not thinking "it'll happen to me" is a huge human failing, and why YOU need to keep doing these videos! I can't say it enough to my son, a new rider: Stay away from other vehicles, no matter what! Always look ahead! Practice the low-speed stuff frequently! And do NOT ride impaired. While driving a car after pot isn't the best idea, you only have TWO contact patches and whatever you had messes with physical balance, EXACTLY what you don't want on a bike. Thanks again, and keep pounding home these messages!
To me its funny- when I started riding all you got was a booklet and a road test and you were on the road! I took my first saftey course in my twenties to learn how to corner better on my wideglide! I'm in my late 50's now and I still brush up on the newest techniques! I believe it's pride and arrogance that kills most of us! In 47+ yrs of riding I've had only two accidents and they were both avoidable with the exception of my own failures to react ahead of time!
Thanks for posting
Another great vid, Kevin...all backed up by the MSF BRC and ERC courses I took. One comment regarding looking deep into corners...I ride a lot of country roads by choice and one thing I find a lot is gravel entering the turns. If you are looking deep into a turn you won't see it. I have modified my approach by looking deep as I enter the turn but shifting to close-up to get through the gravel. Any good alternatives you can think of?
Great content Kevin. Being under the influence of any substance is a recipe for disaster on 4-wheels let alone 2-wheels. I see it all the time and never understood it myself...
Thank you mister...keep rocking steady and God bless you!
Long ago I went to a party and carefully limited my alcohol to 1 per hour to stay legal. So I had 3 beers in over 3 hours. Got on the bike to ride home and though I was legal to drive, I was super uneasy riding. I never, ever drove after alcohol or drugs after that. My friend was killed on the freeway in MN while driving drunk.
Many years ago at the pub one night, my best mate (who lived within walking distance of the hotel) decided he was okay to ride home. We could neither talk him out of it, nor get his keys off him, so I put pebbles in the boots of his spark plug leads to prevent him starting it. He was SOOOO drunk that he couldn't work out why it wouldn't start even after watching me do it. He gave up and walked. Next day he thanked each of us for what we did, and we're all still around to laugh about it today.
@@grantodaniel7053
Absolute Classic.
Well done on the stones. 👏👍😊
A big mistake I see in some groups is that they try to stay in a staggered formation in corners. They should spread out and go single fil
Frankly, freeway riding around the DFW area is tantamount to surrounding yourself with stupid. It’s not an option for me, and I’ve never seen an upside to it. Great video, Kevin. Thanks for sharing the info.
Thanks!
Riding is the drug. Forsake all others.❤
Yep (#1). I did same, went down hard, and it ended up breaking a rib. Ouches for weeks…
Thanks for the training!
I always enjoy your videos. So much good advice in this one. MLLH&R to everyone out there, stay safe, keep the rubber parts pointed downward.
Thanks Kevin, as you say - time and space, so important for safety. I ride 75 miles round trip daily to work and this for me is crucial, along with being predictable for drivers. Expect the unpredictable from them though. Thanks for another terrific video. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
Thanks for the video brothet
Excellent content sir. Well done.
Thank you brother, excellent video. God bless.
I would like to add "complacency" to that list. I've seen this one bite A LOT of folks, me included. 🤔
If I could make a video for newer riders, I’d hope I could make one half as good as this.
So with over a half century of motorcycles under my belt, why am I watching this?
Because my journey to always be a better/safer rider, never ends.
For the record;
I got my screen name, on a motorcycle, in 1981, thanks to a drunk driver. But I still ride, but when I do, I ride WOKE.
Ride safe, my Brothers & Sisters!
Keep up the good work Kevin, i was in a wreck around 5 years ago and was on the Interstate getting ready to turn left and get on to another Interstate was doing the speed limit and slowing down looking ahead and saw a pickup truck merged from 2 lanes over and jumped in front of the vehicle in front of me and slammed their brakes and the vehicle in front of me did the same and I started braking and moved to the left shoulder to avoid a accident but the person in front of me moved to the left shoulder also and hit me with their rear bumper and I was in the jersey wall, totaled the bike and I had to have surgery on my right ankle and I had a plate and screws there, was always asked if I was going to get another bike and my answer to them was if you were in a wreck are you doing to quit driving a vehicle they said no but it is different i said no it is the same thing because the bike is my main transportation, i ride 80 miles a day round trip to work and back home. Thank You for what you are doing here. God bless you
I sometimes try to get the front wheel to lock up while just pushing the bike (bars straight), but so far all I get is fork compression.
I don't think I'm very good at snatching the front brake
More great information. Thank you.🙂
These are good controllable behaviours, but what about attitude? I would like to see a discussion on the importance of attitude, as it seems to me to be an important factor in dangerous driving and accidents. For example, forgiving people who cut in or cut you off, or getting into a race with other riders or car drivers. Yielding to others when they are in a 2 ton vehicle and you are on an exposed 200kg motorcycle is a survival strategy and in no way a reflection on your manliness.
Great advice
100% agreed.
I went through all mistakes.
Front brake at slow speeds is a result of lack of slow speed riding skill and the ever present motorcycle shuffle with both feet dragging the ground instead of on the bike and controlling the rear brake. Don't look where you are going, look where you want to go. Drinking and operating any machine is a problem just waiting to happen. Enjoy your bike, enjoy your beverage of choice, just no at the same time.
You and me are some of the best in the world. Just connecting to those that want to learn is a challenge. You can ride with me anytime. I will always hope we can teach at the same time!
Best way to learn rear braking is dirt bikes. Started on them as a kid and rear braking bias is my default technique.
I agree that learning in the dirt is a good way, but it can also develop some habits not appropriate on the street. One of them is putting your foot down to avoid a fall. This isn’t good on a large bike on pavement as I learned once. Another of them is rear brake bias as you mention. That is very bad on the street unless you are traveling 5 MPH or less. You want front brake bias on the street in all but the slowest of maneuvers.
@LTVoyager you are correct for the majority of situations on the street. Relying too much on the rear brake can get you in trouble. What o should have said was I always cover my rear brake in a stop and initially apply about 10% rear then follow on with front brakes. My comment was more directed at stopping not braking in curves etc. I never stab the rear brake hard like I would on a dirt bike. With regards to your comment about sticking a leg out on the street being bad I did use that technique recently when I was turning left into a road that was cambered down from the road I was on. I hit a tar snake and was going to low side to the left. I stuck my left leg out and pivoted around it keeping the bike from dropping. That was a very low speed maneuver. Once again the dirt skills help with low speed issues not so much with higher speeds.
@@postalshark Many years ago while riding my Kawasaki Voyager XII, I was riding through a construction zone where heavy equipment had been crossing the paved road and left a thin layer of mostly clay dirt. There had been a light rain that morning and even though I was holding steady throttle, my rear tire began to slide down the camber of the road as I crossed this dirt part. I instinctively dabbed my foot and when my boot caught the pavement at probably 20 MPH, it nearly ripped my leg out of my hip socket. Not a good habit to have on the street.
@LTVoyager I agree with you that putting your foot down is risky. I'm not talking about 20 mph I'm talking about less than 5. Low siding in that intersection with traffic moving was not a better solution in my situation.
Yes I agree about the entree speed and distance because yesterday when I was following my dad on my motorcycle instead of giving five meeters I gave a space of about forty meeters so I could see a head of my dad's car what find of Hazzard's there a head.
The most important thing to remember. Always assume no one sees you, because most of the time they dont. Wear that bright shirt and helmet, whatever. The person that hits you never saw you.
Thanks Kevin.
agrees 100% - first and only drop so far : 5mph i hit front brake in the sand.. omg... tyvm god for helmet and gloves.. and light bike!
This is the 3rd time watching this video 😊. My most recent drop, 4/13/24 was as a STUDENT in BRC2 in training to accumulate more MSF Coach qualifications!! X With a full left crank of the handlebars, MY clutch management FAILED ME and down I went, the stop sent my helmet impacted the windshield at the same time the brake reservoir hit it and it cracked at the bezel. A complete fracture and I had to discard it for ever,
To the last point- pilots are required to wait at least 8 hours after having a drink before flying. And most won't do it the day before at all. Great advice I'd say. Especially when you consider things like cars and telephone poles are going by just feet away 🤨
Front brake with the handlebars turned? It all depends on how you use it. If you use the front brake abruptly with the handlebars turned, then you'll discover the fastest way to drop a motorcycle.
Use the front brake smoothly and the bike will straighten itself, coming to a smooth controlled stop.
Thats why he made the "grab" gesture with his hand 👍🏻
Thanks Kevin
Great discussion. I’d like to add that a couple drinks that seem to have no effect driving a car are amplified when riding or boating.
🙋♂️Guilty X4. I'll admit that back in the day we may have spent a Saturday fishing, swimming & partying and then rode home. Rest assured that after years as a Extraction Tech on a VFD I'm not going to be that person ever again.
I'd never heard of Trail Braking before I started watching MC training vids a couple of years ago. At this time, I've practiced it enough to use it but it's not my cup of tea. After decades of using SLPR I'm just more comfortable with it.
My point here, Learn, Train & Make up your own mind what level of dumb you're comfortable with.🤷🏻♂️
Words of wisdom. Wish I had this knowledge when I started riding back in the early 90's.
It is very bad there are people that still ride after drinking. I avoid all riders that even think about getting on a bike after a beer.
Budweiser and Heineken make excellent non alcoholic beers available at many restaurants and bars.
first time ona dirt bike i grabbed a handful of front break and slid under a 2wd ranger
Alright... how not to shred your pants on the tarmac... I'm in.
Cheers.
I'd like to add one of my own - not looking at road inclination/camber when stopping. Leg down... into air! Yeh, down she went :'(
Shiny side up Brotherman…
Thank you sir! I'm watching and I live nearby in Garland, work in Lewisville.
Wow! I didn't know the percentages of alcohol/substance related motor vehicle deaths was that high.
Those numbers are scary. It is quite possible to lower the amount of deaths in accidents by nearly 1/3 just by not drinking or doing drugs before riding or driving.
Terrible waste.
You don't have to crash just be 100% alert of surroundings and other motorist and then double it.
I don't drink alcohol, at all, but know a lot of riders that do. I will NOT ride with someone in a group if they have been drinking more than a beer. It is just too dangerous, and could end up involving you in their accident. My brother was killed by a drunk driver, he was not on his bike when it happened, but would not have happened either way if the driver would have cared what might have been the result of his drunk actions!
Under the influence why I don't do poker runs. Seems the majority of them go from bar to bar for check in places and most of the riders have at least one or maybe two beers at ever check point.
There's an interesting formula that relates to dropping a motorcycle at a gas pump. The weight of the motorcycle is inverse to the weight of embarrassment squared by the number of witnesses, causing a full dress tourer to suddenly equal the weight of a Honda Grom. This inversion increases in the company of a date.
If you REALLY want to lower your risk of dying while riding a motorcycle, get rid of your over-powered Sports Bike. Just think, more skills training, no riding while intoxicated and not riding a Sports Bike, the stats will go down to near zero.
I saw a video of yours earlier where you had a website for crash bar sliders. I have a 22 Indian chief that limited and I want to get a set for my bike.
love this.
Thanks
I have a lot of training incidents. I think at this point, I'm gonna have to get stunt cages.
But, riding is “intoxicating”!
This is off topic, but are you having any FOB issues with your GT?
33% of riders in crashes had alcohol/intoxicants in their system.
It is possible that 33% of all the population have intoxicants in their system at some time during any day.
If that is the case, then correlation is inevitable. In my state 99% of street bike fatalities are wearing helmets. It is a helmet mandate state. We have to go to SC and Fla to get real causality stats...and ignore the mandate states. Same with seatbelts or under 16 rider age.
However we know if buzzed or drunk you are going to make mistakes in distance judgement, spacial geometry, balance, coordination....
I'm assuming the relationship of bars to riders is our childhood if relating bars to horse riders in westerns.
Erm if what you said is true, 33% of crashes are intoxicated but also 33% of the general population is intoxicated, then that's actually no correlation at all. It's like saying 33% of crashes were blondes and 33% of the population are blondes.
@@xpusostomos correct.
Most accidents occur in the party hours where 1/3rd of the general population has some buzz going. Brews with buds, a joint or three, glasses of wine at a meal or at a venue. That art exhibit or art night downtown. A stop on the way home from work at Mo's. Golf or a game. Meeting girlfriends friends at that cute new winery. Various soma in the system.
I'm just being realistic by observation.
@@STho205 you don't understand... Your claim is tantamount to saying that substance intoxication doesn't cause accidents
@@xpusostomos no at the end (orig post) I did say that intoxicants slow response, warp perception and increase bad decision choices.
I'm only saying the statistics are suspect. It is also suspect that they are a nice number 33%...basically 1 out of 3 a very popular number in advertising and political statistics for over a century.
There are a large number of crashes not reported. He even says he considers any drop outside his proverbial training parking lot to be a crash. There are a lot of crashes without serious injury. There are more 1 person wipe outs than two vehicle bike crashes. How would they fit into the statistics if their blood alcohol was not tested, or they weren't eve in the accident?
These are questions to ask of any research that finds exactly what the researcher already assumed and wraps it up in a neat package report.
The cops test living people they think are drunk. The hospital does blood work on some injuries that involve torso but not a broken leg, collar or arm. There may be an autopsy on deaths, there may not.
That's a lot of problems with the base population collection right there.
I'm not telling you what to think, but I am suggesting HOW to think. Don't just consume the talking head flippant quote.
I took msf motorcycle safety training in 80s in Oregon, while I was teaching school. The class organization was a joke. 1 student was assigned too ever section too teach the class. After each section was presented instructors would take that student too another room an tell him what he did wrong an what he needed too do to correct teaching skills. But going to another room left rest students sitting in empty classroom, doing nothing, "Learning Nothing" on correct presentation, teaching all being reviewed on another room. By time course was completed, all students only observered all students teaching wrong way for every section, but their own, where they were separated from class. by class end students had no instructions on correct teaching on any section but one. It was a nightmare! Then after class completed instructor started yelling in anger at all student an me. MSf was a complete joke too any teacher, an that was my profession. I walked out, never went back!!! Note: cop/biker/neighbor that asked me to take msf instructor program owned police dog that killed his wife, tore her head off by her throat an ate her chest cavity heart an lungs by time daughter found her mother ate alive by a police dog! No one ever saw msf/cop/husband again, an his dead wife was a wonderful person!
Now this might amuse some viewers when I recall an incident I was kind of involved in just before covid hit. I was driving my van down a single lane close to my house. Halfway down the lane there was another lane to my right that joined my lane at 90°. I was probably driving less than 10mph as I approached the lane joining mine on the right a motorcycle pulled out onto my lane without even slowing or looking properly. The guy grabbed the front brake and fell down 10’ from my van. I jumped out to help him up with his bike and boy was this guy super embarrassed. I knew the guy as he lives at the back of me and I know what he does for a living. Well he’d been a bike instructor for about 5 years at that point. If anyone should have known better it was him. The reason I’m telling this storey is that even experienced and in this case professional motorcycle riders can have a momentary lapse in concentration. Lesson here is this can happen to anyone not concentrating ALL the time.
hey, this is really good Contin and the whole thing about not driving a motorcycle drunk or high you would think it’s common sense, but just so you know you have made a difference with at least one person that would be
me appreciate your Content
Nice refresher video here. Always good to get a reminder as the riding season ramps up for most of us. Knock off the rust with this information and with some refresher skills building in a parking lot. Just did my emergency braking skills the other day, first time on the bike this spring. Cornering was really rusty; I have a great Tail of the Dragon type road near home and it really shows how much work I needed to get smooth again. If professional racers are always in training then us road riders would be wise to do the same. Next up, countersteering drills and emer braking.
Amen
Good video
straight up
Hey Kevin, not sure if you do this, but I would love to have you analyze a situation from an accident I was involved in back on March 29th where a driver turned in front of me and wiped me out on the bike. Would love to know what I could have done better, would be happy to provide all the details if you're interested.
Is there video? support@MCrider.com
@@MCrider Unfortunately no. It was a situation where I was riding in the right lane of a four lane road, truck slowing to a stop to turn in the left lane, oncoming car didn't see me and thought it was clear to turn left in front of the truck. I saw the situation unfolding, didn't like it and covered the front and rear brakes but that was all there was time to do, didn't see the car coming across my path until it was too late to do anything about it. I wasn't riding in the truck's blind spot, I know not to do that. The road dips down to go under a railroad underpass, so the car coming the opposite direction was looking uphill which was obscured by the truck waiting to turn and my view was also obscured by the truck. I'm thinking the only thing I can do moving forward is to NEVER cross an intersection like that in the future unless I can see the full thing. The car should not have turned left if they couldn't see that it was clear. It was all a timing thing, the situation was created in just a few seconds. Another strategy I thought of was to always ride in the left lane. The accident couldn't have happened if I had moved to the left lane and stopped behind the truck waiting to turn. Been thinking through strategies to reduce the chances of someone turning across my path.
I thought this subject was on if we could spot the 5 mistakes?