Motorcycle Safety Tips!

Compared to most of the U.S., Southern California is a lucky place for motorcyclists to ride: great mountain and canyon roads, legendary off-road trails, and asphalt ribbons that stretch 250 miles in a straight line: it's called the Golden State Freeway for a reason.

But more than that, we have mild weather, that's the envy of the nation. So as the calendar marches toward Autumn, and bikers from San Francisco, North, and Salt Lake City, East, start looking for corners in their garages and covers to stash their rides, we get to keep going.

The only real concern that year-round riding brings, is increased exposure to accidents. The math is simple: keep your bike on the road an extra six months annually, and you've doubled your risk.

The other morning,the CBS-TV station in Los Angeles featured a live report on its early-morning newscast about a ranking of safe -and not-so-safe--cities in terms of wrecks. The reporter cited an annual report by Allstate Insurance.

A quick check of Allstate's website reveals that --of some 200 U.S. cities surveyed-- Glendale, California, presents the greatest risk for drivers, with the probability of being involved in accidents every 5-1/2 years. The national average is nearly double that, with drivers involved in accidents every 10 years. But possibly more important to drivers and riders alike, is the site's list of tips for road safety. Some of the ideas are so simple, it's easy to overlook them... but important,not to:

• Be cautious when going through intersections. Almost one-third of motorcycle crashes happen here.
• Be visible when you ride. Avoid blind spots, wear bright-colored, protective clothing, activate turn signals early and always use your headlights.
• Flash your brake lights when slowing down. This helps others on the road know your intentions.
• Remember to give yourself space between you and the car in front of you. You'll have more time to react to other motorists' actions.
• Ride within your limits. If you're a new rider, consider taking a training course. Rush hour is not the time to learn how to maneuver your motorcycle. All riders should avoid extreme temperatures and inclement weather.

Every rider worth his/her leathers knows motorcyclists have to be be twice as careful as their counterparts sitting on top of four wheels, especially in the Southland; where the weather multiplies the risks as well as the rewards.

With equipment like the technologically state-of-the-art MotoJig frame straightener, it's easy enough to repair a bike that once would have been written off. The trick is avoiding mishaps in the first place; so bikers don't lose street time, because they're laid-up after a wreck, and can't take advantage of the road-trips, or even the commute after the morning news, that Southern California offers, year-round.

(For more information on the MotoJig frame repair system, go to holmespowersports.com)