The Holy Grail

What is that Holy Grail of motorcycling that is continually sought by competent riders? Cornering at high speeds? Emergency braking? Wheelies? Sliding the rear tire under throttle? What is YOUR Holy Grail, the one riding technique you prize above all others?

Command Respect, Command the Road!

As a rider, how would you define ‘respect from your fellow highway-users?’ Do they see you? Do they even LOOK for you? Do they modify their driving behavior to accommodate you, a vulnerable motorcyclist? Do they give you your space? Space! That’s what we really want, isn’t it? We need space and time to see what’s going on around us and ahead of us – ‘seeing’ with both the eyes and the brain, and using that time and space to think, plan and act, so as to avoid running into things – or running off the roadway, needlessly, with equally painful results.

Hidden Risk

Black ice? A stalled truck just over that blind hill? An oncoming drunk driver? All of these, and many more, are motorcycling risks which a rider may not recognize until it’s too late. Wouldn’t it be great if we could be alerted to these hidden risks and dangers before suffering a crash? Sure! Well, perhaps here’s another hidden peril that can affect all of us:

Let’s call it “Subconscious Risk-Adjustment RISK.” What are we talking about here? Two recent studies, one dealing with the effect of anti-lock brakes, along with other built-in safety systems, on human driving behavior; the second one dealing with the self-professed risk-management behavior of motorcyclists, make this hypothesis of worth your consideration.