Safe Riding

By Steve Smith Most of us are thinking motorcycles during the winter, but cannot do much riding. This down time is a perfect opportunity to tune up your mental skills or, if you’re planning on getting into motorcycling, to prepare for

  Heading into the colder season many people begin thinking about the next riding season. This includes entry riders who are considering their first motorcycle. Some have some prior riding experience with dirt motorcycles or ATVs, but many have never ridden a motorcycle before.  Here are some tips to help

By Steve Smith of RIDE-CT.com Have you met someone who seems to have a sixth sense when it comes to riding in traffic? These folks just seem to know when there will be trouble ahead. These riders have strong “situation awareness.” Situation awareness is the perception of

By Steve Smith of RIDE-CT.com This is the time of the year when roads are being resurfaced with chip seal, which causes problems for riders. And that’s not the only road surface hazard out there.  As motorcyclists we need to be diligent to

By Steve Smith of RIDE-CT.com Okay, I admit it. I am guilty of making a woman cry during a recent beginner motorcycle course. It was at the end of the day after taking the riding evaluation. I had just called her over for the one-on-one consultation to

By Steve Smith of RIDE-CT.com The ugly truth is that residing in New England areas means that most riders experience PMS, or parked motorcycle syndrome. Now it’s the time when many  motorcyclists are coming off their winter hiatus and the excitement of getting the bike out for a ride on …

By Steve Smith A few years ago, my son was struck in the leg and foot by a vehicle that nearly rear-ended him while he was stopped at a traffic light. He was 19 years old at the time and a fairly new rider. The driver swerved

By Steve Smith In a very simplistic view of the types of motorcycle crashes, it can be said they fall into two types: Motorcycle only and those with other vehicles. It’s important to note that there is rarely a single cause of motorcycle crashes. Most times a combination of

By Steve Smith of RIDE-CT.com Ever drop a motorcycle? Drops are a not to be confused with a crash. What I’m talking about is a mishap that occurs from a standstill or while riding slowly. Gravity takes over and leads to an “Oh, Shit!” moment.  If this has happened to you, …

By Steve Smith Many riders have never had any formal riding training. Years ago, there was no rider training, so they learned to ride at the school of hard knocks. Maybe a parent or spouse provided some basic instructions to get rolling. Some, like me, started out on dirt bikes …

By Steve Smith Motorcycling is mostly an activity between rider and machine, but it is enjoyable to ride with a group of like-minded individuals. Whether on tour or just out for a day ride, the camaraderie and the discussing of

By Steve Smith The inspiration for this column came when I observed a student rider in a CONREP class make an error during a cornering exercise that caused a close encounter of the asphalt kind. The student was wearing protective gear and was fine. After righting the motorcycle, coaching was …

By Steve Smith People pursue the art of riding in different ways. Some casually glide along the boulevard or back roads, while others enjoy the adventure of dual sport and off road, carving mountainous curves of asphalt ribbons or engaging in the adrenaline pumping action of track days or racing. …

By Steve Smith RIDE-CT readers may be familiar with the acronym “ATG-ATT,” which stands for “All the gear, all the time.” Myself and fellow Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider coaches extol the virtues of using proper riding gear as it is essential to safe riding. Wearing the right clothing can make

By Steve Smith of RIDE-CT.com Most motorcycle safety professionals extol the value of visibility when riding a motorcycle. Our vision is probably the most important of our primary senses to help reduce the chance of a crash. The common phrase used is “See and be seen,” which reminds riders to …