Motorcycle riding season

Motorcycle season is upon us again. Dust off the motorcycle seat and check to see if you and your bike are ready to hit the open roads.

As fun as it is to ride a motorcycle, the Colorado State Patrol is seeing an increase in motorcycle crashes and fatalities and, we really want to curb that problem.

Contrary to what people may think, a lot of these crashes haven’t included other vehicles but are single motorcycles going down. This issue seems mostly to be with riders who don’t have a lot of training or as much experience as they should have to ride. Their skills may not be the best because they don’t ride every day. This is not meant to be demeaning to these riders, but to have them realize steps may be needed to increase their riding abilities.

Consider researching a motorcycle operator skills course. As Brian Tracy states, “Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field.” I believe that wholeheartedly when it comes to strengthening your riding skills. You can never know too much about riding techniques. The courses have different levels of skill training for all riders. Usually they teach beginners, intermediate and advanced riders. Even if you’ve been riding for years, a training course can be for you.

Let’s delve into some of the problems we see when it comes to motorcycle riders crashing:

­— Some riders are not looking out for dirt and rocks on the roadway. You see a lot of it, especially in early spring from snowplow operations.

— Going into blind curves too fast and going off the road or into oncoming traffic. Know the area you’re riding. Don’t outride your skills if it’s an area you’re unfamiliar with. Take your time and enjoy the ride.

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