Share the road and be safe

SHARE THE ROAD AND BE SAFE
By Rocky Marks
Last week, I was involved with a press conference that was held by PennDOT District 11 and the Pittsburgh Police, and hosted by Hot Metal Harley-Davidson. The goal of the meeting was to remind motorists and motorcyclists to share the road and watch out for each other.
This press conference was put together after a horrible start to July with the number of motorcycle related injuries and fatalities. Over the past five years, motorcycle fatalities represented 20% of traffic fatalities in District 11, which includes Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence Counties.
In 2008, more than 200 people lost their lives in motorcycle crashes and more than 3,500 were injured in Pennsylvania. In PennDOT District 11, 24 people lost their lives and another 340 were injured in motorcycle crashes during the same time peiord. Many of these fatalities and injures could be avoided by following these safety tips for both motorcyclists as well as motorists.=

Safety Tips for Motorcyclists
Riders can improve their safety on the road by following some simple safety tips:
• Wear a U.S. DOT-approved helmet, face or eye protection and protective clothing.
• Know your motorcycle and conduct a pre-ride check.
• Be seen. Wear reflective clothing and put reflective tape on your protective riding gear and motorcycle.
• Use common sense by riding sober, obeying all speed limits and allowing enough time to react to dangerous situations.
• Practice safe riding techniques and know how to handle your motorcycle in adverse road and weather conditions.
• Consider attending free training via PennDOT´s Motorcycle Safety Program
Safety Tips for Motorists Sharing the Road with Motorcycles
• Look out for motorcyclists – be aware that motorcycles are small and may be difficult to see.
• Allow more following distance – leave at least four seconds when following a motorcycle.
• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
• Respect a motorcycle as a full-size vehicle with the same rights and privileges as any vehicle on the roadway. Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width as the motorcyclist needs the room to maneuver safely in all types of road conditions.
Crashes are most likely to occur in high-risk situations such as:
• Another vehicle turning left in front of a motorcyclist.
• Motorcyclists hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot: Drivers should always make a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections. (a quick turn of the head isn’t a bad idea, either.)
• Hazardous road conditions such as potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces that usually pose minor annoyances to automobile drivers are in fact major hazards for motorcyclists.
• Weather conditions: Braking and handling abilities may be impared by changing weather conditions.
• Strong winds: A strong gust of wind can move a motorcyclist across an entire lane if not prepared for it.
• Large vehicles can block a new motorcycle from a driver’s view and a motorcycle can suddenly appear out of nowhere.
The same rules apply for drivers that fall in both categories. Slow down. Look twice. Pay attention to the road and put away anything that will distract you from operating your vehicle.
Obviously there are many more situations that I didn’t cover in this article. There are just as many rules that I haven’t covered, but the basic thing that we can do as motorists and motorcyclist is to be aware of each other and share the road.
The writer is Operations Manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson located in West Mifflin and Host of the radio show: “On the Road with Rocky” which airs Saturdays at 7AM on WEAE 1250 AM

Helmet 101

Helmet 101

In the state of Pennsylvania, we have the freedom to choose whether or not to wear a helmet so long as we are over the age of 21. While I don’t want to get in to the debate over whether or not to wear a helmet, I figured an article on how helmets are made and how they protect your head shouldn’t ruffle the feathers of anyone on either side of the fence.

Helmets have 4 main components in their construction.
• The outer shell. The outside of a helmet can be constructed of fiberglass, polycarbonate or TriComposite material. Either way, it spreads the energy from an impact across a wide area, reducing the chances of head injury in the exact spot where the impact occurred.
• The impact absorbing lining. This is sandwiched between the outer shell and the comfort padding and it is usually made of a dense layer of expanded polystyrene. It crumples to absorb the impact.
• The comfort padding. This inner most layer of soft foam and cloth conforms to your head and is primarily responsive for how comfortable the helmet is.
• The retention system. This consists of the strap—connected to the bottom of the helmet—that goes under your chin and holds it on your head.

Helmets come in a variety of style from small, bowl-shape half-helmets that may protect your brainstem, to sleek fully enclosed helmets that protect everything above your neck. In between are three-quarter or open-face helmets which cover most of your head but leave your face unprotected.

When purchasing a helmet, you want to make sure that you’ll be comfortable riding with it on. You want to make sure that you get a good fit.

A helmet that is too lose will move around in an accident, potentially causing neck injury, and a helmet that is too tight will give you a headache every time you wear it. The best case scenario is finding a helmet that is comfortably tight.

You always can’t go brand-specific, because just like our heads, each helmet is created differently. What you’re looking for is a helmet that won’t slide around your head that is hard to pull off with the strap undone, but one that doesn’t create a pressure spot anywhere on your head.

When you try on a helmet, wear it around the store for a while, and when you take it off, note any soreness or red spots. Some people will pick a helmet they like, even though it may have a pressure point, take it home and pound that pressure point out of the comfort padding. That completely destroys the inner-workings of the helmet and makes it basically useless should you get into an accident.

Never purchase or wear a used motorcycle helmet. Helmets protect your head in an accident by destroying themselves. In a spill, the outer shell will flex and the inner shell will crumple often leaving no visible damage to the exterior. Hitting the damaged area a second time will result in zero head protection

Customize your bike

SO YOU WANT TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR BIKE…
by Rocky Marks
This is the time of the year where the service departments and parts and accessories departments get really busy. Not only does the changing weather bring warmer temperatures and sunshine, it ushers in a whole new season of bike night events, car cruises, and parades.
Many motorcyclists go to these events to see the latest trend in motorcycle accessories. It’s one thing to look at them in a parts catalog, it’s something else to see them on an actual motorcycle. Even though your motorcycle is a reflection of your personality many motorcyclists go with what’s “current.”
The chrome and gold “Live to Ride and Ride to Live” badges once proudly displayed on the derby covers, visors, and mirrors of Harley-Davidsons for the last ten years are making way for the latest trend in dressing up your ride.
The new “chrome” is black. Yep, black. Even though I haven’t given up chrome entirely, I’ve been using much less lately. In ’06 I had a dresser that had every piece imaginable. It was almost hard to tell what color the bike was underneath all of the chrome. Now that bikes that aren’t as flashy, are gaining in popularity, I kind of like where the accessories are going.
Don’t get me wrong, I will still accessorize my bike. That will never go away, but the manner in which I dress up my bike has changed. When thinking about what accessories I want, I try to ‘begin with the end in mind.’ (That’s a term from Dr. Stephen Covey in his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”) It makes sense.
As I take a look at my 2009 Ultra, I ask myself the following questions: Do I want to improve a functional aspect of the bike? Do I want to improve performance or do I want to change my bike’s appearance? Those are the three main modifications that one can make to their motorcycle.
I’m actually pretty satisfied with the stock Harley-Davidson’s performance so I can rule out any engine modifications at this time. I just came off of a bike that had thousands of dollars in chrome, so I think that I’m going to lay low on this one. The one area where I think I’ll make a few improvements is in functionality.
In my opinion, the stock Harley-Davidson touring models come with windshields that are just a few inches too high. I like to look over the windshield rather than through it. So I’ll get a smaller windshield. I like back support, so I will add a rider’s back rest. I also need a place to stretch my feet for those long highway rides, so I’ll put on a set of highway bars, and the only other thing I’d add is a luggage rack to go on the Tour Pac. (It’s great to see the looks of people as you unload your entire shopping cart into your bike at the grocery store.)
I think that’s the best way to go about accessorizing your bike. Think to yourself, what am I going to be using the bike for? Is it for showin’ or goin’? Based on that, you can pretty much narrow down your parts and accessories wish list.
I would definitely start out small. Pick one aspect of your bike that you’d like to improve and make incremental changes when possible. This will help you avoid making serious mistakes that will be difficult (and expensive) to correct.

Educate your Passenger

EDUCATE YOUR PASSENGER
by Rocky Marks
Many people love to get on their motorcycles, head off into the sunset and just ride& alone. It's great therapy for clearing one's mind. Even though I enjoy taking the long way home by myself to blow off steam from work before I walk in the door to see my wife and kids, I prefer to ride with a passenger.
When my wife is available to ride, we are on the road and loving every minute of it. When she can't ride, then one of the Motor Clothes associates will ride with me. (Tough job, but someone has to do it.) I'm not sure why my preference is to ride with a passenger, but it works for me and that's what's important.
Although it's great to have someone along for the ride, adding a passenger brings with it some challenges. The two main challenges are mechanical and physical. The mechanical challenges deal with the way the bike handles with the added weight and the physical challenges are the way in which you, the rider need to compensate for having someone on the back seat.
With a passenger, the weight distribution on the bike is changed. The weight is not only placed very high up on the bike but it is placed at the back of the bike too. This changes the handling dynamics. The bike will turn differently with a passenger on board. You may not be able to maneuver around parking lots and tight spaces as well as you would by yourself.
You most certainly will need more distance to stop. Don't follow too closely behind the vehicle in front of you. Remember the two-second rule? You will have to increase it to the three-second rule when riding with a passenger.
The feel of the bike will be different as well. You can compensate by adjusting your suspension as most bikes have a preload adjustment on the rear shocks. You can adjust the shocks to a firmer setting for carrying a passenger.
You will also want to check the tire pressure. Remember, you are adding 120-160 pounds of extra weight to a 700 pound vehicle. That's a 23% increase. Make sure the tires are properly inflated, because after all, two square inches of rubber are the only thing that separates you and your passenger from the asphalt below.
It may not be a bad idea to go over some of the rules of the road with your passenger. Some of the things that may seem like no-brainers to you may not be as obvious to your passenger. Here is a brief list of things to mention to your passenger:
" They shouldn't get on the bike until you've taken off of the kick stand and are in a secure upright position.
" The passenger should wear the same protective clothing as yourself. Although I encourage the use of helmets, the choice is yours. If you choose not to wear a helmet, but your passenger does, be prepared for a head-but during a sudden stop or even shifting through the gears.
" Holding onto your waist is the best place for your passenger's hands. Even though some bikes have grab rails or back rests to hold on to, you are the best thing your passenger can hold on to. This helps especially when it comes to fighting gravity in the turns.
" The passenger should keep their feet away from all hot parts, especially exhaust pipes and keep them on the foot rests at all times, even when the bike is stopped.
Remember, they may not be as seasoned as you when it comes to riding a motorcycle and this may seem very obvious to you, but it's really important they know what to expect from their riding partner.
Which brings me to another point: Don't try to impress your passenger with your riding ability. I know it's hard not to show off, but you don't want to scare your passenger away. You want them to ride with you again.
If you missed any of this week's show, you can download the podcast on 1250 ESPN or go to www.hotmetalharley.com to listen to an archived on-demand show with On The Road with Rocky.

ESPN ARTICLE Before You Purchase Your Motorcycle, Make sure the dealership fits!

Before You Purchase Your Motorcycle, Make sure the Dealership Fits.
by Rocky Marks

Riding season is finally here and you want to purchase a motorcycle… That's great, but where do you start? There are so many manufacturers in the market place today and for each manufacturer there are several dealerships in the Pittsburgh Area that carry that specific brand of motorcycle. Shopping for a dealership can be almost as overwhelming as shopping for the motorcycle itself. Just like the motorcycle, it's important that the dealership you plan to do business with fits you as well as your helmet.

One of the first things you're going to want to do is find a friendly dealership that has a nice selection of motorcycles along with a friendly, knowledgeable staff. Though it may sound like a cliché and every dealer may claim to provide that, there are some dealerships that deliver, which is why it's really important that you do your research. Ask friends who ride where they've purchased before. Chances are they will be able to get you pointed in the right direction. Walk into dealerships and see how you're received. Observe the interaction of the sales people and other associates with current customers. Sit on the bikes and ask about their demo ride policy. Believe it or not there are still many dealerships that won't allow you to sit on bikes, let alone take a test ride on them. Personally, I think that is poor customer service. If you have a motorcycle license, and you have the proper gear, ask for a demo ride. How will you know if you like the way a bike feels and rides without taking a test ride on it first?

In addition to seeking referrals, look at dealership websites. That website is a 24 hour representation of that dealership. More involved dealers have a clean, modern frequently-updated website that contains their current inventory of both new and pre-owned motorcycles. You should be able to easily find information about each specific model, pictures of the models, as well as customer pictures and testimonials that tell a story of their buying experience of that dealership.

Events are very important when selecting a dealership. Does that dealership have events for their customers to enhance their riding experience and meet new people or does that dealership exist for the sole purpose of selling motorcycles. The sale shouldn't end when you ride off of the lot with your bike and neither should the experience. I want to know that I'm important to that dealership. I think to myself… Do I expect a free hot dog every time I visit? Not at all. Do I want to break the ice and meet other riders just like me? Of course I do. And this is why it's important to look at the dealership's events calendar. Larger and upcoming events can typically be found on the front page.

A really effective new way to research is to use a social networking site like MySpace, facebook and Twitter. I've found so much information out on businesses, friends, and potential new hires thanks to these sites. If the dealership belongs and promotes their social networking site, perfect! That's just another avenue to get an independent referral. Send a message to some of the people you find on the dealership's networking site. More often than not they'll be able to give you an honest opinion of the dealership because they are involved with the dealership and the dealership is involved with them by having such a site in the first place.

Southwestern Pennsylvania is fortunate to have so many great motorcycle dealerships. Pennsylvania has the fourth largest number of registered motorcycles behind Florida, California, and Texas. We really love our motorcycles. That's why it's important to make sure that the dealership fits before you purchase your motorcycle.

 

The writer is Operations Manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson located in West Mifflin and Host of the radio show: "On the Road with Rocky" which airs Saturdays at 7AM on 1250 ESPN

ESPN ARTICLE_4_11_09_Brain Function

DID YOU KNOW THAT RIDING YOUR MOTORCYCLE CAN HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR BRAIN FUNCTION?

Recently, I was reading an article about a Japanese neuroscientist named Ryuta Kawashima who believes that riding your motorcycle can help you improve your brain function.  He is best known for his "Brain Training" software.  His software can typically be found on Nintendo DS which is like a game boy, however many people use the DS for "Brain Training."  Some of the exercises include cross-word puzzles, memory games, and trivia.  

Kawashima got together with Yamaha Motors and did a little scientific study and found that riding motorcycles helps keep drivers young by invigorating their brains. "The driver's brain gets activated by riding motorbikes" in part because it requires heightened alertness, which he found after he conducted a string of experiments involving middle-aged men.  As I read this article, I thought to myself…  Do you really need to complete a study to find out if your brain gets activated by riding motorcycles?  Okay, I’ll bite, so I read on.

"In a convenient and easy environment, the human mind and body get used to setting the hurdle low," he warned. "Our final conclusion is that riding motorcycles can lead to smart ageing." 

A self-professed motorcycle fan, 49-year-old Kawashima cited a new study conducted jointly by Yamaha and Tohoku University, for which he works.

One experiment involved 22 men in their 40’s and 50’s who held motorcycle licenses but had not operated a cycle for at least a decade. They were randomly split into two groups, with one asked to resume riding motorcycles in everyday life for two months, and another that kept using bicycles or cars. Kawashima says research showed the motorcycle-riding team demonstrated improvements in memory, space recognition and other functions of the prefrontal area. This is the area that covers memory, information processing and concentration functions.

"The group that rode motorbikes posted higher marks in cognitive function tests," Kawashima said.  In a test requiring the men to remember a set of numbers in reverse order, the riders' scores jumped by more than 50 percent in two months, while the non-riders' marks deteriorated slightly, he said.

I have to admit, I’m not entirely surprised by the first set of men having a higher score, but I was really surprised to learn that the non-riders’ scores went down. 

The riders also said they made fewer mistakes at work and felt happier.  Of course they did!  Who wouldn’t feel happy riding their motorcycle to and from work every day?  I’ve often wrote in my Post-Gazette column about how commuting on my Harley charges me up for work and helps me wind down before I go home.

I have to be honest, for the longest time I thought the reason that I felt better riding on the bike was because I was getting fresh air thrust into my lungs while going 60 miles per hour on the Parkway North.  After reading this article, it seems that there may be more to it than my “fresh air” theory.

"Mental care is a very big issue in modern society," said Kawashima. "I think we made an interesting stir here as data showed you can improve your mental condition simply by using motorbikes to commute."

In 2003, Kawashima authored “Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain”. More recently, he teamed with Toyota to help develop intelligent cars designed to help seniors drive safely. 

Now if only Kawashima could help my wife pull into the garage without scraping her minivan on the front fender, he would be the man!

Planning a ride has never been easier..

NOT PUBLISHED, APPROVED AND SENT TO PG

Gone are the days of riding off into the sunset with a full tank of gas on your way to “wherever the road takes me.”  I haven’t been able to find that one on the map, however with today’s technology I can find just about any other location you’re looking for.

Many riders don’t always know where to turn (literally) when it comes to planning a ride outside of their comfort zone.  I was one of those riders.  Reading a folding map (and trying to fold it back exactly the right way) is difficult enough in a vehicle with a passenger acting as a navigator, but going solo on the seat of a motorcycle cruising at 55 mph down a major highway is a totally different story.

Fortunately, for today’s rider there are many alternatives to what we’ve come to know and love as the folded map.  Many major motorcycle manufactures like Honda (http://hrca.honda.com) and Harley-Davidson (http://rideplanner.harley-davidson.com) have on-line ride planners where you can enter your starting location and click on your ending location by simply using the index finger of the mouse pointer.  In addition to zooming in and out of the U.S. map for your starting point and final destination, you can add as many stops as you want along the way. 

After your trip is planned, you can simply print out each leg of your journey (in the font size of your choice) and secure it in a plastic tank bag that sits on the dash of your motorcycle for easy reference. 

In addition to on-line ride planners, you can go with your favorite GPS device.  Many touring motorcycles come equipped with a cigarette lighter to give you the power you need to get you where you’re going.  Simply plug in your destination, choose the type of roads you’d like to ride on and you’re on your way. 

The average vehicle GPS is moderate at best when it comes to the vibration and the elements you will encounter on a motorcycle.  Most are made to be used inside the vehicle and aren’t designed to weather the elements.  That’s why I use a baggie, rubber band and zip strips.  Not exactly what Garmin, Tom-Tom, or Magellan recommends, but hey—it works!  There are companies that do make motorcycle-specific GPS devices, but the price tag is almost double that of a traditional GPS unit.

Whether you’re going across the state or across the country, having tools like the on-line ride planners or GPS devices have many advantages.  If you know how many MPG your motorcycle gets, you can plan for gas breaks along the way.  If you’re traveling more than 7 or 8 hours, not only can you plan for overnight accommodations, but you can plan for things to do in the specific town that you staying in for the night.

Not too long ago I was really hungry for an Outback Steak while staying in Lancaster.  If you’ve ever spent the night in that area you know that your selection for a meal after 9:00 P.M. is limited at best.  I punched in “Outback Steakhouse” into my GPS and found one within 7 miles of where I was staying.

Let’s face it, in today’s world many of us are too busy to “go where the road takes us.”  That’s why I suggest using an online ride planner or GPS to make the most of your ride—and your time away from work!

The writer is Operations Manager at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson located in West Mifflin.