As more bikers hit the road (as well as motorists), it’s good to review motorcycle safety. In order to stay safe on the road, there are a few things that bikers should avoid at all costs. Partaking in any of these activities can end in disaster.

• Drugs/Alcohol/Stress: Riding under the influence of alcohol, prescription drugs, or illegal drugs should NEVER be done. Anything that causes a rider to have less than perfect concentration and attention to road condition is a reason to not ride. Extreme stress can also lead to road inattention and should be avoided.

• Racing/Stunting: Racing and performing stunts like wheelies and endos on public streets is illegal and highly dangerous. These activities put the lives of bikers, motorists, and pedestrians at risk. Fines for these activities are extremely high as well.

• Riding with Strangers: This may not sound like a huge risk but riding in formation with strangers can be very dangerous. It’s always important to ride with people whose riding habits, attention to safety, and sobriety you are familiar with.

• Aggressive Driving: Riding a motorcycle requires a defensive mindset in order to avoid potentially bad situations. Aggressive passing, speeding, quick starts and stops can put a biker in a position where a collision or fall cannot be avoided.

• Poorly Maintained Motorcycles: Motorcycles are finely tuned machines and require regular  maintenance like all vehicles. Since a motorcycle has only two wheels, motorcycles need to be more closely maintained than cars. A motorcycle that is not maintained well may not be able to maintain its connection with the road when turning, braking, or accelerating. This can cause the ride to lose control.

Be safe this spring and make sure to keep your focus on the road and on motorcycle safety.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in the Boston or Andover area, contact personal injury lawyer and avid biker Tom Kiley! Or order a FREE copy of Tom Kiley’s motorcycle accident guide, Do Loud Pipes Save Lives.

If there is one fact that is true about bikers, they have big egos. Riding a motorcycle requires moxie and bikers certainly have lots of it.  Bikers take pride in having great biker gear and even greater bikes. Some spend thousands of dollars to make their cruisers or sport bikes into one of a kind motorcycles.

Bikers especially don’t want to be outdone by their peers. It’s hard for other bikers to say to their friends that they can’t keep up. Sometimes, having a big ego can be a dangerous thing and cause a biker to forget about motorcycle safety.

Keep your biker ego in check (if necessary) by:

• Practice first: For bikers that have not ridden in a long time or are rusty should not hit the roads first. If you need to, get your bearings back by practicing on a closed road or parking lot. Even if your friends try to push you, resist the urge to hit the street until you are ready.

• Pace yourself: Make sure to establish your own pace and don’t let other riders encourage you to ride too fast or too far for your comfort.  If your biker buddies have to ride ahead or if you have to skip a long distance tour, that’s what needs to happen to stay safe.

• Stay away: Until you are comfortable, avoid riding in formation; even with riders you are familiar with. Having additional space is necessary to make sure you can avoid other motorists or bikers. Until you are comfortable, riding in formation is one of the most dangerous things to do.

The best thing to do is to be 100% honest with yourself as it relates to your biker skills and do not deviate from that truth. This is best way to stay on the road and out of the hospital.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in the Boston or Andover area, contact personal injury lawyer and avid biker Tom Kiley! Or order a FREE copy of Tom Kiley’s motorcycle accident guide, Do Loud Pipes Save Lives.

Going a few months without riding a motorcycle is a form of torture for some bikers. It doesn’t matter whether you ride a sport bike or cruiser, the need to ride affects all bikers in very similar ways. That’s why when the weather gets warm, bikers flock to the streets as fast as they can.

If you are preparing to hit the road again for the first time in a few months, try to cage your enthusiasm for a day or so to make sure you and your bike are ready.

• Did you winterize your bike? Honestly ask yourself if you took time to properly store your motorcycle for the winter. If you simply parked in the bike garage in November, it’s likely that your bike is not in working condition anymore. If it starts, go straight to your motorcycle mechanic or dealer for service.

• T-clocs: If you properly stored your bike, then make sure to do a thorough check of the bike before hitting the road as outlined in your motorcycle safety course. If you find any problems, either fix it or see a professional for service.

• Accessories: Check your gloves, boots, jackets, eye-wear, and other accessories to make sure they are in working order. At minimum, make sure your bike has tools and a motorcycle tire repair kit for repair on the road. Also, update your motorcycle insurance if you reduced coverage during the winter months.

• Physical Condition: If you have gained or lost weight over the winter, some of your gear may not fit correctly. If you had an injury or medical condition that might affect your ability to handle your motorcycle, consult with your doctor before riding.

• Test Ride: Take a short test run on familiar roads if everything looks good from your spring check-up to reacquaint yourself with your bike. If you hear strange noises, feel a wiggle that shouldn’t be there, or something doesn’t seem right, have your bike checked out immediately.

Hi, I’m Tom Kiley, and when my buddies and I go riding we always put safety first. Get a free copy of my motorcycle book for some valuable riding tips. And if you or loved one are ever hurt in the Massachusetts area, contact the Kiley Law Group for legal advice from a real motorcycle attorney.

My toothache also corresponded with a very nice weekend. All week, I looked forward to the weekend so I can put some major miles on my motorcycle. Once I figured out that the dentist would be able to help me manage the pain of the toothache, I figured I still would be able to ride.

Then I took one of the pain pills.

Very quickly after taking one of the pain pills, I quickly realized that riding my motorcycle would not be an option. The pain medication made me extremely sleepy and I noticed my motor skills were very sluggish. In this case, motorcycles and medication don’t mix.

Everyone knows that motorcycles and alcohol and motorcycles and illegal drugs don’t mix at all. Riding a motorcycle under the influence of medication is an equally bad idea.

If you are taking medication, here are a few safety tips to follow:

• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist: Make sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist if operating a vehicle is ok when taking the medication they prescribed. Make sure to follow their instructions fully.

• Read the instructions: Read the instructional information that comes with your prescription. Usually the information will state likely effects of the medications and whether you should operate a vehicle or not.

• Take medication as prescribed: Do not alter the dosage of the medication without speaking to your doctor. Changing the dosage can have adverse affects or enhance the negative affects of the medication.

• Eat and drink:  Make sure to eat and drink fluids as instructed by your doctor. Some medications can make you ill or increase the adverse effects if you don’t.

• Watch for interactions: Even a small amount of alcohol, other medications, or certain foods can cause a negative interaction.

Be safe, be smart, and don’t take any unnecessary risks when it comes to riding your motorcycle. There will be plenty of nice days in the future to ride so if you are on medication that impairs your skills, simply wait until you are cleared by your doctor to ride.

Hi, I’m Tom Kiley, and when my buddies and I go riding we always put safety first. Get a free copy of my motorcycle book for some valuable riding tips. And if you or loved one are ever hurt in the Massachusetts area, contact the Kiley Law Group for legal advice from a real motorcycle attorney.

Before riding and while on the road, I also try to minimize distractions. I try to make sure I am in the right frame of mind for riding, I am not under the influence of alcohol or medication, and my mind is clear to concentrate.

Previously, I wrote about bikers listening to music through motorcycle audio systems or iPods and other portable music players. I also wrote about my dislike for mobile communication devices that allow bikers to make and receive phone calls or allow bikers to speak to each other while riding.

I’m not saying I was wrong but I am updating my opinion.

I still think music and communication devices can be a big distraction. Looking away from the road to adjust a motorcycle music player or communication device could cause a catastrophic accident. This happens to motorists all the time as they look down to change the radio, grab their cell phones, send a text message, or eat a sandwich.

Some music and communication devices can help bikers on road trips and can actually make the trip a bit safer.

Music and communication devices can help break up the monotony and boredom that sometimes occurs on long road trips. The constant sound of wind and of the bike can cause some bikers to lose focus. I have even heard of bikers falling asleep while riding.

Music and communication can add enough variety so that bikers stay stimulated and awake on the road. While these items can be dangerous in commuter traffic, they have great merit on the open highway.

Last year’s major motorcycle events did not disappoint so I’m guessing that the 2010 versions will do everything possible to be even bigger. If that’s the case, then everyone attending is in for a real treat.

I know it’s probably impossible to attend all of these events but attending any one of them will be a thoroughly satisfying experience.

Here are my top 4, can’t miss events for 2010 in no specific order:

Daytona Bike Week: The 69^th Annual Daytona Bike Week in Daytona Beach, FL is scheduled for Feb. 26 – Mar. 7, 2010 and the buzz is already going around. Last year’s event was massive and one of the largest biker rallies in the world. All you have to do is take a look at the 2009 pictures to see what this event is all about. Come for one day or the whole week and you’ll want to come back year after year.

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally: With less than 230 days until the 2010 Sturgis Rally in South Dakota, the count down is on. More of a pilgrimage than a motorcycle rally, bikers from all over the world ride through the Black Hills of South Dakota to get to this Mecca of the biker universe. Unfortunately, Harley dealer Bruce Rossmeyer lost his life while riding to the event so hopefully the 2010 event will be both bigger and safer for all.

Biketoberfest: Twice a year, Daytona Beach, FL becomes the center of the motorcycle world. First comes Bike Week, then Biketoberfest in the Fall. The 2010 event is scheduled for October 14-17 and while this event is shorter than Daytona Bike Week, it does not disappoint. Filled with bikes, babes, and beer, Biketoberfest is a fall classic for bikers.

Hogs on the High Seas: This event does not involve riding a motorcycle however it’s slowly becoming one of the most highly sought after biker events around. Scheduled for Oct. 31 – Nov. 7, 2010, this event is a Caribbean cruise with bikers, great giveaways, and great times. It’s a great way to enjoy the best of biker events and to relax.

Mark your calendars not so you can plan to hit one or several of these events in 2010!

My friends know that I am an avid biker and that one of my favorite things to do is get out on my motorcycle and hit the open road. It doesn’t matter if I’m riding solo or with a group of bikers, riding a motorcycle is great fun for me.

However, my friends who know I love motorcycles and even strangers who I casually talk to usually do the same thing — tell me about the worst motorcycle accident they have ever heard of. They just seem to love telling me about some friend of a friend who died on a bike or received some gruesome injury.

What are they trying to do? Scare me?

I tell them I appreciate their concern but these stories can erode the one thing bikers need, and that is confidence. If a biker goes out and does not have confidence in his or her ability to handle their bike, ride defensively, and avoid bad situations, then they have no business being on a bike.

Being aware of motorcycle dangers and motorcycle safety (including gear, riding techniques, etc.) is a must for any biker, but if the fear consumes you, riding stops being fun and definitely stops being safe.

Next time you find yourself in this conversation, tell your friends the same thing.

Even if they are overweight and have a big ole Santa Claus belly.

In the spirit of the Holidays, having a big belly and being jolly might be a hit with the kids but it’s neither healthy nor the coolest look for a biker. Some bikers actually take better care of their bikes than they do themselves.

If you are looking forward to the next riding season, here’s a project for you this winter. Take some time out to get in better shape so you can enjoy all the thrills that motorcycling provides.

Exercising can increase your motorcycle riding stamina, prevent lower back pain, increase the comfort of your motorcycle apparel, and make you look great on your Harley or sport bike.

There are tons of ways to drop pounds and inches so I’m not going to go through them. I suggest taking a little time to find an exercise routine that works for you and stick with it. American Iron Magazine has a great section called “Fit to Ride” that has exercises to help bikers. Perhaps asking for this magazine as a stocking stuffer is a good start to better biker health.

I’m sure many other riders do the same thing. Just like them, I am making a critical mistake.

Motorcycles require concentration in order to operate them and respond quickly to changing conditions on the road. A nice motorcycle ride on a Harley or sport bike is always a great way to clear your mind but not a good way to clear a preoccupied and distracted mind.

My strong suggestion is to wait until you are in a calm and focused frame of mind so that your primary concentration is on the motorcycle and the road. Concentrating on anything else while riding could prove to be fatal.

If you have to ride while you are preoccupied with other things, make sure to ride as safely as possible. Stick to roads that you are familiar with and make sure to ride alone. Make sure your motorcycle therapy ends on a positive note.

For most bikers, especially in the north, riding a motorcycle in the winter time is simply too cold, too dangerous, and just plain dumb. Taking a motorcycle vacation is the answer to going months without riding or pulling your bike out in dangerous conditions.

Here are some of the best places to pack up and have a motorcycle adventure in the dead of winter.

• California Wine Country: Central and Northern California boast some of the best vineyards in the world. Along with great wine and food comes mild weather, beautiful scenery, and great highways. This is a great destination for couples riding tandem or separately.
• New Zealand: This is certainly not your average motorcycle vacation but for those with a sense of adventure and deep pockets, this could be the vacation of a lifetime. With guided tours from 7-21days, this vacation would make you the envy of biker around the world.
• Florida Keys: Florida is the perfect getaway for bikers who love fun in the sun, beautiful scenery, and pristine roads. The ride to Key West is one of the best rides a biker can take. For those with a wild side, South Florida has some great biker bars too.
• Hawaii: Big Kahuna Rentals in Honolulu, Oahu, and Waikiki offers both Harley and sport bike rentals and tours. From volcanoes to black sand beaches to tropical forests, you can never go wrong with a motorcycle vacation in Hawaii.
• Las Vegas: For those who can pull themselves away from the glitz of the Vegas strip, there are  motorcycle tours of the great American desert that are nothing less than spectacular. Taking in the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, or Zion’s National Park will make your Vegas vacation even more memorable.

Bikers don’t need excuses or reasons to ride. All that’s needed are good weather, good roads, and a good bike. Making your next winter vacation a motorcycle getaway is the best way to shake off the winter blues.