The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

When Riding, Take Your Ego Out of the Equation
April 15, 2010

This spring, new and experienced bikers will be hitting the roads again as the weather starts to improve. This is a great time for bikers because many have waited months to jump back on their sport bikes or cruisers to renew their love of motorcycles.

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.