Check your tire pressure regularly.

Be aware riding into any new situation that you've never encountered before. This obviously happens more often to newer riders, but it might be really exciting for someone who thinks they've seen it all. For people who haven't ridden a motorcycle over a stretch of road, it can be very different on a bike than in a large truck  

Make sure your gear is adjusted properly before you start moving.

Trying to avoid giving examples to go along with each, but it's really hard.

Don't wear tennis shoes or other low top shoes when riding.

Keep your tires FULL by the sidewall pressure rating, the bike will respond better to YOUR input, and follow road grooves and such much less.

Keep long hair tied back and wear a do-rag under your helmet (regardless of hair length). Hair blowing around your face is as distracting as a bee in your face shield.

If your windshield or faceplate gets scratched up, replace it. It's very hard to see through the light "halos" in a damaged faceplate. And, if the windshield is seen through instead of over, trim it down. You look over bike windshields, NOT through them.

Ride as often as you can. I've been down for three years, and it shows. I wobble as much now as when I was first learning how to ride. Unlike walking, riding a motorcycle takes constant/consistent practice to maintain your abilities. Get out and RIDE.

Last thing, make YOUR bike fit YOU! Unlike a car, you usually have to change various bike parts to get an optimal fit. Need a different handlebar bend? Buy it. Need a higher/lower, harder/softer, wider/narrower seat? Have one made if you can't find an off the shelf that works right. If you have small hands, heat your levers and bend them to a more comfortable reach. If you are tall and need forward controls, make or buy them. Need a backrest? They are out there for the Savage/S40. Any mod that makes the bike a better fit is money well spent. You will be comfortable and have better control of your machine.
-WD

8)Visible Gear ... I have a black leather jacket and black cruiser helmet as well as a yellow/black (mostly yellow) Joe Rocket textile jacket and white open-face helmet ... there is no doubt that I am more visible to cagers when I wear the Joe Rocket + white helmet ... I've noticed that cars stop further back at intersections (generally) and I tend to get cut off less than when wearing the black. Reflectorized gear is good for dusk to dark Riding as well.
We all know that the traditional black cycle gear is the coolest looking, but a more visible get up is arguably safer.
Ride Safe everyone!

i have ridden for the past 30 years in both big city traffic and rural areas, these are my observations.

the obvious, you are invisible.
the fact. either you've been down, or going down.
the truth, personal safety trumps traffic regulations, i don't mean to say the you should ride like the laws don't apply to you, although that is fun once in a while, but that if comes to the choice of blowing though a light or an unlawful turn  ect  or getting hit by cage, go with personal safety. if caught go pay the fine, a small price to pay for your safety.

i know this may sound like a defeatist attitude, but visualize yourself laying the machine down in traffic situations.  practice your rear wheel skids, the only thing to be frightened about a rear wheel skid is not knowing how to do one. you should know how they feel, and how to keep the machine either upright, or layed over.  if you know someone with a dirt bike, borrow it and lay it down a few times.

just ride  ride  ride thats the best way to stay fresh.


all this and quit counting the "near misses".
now sunny's was different that was an intentional act of aggression. not a near miss.

Cheap safety gear is better than no safety gear. My leather is one of the bufflao cheepies from e-bay and has protected my skin twice with low speed dumps. I would of scrubbed my left arm down into the flesh without it on one spill I took. There is no gear that will protect you from a hit from a cage, all it is there for is protection from road rash except for you helmet.
 If the bike doesn't fit, change it. Adjusting the seat, replacing the handle bars, anything that makes the bike more comfortable for the rider is a safety issue. If you are worried about monkey butt you will not see the cage turning in front of you.
 Be aware of you surroundings, the road, weather, and traffic is your life when riding. You are invisable out there, always drive that way.
When you get a chance ride as if it was stolen !! Ed L.

i put a cage horn on mine first thing, what a difference it makes.  

if you are approaching a intersection day or night and you get that Erie feeling that you are not seen in addition to the zigzag move flash your high and low beam a few times it draws attention because it mimics a cops headlights and we all know everyone rubbernecks flashing lights 8)