There are so many myths circulating around about motorcycles and motorcycle riders.
However, I want to address those that are specifically believed and followed by motorcycle riders.
Like any other culture, we grow and find ourselves believing that some things are right just because those around us believe they are right too...
no questions asked, no inquiries made.
That is culture.
Similarly, riders fall for myths same like everybody else.
Let us look at some of them.
You are safe as long as you have a loud pipe Well I have heard this before.
Not once, not twice, but a thousand times from well experienced riders (if I may call them so).
To some, it is a testimony.
Let us look at it logically; so a driver in front of you wants to change lanes.
You make as much noise as you can with your modified exhaust.
Do you think the driver will take notice considering the noise is being blown backwards? That aside, what if the driver's windows are rolled up? Not helping, right? That is correct.
Use better techniques like wearing reflective jackets, bright-colored helmets and maybe invest on a loud horn rather than a loud pipe.
Helmets are a hindrance to hearing or seeing danger Helmets actually block wind, meaning you can hear sounds clearly.
They also aid your vision, thus you no longer strain to see or have that stingy effect on your eyes due to wind hitting you at a hundred mile per hour.
We can, therefore, settle on helmets as life-savers as opposed to what many rides believe.
Helmets leave you brain dead in case of an accident Really? I cannot even believe this.
Helmets, good quality at that, are protective gears.
Motorcycle road accident statistics show that riders with good quality helmets are less likely to have head injuries.
I remember a case where a woman passenger died on the spot due to lack of a helmet, but the rider is still alive and well (not brain dead or anything) because he had a helmet on.
Helmets break necks I get the logic, but scientific research shows otherwise.
Riders without helmets are likely to break their necks during an accident compared to a rider wearing a helmet.
Helmets absorb the pressure experienced during sudden breaking or on impact.
Other motorists do not care about riders Well, nobody wants to hit anyone unless you are a reckless driver.
However, because the amount of space you occupy as a rider is almost insignificant compared to cars, it may seem like other motorists have made it their business to hit riders without a care.
To avoid this, try to be more visible to other motorists.
Wear bright colored protective gear, reflective jackets, LED-lit helmets and so on.
Besides, try not to drive too close behind motorists or near trucks.
Skilled riders can handle any situation on the road Do not fool yourself.
Even well experienced pilots do not have this kind of mentality.
No matter how many years of riding you have or the mileage covered, you need to protect yourself all the time while riding which starts with having the right mindset.
Wear your protective gear and announce yourself as much as you can on the road.
Some skilled riders also believe that they can stop faster on conventional brakes than on anti-lock brakes.
Research shows that the difference is negligible, so stop deluding yourself.
Anti-lock brakes do not lock themselves therefore in real sense they give you a better chance to successfully practice panic stops without crashing.
Just one beer...
it will not hurt How many times have I heard that? You need to be sober as long as you are on the road.
You need that concentration in order to look out for any danger which can be averted.
Moreover, a drunk driver is more likely to cause an accident.
Save the beer for later.
If you are going to crash, lay it down To be honest, this will increase your chances of crashing because your brakes will not be as effective as when you are riding upright.
Splitting lanes increases chances of being hit Remember we talked about not staying too close to cars and trucks? How else would you do that without splitting lanes? Splitting lanes makes you more visible to the car in front of you especially on slow-moving traffic, and it increase your vision on what is happening on the road ahead of you.
Street lanes are safer compared to interstate highways A road is a road, whether it is within your neighborhood or the Broadway.
The bottom line is observing the speed limits set for the road on which you are riding, no compromise.
Riders should not endanger their lives and those of other road users by following meaningless myths which have no basis, nor have any statistical evidence.
Let us all play safe and stay safe.