File Under Stupidity

There are several other things that you must be aware of that I know that you have seen and shook your heads at and said to yourself “boy that was really stupid.”  Let me point out a few of them.

Racing your motor to impress someone, gives bikers a bad image to the general population and is not good for your engine. It also offends people and could get you a ticket, plus will cause the police to look extra hard for a reason to give you a ticket. It is why loud pipe ordinances are enforced.

Burn outs will do no one any good at all.  If not under control, disaster can strike in a split second. We all have seen it happen. Wheelies can give the same results and are even more dangerous because you are going faster.

Taking off as fast as you can at intersections will put into the high risk zone, and will someday get you a ticket, remember intersections are slick with oil air conditioner water, loose debris, and have traffic signal violators.  We are all going to hot rod from time to time so if you must, please think ahead and be careful.

Riding without your headlight on is against the law in Florida, and places you in the high risk zone and can get you a ticket. Also make sure your rear lights are working properly. High beams in daytime make you 157% more visible to approaching traffic.

Riding on worn tires is really pushing the limits and definitely place you in the high risk zone. Monitor your tread wear, tire pressure, aging, and minor damages that occur to tires that could lead to a failure. Remember that time you run the gears up to 120 MPH the other day, well let me tell you, the forces placed on a tire at 120 MPH or even under the high torque from that high performance machine could rip the tire right off the rim. A blow out at highway speeds can be disastrous, so think about it and be careful on the brakes by applying them lightly. If you are going to go down, try to separate yourself from the bike as quick as possible, so that it don’t land on top of you and crush you.

Riding with faulty equipment like worn or spongy brakes, bad electrical problems, bad running engine, low oil or fluid levels, loose parts that vibrate constantly, or a wind screen that is so bad you have to look around it to see. We have seen these guys on the road. Remember the guy’s bike that smoked so bad that you passed him. Have a horn that can be heard. I installed a 145PSI Air Horn double trumpet that be heard 100 yards away.

Riding without proper documentation, how many people do you know that don’t even have a motorcycle license? The numbers don’t match on the registration or they don’t have an insurance card at all. You are asking to have your bike confiscated or towed if you get caught plus tickets with heavy fines for everything they can find wrong.

Riding without proper insurance protection, this is a subject near and dear to me, because I am a licensed insurance agent.  I don’t like riding with someone that is not properly covered, because if they are not, they most likely can’t afford to pay for my bike if the run into me or my wife.

You must have $10,000 personal protection to ride without a helmet in Florida and most do not have this coverage. I have also discovered that your life insurance may exclude you if you are injured or killed on a motorcycle. Insurance companies use the term Automobile instead of “Motor Vehicle” on some life insurance policies. Please Be Aware of this fact you are not covered on a motorcycle, if it says “Automobile” in your life insurance policies.

Riding in shorts, flip flops, no helmet, no shirt, no goggles or glasses, or any clothing that does not protect you is just plain stupid.

For motorist in general, if you drive by many of these same rules, you will be a safer driver, and will understand what a biker is doing.

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