This morning I was contacted by the owner of MotorcycleAccident.org. No, it's not an image swapping site of motorcycle crashes (some of you were thinking it) but rather a site dedicated to promoting motorcycle safety and sharing information on ways to avoid and minimize crashes. Additionally they provide info and resources for recovery after crashes as well as information about legal liabilities. 

An important part of our mission here at Nashvilleriders.com is to promote safety and education for riders so we are glad to help promote MotorcycleAccident.org. In fact below (after the Read more link) you will find a teaser and link to an article from their site which covers how different states view legal liability in the event of a crash. 

The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) has just released a publication via pdf on motorcycle tires. This guide claims to be "All you need to know about street motorcycle tires" but at only 20 pages it may leave some techno-geeks (including yours truly) wanting a bit more. "Techno-geekery" not withstanding, this guide should be very useful to the new street rider as well as some experienced riders who've not given their tires much though. Here's an excerpt from the guide's introduction.

Never underestimate the importance of having good, properly inflated tires on your motorcycle.The small contact patches provided by the front and rear tires are the motorcycle’s only source of traction. Deterioration of your tires’ condition can jeopardize this contact patch and bring a good ride to a quick end. Safe riding depends on selecting the right tires, inspecting and maintaining them, and replacing them as necessary.

Crazy Uncle Johnny says it best.. Crashin' Sucks! We all hate to think about it but we also know it could happen any time. Even the best riders can't account for all conditions or for that matter other drivers and that's just a risk that we have all accepted to enjoy our favorite pastime. It's why we wear helmets, jackets and pants with armor in them, boots, and gloves. Wearing gear is pretty easy to remember and we're usually pretty excited about getting new protective equipment (let's face it, some stuff does look cool) but there is something else we can do for ourselves in the event of a crash. Make sure you have I.C.E. information easily available.

I.C.E., or In Case of Emergency information, contains contact information of friends or family that can provide emergency services workers important information in the event your crash has left you unable to respond. Certainly paramedics will be able to determine your basic injuries but might not know about an important medical condition that could effect the way that your injuries should be treated. In fact it is a good idea to make sure your I.C.E. information also lists any of these conditions or drug allergies you are aware of.

Winter Discounts

As an insurance agent, I always like to advise my insured’s of ways they can get more “bang for their buck,” in regards to their policies.  For bikers, this may be possible by considering a winter lay up discount for their insurance policies, if a bike is not ridden during a specified period of time during the extreme winter months.  This is an easy way to save premium during the cold months that a biker may not be riding his/her bike anyway. 

Many of the motorcycle insurance carriers within my agency offer this discount, but it is important to keep in mind that there is no liability coverage on the bike should it be driven during this specific time period.  So, if you opt for this coverage, don’t ride your bike during the lay-up period, or else you could be in a very bad situation, should you be involved in an accident.  Now that we have the insurance part covered for winter, it is also important to consider ways to store and care for your motorcycle during this lay-up period. I’ve attached a great link that provides some helpful information and tips regarding storage for your bike.

http://www.womenridersnow.com/pages/Winterize_Your_Insurance_Policy.aspx