Robert Panebianco (Cary, NC) lecture on motorcycle tips, "My Lessons Learned".

Brief Introduction:

I started out riding a cruiser-style 600cc bike, then transitioned to a sport bike in '09. Nothing against those cruiser fans our there, but I'll be sticking with sport bikes. I get a kick out of hitting the throttle to get the front wheel in the air … just a little bit. ;-).  Here are some tips to share:

1. 
   Start off with a quick inspection of bike like checking tire pressure, chain is properly lubricated and everything is locked in place (seat, helmet locks, saddle bags, etc)
   
2. 
   Make sure gear is fits properly. This is a hard lesson I learned after taking my first spill. Always test that jacket & pants fit snug. If ordering online, order 1 size smaller than normal. You do NOT want your gear shifting around if you take a spill. For example, the jacket armor protecting your elbow area does no good if your jacket fits loose and the armor shifts around when you hit the pavement. Helmet & gloves also needs to fit snug.
   
3. 
   Riding behind left or right wheel path of car in-front helps to avoid road debris but positioning bike in center of lane works best for motorcyclist to be seen because automobile drivers typically use rear view mirror more often then side mirrors. So, I float in between left and center lane positions.
   
4. 
   Never hit front brake alone while entering hot into a turn. I learned this the hard way – was heading into a left-hand turn a little hot, tapped the front brake and the front end wiped out. Luckily, the bike and I slid off right-hand side of the road and not into oncoming traffic. I also recommend riding pants with skid resistant material, that would have saved my knees from serious road rash. And today they make cool jeans and khakis with reinforced knees so there's no excuse to not take your bike wherever you're headed, in style.
   
5. 
   In colder weather, leave glasses and helmet exposed outside in order to prevent face shield and glasses from fogging up. I learned that lesson this week.
   

If anyone would like to share your lessons-learned, please shoot me an email at rpanebianco@bellsouth.net. Have fun, but be safe!

Thanks.

Robert Panebianco, still learning …

Quote: "There are 2 types of motorcycle riders, those who've wiped out, and those who think they'll never wipe out. ;-)