WI-A Rider Education Information

Rider Education is an important part of our organization.
With emphasis on both Safety and Knowledge, Rider Education is not meant to place demands upon our members, but rather to educate our members so that they may make better decisions on their own.
Please understand that we are NOT removing "Fun" from our motto, but instead we want to enhance your opportunities for Fun.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Denny Paffel.
Denny not only "talks the talk", but he also "walks the walk."
Denny is a Senior Master Tour Rider who firmly believes in the position that he holds.

Here are some common hand signals

START ENGINE

HAZARD AHEAD HAZARD LEFT HAZARD RIGHT

LEFT TURN RIGHT TURN

SINGLE FILE STAGGER FORMATION

SLOW DOWN SLOW DOWN SPEED UP

TIGHTEN UP

Wisconsin has some really great road along the Mississippi river. The road conditions are like any other state I guess, more bad than good. The primary things to watch out for on WI roads are:

Amish buggies can be found scattered throughout the country side. Be careful not to spook their horses when you pass, it may run right into you. I always give them plenty of room when I pass.

Bad Drivers. You will come across everything, kids racing their parents car or truck on the back roads, old couples out for a Sunday cruise, tractors with manure spreaders, milk truck drivers racing to get their jobs done. Dump trucks filed with sand/dirt/rocks which will pelt you or sandblast a layer of skin off. And your typical jerks who think they own the road. Expect the unexpected!

Farmers and Live stock. You will find this on any of the back roads around WI. The Farmers may or may not check behind them before turning into fields or driveways, so be careful passing them. Also you could get hung up behind a tractor on any of the roads, Its been my experience that passing them as soon as possible is the best option. It would be far to easy for a car to come up behind you on a blind corner and drive over you.

Fuel Stops. Check your fuel level often. It may not seem like you have travelled far, but these back roads can be longer than you think. Check your fuel every time you come through a town with a gas station and keep an eye on it after that. I always reset my trip meter when I fuel up so that I know I will need fuel again in 150 miles.

Gravel. Abundant amounts of gravel in the corners, on the hills and scattered everywhere in between. The hills in early Spring and Late Fall may have a layer of sand on them. the sand is spread for winter conditions and remains of the road until we get a fairly strong rain storm.

Livestock may be found standing in the country roads. Don't think you will hit one of our beef cows and live to talk about it. Those things can weigh a ton or more. Also keep an eye out for deer. Especially in the fall when they are rutting and moving allot.

Tar Snakes. Instead of making new roads WI just fills in cracks with Tar and Toilet Paper. Many great county roads have been destroyed due to this. The tar is ok in the cooler temps, but once it warms up the stuff can be like ice. Watch your lean angles as the rear end will slip right out from under you. The other one you have to watch out for are roads that have had a covering of tar and or tar/rocks. This is done to prolong road life, but it makes for a sticky cleanup and dangerous conditions on the hot days.

IRVINE, Calif., - May is the month of motorcycles and motorcyclists. The sun shines, the birds sing and riders across the country swing their leg across their two-wheeled steeds to hit the open road. This month, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation would like to remind all riders of a few basic rules to follow to ensure that everyone, riders and non-riders alike, can enjoy a beautiful and safe spring season.

1. Get properly trained and licensed - The best first ride is an MSF RiderCourse^SM. Riding is serious fun and proper training is crucial. However, half of all riders today have never taken a proper safety class. To help motorcyclists earn an endorsement or license, MSF offers progressive instruction to motorcyclists of all skill levels, starting with the Basic RiderCourse for beginning riders that includes five hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours of riding exercises in a controlled environment. Riders who already have basic skills and a license can hone their techniques in one of MSF's advanced RiderCourses or MSF's new Street RiderCourse, part of the new CORE Curricula being announced in 2010, which takes riders beyond the traditional controlled learning environment and into real-world traffic. MSF recommends every new rider enroll in the Basic RiderCourse and encourages riders to get as much training as possible, no matter how skilled they may be. Even the pros practice the basics to keep their skills sharp.

2. Wear all protective gear, all the time - T-shirts and shorts are good for the beach, but not for riding a motorcycle. Riders should gear up properly before every ride, even if just riding down the street on an errand. Wearing a DOT-compliant helmet and eye protection is the law in many states, and is strongly recommended everywhere else. Wearing boots that cover over the ankle, long pants, and a riding jacket is also advisable. Built-in body armor is a smart addition, and can look pretty cool too.

3. Ride unimpaired by alcohol or other drugs - Bikes and booze don't mix. Government studies show that 46% of riders killed in motorcycle crashes had been drinking. While under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, a motorcyclist's necessary skills, including agility, perception and awareness, are decreased dramatically. In fact, having a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.05% increases the risk of crashing by about 40-times. So while it is bad enough to try to get behind the wheel of a car while buzzed or drunk, hopping on a machine that requires maximum control and concentration is simply stupid.

4. Ride within your own skill limits and obey traffic laws - Every rider should know the limits of their ability, and not attempt to exceed them. Humans weren't designed to fly, and unless you're a trained professional on a closed course, stunting, high speed or tricks can only cause you trouble. Follow all traffic laws and be conscious of how road conditions may affect your riding. MSF now offers an online Rider Perception Challenge to help riders gauge and improve their visual awareness of road signs and common collision traps, which can be taken free at www.msf-usa.org/riderperception. Using sharp skills and common sense will keep you alive; trying to be Superman will not.

5. Be a lifelong learner by taking refresher RiderCourses - Motorcyclists should keep in mind that no matter how often or how long they've been riding, there is always room to learn something new. Taking an advanced course to brush up on the basics and work on perfecting current skills is a smart move for any rider. MSF's CORE Curricula programs include two new Street RiderCourses for training in traffic and the Advanced RiderCourse - SportBike Techniques course for intensive maneuvering drills, among other classes to keep expanding motorcyclists' learning experiences.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation hopes riders will follow these rules and suggestions for everyone's benefit, and to ensure a safe Motorcycle Awareness Month for 2010.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation promotes safety through rider training and education, operator licensing tests and public information programs. The MSF works with the federal government, state agencies, the military and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible motorcycling. Standards established by the MSF have been recognized worldwide since 1973.

The MSF is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by BMW, BRP, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio, Suzuki, Triumph, Victory and Yamaha. For safety information or to enroll in the RiderCourse nearest you, visit www.msf-usa.org or call (800) 446-9227.