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Learning To Ride

For some, group riding is a quintessential part of the motorcycling experience, a rolling social gathering that happens as naturally as a family party....

Stayin’ Safe: Countersteering

Conversations about steering a motorcycle inevitably come around to "countersteering." You may have even taken a rider course where they taught, "press left, go...

How To Back Down An Incline With Your Clutch

There are countless YouTube videos showing epic failures of riders attempting to back their motorcycles down ramps from trailers or truck beds. And I’ve...

The Best Bikes for Smaller Riders (and Budgets): 2019 Edition!

Bigger doesn’t always mean better, and fortunately for those of us looking for a fun, affordable motorcycle there are more choices than ever. Nearly...

Stayin’ Safe: A Pain in the Grass

I've got a grass-fed beef. And, based on recent conversations, so do a lot of riders. Homeowners mowing their lawns and throwing abundant grass...

Stayin’ Safe: Wheel He Or Won’t He?

For those of us on two wheels, the most likely clash with another vehicle would be at an intersection with an approaching vehicle turning...

Stayin’ Safe: Are You READY?

A while back, I dedicated a Riding Well column to the topic of preparing ourselves for every ride. We have T-CLOCS to assess the...

Strider Balance Bike for Kids | Gear Review

As diehard motorcyclists, we all know that the long-term viability of our favorite pastime depends on getting the next generation on two wheels. Getting...

Stayin’ Safe: Using Hills To Gain A Visual Advantage

If only we could see into the future and know firsthand what lies ahead. If we were able to do that, we could be prepared...

Toolkits and Emergency Equipment for Motorcycles

For some riders the feeling of solitude on a motorcycle is unbeatable. It’s just you, the bike and the road. But if something happens--a...

Stayin’ Safe: Proper Motorcycle Mirror Positioning

You wouldn’t ride with a blindfold on. Nor would you ride with blinders to obscure your peripheral vision (like horses wear). Yet, many riders...

Stayin’ Safe: Proper Use of the ‘Brottle’

For ultimately smooth braking transitions, combine brake and throttle. When taught to ride motorcycles, we learned to use the throttle and brakes as separate controls....

Stayin’ Safe: Straighten Up and Ride Right

I don’t care for people who do a lot of posturing; but I do have admiration for riders with good posture. After all, riding...

Stayin’ Safe: Get Your Mind Out of the Gutter

I know. You can’t help it. No matter how old you get, the moment your eyes spot an attractive, tight set of curves, your...

Riding In The Zone Training Tours | Review

I’m zipping along serpentine State Route 23 near Otis, Massachusetts, and Ken Condon is in my head. As each corner approaches, I trail brake...

Real World Schooling With Stayin’ Safe Training Tours

A large number of motorcycle riders I meet have little idea of how to manage the risks of riding. Sure, they can operate a...

Stayin’ Safe: Group Riding Tips

What defines a safe and enjoyable group ride? A tight grouping of bikes adhering to parade-like formation set by a leader? Or is it...

How To Pack Your Motorcycle For A Road Trip

What kind of luggage do I need? Before you decide what to take on a multi-day trip, you need to figure out how you’re going...

Stayin’ Safe: Cornering

A Question of Commitment: The choice you make in a corner is often a self-fulfilling prophecy. Are you in or are you out? Are you...

Riding With A Passenger

Touring on a motorcycle is more fun if there’s someone else along to share the experience. But whether it’s an afternoon ride or a...

Stayin’ Safe: Tracking Arrival of the Unexpected

Your clues about potential risks are in the mail. And the trash. Today, in the age of Amazon, we have an unprecedented ability to track...

Finding a Second Wind With California Superbike School

Have you ever been in a riding rut? I know I have. When my wife and I moved from the curvy roads of East...

Stayin’ Safe: Hidden Valley

Riding a stretch of rising and falling road is fun, but also presents a special kind of challenge for the back-road motorcyclist. While the...

Stayin’ Safe: The Danger of Using Telephone Poles to Predict Road Direction

Our brains interpret features above the road to help predict the path beyond our view of the pavement. Manmade and natural features such as...

Getting Schooled: Reg Pridmore’s CLASS Motorcycle School

This is Part Three of a 3-Part Series on Your First Track Day. Read Part One and Part Two. I’ve been riding motorcycles for 19...

6 Steps to Preparing Your Bike For Your First Track Day

This is Part Two of a 3-Part Series on Your First Track Day Now that we’ve discussed preparing and outfitting yourself for your day at...

7 Steps To Outfitting Yourself For Your First Track Day

This is Part One of a 3-Part Series on Your First Track Day So you’ve decided to take your bike to the track. First off,...

Stayin’ Safe: Idle Threat – The Danger From Behind

Back in the days of the legendary Hurt Report (1981), a.k.a. the Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures technical report, the incidence...

Stayin’ Safe: Ready or Not, Here I Come

It’s easy to become complacent when riding behind other riders. There doesn’t seem to be the same sense of urgency to actively scan the...

Stayin’ Safe: What’s Mine Is Yours

If you’re like me, your favorite roads are the lesser-known gems that wind through the backcountry, away from traffic and civilization. While those wonderful...

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