Michael Bilokonsky on Staying Safe on the Road: Tips for the New Motorcycle Owner
Motorcycles are hands down one of the coolest, most fun modes of transportation. But that doesn’t mean they don’t come with their own set of risks. It likely won’t come as a surprise to learn that driving a motorcycle is overwhelmingly more dangerous than driving a car. In fact, motorcyclists are 30 times more likely to die in an accident than someone driving a car. That said, there are plenty of precautions that motorcycle owners can take to ensure they remain as safe as possible at all times.
Michael Bilokonsky is an avid rider and motorcycle enthusiast from Fort Thomas, Kentucky. He is an entrepreneur who has been riding bikes for over 12 years. There is nothing he loves more than getting out on the open road. However, he knows how to be safe while doing so. He provides his top three tips for new motorcycle owners on how to stay safe on the road.
Purchase Anti-Lock Brakes
Motorcycle enthusiast Michael Bilokonsky claims that one of the best ways to stay safe on the road is to invest in anti-lock brakes. Research has shown that motorcycles equipped with anti-lock brakes were 37% less likely to be involved in a fatal accident than those without.
How exactly do anti-lock brakes work? On a bike without this type of brake, locking up the brakes in a panic, such as if you’re worried about crashing into another vehicle, often results in the rider losing control of the steering. This is when skidding or crashing happens. In contrast, anti-lock brakes ensure that you can retain control of steering, even during an emergency stop. This is always useful to have, but even more so in slippery or rainy conditions. Anti-lock brakes are becoming more common, with higher end models having them automatically. However, if you’re looking at a model where anti-lock brakes are not included, it’s usually only a couple hundred dollars more to upgrade to them — and they’re worth it.
Always Wear a Helmet
This seems to be a controversial opinion within the motorcycle community, but Michael Bilokonsky is a firm believer in always wearing a helmet while riding. Again, the facts are in his favor here. Motorcycle riders without a helmet are 40% more likely to suffer a fatal head injury in a crash and are three times as likely to walk away from a crash with brain damage, compared with those wearing helmets. Although not all U.S. states have made wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle the law, Bilokonsky believes it is common sense. When helmet shopping, look for a full-face helmet (these are the ones that have a face shield) with a DOT certification sticker. DOT stands for the Department of Transportation and such a sticker means that the helmet has been certified as safe and effective.
Dress Appropriately, Says Michael Bilokonsky
Avid motorcycle riders like Michael Bilokonsky don’t choose to wear leather jackets simply because they look cool. Rather, there are certain types of clothes that are more appropriate to wear while riding than others. Many people fail to realize that when riding a motorcycle, you have to account for high winds, insects, flying debris, and road rash. Thus, jeans, a t-shirt, and flip flops is never a good idea, which is why you don’t tend to see any motorcyclists wearing such an outfit. Leather offers the most protection from all of those elements, so consider investing in a leather jacket. Gloves, full length pants, and over the ankle footwear are also necessities, and should be worn no matter the time of year.
You’ll also want to invest in a pair of quality eyeglasses, shares Michael Bilokonsky. Don’t rely on the face shield that is part of your helmet because it won’t be enough. Consider a pair of protective goggles or sunglasses. Lastly, consider choosing clothing items or accessories in bright colors in order to make you more visible to cars. Some riders even attach reflective tape to their clothing to ensure they are easy to see at all times.
To learn more about Michael Bilokonsky follow him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-bilokonsky-b35987a7/
