| Modern motorcycles have become so reliable. With | | | | doing your escape route however, simultaneously |
| their EFI systems and digital electronic ignition, they | | | | hold in the bike's clutch and fish for the petcock lever |
| are almost foolproof. You just plug the bike into a | | | | to the reserve position and jiggle the kill switch and |
| scan tool and get it diagnosed immediately. But as | | | | main ignition switch that might have prompted an |
| reliable as moderns bikes have become, things will | | | | ignition failure. |
| always go awry. It is ironic to think as efficient as | | | | The right shoulder of a roadway is usually wider, |
| modern bikes are, they are harder to troubleshoot | | | | away from the moving traffic and more accessible |
| and more difficult to fix. | | | | for anyone who comes to help. |
| No matter what a rider should always bring along | | | | Get yourself and your motorcycle out of danger by |
| with him a decent set of tools. Common problems | | | | moving as far from traffic as you can. At night, turn |
| such as a flat tire, mirror hanging loose or handlebar | | | | on the hazard lights or turn signal to alert drivers that |
| that needs adjustments need to be dealt with | | | | something is there and avoid it. |
| immediately. You should be able to fix ninety-nine | | | | To avoid becoming a speed bump, you need to |
| percent of road emergencies that you will most likely | | | | come up with an exit strategy or contingency plans |
| to encounter if the motorcycle is pre-ride inspected, | | | | in case you lose power or blow a tire in heavy traffic. |
| you drag along necessary tools and owner's manual, | | | | If you are a motorcyclist who likes riding solo, who |
| must bring along credit cards and cellphone and of | | | | likes trekking on little country back roads with |
| course basic common sense. | | | | virtually no traffic and you love the feeling of having |
| If your motorcycle's engine just stops with no fade | | | | all that scenery and asphalt to yourself, you should |
| in or a sputter of warning or if your tire suddenly | | | | have plan B if something goes wrong. If you bike |
| deflate, these are considered little annoyances if it | | | | breaks and you are in a remote road with no cellular |
| happens a block from home or on a quiet suburban | | | | service and help maybe, hours on foot or as |
| street. But if a breakdown happens on a busy, | | | | nighttime comes until you see another vehicle. These |
| bustling interstate highway, you are in for a | | | | days you can no longer count on every driver who |
| heart-stopping moment. You need six hands and | | | | passes to stop and offer aid. Prepare to fend for |
| eight hands. You will feel a surge of rush into your | | | | yourself in case you get stranded in isolated roads. |
| system before you can even catch your breath. It is | | | | That means you need to have water, food, warm |
| a situation that demands a lot of attention and | | | | clothes and many more with you. |
| snappy assessment. It can pose a lot of additional | | | | The old but time-tested method of telling a friend or |
| challenges. | | | | family exactly where your destination will be and |
| If you are stranded along the farthest left of five | | | | when to call for help if you have not arrived yet at |
| lanes, you need to make your way to the right | | | | the designated time and date, is still very effective. |
| shoulder unless you want to be stuck there for what | | | | Mechanical devices do fail but when it comes to |
| could be hours. If there is heavy traffic, do not try | | | | today's complex motorcycles a breakdown is the last |
| to cross to the right shoulder from the left. Call | | | | thing to consider. Making major repairs on a busy |
| someone and wait for help. If there is exit possible, | | | | roadside probably is not going to happen as often |
| try for it. Check the traffic, react quickly and pick | | | | anymore but who knows being well-prepared still can |
| your gaps in traffic immediately. Move aggressively | | | | be a lifesaver. |
| and wave your right hand to convey distress. While | | | | |