Everett Powersports

Motorcycle safety isn’t just a good idea. Your life depends on it. Danger doesn’t take a day off, so riders always need to be alert.

Two people who are experts in motorcycle safety are Rolf Vitous and Christopher Johnson. They’re not only experienced riders. They’re also instructors and owners of Washington Motorcycle Safety Training or WMST.

As an approved provider for the Department of Licensing, WMST provides courses and the necessary course completion cards to waive the written and practical test requirements for a motorcycle endorsement on your license.

The company also has advanced courses for more experienced riders. With in-class work hosted at Everett Powersports, these can be valuable refreshers, especially for seasonal riders who can be at higher risk of forgetting basic safety tips while their bike is stored over the winter.

“It’s good to reacquaint yourself with your bike and your bike’s handling capabilities and, of course, your own capabilities because things can change over the winter,” Vitous said.

He also noted that many responsible riders come back and take a refresher course every few years. “We all fall into patterns,” Vitous said. “How do you think you would do if you had to take your driving test again?”

While some experienced riders may feel there is nothing more in a course they could possibly learn about safety and their sport, Johnson is in a position to disagree. Although he was an instructor with 12 years of experience including racing, he actually had to take the basic rider course when he moved here from England.

“As a very experienced rider I found many aspects of that course really rewarding and worthwhile,” Johnson said. “It widened my eyes to the responsibility of having a plan and having a strategy. It made me rethink how I ride.”

Aside from proper training, another vital safety measure is to ensure that you are in the proper mental and physical state before you ride. As motorcycle riders are vulnerable to being hit by inattentive car drivers, they must be especially vigilant and aware of everything that is going on around them.

If you have had arguments with family or friends or something is worrying you, you won’t be able to give 100 percent of your attention to the road, and so should postpone your ride.

Vitous and Johnson also stress that you should never ride if you have not had enough sleep, if you’re sick or if you’re taking cold medications. Drowsiness and motorcycles never mix.

Before you ride, do a safety inspection on your bike. Check tire condition and air pressure. Look for broken or damaged spokes and make sure the rims aren’t out of true.

Fluid and fuel levels should be given special attention. A basic inspection of the lighting, connections and frame should prove good before you go.

Another important aspect of motorcycle safety is purchasing and wearing the proper gear. A helmet, jeans and T-shirt are not sufficient.

“I like to think of it this way,” Vitous said. “I know I have enough gear on if I would feel comfortable running down a parking lot then throwing myself along the asphalt.”

It’s actually a reasonable test. Median crash speeds have been calculated at around 30 mph. People don’t run and slide that fast, so if you don’t have enough gear to slide on pavement from a running start then you don’t have enough gear on to protect yourself from a 30-mph sliding crash on your bike.

Minimum recommended gear requirements include over-the-ankle non-slip sturdy boots, long pants, long sleeves, a DOT approved helmet and some form of eye protection. Full fingers motorcycle gloves are preferable.

Ordinary unprotected jeans are not recommended. They don’t hold up well to the pavement in case of an accident.

For more information about motorcycle safety, classes or gear, contact Washington Motorcycle Safety Training (www.gowmst.com) or Everett Powersports on Everett Mall Way.