[Rab]

Night:

1. Try to avoid riding at all at night. If you must, avoid unlit roads, as motorcycle headlights are typically poor (especially the ones on beginner bikes) and our (typically single) tail lights, don’t show much of a presence to following car drivers.

2. Wear brightly colored gear w/ reflective piping or tape. You can buy reflective tape and sticker sets. It makes a big difference.

3. Be especially alert for drunk drivers.

4. Slow down.

Rain:

1. Slow down, especially going round corners and bends (minimize lean) and don’t make sudden moves (swerves). Also, tires can hydroplane at speeds above ~60 m.p.h.

2. Wear brightly colored, appropriate rain gear (again with reflective piping or tape) and gore-tex (or similar) lined boots/gloves.

3. Avoid riding during the first 30 minutes of rain as the oil and grease rise to the surface then (before being washed away).

4. Watch out for “dry” or rainbow colored patches of road (oil or fluid spills). Avoid puddles (you don’t know how deep they are). Avoid the painted lines, arrows, words, etc. on the road (they’re slippery). Avoid metal plates and don’t brake on them (they’re slippery too).

5. Use an anti-fog treatment on inside of your visor and Rain-X on the outside.

6. Apply the brakes gingerly and double your two second stopping distance (between you and the car in front) to four seconds.

Buy some books like “Proficient Motorcycling” or borrow them from your local library. Check online, many libraries are computerized these days and are part of a network of libraries. They might be able to get you a copy from another library if they don’t have it. Check Amazon, eBay or Half.com for bargains in used books.