Having fun and being safe does not happen accidentally - we need to think about it and plan for it.

In all weather, but especially now, in the cold months, I use what I call my “sphere of awareness” when out riding. Back in the Basic Rider’s Course, I learned to be constantly checking the road ahead, the traffic to my left and right, and my rear-view mirrors, looking for potential hazards. I see myself in a sort of “radar bubble” of observation.
Drivers are less-than-fully-attentive at best, and clueless at worst when out on the freeways. I believe that most of them merely aim a 3,000 pound projectile, rather than actually drive a vehicle. They really do have a lot on their minds, thinking about several hundred different things while behind the wheel. Am I late for work? What’s that text message coming in?
What do I want for dinner tonight? Ohh, my favorite song! How’s my hair? Oh, look, an opening in the traffic. OUTTAMYWAY!
Meanwhile, motorcyclists just putter along, oblivious to everything around us, with only about two thousand different things on our minds. What is that guy in the SUV gonna do? Here comes Rodney the Racer; watch out. Little teeny-bopper there, talking on a cell phone. Guy checking his hair in the mirror. This clown in front of me keeps speeding up and slowing down.
HOLY COW! That van just missed me! Didn’t he see me?
You may have guessed the different attitudes of drivers and riders. Cagers are much more concerned about what’s going on INSIDE the car, while riders are more concerned about what’s going on around them. And that’s the “sphere of awareness”—constantly checking in ALL directions for shifting patterns of traffic, potential hazards, and evaluating possible escape routes when all else fails.
I try to think in all dimensions—X-axis (forward and rearward), Y-axis (side-to-side), Z-axis (down and overhead), and Time. I’ve got a teener in a rabbit racer on my right, slow granny in a gunboat on my left, gravel tandem coming up behind, piece of tire tread in the road ahead, and a bunch of protesters on the overpass. Rabbit racer wants to get ahead of granny in the left lane and there’s not much space. Speed up? Slow down? Shift lanes? What to do; where to go… Constant evaluation.
And that’s just on the nice, sunny days, out riding by myself. When you add the bad weather factor and group riding, it gets even more interesting. Drivers have a tendency to pull themselves further in, reducing their awareness to mere microseconds of reaction distance.
While riders have to reach even further out and accurately gauge what’s happening. Fortunately, we’re pretty good at it.
Shiny side up!
Tig Dupre
SSHOG Safety Officer

Safe Riding Skills

The best thing you can do to get the most enjoyment out of your motorcycle and protecting your investment is to continually work to improve your riding skills.

Did you know that National H.O.G. will reimburse you for the cost of a motorcycle safety course (up to $50 per year)?  If you satisfy the requirements on the H.O.G Safe Rider Skill Form, you will also receive a “Safe Rider Skills” pin and patch from National.  After a minimum of 12 members from our Chapter complete an accredited rider training course during the calendar year and submit their claims for reimbursement to National H.O.G., a Safe Rider Skills Chapter plaque will be sent to NWHD.  To learn more about this program, go to the National H.O.G. website, “Members Only” section and select the tab “Protect Your Ride”.

Many insurance companies also give a discount for completion of motorcycle safety classes.  So where can you find out about safety classes?  Here!

Puget Sound Safety (Tacoma,Steilacoom and Olympia)
Grays Harbor Motorcycle Education (Hoquiam)
Evergreen Safety Council (Kent, Renton, Kirkland)
Olympic Regional Motorcycle Program (Bremerton/Silverdale).

Once you have completed the course, you must send the completed form, course receipt, and a copy of certificate indicating successful completion of the course to H.O.G. Safe Rider Skills within three months of the course completion date.  If you have any questions, email me

Safety Library

Group Riding Stops (Procedures)

Motorcycling Safely Through 2 Lane Roundabouts (Safety Tips)

Motorcycles and Patches (Do you add that rocker?)