7 Things NOT to Do With Your Harley-Davidson
If you haven't ridden a Harley, you probably don't understand them. Harley guys are a a brotherhood, and no other motorcycle is a Harley. But, here are 7 things you should avoid doing with your hog.
1. Lend Someone Your Bike
Must we explain this one? There should be three things you never lend: your gun, your Harley-Davidson, and your wife. The Harley is a heavy, powerful bike, and it is no toy for someone to have a quick ride on. Unless you trust them like a brother, and they have a Harley of their own, don't risk it. Keep your Harley for yourself, and treat it the way it should be treated.
2. Run From the Police
Although it is easier for a bike to get away from the police, since they can go between cars, it is a bad idea on numerous levels. First, the police can call in backup with a motorcycle, and those guys are no joke. The second thing wrong with this evil plan is crashing. Let's face it, you don't train everyday for this, and once you're adrenaline kicks in, it only takes a small mistake to end badly. You are risking death, injury, or jail time, just to avoid a ticket and fine - the math doesn't work.
3. Ride in the Blind Spot
Whenever you ride your Harley-Davidson, you should ride as if you were invisible, because in some ways, you are. Most drivers have a big blind spot on the driver's side, and an even bigger one on the passenger side, in which a motorcycle can easily vanish. Don't count on your loud pipes to save you either, if it's a modern car with a kickin' stereo. If you are in someone's blind spot, you don't have many options to escape their bad decisions, so don't let luck determines your fate.
4. Burnout
Burnouts can end badly a number of ways: Your hand can slip off the brakes causing the bike to shoot forward, You can burn your clutch which isn't a cheap fix, You can get a ticket (and the noise and smoke is sure to attract any police officers in the area), And you definitely wear your tire. In the end, the cons outweigh the pros, especially since there is only one pro, which is looking cool. Save your money, and your bike, and enjoy riding it like an adult.
5. Pop a Wheelie
It is not impossible to pop a wheelie with a Harley-Davidson. But just because you see your friend on a crotch-rocket doing wheelies, don't go trying on your Harley. You won't see the CEO doing cartwheels, and you shouldn't see a Harley popping wheelies. Keep both your wheels on the ground, and ride like you the road king you are.
6. Tag Along with a Club
It is usually proper Harley-Davidson etiquette to ride along with a pack you meet on the road, but it isn't going to be appreciated if you just start tagging along with a club out on a run. The motorcycle community is a close one, and riding in a pack is fun. However, if the pack is all wearing patches, don't just assume you can ride with them. Bike clubs take their membership seriously, and they don't like people just joining their group unless they've earned it. You're better off just riding on your own with this one.
7. Ride Without a Helmet
Regardless of the helmet law in your state, you should never ride without one if you value your head. Next to what is under it (your brain), a helmet is the single most important piece of safety gear there is, it is as simple as that. Most people out there could do with a helmet for day to day activities, because just tripping and hitting your head can cause serious damage. Add the speed a motorcycle cruises at, and the unpredictability of the surrounding traffic, and there is no telling how hard of a hit you may take. Don't worry about looking cool, always wear a helmet.
To keep your bike running right, check out the how to section of HDforums.com
