You know the saying: spring showers bring summer flowers. But did you know they also bring slippery roads and hazardous riding conditions? For the safest ride, avoid rain. But because that isn’t always possible, make sure you and your bike are prepared.

DON’T LET THE WEATHER RAIN ON YOUR PARADE (LITERALLY)

South Dakota weather is as unpredictable as the roads that wind through the Black Hills. Whether you’re on a cross-state trek or just a quick Saturday cruise, there’s no guarantee you won’t be caught in the rain. Being aware of the potential dangers rainy weather causes is the first step to dodging them. Below is a list of the most common risks and how to navigate them safely.

Before you ride, ensure your tires have enough tread and pressure to channel water. An under- or over-inflated tire will react differently in water than when the road is dry.

Heavy rain can expose oils and other slippery substances that reduce traction on your tires. In fact, the first hour of rainfall is the most dangerous time to ride because the oils that rise to the surface are not yet washed away. Which means it would be a great time for a pit stop. Pull over and wait until the rain eases up or has had a chance to wash the road clean of slippery residue. When you’re ready to continue, ride in a vehicle’s tire tracks where water has already been propelled away to gain better traction.

A lot of rain can also cause you to hydroplane, which, if we’re getting technical, means a layer of water prevents direct contact between your tires and the road. To reduce your chance of this happening:

• Avoid riding on painted lines, manhole covers, tar snakes and rainbow-hued puddles
• Slow down as much as possible
• Squeeze your clutch and coast through puddles
• Try to maintain your speed and avoid abrupt changes
• Avoid riding during heavy down pours and flash flooding
• Never ride through standing water – it can be deeper than it looks

Wet road conditions present many challenges, but visibility can be your biggest obstacle. Having the right gear can help, but if it’s raining hard enough to hinder your sight, find a spot to pull off and wait for the storm to pass.

Not only can rain restrict your sight, it also restricts the sight of other motorists. Always wear bright, reflective gear to make yourself more easily seen. And if you know you could face rain, wear water-resistant or waterproof clothing, boots and gloves. Layer pieces so you have overlapping seams to keep water out. A full face helmet offers the best protection during a rainy ride.

The wetter the roads, the longer it can take to brake. So if you’re riding in the rain, braking distance should be increased, and turning should be slow and steady. Ride as vertical as possible so your tires have good contact and can whisk away water through the treads. Apply lighter pressure to the front brakes, and compensate by adding more stopping distance.

If speaking the ugly truth, every time you get on your bike, you’re at risk of a collision. Fortunately as a rider, you are in control of more than just your motorcycle. There are many actions you can take before and during a potential collision to prevent a crash or at least reduce the severity.

One of the most important things you can do to reduce your odds of being involved in a collision is educate yourself. Take a motorcycle safety course and learn life-saving riding skills. Courses will teach you how to recognize potential hazards and how to avoid crashes. Riders of every skill level can benefit from taking a class.

Educate yourself on South Dakota riding laws to ensure you have the proper equipment and safety features on your bike before riding. Be familiar with speed limits and know that they are set for a reason. Speed is a huge factor in collisions; the faster you’re going, the longer it takes you to slow down. Lastly, never drink and ride. Alcohol affects more than just your judgment. It impairs your riding and makes you more likely to be involved in a crash. Some rules aren’t meant to be broken.

When a rider is in the act of avoiding a collision, there are several factors that will affect the outcome: rider skill, rider training, motorcycle performance, environmental conditions and the nature of the obstacle the rider is trying to avoid. While some of these factors cannot be controlled, rider skill and training can through proper education and practice.

Once you’ve completed motorcycle safety training courses, practice what you’ve learned at low speed in an open environment. The more comfortable you are with collision avoidance maneuvers, such as emergency braking or swerving, the more level-headed you’ll be in the case of an actual collision.

Learn how to use your front brake in an emergency situation. The front brake is the most powerful and difficult to master. It can alter your speed much more quickly than your engine. When you emergency brake, use both your front and rear brakes. Brake as hard as you can without locking up either wheel, even when a crash is inevitable. Shedding even a small fraction of your speed can mean the difference between going home with bruises and going home at all.

There are many ways you can be proactive when it comes to collision avoidance on your motorcycle. Start by making yourself seen. Wear safety gear with bright colors and reflective elements. At night it’s especially hard for motorists to see motorcycles. Make sure your bike has reflective features on it as well.

Use your headlight in both daytime and nighttime. Your bike only has one, so make sure it’s clean and works well. When you are stopped at an intersection, flash your brake lights to ensure the vehicle pulling up behind you is aware that you’re there. Be conscious of where vehicles’ blind spots lie and avoid them. Ride in the section of the lane that makes you most visible to motorists, and always stay away from the centerline.

Before each ride, perform a routine check to make sure everything is working correctly. Inspect the tires for wear and tear and make sure they’re set at the right pressure. Check the chain, belt, shaft and brakes for damage and make sure your lights, horn and turn signals are working. Before you start moving, adjust your mirrors so you can see as much possible around you. In the case of a collision, you’ll be thankful your motorcycle is performing properly.

As a rider, you’ll always be playing defense on the road.

Drivers looking for cars often times merely see the absence of a car and not the presence of a motorcycle. Always be alert and ready to make sudden lane changes or swerves if necessary. Look ahead when you ride and anticipate the actions of motorists around you. The sooner you see the potential hazard, the more time you’ll have to react.

It’s smart to avoid riding in bad weather for a number of reasons. Limited visibility is an important factor, and roads can become slippery, especially when oil and diesel lift to the top of the pavement. Plan for longer following distances and earlier braking. After the weather clears, watch for patches of sand, potholes and other potential hazards left behind.

What’s the most common type of crash between a motorcycle and a car? When a car fails to see a rider and makes a left turn in front of them at an intersection. To avoid this, keep an eye on approaching car’s blinkers and give them plenty of room to turn. If they are careless and don’t use a blinker, be prepared to speed up or swerve to avoid a collision.

A majority of motorcycle collisions occur at intersections. Be prepared to brake at a moment’s notice when approaching a stop. Also, avoid getting rear-ended. Many cars overlook a motorcycle parked at a light. Create a buffer between you and oncoming traffic if possible and flash your brake lights as cars approach you from behind. Keep your bike in first gear and hand over the throttle ready to move if cars behind you fail to stop.

Although the gap between an active traffic lane and parked cars looks convenient, never ride in it. Someone might swing their door open and unknowingly cause a collision. Or worse, someone might step out of their car and collide with you themselves. Cars might also pull out suddenly without giving a second look over their shoulder. There’s too much opportunity for collision to risk it.

Safety gear and motorcycles go hand-in-hand. Or at least they should. Safety is essential to making sure your next ride isn’t your last. So let’s start from the top with the helmet.

Riding a motorcycle is a symbol of freedom and living life a bit rebelliously. But to live life on the edge, you have to be alive. Cue the helmet. Hands down, a helmet is the most important piece of gear you can put on your body. In fact, wearing a helmet reduces the overall risk of dying in a crash by 37 percent.
There’s no amount of training or experience that can guarantee your safety from a crash. Even if the law doesn’t require you to, take action and protect yourself—put on a helmet. Being hardheaded just might save your life.

While the importance of wearing one is clear, purchasing a helmet can be a daunting task. With technological and safety advances, there are a lot more features to choose from than just size and color.

Full Face Helmet
This type of helmet was designed to protect not just your head but your jaw and face as well. It covers the top, back and front of your head and is set apart from similar helmets by its chin bar. If you’re looking for the best protection – and you should be- a full face helmet is the best recommendation.

Open Face or ¾ Helmet
Open face helmets are structurally very similar to full face helmets except they have no chin bar and often no face shield either. An open face helmet will let you feel more wind on the road, but it also opens up the possibility of more injury in a crash.

Modular Helmet
Known as the Optimus Prime of helmets, modular helmets are able to transform from a full face helmet into an open face helmet. The chin bar flips up or can be removed entirely to offer you the best of both worlds.

Half Helmet
More common among the scooter and cruiser community, half helmets offer the most minimal protection. Due to the lack of safety features, they are extremely lightweight.

Off Road or Motocross Helmet
The most unique of the bunch, off road helmets come with specific features meant for riders who race motocross. They’re equipped with a sun visor and an elongated, angular chin bar. Built to minimize weight and maximize ventilation, off road helmets are not suggested if riding on highways.

Dual-Sport Helmet
Dual-sport helmets are a hybrid of an off road and full face helmet. They have a sun visor and great ventilation but provide a little more warmth and sound proofing than an off road. If you’re a versatile rider looking for a helmet to take on and off the road, the dual-sport is a good choice.