Three courageous people have taken a brave step into the public arena.  Sam, Kym and Andrew are real people, telling real stories with real emotions.  Sadly it has taken a tragic circumstance for them to show their bravery.  Each person has lost a family member in a fatal motorcycle crash and now they want to tell you their story.  The three people agreed to publish their emotive and personal story to emphasize to riders to “ride smart, stay safe - think about your family”.

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It’s a Saturday morning and for the first time in a few weeks I’ve managed to line up a sunny day and some free time, so I prep the Fireblade, throw on the leathers and head for the hills. On the way I roll into the servo to top up the tank and …  (more…)

In the mid 1970s we got a batch of new 250cc Yamaha bikes at the police driving School in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).  One morning I sent out an instructor with about 6 trainee riders.  They had reached the end of their two week training course and had earned a road ride for their efforts. It was supposed to be a ride of about 50 or 60 kms but for one unfortunate it turned out to be a little longer.

This young man was not the brightest of recruits … (more…)

So you’re trundling down the road on your trusty Aprilia and everything suddenly goes wrong. You find your beautiful scooter is going one way and you’re about to get up close and personal with the bitumen. But you weren’t going fast and you have a helmet on so you’ll be ok - right? Well, maybe not! (more…)

Have you ever wondered why around 70% of crashes on the open road occur on right hand bends? Well, if you’re like me you probably hadn’t even thought about that statistic. But if you do, the answer becomes a little obvious. (more…)

Are you anticipating your next ‘event’?  Most riders (and drivers) assume the road around the bend is the same as what they are on.  This is true in most situations.   It is the corner (or crest) that represents the ‘one in a million’ chance where there is an animal, road kill, slow or stalled vehicle (or worse - a truck), silt strewn surface, leaf litter, diesel spill, broken shoulder, pothole (topical at present) or tightening curve (reverse spiral) that may catch you out. (more…)

I was always told the important factor of choosing a helmet was to consider the value of your head and purchase one accordingly, for example $10 head = $10 helmet. I have like many out there found the importance of a good helmet more so by accident than by reading the functions and features. (more…)

I find that any great day riding through the hinterland of the Gold Coast, inevitably leads to the most dangerous part of the whole day, being anytime spent travelling down the M1. Cars just don’t seem to be interested in any other road user or anything that means they have to look in a side mirror.

After 20 years of riding, I have come up with a couple of hints which get me through the passage of danger, the M1. (more…)

If you think you’re an experienced rider, take our multiple choice test to see if you measure up.  Topics include Braking, Cornering, Traction and General Knowledge.

Good luck, and don’t forget to post your results in the comments section! (more…)

1. Accelerate quickly up to speed
2. Stop quickly - be aware what is behind you- slowing with the cars put you in danger
3. Do the Speed limit
4. Make early decisions – be in control of your environment
5. Plan – think ahead
6. Ride in the gaps – do not sit beside other vehicles while travelling
7. Stay in the mirrors of other vehicles when passing or being passed
8. Scan constantly – looking for possible dangers
9. Look in your mirrors frequently
10. Check your blind spots – where 1 lane ends and when changing lanes and when leaving roundabouts - you can not protect yourself from what you cannot see.
11. Never drink and ride