Safety School instructor offers motorcycle safety tips

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- As we gear up for the Harley-Davidson 110th anniversary celebration, drivers need to beware of all the motorcycles on the road, and motorcyclists tell FOX6 News they are worried about vehicles with whom they are sharing the road.

FOX6's Contact 6 recently took in a rider's class at Learning Curves Motorcycle Safety School.

"The experienced riders I know, they recommended this course because they took it themselves," John Wilson said.

"I'm most worried about other people because I can't control them. So just always making sure that you're not in their blind spot, you can see what's going on around you, check your mirrors -- just paying attention," Elle Clements said.

Rick Breuer started Learning Curves nearly 10 years ago. He provides bikes so students can see if riding is really for them. It's all about learning the rules of the road, but it's also a course in safety.

"Number one is helmet...for sure. It's open face when you want it to be open face -- when you want to take a drink of water, you want to talk with your friends, you pop this up, then you pop it down while you're riding and you have a full face -- a full protection type helmet," Breuer said.

Breuer says the full face helmet is the best, qualifying for the Snell rating.

"That Snell rating is the more important one. That's a little more involved in the testing. They test random helmets. They will actually go out and buy helmets and test them, so they are not relying on samples from the company," Breuer said.

If they've never been involved in an accident, helmets should last about five years.

Breuer says his second piece of safety advice would be to be sure to ride with eye protection. Eye protection comes with the full face helmet.

Breuer also suggests using gloves, which should be full-fingered and have padding on the palms.

"You protect yourself by putting your hands out. It's almost animal instinct. You're going to have some kind of palm protection there," Breuer said.

Breuer says riders should also be sure to wear boots that protect one's ankles.

"A good riding boot is going to have protection on the inside and on the outside for that," Breuer said.

When riding in cooler weather, Breuer suggests riders check out chaps and jackets -- and even suggests equipment you can plug in to warm you up.

Breuer says if you're ever in an accident, you'll want a jacket that has protection in the right places.

"If you want to look good and still be protected get yourself some good leather," Breuer said.

Breuer says most jackets offer spine protection.

"Get something that fits. Get something that if a more expensive piece feels better and is more comfortable -- pay the money," Breuer said.

CLICK HERE for additional details on courses at Learning Curves Motorcycle Safety School.