Team Oregon Motorcycle Safety Program

08/21/2026

Riding in groups is fun, but it can quickly go bad. A common mistake is getting distracted by another rider, whether they're ahead of you or behind you. Watch your mirror too long and a sudden situation could unfold in front of you while your eyes are elsewhere. Or stare at the rider ahead too long, you might just follow them into a bad line. Spread out on group rides so other riders do not distract you.

08/14/2026

One of our favorites is "if it's too hot to wear the gear, it's too hot to ride." But there are tricks to staying cool under your gear. 1) Hydrate, whether you feel thirsty or not. Even with all the gear, airflow at speed drains you over time. 2) Don't forget sunscreen on your nose, cheeks and lips. 3) Soak your undershirt or neckline before you ride and at stops, as the water evaporates in the wind it feels like air conditioning and cools your skin. 4) If you know you're going to ride a lot in the heat, get some good summer-weight gear. WebBikeWorld did a great review of "top 5 best moto jackets" for summer...

When the sun’s shining, it's really easy to trade safety for cool and breezy. But if safety’s key for you as a rider, here’s five of the very best hot weather jackets.

08/13/2026

What a drag! Leather: 859 feet. Mesh: 261 feet. Denim: um, 12 feet. Our colleague Ray Pierce in Missouri did some testing with motorcycle jackets to see how they'd hold up to sliding down the road. The results were sobering. Denim was barely tougher than a cotton shirt, hoodie or flannel and lasted only a split second before shredding on the asphalt! If you wear street clothes on your bike, it's time for a reality check. We'll put a link to the full article and all the shredded jacket photos in the comments...

08/10/2026

Some of you may remember the "pathway to impairment" concept from our basic course. It is worth reminding that "impairment" doesn't always have to mean alcohol or drugs. Over the course of a long riding day, sun, wind, heat, or cold can wear you down. Fatigue is a serious impairment. Your "rider-readiness" is drained and you are vulnerable to mistakes. Plan the length of your rides, and your rest breaks, accordingly...

08/06/2026

Did you know that trike riders are welcome in Advanced Riding Techniques (ART), Cornering Clinics and On-Road Clinics? Maybe three wheelers are slightly harder to tip over, but their riders are just as vulnerable in crashes and can benefit from advanced strategies and techniques. If you own a trike or reverse trike (like a Can-Am), join us for a day of rider training!

https://team-oregon.org/training-courses/additional-training/

08/01/2026

Much has been said about inattentional blindness, change blindness, motion camouflage, etc. as it pertains to car drivers not seeing motorcyclists. This "Avoid inattentional blindness – watch for motorcyclists" video from our friends at the Michigan Secretary of State is pretty good, and worth a share with your riding and non-riding friends alike. Great job Michigan!...

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

07/30/2026

Getting new motorcycle tires is a great feeling, but they can be very slippery at first! Ride very carefully the couple hours, reducing your lean angles. Take curves gently, at lower speeds, increasing lean only a little at a time. Spend time on higher-speed, mostly straight roads to get new tires fully up to operating temperature. New tires won't be ready until they have had at least one heat cycle of warming and cooling and have been scrubbed in by careful riding. Our friends at Motorcyclist Magazine offer 3 Reasons Why You Need to Break In New Motorcycle Tires...

Any time you spoon on new rubber it’s important to avoid sudden acc...

07/28/2026

Many of you have taken a Precision Maneuvering Clinic Level 1 class, but did you know there is a Level 2 available? PMC2 warms up with a few exercises from Level 1, then adds the Snowman, J-Cone, 30mph Weave, Brake & Escape, Staircase and Quickset. Plus, as always, we practice lighthearted group riding and serious parking. PMC2 classes are in Gresham Sun Aug 30 and Albany Sun Sep 20...

https://team-oregon.org/training-courses/additional-training/precision-maneuvering-clinic/

07/24/2026

Head and eyes up! Look where you want to go. Turn your head... We're serious about where riders should look in a curve. Good visual skills are a lifesaver. What do you think? In a tight turn with good sightlines, should the rider be focused near A, B or C? (For simplicity, the diagram is drawn without an oncoming lane.)

07/20/2026

Spongy brakes? Time to bleed your system and replace the fluid, at least once every two years. Note that air is compressible, brake fluid is not. Always chase old fluid with fresh fluid so there’s no air in the system. Use fluid intended for motorcycles, and be sure to top up the reservoir often while bleeding to prevent adding MORE air into the system. Refer to your owner's manual regarding ABS brake systems. Our friends at Motorcyclist Magazine have a great video on How to Bleed Your Motorcycle Brakes...

Replacing your brake fluid and bleeding the system of air bubbles i...