The speaker discusses various habits and techniques for motorcyclists to improve their safety on the road. These include:
1. Pre-loading brake levers to improve braking response and prevent over-braking.
2. Understanding the concept of adhesion and how it relates to tire grip on different road surfaces.
3. Scanning the road in a zig-zag pattern to improve perception and reaction time.
4. Maintaining a loose and open riding stance, especially in cold or wet conditions, to improve control and stability.
5. Biasing the head leftward when stopping to maintain balance and control.
6. Avoiding the "accordion effect" when riding in groups, where slower riders may accelerate to catch up with faster riders, increasing the risk of accidents.
The speaker also shares a personal story about a friend who was a reckless driver and how their behavior didn't improve over time, highlighting the importance of safe riding habits and responsible behavior on the road.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. Canadians are told to cover their levers in traffic, near Tim Hortons drive-throughs, and in moose country.
2. Pre-loading brake levers can help prevent crashes.
3. Adhesion is the friction between tires and asphalt.
4. Heavier vehicles have more adhesion and grip due to increased normal force.
5. Suspension damping can delay weight transfer to the front wheel, affecting braking performance.
6. Panic braking can be counterproductive due to delayed weight transfer.
7. Hysteresis is a phenomenon where rubber compresses and rebounds, affecting tire performance.
8. Rolling resistance is the energy lost due to tire deformation and internal friction.
9. Bi-directional readers (e.g., those who read both left-to-right and right-to-left languages) can scan more efficiently and effectively.
10. Scanning left-center-right then right-center-left can improve perception and reaction time.
11. Bi-directional readers can spot targets faster and more accurately than those who only read one direction.
12. In cold weather, sitting up loose and getting "colder" can improve stability and control on a motorcycle.
13. Biasing one's head leftward can help maintain balance and control when stopping.
14. Dragging the rear brake can help maintain stability and control during slow collisions.
15. The accordion effect can lead to increased stopping distances and accidents when following another vehicle.
16. Group riding can be hazardous due to the accordion effect, especially for those struggling to keep up.
17. Putting faster riders at the back of a group can help protect new motorcyclists from the accordion effect.