Lending a bike to an inexperienced biker can lead to damage or even death
This warning comes after a young biker lost control of his bike in Nelson Mandela Drive and caused a lot of damage to his friend's bike.
POLOKWANE – According to Sapa Yopa Motorcycle Club President, Sarel Nong, many bikers don’t think twice about lending their bikes to a friend or family member but this could be a big mistake. If they are inexperienced riders or there is a minor glitch in the system, it could lead to someone getting seriously injured or worse. This warning comes after a young biker lost control of his bike in Nelson Mandela Drive and caused a lot of damage to his friend’s bike.
“Bikes are special, it takes time for a biker to get used to his bike. It’s not something you just lend to someone on a whim,” says Nong.
When someone buys a bike, Nong explains, he chooses one that suits his personal needs. “A biker builds a relationship with the bike, knows how to handle it in varying weather conditions. When another person then uses the bike, he or she does not have that relationship with the bike and will not be able to react on the bike to certain situations because their not prepared,” says Nong.
Bike handling advice during August winds
“In a headwind or tail wind, duck down and pin your arms and legs in. Drop down a gear and accellerate smoothly into the wind to give you more control. In a tailwind, you may like to trail a bit of rear brake,” he suggests.
According to Nong, riding is an art-form, especially in August as it gets very windy and bikers need to take special care to stay in control on the road. “There is nothing a biker can wear to protect them from the wind. The only thing they can do is to ride slower and be aware of their surroundings,” he says. “The slower you go, the better grip the bike has and the safer you will be. So please do not speed, do not use someone else’s bike and be safe on the road,” he concludes.
