V E N G E A N C E M O T O R C Y C L E S O W N E R S M A N U A L
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Vengeance Motorcycles, Mira Loma, CA USA • 866-483-6432 • www.VengeanceMotorcycles.com
© 2004 Vengeance Performance Products, LLC All Rights Reserved • VOM 2nd Edition Rev 2.0 11/03
HIGHWAY, BYWAY, STREET AND ALLEY
This is what it all comes down to: you and the road. There are millions and millions of miles of roads in this country,
from one-lane dirt to 12-lane highway.
When you ride, the surface conditions, traffic, and weather can be changing. You have to be constantly aware of a lot
of things. Daydreaming when you’re riding a motorcycle isn’t a good idea. Things happen fast out there on the road,
and you have to be prepared for them.
The SEE System
Here is a good reminder for riding safely in traffic:
S
Search around you for potential hazards.
E
Evaluate any possible hazards, such as turning cars, railroad tracts, etc.
E
Execute the proper action to avoid the hazard.
This
SEE
is a mental system for safe motorcycling. Use it effectively and you’ll cover many safer, happy miles on your
motorcycle
Increasing Your Visibility to Others
What’s the most usual explanation from the automobile driver who just turned in front of a motorcyclist? “Gee, officer, I
didn’t see him.”
It’s a sad truth. We’re not as big as a Mack truck, but we are visible. However, too often motorists don’t see us
because they aren’t looking for motorcycles.
You have to attract their attention.
All motorcycle headlamps in recent years are hard-wired, which means that the headlight goes on whenever the
engine goes on. If you have an earlier model, turn that headlight on every time you go out. It helps - even on a bright,
sunny day!
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: wear bright clothing and utilize retroreflective material (it shines when a beam
of light hits it) whenever appropriate. The biggest thing that a following driver usually sees is your back. Make it stand
out.
Always signal your intentions. Change lanes or make a turn using your turn signals. You want to be sure that the
people around you know what you are about to do.
And it helps to assist your turn signals with hand signals at times. Remember to cancel your signals when you’ve
completed your maneuver, otherwise drivers are getting false information from you...and you could cause yourself
trouble.
Don’t be shy about using your horn in some situations. If drivers are dozing, or about to pull an unthinking maneuver,
give them a BEEP. You want to make them aware of what they are doing. And of your presence.
Position your motorcycle where it can be seen. Don’t put yourself behind a large truck or ride in the blind spot of a
vehicle near you. Get out there, take up a whole lane, make yourself seen.
Helping You to See Others
The other half of the visibility battle is being alert and seeing everything around you. Use your eyes effectively. Keep
them moving. Don’t get fascinated by that ’39 Alfa Romeo Freccia d’Oro off to your right. Or go rubber-necking at an
accident scene. If your eyes are locked on one thing, you may be ignoring some situation that could affect your ride.
Look ahead. Look to the side. Look in your mirrors. Look over your shoulders. Keep looking! Anticipate the oncoming,
left-turning driver, the reckless fool coming up behind you, the car poking its nose out of the driveway, the guy beside
