Motorcycle Chocks Can Be Dangerous
Maybe not so much to you, but to your motorcycle it could be devastating and expensive.
What do we mean?
Riding a motorcycle into a wheel chock can be a bit tricky but, when done correctly, it can be a convenient way to secure your bike. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you safely ride your motorcycle into a chock:
First, ensure that the wheel chock is securely placed. This prevents any movement that could cause instability. Approach the chock slowly and steadily, keeping the motorcycle straight and centered. It’s crucial to maintain a controlled speed to avoid overshooting the chock. As you near the chock, gently apply the brakes to reduce speed further.
Once the front wheel makes contact with the chock, continue to roll forward until you feel the wheel settle into place. Many chocks have a cradle that will pivot to lock the wheel securely. At this point, you can dismount the motorcycle carefully, ensuring it remains balanced.
The important words above are straight and centered.
If Done Wrong
You have much more control when riding your motorcycle into a chock. The most dangerous way to put your motorcycle into a chock is by "pushing it into a chock"!
Thousands of people have found out the hard way. They know they had to have some speed to get into the chock so they gave it a bit of a run and when the front wheel hit the chock, the person pushing did not have enough time to check the centering and the front wheel hit the lip on the side of the chock and jerked the bike over. When this happens, and the bike jerks to the side, there is little chance that you can keep it upright.
So now the bike falls or hits another object, and damages bars and mirrors to start, but the most painful thin is it can put dints into your tank. And this will be a lot more costly than replacing mirrors.
So next time you put a motorcycle into a chock, ride it in slowly and remember that a little mistake on centering could jerk the bike hard. If you are on the bike you have a better chance to catch it, but when pushing odds drop big time.
We hope this article may save you from a costly mistake. Most riders take the chance. Some fail. Is it worth the risk?
