What you should consider By: Debbi Serafinchon There is nothing that beats the feeling of the road rushing by just inches from your feet and the wind in your face. As riders, we love the freedom the road affords us and every chance we get, you will find us behind the bars. You wouldn’t be the first motorcyclist to spark awe in a child or non-rider enough that they may ask you to take them...
Read moreProper Fit and Quality are Key! By: Jon Watchuk Pictures courtesy of Motovan via Cycle Works The AMSS has always had a focus on good fitting, quality gear. As a last line of defense, when all else has gone sideways, gear may be the difference between walking away in disgust and being carted away on a stretcher. The key elements often mentioned are quality and fit, yet surprisingly for us the most important is not...
Read moreAlberta Rider's Tips and Tricks By: Debbi Serafinchon You’ve probably all heard the saying “you can be right, but on a motorcycle, you’ll be dead right.” Even if you follow all the rules of the road, you are vulnerable on 2 wheels. The Alberta Motorcycle Safety Society works hard at educating both drivers and riders on our roadways. We put out public service announcements through our media sponsors. We continue to attend tradeshows to create...
Read moreOur big diverse Moto-Fam By: Debbi Serafinchon Sport bikes, cruisers, off-road, dual sport, choppers, adventure touring, dirt bikes, enduro bikes, motocross, spyder, trike, and yes, even the scooters. Regardless of what you choose to ride, we are a unified body of individuals all sharing a common interest that is scattered throughout a larger society and is precisely what I envision when I think of my fellow motorcycle enthusiasts. We are a community of riders sharing Read more…
Are you ready? By: Debbi Serafinchon The sun is out longer, the crispness in the air is fading, and the open road is starting to beckon. Like you, I have been waiting for this entire winter for the snow to disappear. Each time I walk by my bike in the garage, I look at her longingly and smile from the memories of last year’s adventures, excited to make new ones this year. Even if you Read more…
The passion ignited in our eyes By: Debbi Serafinchon Regardless of the type of bike we choose to ride, motorcyclists are often painted with the same brush; we are risk-takers, thrill seekers, or adrenaline junkies. While there may be some riders out there who fit that bill, there are other reasons why both men and women choose to ride such as: Freedom Adventure Connectedness Badass Joy Rush If riders only wanted to take risks and Read more…
What the MDC can do for you By: Debbi Serafinchon The last thing anyone riding a motorcycle wants to experience is being in a collision. We hear about the dangers of riding all too often and for good reason. Compared with people driving cars, motorcycle riders face a much higher risk of severe injury or worse. Most of us that ride is well aware of that fact and take safety quite seriously. Besides ensuring ATGATT Read more…
Preparing for, and recovering from, a crash. by R. Bruce Thomas A version of this article was originally published in the March/April 2012 issue of Inside Motorcycles magazine. CRUNCH!! There’s no other sound quite like the sickening collision of metal on metal (or metal on plastic). Then comes your own cursing or screaming, depending on how badly you have been hurt. Once the initial pain goes away you’ll ask “How’s my bike?” followed by Read more…
Introducing, and re-introducing our AMSS Board By: Debbi Serafinchon Admittedly not a safety piece this month but a much needed look at behind the scenes of AMSS, who is working so hard for motorcycle safety and awareness and a little bit about their human side! Liane Langlois is our fearless leader and because of her vision to make it safer for riders to be on the road, we have the Alberta Motorcycle Safety Society. She Read more…
Tips to Winterize Your Motorcycle By: Debbi Serafinchon We knew this was going to happen sooner than later. All of us that ride this far north know the riding season comes to an end and we must do what we can to protect our beloved motorcycles from the harsh winter elements. Giving your bike TLC before the snow flies will help to get your bike ready in the spring. Follow these tips to store your Read more…
Fall is here! By: Debbi Serafinchon You can already feel that chill in the air and dusk is earlier, and earlier each time we head out for a ride it seems. With the season change, adjustments must be made to our riding. Temperatures are declining, trees are changing color and here are some tips to keep the shiny side up! I love to drive through the back roads and see the fields ready to be Read more…
Planning for a Long Road Trip By: Debbi Serafinchon There is seriously nothing better than experiencing the open road on a bike. The sights, the sounds, the smells, the pure exhilaration of a motorcycle trip are why we ride, right? The open road has a way of calling to those of us that ride, and it whispers so seductively we cannot ignore it. Planning a more extended trip on a motorcycle takes a little more Read more…
Developing Skills and Strategies to be a Better Rider By: Debbi Serafinchon An advanced rider-training course is excellent for anyone who has been riding for more than a year or has put on over 5000 km. The course is designed to allow participants to improve their riding skills while appreciating the limits of their motorcycle. With a blend of classroom sessions and time on the course, it is a great way to update your skills. Read more…
And how to plan for one! By: Debbi Serafinchon Sharing a passion with others is a great way to bond and grow friendships, and group riding can be an excellent way to do that. The social aspect of riding is what attracts people to own a motorcycle but there are a few things you should keep in mind before you agree to that group ride you’ve seen posted. A few of the concerns that many Read more…
How Gear Can Save You By: Debbi Serafinchon There are many different reasons that we ride. Some just to get out of the house. Others seek the freedom, empowerment, and for stress relief. No matter what your reason is, there is always someone in your life that hopes you make it from point A to B and back again, even if you don’t know where point B may be. As riders, we trade in the Read more…
What you need to know to be safe! By: Debbi Serafinchon No matter what you ride, in order to keep your motorcycle in pristine riding condition, spring preparation will have you ready when the snow melts and the sun comes out. Whether you ride for pleasure, race around a track, or like to head out on some back trails, taking care of your bike will give you peace of mind and may save you expensive Read more…
So much more than just learning to ride! by: Debbi Serafinchon Whether you are a new driver or one that has been riding for years, motorcycle courses can help us all learn a thing or two. The confidence that can be gained by a new rider after having spent some time slowly learning the correct methods can be invaluable once on the open road. As a seasoned rider, we all have a tendency to develop Read more…
We Are Growing! by: Debbi Serafinchon Alberta Motorcycle Safety Society is always looking for ways to reach the public and increase our presence. Building recognition for AMSS will help in promoting motorcycle safety, education, and awareness all across Alberta. One of our projects we are focusing on is the We Are project. It is the human aspect of who is under that helmet. AMSS took to the Calgary and Edmonton Motorcycle shows to promote our message and Read more…
June 27, 2017 marked a very special day for the President of the AMSS. The City of Edmonton presented her with the Community Traffic Safety Award for 2017 after receiving 2 nominations from fellow AMSS board members. That morning, Liane, Marty, Doug along with a couple other supporters went to City Hall to attend Council Protocol. They attended a private reception before then entered Council Chambers for the official ceremony. During the ceremony both Councilor Read more…
Riding season is well under way and we recently launched our second annual motorcycle safety campaign with a simple message this year, Think Bike. This will add on to our existing We Are campaign which has been extended this year and our high impact PSA about left turns. ShawTV created us this wicked digital image for this year’s campaign that sees billboards coming on board to showcase our message. Think Bike applies to everyone, not Read more…
As the AMSS grows not only in Edmonton but throughout the province of Alberta, we are going to need help! Help can come in many fashions. Awhile ago we posted about how you can get involved and even that has evolved since the beginning of June! So here are some updated ways to get involved with the AMSS to help succeed for safer roads! Become a member! That’s right! The long anticipated membership program has Read more…
Who doesn’t like a long solo trip on the bike? It allows you to get away and recharge. Riding alone can empower anyone for many different reasons. However, it often concerns people who love you and want to see you arrive alive. What if something happened along the way, how would anyone know? I personally have always had a person on each end of my journey who knows my route and check points to let them know my Read more…
Over the last few weeks we have seen some pretty horrific accidents happen, all were preventable either by the rider or the driver. I had a first degree of separation to 3 of them and what struck me as odd is 2 of them occurred in British Columbia which is infamous for being motorcycle friendly. We are talking about people who purposely slow down and pull over before you enter the twisted parts to let Read more…
Now that the launch of the campaign is behind us and our message is getting out there, we have a lot to work on going forward. One of the biggest questions we get is how can we get involved. There are several ways depending on how much time and effort you can afford to give to this cause. Buy some stuff from our clothing line! Click here to see the webstore where all proceeds to Read more…
May 11, 2016, the AMSS officially launched not only the Society but our very first motorcycle safety campaign. And in the true fashion of solidarity that this campaign has become, the majority of our media friends put “turf wars” aside to come together for safer roads. On hand were Gord Steinke (Global), Daryl McIntyre (CTV), Sean Burke (CFCW), Shane Michaels (Capital FM), Cam Hayden (CKUA), Marty Forbes (Edmonton Sun & VP, AMSS) and finally Terry Read more…