Attorney Todd Korb, Partner at Hupy and Abraham, prepares to ride his BMW motorcycle at the Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary Homecoming event.

Motorcyclists need to be prepared for unexpected problems to pop up on a ride. Not every situation you may encounter on the road is predictable, but there are a few things you can keep on your motorcycle that will make unexpected problems easier.

Keeping these five things on your bike will help make unexpected problems easier to deal with.

  1. A Tool Kit: Having a tool kit on your bike with pliers, screwdrivers, socket wrenches and other common tools will ensure that you can fix any unexpected broken parts or replace components if necessary while you’re out on the open road. If you have the right tools on hand, you can fix problems that would otherwise leave you stranded.
  2. A Tire Gauge and Portable Air Compressor: Keeping your tires in top condition is extremely important to have a safe, comfortable and enjoyable ride. If you ride your bike with improper tire pressure, your motorcycle will be less efficient and possibly even dangerous. Always carry a tire gauge so you can check your tire pressure before and during long-distance rides. Portable mini tire air compressors are also available and are compact enough to carry on your motorcycle. These can be trip savers, especially if you need to put air in your tires and you're out in the middle of nowhere.
  3. A Cell Phone: It may seem like common sense, but every rider should carry a cell phone or other form of communication with them on a ride. A phone can act as a GPS navigation device. It can also act as a camera to take pictures in case of a motorcycle accident. You can also easily contact someone in case of an emergency. A phone is an important device for entertainment. You can listen to music or podcasts while out on the open road. Hupy and Abraham’s podcast “Tell Them You Mean Business” includes episodes with prominent Midwest motorcyclists. Our latest episode includes an interview with the staff of Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson talking about the Harley-Davidson 120th Homecoming Anniversary events. Check it out at tellthemyoumeanbusiness.buzzsprout.com or search for it on Spotify or your favorite streaming platform for some great entertainment on your ride.
  4. A First Aid Kit: While every rider hopes to get through the day without any injuries, a first aid kit is an essential item to keep on your motorcycle. The right first aid kit will help you handle any small injuries, including cuts and scrapes. The right kit will also help you manage more serious injuries until help arrives.
  5. A Motorcycle Accident Guide: Riders hope that they’ll never have to deal with an accident on the road, but the unthinkable can happen. Keep a guide to help you in the event of a motorcycle accident that includes everything you need to do in the event of a crash. Hupy and Abraham provides a free “Rider Resource Kit” here that includes the steps to follow immediately after an accident and how to handle a personal injury accident claim.

Do everything you can while you’re riding your motorcycle to help ensure your safety. Your bike may allow you to carry more than the things on this list, but you should always have these few things on your motorcycle. Stay safe and have a great ride!

Hupy and Abraham has been supporting motorcyclists for over 50 years. Our firm works to educate the public about being aware of motorcycle riders with our “Watch for Motorcycles” campaign. We also support the motorcycle community through events and sponsorships.

If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact Hupy and Abraham right away at HUPY.COM or 800-800-5678 so we can start fighting for you. We’ve helped over 70,000 clients receive over $1 billion dollars for their injuries.

Jason F. Abraham
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Helping car accident and personal injury victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa since 1993.