That machine can kill you faster than you imagine. Unless you dump the habit, you are destined to a short life span. If you insist on your hobby, there are rules and regulations.
As a rider Never use power bike for racing. No matter the safety gear you wear, there is limit to how it can save you at some excessive speed, in the event of accident.
If you are on a long-distance journey, watch out for trailers and potholes. A trailer driver does not see small objects coming at such speed and may swerve to your position without notice.
Remember it was a trailer that crushed and mangled Mohammed Bashir Dalhatu. Be extremely careful and alert to potholes. Carry water to rehydrate your system.
Be careful while overtaking other vehicles. Always slow down before overtaking. Avoid sharp maneuvers.
Power bike or sports bike is an extremely dangerous toy in the hands of sons and daughters of the elite. Yes, it is an elite game because a power bike can cost between 2-5Million. Even second hand cost up to 700,000.
It is a dangerous game because of its excessive speed. A power bike can have a torque of 150km in 5 seconds and can speed up to 350km per hour, the land speed of most aircrafts. In fact power bikes use aviation speedometer.
One of the reasons why riders die is because of the very terrible state of Nigerian roads, their relative young age, and exuberance, their inflated ego of trying to impress the public, their disrespect for traffic regulations and poor safety gear. A ride on a power bike without your safety gear is a suicide mission.
Power bike took the life of Mohammed Bashir Dalhatu in 2012, he was the son of Nigeria’s former minister of steel. It also took the life of Femi Segun in 2014 who was a diplomat, son of writer Mabel Segun and in-law to Fela Kuti.
There were other casualties, including Yusuf, the son of President Muhammadu Buhari.
If you follow this advice, you can enjoy your sport bike without incidence. It is not by coincidence some people spent decades with their bike without accidents and if at all they had, not fatal at all. Just minor injuries and damage to the machine.
Charlie Boy, for example, has been a rider for over three decades now without accident. His record is not without reasons, he was never been a reckless rider. He didn’t participate in any racing competition. He obeys traffic rules, he wears safety gear, and rides without stunts and excessive speed.
All over the world power bike has stringent regulations except Nigeria. The greatest danger posed to riders in cities is that of Okada riders and Keke Napep because of their penchant to disrespect traffic rules, according to riders themselves. Another problem is dehydration. Most riders on long trip suffered dehydration and fainted while riding.
By Aliyu Nuhu
