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A Tragic Crash and a New Direction for MCrider
A regular viewer of MCrider sent me a news article a few months ago that has completely shifted the way I think about this channel and its direction.
I call it a “shift,” but in truth this message has been at the heart of what I’ve tried to do with MCrider since the very beginning — over nine years ago.
Today, I want to share something new with you. At the end of this post, I’ll tell you about a new venture I’m launching — something that builds on what MCrider has always been about but takes things in an important new direction.
The Crash That Sparked This Change
The article was about a motorcycle fatality crash involving a rider and a school bus in Fort Worth, TX.
The viewer who sent it to me knew it happened close to where I live and wanted to know my thoughts. After reading the article, I found security cam footage of the crash and saw that local news stations were covering the story.
In this video, I break down the core principles of MCrider training and show how misunderstanding those values may have contributed to this crash. I’ll also share clips from the news coverage.
Then, I’ll explain why this story matters so deeply and introduce my new venture — and how you can be a part of it.
Core Value #1 – Road Skills
One of MCrider’s core values is Road Skills — the practice of core motorcycle techniques in a parking lot so you have those skills ready when you need them on the road.
I teach these skills through:
- Countless MCrider videos
- Member forums where riders share and refine techniques
- The MCrider Field Guide — a book with skill explanations, exercise layouts, and video demonstrations
Three Skills That Could Have Prevented This Crash
There are three key skills in the Field Guide that could have helped this rider:
- Emergency Braking
- Swerving
- Brake and Escape
From the footage, it appears the rider may have locked up the rear brake and possibly never used the front brake at all. You can see:
- Smoke from the rear tire
- The motorcycle losing alignment before the collision
- Lack of front fork compression (a sign the front brake wasn’t used effectively)
It looks like the rider reacted instinctively rather than with trained technique.
And that’s the problem — our natural reactions and bad habits often fail us if we haven’t replaced them with proper, practiced skills.
Even if proper emergency braking hadn’t prevented the crash completely, it would have:
- Reduced speed
- Reduced impact
- Potentially prevented the collision altogether
Core Value #2 – Road Strategy
The second core value of MCrider is Road Strategy — anticipating risks and minimizing the chances of needing life-saving maneuvers in the first place.
I have numerous videos and an entire book dedicated to road strategy because it is critical to rider survival.
Here are a few road strategy factors that may have made a difference in this crash:
Helmet Use
No one wakes up planning to crash their motorcycle. If we knew a crash was coming, we’d wear every piece of protective gear we own — especially a helmet.
It’s a simple fact: helmets save lives.
We can’t say for certain whether one would have saved this rider, but we do know the cost of not wearing one.
Sun in the Driver’s Eyes
The footage shows the rider had the rising sun directly behind him, likely creating a severe blind spot for the bus driver.
A rider using solid road strategy would recognize this and adjust:
- Change lane position
- Slow down
- Cover the brakes
- Prepare for left-turning vehicles
We may never know what the rider saw or considered that morning — but we can all learn from this and apply the lesson to our own riding.
Something of Ultimate Importance
This crash caused me to consider things of eternal significance. That’s why I’m launching a brand-new channel called The Study — where we will talk about topics of ultimate importance.
You can find The Study here: MCrider.com/TheStudy. That link will take you directly to the channel where you can watch the continuation of this video.
How You Can Help
I have one favor to ask:
When you get to The Study, please subscribe. Subscribing tells YouTube the content is valuable and helps it reach more people.
My goal is to get 1,000 subscribers within the first 24 hours. Hitting that milestone will make a huge difference for the success and reach of this channel.
Final Thoughts
Till next week here on MCrider — I’ll see you on the road.
But hopefully, I’ll also see you over on The Study, where we can continue this important conversation.
Links you may be interested in:
Become a Member of MCrider
Get the Field Guide Print Edition
Order ANYTHING on Amazon and Support MCrider
Braking Tips
Entry Speed
Head & Eyes
Slow – Look – Press – Roll
Trail Braking
Following Distance
Police Skills
Riding Under the Influence
Become a Member for immediate access to the MCrider Field Guide.
Below is some gear that I ride with on a daily basis…if you are in the need of good riding gear, the products below have worked well for me.
KLIM Jacket – https://www.MCrider.com/KLIM
Shoei Motorcycle Helmets – https://www.MCrider.com/Shoei
Windshirt/Jacket Liner – https://www.MCrider.com/Liner
Lee Park Sumo Gloves – https://www.MCrider.com/LeeParks
The best source for guiding your practice session is the MCrider Field Guide.
If you are not a Member join for immediate access to the forums and Field Guide
