Riding a motorcycle as everyday transportation can be daunting at best. This is the case for experienced riders but is especially true for new or novice riders. Here is the start of an ongoing series of tips for keeping your bike upright and keeping yourself in one piece out in the urban jungle.
1) Always cover your brakes- Get yourself used to resting two fingers over your front brake lever at all times. Remember, 90% of a motorcycles braking power is with the front brake. I only use the rear brake in panic stop situations as it’s all too easy to lock-up when used alone.
2) Read the road- A good rider will always be scanning the road surface ahead, watching for debris, oil, sand, coolant etc. Be especially aware of road debris while coming to a stop at traffic lights. Never come to a stop in the center of your lane as this is where leaking fluids from cars will collect. Come to a stop at the left or right of center. (in a cars wheel tracks)
3) Watch your mirrors- Never take for granted that a car approaching from the rear will see you and stop. Motorcycles have a slim profile compared to cars and a single slim brakelight. When coming to a stop in traffic watch your mirrors to confirm that the car behind you SEES YOU!
4) Wear your gear- I cannot emphasize enough the importance of wearing proper gear. There are two kinds of motorcyclists, those that have been down and those that are GOING DOWN. If you love to ride, wearing gear is a small price to pay for the ability to get up and walk away from most accidents. Remember, jeans are the equivalent of wearing underwear when you hit the ground and offer no real protection. Helmet, leather jacket, leather pants, gloves and boots should be worn at all times. An added bonus is that riders wearing full gear gain more respect from “local authorities”. 22 years of riding has proven this to me. If they see you as someone with safety as a priority they are much more likely to let you go with a warning if you are caught “over the posted limit”
These are the basics in a continuing series I will write on “Motorcycle Rider Safety”. Check back for more updates as it could just save your life. I will get more indepth with my survival tips as each installment goes on. Remember that as a motorcyclist you’re invisible to the majority of car drivers, your slim profile tricks a car drivers mind into thinking you aren’t there at all, so therefor always leave yourself an out and keep your eyes scanning at all times.
This post belongs to Motorbike
Motorcycles
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