For Motorcycle riders, here are 20 most important motorcycle safety tips for new riders and regular riders.
Motorcycle safety tips
A motorcycle, usually referred to as a motorbike, bike, or cycle, is a vehicle with two or three wheels. The design of these vehicles varies according to the make to suit different purposes such as long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, sport, and off-road riding. This sport (cycling) is named a lot of cool things, but one thing we’re sure of is that it’s a perfect combination of exhilarating excitement, fun, and heartbreaking horror. For beginners, this may not make a lot of sense, but time will make everything better. Again, see the importance of medical insurance.
Any aspiring mountain biker has to prepare their mind for the adrenaline rush by learning a few tricks and skills. These include:
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR BODY RELAXED
Relax! Trust your machine!
Mountain bikes ride technical routes and make them work. The roughest terrain determines the space for your mountain bike to move and complete the job. Maintaining a stable, free and relaxed body posture allows the bike to roll better under you. When riding over roots, rocks, and obstacles, be sure to lift your hips off the bike saddle. If you encounter a technical route, such as downhill, you should keep your elbows or arms and knees open to allow the mountain bike to flow.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME
Always know this, momentum is everything in motorbiking. The trick here is to learn to maintain good speeding momentum, especially when the trail is difficult. The perfect momentum will keep the ride going and make biking through difficult places a breeze, whether cruising slowly or speeding up.
Contradictory? Yes!
Controversial? Yes!!
Is it effective? All the time!
Maintaining momentum is your best driving technique!
ADJUST THE WEIGHT EASILY
Most extreme trails may not have dropper posts, so it is wise to learn to adjust your weight based on the slopes that are often steep on unusual trails or terrain.
The whole great idea is like this!
For steep grades, when climbing, push and lean your weight forward to maintain traction control and direct the gravity core toward the rear wheels.
For the downhill trail, move behind the saddle or lean back as it helps prevent accidents when riding your bike over the bars.
LEARN TO STEP ON THE BRAKE GENTLY
The temptation will come! It’s fun, but don’t be fooled. Mountain bikes are equipped with powerful brakes, which can be very dangerous. You only need to step on the brakes with one or two fingers to adjust the speed and prevent the bike from violently hitting or turning over, which can cause serious life-threatening injuries.
TAKE A SAFETY COURSE
It is expected that as a cyclist, you improve your skill. What better way to do this than to take a safety course. You will get to know the rules of the road for motorcycles. Also, you will learn the actions to be taken when faced with sudden riding situations that may arise. Being a motorcyclist requires good skill and good judgment. There you will get when you take a safety course.
HAVE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER FORECAST BEFORE YOU RIDE
Driving in bad weather can compromise your ride. Also, operating in the rain, ice or snow can be hazardous for bikers. This is because, on a bike, you have less visibility and traction than in a car. If the weather is not favourable, choose another day.
PUT ON MOTORCYCLE GEAR
Motorcycle gear, consisting of a DOT-approved helmet, goggles, a leather jacket, leather pants, ankle boots and non-slip gloves, protects your body from the elements, debris and road rash. In addition, wear inner clothing so you can easily fit into any weather. Finally, find your way around an Urban Concrete.
EXAMINE OF YOUR MOTORCYCLE BEFORE EACH RIDE
It would help if you inspected your bike before you rode. Checking your cycle allows you to curtail unforeseen riding situations that might result from a faulty bike. Examine your headlights, taillights, turn signals, brakes, fuel, oil, tire pressure, mirrors, handlebars and horn before taking off at that speed.
BE A GOOD CITIZEN BY OBEYING TRAFFIC RULES
Generally, It is important to follow traffic rules, use signals and drive according to the speed limit, to reduce the risk of a motorbike accident. Excessive speeding has been recorded to be the leading cause of motorcyclist death.
TRY TO BE SEEN
Do you know that most of the time, a car driver cannot see you? It has been proven that 75% of motorcycle accidents result because other drivers did not see the motorcycle. This statistics is according to The Hurt Report that was published in 1981 by the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. So it is important to stay visible. It’s not so hard; here are a few tips on how to remain visible:
- Do not stay in other drivers’ blind spots.
- Have your headlights both during the day and at night.
- Whenever on a ride, put on reflective or bright clothing.
- Make use of turn signals and hand signals always.
BE VIGILANT
Be conscious of your environment and watch out for traffic problems and road hazards. Be mindful of sand, soil, gravel, bumps and potholes. These tend to make you lose traction. Stay focused when crossing a railroad track. Cross at the appropriate angle.
MAINTAIN A SAFE DISTANCE
Following a vehicle closely behind is not safe. It is encouraged to give at least four seconds distance from the car ahead. This is so you can stop in an emergency or get out of a tight situation.
RIDE WITH A FIRST AID KIT
Keeping a first aid kit reachable is a good idea. Then, in the case of an injury, you can arrest the situation before visiting the hospital. A basic first aid kit should include:
- Disinfecting wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Bandages
- Gauze
- Adhesive tape and Band-Aids.
LEARN SLOW SPEED MANOEUVRES
If it will make you feel alright, go to a park early in the morning and practice how to go slow by using the back brake. Learn u-turns and figure of 8 turns. It is at this time that you gain mastery of your bike. You can take a friend along with you for support and encouragement.
RUNNING COMMENTARY
To be sure you are on autopilot, try giving a commentary as you ride. Try to talk about what you see as well as what you are doing. Say things like: “shifting to the left. Adjusting mirrors. Good to go”. ” Green traffic lights up front. Making I’m all clear for a brake if the lights change to red”. The good thing about the commentary is, not only does it ascertain whether you are on autopilot or not, but it also makes you slow down. It helps you to think and stay focused on your riding. And you tend to look rather than see.
IT’S YOUR FAULT
Ride as if your life depends on it. Yes, it’s true, everything isn’t your fault (I mean, it just can’t be). But you should have in mind that whatever happens on your ride could be influenced by you if a car jumps out from nowhere right in front of you; that surely cannot be your fault. But who knows, maybe you were on a high speed.
Maybe if you had been more alert or in the correct position, the driver would’ve seen you. Or perhaps you could’ve anticipated the situation and done something very fast to avoid it. Or maybe alter your speed, change your position, or beep your horn. Affordable Amsterdam: Luxury Canal City Cruise you shouldn’t miss.
AVOID TO RIDE FAST
Please do not always ride fast. Why the rush? Are you being chased? Riding so fast makes it tiring! And after some time, boring. And then, the level of danger increases exponentially. It is worthy of note that riding a motorcycle is a thrill, as well as it can also be therapeutic. Ride a bike for the therapeutic effect, hang to unwind and clear your mind. This should be the only time your phone is turned off. You are not accessible, so that nobody can ask anything of you. So use the time well and relax.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO IMPRESS ANYBODY
Nobody is watching you! It is not everybody that rides a bike, so nobody notices you. Even when other bike riders see you, nobody cares about the type of bike you’re riding and whether you look okay on it or not. So there is no need for the obsession some riders have. They are revving or popping wheelies when other riders are coming in the opposite direction. They do not care, and they are not impressed.
TRY NOT HATE OTHER VEHICLE DRIVERS
Everybody is a road user and has as much right to the roads as you. So why so much animosity towards car drivers? Motorcycles make up just 2% of traffic in the UK, almost inconsequential compared to the other 98% of vehicles that are not bikes. I hope you don’t intend to live your life hating all 98%, and for what reason? With all the hatred, you still have to share the roads with buses, cars, lorries, cyclists, horses, pedestrians, scooters, and a whole variety of other vehicles.
It’s not like they all want to hurt you, but occasionally mistakes are bound to happen. Nobody intends to hurt you. Just try to make yourself visible so they can see you. Accept the fact that mistakes can happen. And safeguard yourself, so it’s easy for them not to hurt you.
WEAR EARPLUGS
As unnecessary as they seem, they are essential. Most of the time, it’s not emphasized upon, whatever the reason, even in advanced riding training schemes and other courses. However, they are as important as any other gear. Earplugs protect your ears from damage. The wind, sand, particles can fly into your ears from everywhere. Remember, you are more exposed on a bike than in a car. So be wise; it doesn’t take too much exposure on a motorcycle to start having ear damage. Wear safety earplugs!
